PPG announces body shop business development seminar series schedule

PPG Automotive Refinish has announced the schedule for its MVP Business Development Training Series for spring and summer 2007. This business management series includes courses that encompass all aspects of managing a profitable collision repair business, from marketing and estimating to administration and production.

“The MVP Business Development Training Series is the industry’s most widely attended training program for collision center management,” said Jim Berkey, director of business solutions for PPG’s automotive refinish business. “We have conducted more than 2,000 days of management training across North America since the program’s inception.

“In an effort to keep up with the demands of an ever-changing industry, we have completely overhauled the program for 2007,” Berkey said. “We have revised and improved our existing base of classes and added five new courses created to address issues essential to the success of a progressive-minded collision repair business.”

Updated courses in the MVP Business Development Training Series include:

* Advanced Collision Estimating Skills
* Collision Repair Sales & Customer Service
* Production & Cycle Time Management
* Administrative Management

New courses include:

* Business in the 21st Century
* Leadership & Leading Change
* Managing Customer Loyalty
* Collision Center Marketing
* HR & Organizational Development

“Key to the success of the series is the ‘real-world’ expertise of MVP-certified instructors,” said Rich Altieri, senior manager, PPG business solutions. “Each instructor has the valued perspective of owning a successful collision center. Most courses are held in a state-of-the-art learning environments at PPG Business Development Centers located all across North America, with some classes held at field locations conveniently located for shops in these areas. These centers offer an ideal setting for adult learning with the latest multimedia teaching tools and a fully-functional paint shop for technician training.

“These courses are relevant for collision center professionals, regardless of the size or structure of their operations,” Altieri added. “They not only offer a wealth of information, but also provide a forum where attendees can exchange ideas with others who are facing the same concerns.”

Collision shops can also take advantage of a variety of programs, tools and services available through the MVP Program, such as MVP Benchmarking, MVP Roundtable Conferences and MVP Facility Design Services. In addition, PPG has introduced a new, highly innovative weeklong training program called the MVP Throughput Performance Solutions (TPS) Program, for collision centers that want to take their business and production processes and performance to the next level.