North Carolina Department of Insurance officials to speak at SCRS open meeting in April

During an upcoming open meeting of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), a panel of speakers from the North Carolina Department of Insurance will discuss consumer protections and effective complaint-resolution strategies.

The meeting will be held on April 21 from 2-5:00 p.m. at Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord, North Carolina.

Panelists will include North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, DOI Regional Director Mike LaBrose, and Vehicle Towing, Recovery, and Repair Analyst Belinda Harris.

The session will explore regulatory perspectives and collaborative approaches to improving outcomes for consumers and repairer businesses, according to an SCRS press release.

Causey brings more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, having worked as an agent, agency owner, and manager before serving as insurance commissioner.

LaBrose acts as a liaison between the commissioner’s office and local communities, with prior experience as an investigator and nearly two decades as a senior insurance agent.

Harris’ background is in the towing and recovery industry, including leadership roles at the state and national levels. She now works directly with repairers and tow operators to navigate insurance-related concerns and support effective complaint resolution.

Causey last spoke at an SCRS meeting in 2023, where he and Virginia Bureau of Insurance Commissioner Scott White discussed what he, as commissioner, can and can’t do regarding collision claims, and highlighted how the collision repair industry can help educate policyholders on their rights, as well as spark change in alleged unfair business practices by carriers.

SCRS invites industry professionals to attend the free meeting, which will also feature important updates on association initiatives, member programs, and key issues impacting the collision repair industry. It is an open forum that encourages local professionals to engage, share perspectives, and be part of the broader dialogue influencing collision repair nationwide. Membership in SCRS is not required to attend, and pre-registration is not necessary. Seating is first-come, first-served.

The April meeting will include presentations from Scott Broaddus, CFP, AIF, and partner at Irongate Capital Advisors, who will provide updates on developments in SCRS’s 401(k) program, and Fred Langenfeld, senior vice president and general manager at Decisely, who will discuss growth and opportunities within SCRS’s healthcare program.

In addition, the SCRS Education Committee will present on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the organic search landscape, including practical insights into optimizing for emerging answer engines. The session will be led by Garrett Zafuto, search engine optimization specialist at Sokal, a North Carolina-based agency that specializes in digital advertising for dealerships and collision repair businesses. SCRS says he will share actionable strategies to help collision repairers adapt their digital presence for AI-driven search and evolving consumer discovery trends.

This meeting offers collision repair professionals the opportunity to stay informed about industry trends, address challenges facing their businesses, and directly influence initiatives through meaningful dialogue with association leadership and subject-matter experts.

Following the meeting, active SCRS members can participate in the annual election of the association’s Board of Directors.

The election meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 6:30 p.m. Voters must be current, designated voting representatives of an SCRS member business to attend.

The election will fill four open board seats. In accordance with SCRS bylaws, the nomination process closed on March 7, and there will be no nominations from the floor. Background information on the candidates is available here.

The 2026 Southeast Collision Conference (SCC) will also be held the same week, from April 23-24, at the Embassy Suites.

SCC remains one of the region’s most important gatherings for collision repair professionals, offering valuable opportunities for education, networking, and engagement with industry leaders and partners. Information about the SCC education lineup is available here.

Images

Featured image: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey spoke and answered questions during the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) open board meeting on April 11, 2023. (Lurah Lowery/Repairer Driven News)

Secondary image provided by SCRS