Three incumbents, two newcomers nominated for four open SCRS seats

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will hold its annual Board of Directors election meeting for four open seats on April 21 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Active SCRS members are invited to vote in the election meeting at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Concord Resort & Spa from 6-6:30 p.m. following the board’s open meeting, which will be held from 2-5:30 p.m. SCRS membership is required to attend the open board meeting.

During the election meeting, each nominee will have the opportunity to address voters and share their background and experience, which have prepared them to represent our members on the board.

To attend, voting participants must be current, designated voting representatives of SCRS member businesses.

In accordance with SCRS Board bylaws, the nomination process closed on March 7, and there will be no nominations from the floor.

The incumbent nominees are Tony Adams, LeadersWay (Kansas); Andrew Battenhorst, Pacific Collision Center (California); and Michael Giarrizzo Jr., DCR Systems (Ohio).

Tony Adams

The new nominees are Max Keller, Conestoga Collision (Pennsylvania), and John Picciano, Flower Hill Auto Body (New York).

According to the biography provided by SCRS, Adams grew up in the industry, working alongside his father, eventually learning nearly every administrative role after working as a porter.

Adams served as a business partner of Weaver’s Auto Center for over 20 years, leading day-to-day operations until the shop was sold in January 2021.

Later that year, Adams joined AkzoNobel as a business services consultant, supporting businesses across the Midwest.

He is currently transitioning into a business coaching role with LeadersWay, where SCRS says he will continue supporting organizations through focused leadership and human development.

Adams has 38 years of experience in the collision repair industry.

Andrew Batenhorst

He says he is seeking re-election to continue serving through thoughtful, steady leadership, bringing firsthand operational experience and a strong commitment to developing capable, accountable leaders who will strengthen the industry’s future.

Batenhorst began in the collision industry as a detailer nearly 27 years ago. Most of his career has been spent as a repair planner before he went into shop management in 2015.

He has been active in the California Auto Body Association and Collision Industry Conference, as well as through other customer advocacy efforts.

While on the SCRS Board, Batenhorst has served as a national director, a director-at-large, and is currently secretary.

“As I reflect back on my first term and the things I have accomplished with SCRS and for our membership, I am aware of what a privilege this has been,” he told SCRS.

“From day one, the responsibility I have felt to honor the legacy of SCRS and continue the work we are known for has not been lost on me.”

Michael Giarrizzo Jr.

Batenhorst added that he is seeking re-election to foster SCRS’s growth and provide the best support he can to its members and the collision repair industry.

Giarrizzo is president and CEO of DCR Systems, which streamlines workflow and creates consistency with traditional auto body repair, creating wins for all stakeholders, according to his biography provided by SCRS.

DCR Systems has six operated locations and four licensed partner locations in multiple states.

Keller began his career in collision repair at 17 and, since then, has held several roles in the shop, including paint preparation, disassembly and reassembly, and painting smaller repair jobs.

He then moved to the office side of the industry, working in estimating, operations, and customer service.

“Working in both the shop and the office gave me a well-rounded understanding of the repair process and the importance of teamwork across every part of the business,” Keller told SCRS.

In 2009, he opened Conestoga Collision with his business partner.

Max Keller

“Along the way, we have earned multiple manufacturer certifications and built a team dedicated to performing safe and proper repairs,” Keller said.

“Our focus has always been on creating a great place to work, providing the right equipment and training opportunities, and delivering an exceptional experience for our customers.

“As I continue to focus on the growth and daily operations of Conestoga Collision, I also want to become more involved in the industry as a whole.”

Picciano’s shop is a 76-year-old family-owned business spanning across four generations.

Flower Hill Auto Body has three locations and more than 35 OEM certifications.

“Drawing upon more than two decades of experience in the auto body industry, John has played a pivotal role in maintaining the business’s stellar reputation and commitment to OEM standards,” Picciano’s biography states.

John Picciano

“Beyond his professional achievements, John resides in Brooklyn, NY, where he enjoys family life with his wife and five children.”

Election results will be announced during the April 22 Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting.

If it is necessary to change the designated voting representatives for your company, all changes must be completed using the designated voting representative form and received by the SCRS office before 5 pm EDT on April 17. The form can be submitted here. There can be no changes to the designated voting representative after April 17.

To join as a member of SCRS to participate in the upcoming election, contact the association office at [email protected] or join online at scrs.com/join-scrs.

Images

Featured image: RDN file photo of SCRS at a previous SEMA Show.

Images of candidates provided by SCRS