Breaking boundaries—the focus at this year’s BMW CCRC Conference of the Americas event
Story, photos by DARRYL SIMMONS
This year’s BMW Certified Collision Repair Centres (CCRC) conference, titled “Breaking Boundaries” was held in mid-February in Palm Springs, California, highlighting the network’s ongoing advancements and the collective drive towards excellence in automotive repair. The event was marked by insightful contributions from industry experts, including a notable presentation by renowned industry expert and motivational speaker Mike Anderson.
Anderson emphasized the immense benefits of the CCRC network, highlighting the critical role of networking in sharing visions and stories within the industry. His message underscored the importance of collaboration and communication among professionals to drive innovation and excellence.
A focal point of the conference for Canadians was BMW collision and wholesale manager Chris Castagna’s overview of the network’s past achievements and his outline of a roadmap for future growth. Castagna expressed gratitude towards previous director Michel Matte for his foundational work in building the CCRC program into the success it enjoys today. This passing of the torch highlighted the continuous effort and leadership that drive the network forward. The conference also highlighted the significant role of Canadian CCRCs in the BMW repair ecosystem. Remarkably, Canada boasts one of the highest percentages of CCRCs performing BMW accident repairs, with about 40 percent of such repairs being carried out by certified centres. This statistic not only reflects the trust placed in the CCRC network by BMW vehicle owners but also underscores the network’s expertise and capacity to deliver top-notch repair services.
Keith E. Jones was also announced as collision strategy and program manager for DEKRA, supporting the CCRC program in Canada.
Throughout the three-day event, the emphasis on collaboration, expertise and innovation shone through. The Day At The Track was a key component, with attendees having the opportunity to test the mettle of the BMW fleet on an actual racetrack. Canadians claimed the first and third place spots on the track; Matt Pritiko of Burwell Auto Body took first, and Sean McIntosh of Kirmac Collision took third. Plenty of our Canadian friends made the trek to sunny California for the meet up— check out our photos from the event.
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