PPG MVP Business Development Training Series receives new accreditations

The MVP Business Development Series includes courses encompassing all aspects of managing a profitable collision repair business, from marketing and estimating to administration and production.



“We are excited to have the innovative MVP Business Development Training Series as part of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance,” said Jason Bartanen, I-CAR technical director. “It enables PPG collision centers and I-CAR students to continue their pursuit of the I-CAR vision: That every person in the collision industry has the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to their position to achieve a complete and safe repair.”



The approved training programs from PPG include: MVP Production & Cycle Time Management, MVP Greenbelt Training, MVP Business in the 21st Century, MVP Leading Change & Leadership, MVP Collision Repair Estimating, MVP Collision Repair Sales & Customer Service, MVP Collision Center Marketing, MVP Organizational Management, MVP Administrative Management and MVP Managing Customer Loyalty. I-CAR students are eligible to receive between 1.75 and 8.25 Gold Class points for each program they complete. AMI students can earn between 12 and 71 credit hours toward the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.



“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, PPG Automotive Refinish. “We have conducted more than 2,000 days of management training across North America since the program’s inception.”



“These courses are relevant for collision center professionals, regardless of the size or structure of their operations,” said Rich Altieri, senior manager, PPG business solutions. “Each instructor has the valued perspective of owning a successful collision center. 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 centers also can 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. For more on MVP programs and services, contact a local PPG distributor, visit www.ppgrefinish.com or call the PPG Customer Focus Center at 800-647-6050.



When introduced more than a decade ago, MVP Services was the first program of its kind in the collision repair industry. Since then, thousands of collision center owners and managers have taken advantage of MVP’s innovative services to improve the way they run their business.



About I-CAR

I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international, not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of the customer. Visit www.i-car.com for more information.



About AMI

The Automotive Management Institute was established to answer the demand for continuing education tailored specifically for the business needs of the automotive service and collision repair industry. The institute offers the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, the first business management accreditation exclusively for the automotive service professional. AMI is a not-for-profit educational foundation to which tax-deductible contributions can be made. For more information, contact AMI at 800-272-7467 or visit www.amionline.org.



About PPG

Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG’s sales in 2007 were $11.2 billion. SigmaKalon, a worldwide coatings producer based in Uithoorn, Netherlands, that PPG acquired Jan. 2, 2008, had 2007 sales of $2.9 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.