The most important being my decision to move to water based paints. This decision was validated when, the late, Mayor Menino, gave Allston Collision Center its first award for being instrumental in the move toward reducing volatile organic compounds and recycling. Allston Collision Center has subsequently received many awards for its contribution to the clean process and I continue to investigate new and inventive ways to keep our shop on the cutting edge of technology.

There is, of course, another item for which I am proud – being female. Being a female in the auto body business these many years has been an interesting ride. I’m thankful for all it has offered me, and I have learned from all it has taken. For me there is an undeniable satisfaction of having the conversation change from “you’re in auto body business??”, or being completely ignored, to being an innovator in the field.

As this letter comes to a close, I would be remiss if I did not give major props to my crew, who accepted and supported me even when my ideas were going to be different from anything they had done before. Forever a thank you to my business partner who believed I could change the landscape and that I possessed the tenacity to see it through.

Finally, I am always and forever thankful for our long time customers who did not question a woman standing behind the helm as the additional face to three generations of incredible Chaets. To our new customers who come looking for a better experience – Welcome.

I celebrate all that has been given to me through this opportunity and raise my glass to all who have been a part of this journey.

My very best,
Elaine M. O’Neill

The post A Thank You Note appeared first on Allston Collision Center | Expert Boston Auto Body Repair.

With the terrible drought conditions that have plagued us these past months we need some rain or snow.  I know you are thinking; really don’t be wishing a wicked winter on us, but we do need some precipitation.

There are ways to prepare your vehicle by making sure you have basic safety items checked:  windshield wipers, having enough gas, good tires and a general well-being check for your vehicle.

Windshield wipers are an obvious safety item but sometimes they just wear out.

Photo by jim-stl

You know when you try and use them and the streak is right where you need to see out your windshield.  Wipers should be changed two times per year to be effective.  You can choose heavy duty winter blades which work nicely in heavy weather.

Gas is one of those things you can’t do without if you want to drive.  However, you should always keep at least a quarter of a tank and use dry gas occasionally.  The dry gas dries out the water in the tank to avoid freezing in the cold.

Tires are very important… obviously!  In all seriousness, you need a lot of tread all the time, but especially in the winter – it’ll help you stop in a timely manner.

A well-being check is really just that.  Bring your car in for service and make sure all your fluids are checked (i.e. antifreeze, washer fluid and oil), tire pressure, brakes, which includes pads and rotors.

Remember don’t speed in heavy weather – slow will get you where you need to go!

However, should an accident happen, Allston Collision Center will be here to repair your vehicle to pre-accident condition.  You can find many photos here on our website allstoncollisioncenter.com.  The photos will show our work and, of course, you can find references at Yelp and Google.

You can always call or stop by for guidance, information regarding our services, an appraisal or any question you may have.  Our staff is here to assist you in the process.

AND REMEMBER WINTER IS COMING…….

The post Winter is Coming… appeared first on Allston Collision Center | Expert Boston Auto Body Repair.

Each winning student will have the opportunity to select $1,500 worth of tools upon receiving the award. For those students graduating this year, they will have the opportunity to select an additional $3,000 in tools upon graduation and upon getting hired into the collision industry. There are additional $1,000 scholarships for select veterans.

3M Hire Our Heroes Veteran Grant Recipients
Ray Alston (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC)
Alexandros Aslanis (Parkland College, Champaign, IL)
Michael Baker (Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Morristown, TN)
Peter Beasley (Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, WA)
Michael Carroll (Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC)
James Cash (Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC)
Matthew Conley (Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC)
Russell Cook (Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK)
David Cortes (Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC)
Roan Cowart (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Roger Cox (Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK)
William Crowder (Arkansas State University, Newport, AR)
John Curlett (Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL)
Lawrence Daniels (Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Oneida, TN)
Kris Dindoffer (Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI)
Daniel Dwyer (Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL)
Ryan Folker (Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN)
Robert Garrison (Portland Community College, Portland, OR)
Scott Gray (Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY)
Scott Heise (Manhattan Area Technical College, Manhattan, KS)
Alex Henderson (Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI)
Stacey Hildreth (South Western Community College, Creston, IA)
Kevin Hill (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Gerald Howell (WITC, Rice Lake, WI)
Willie Hutchinson (Texas State Technical College, Waco, TX)
Scot Johnson (Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK)
Blake Kizer (Scott Community College, Bettendorf, IA)
Charles Kovach (Highland Community College, Freeport, IL)
Billy Logan (Cleveland County Community College, Shelby, NC)
Randell Lute (Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC)
Marvin Martin (Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, GA)
Matthew Moody (Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX)
Pedro Moreno (Autry Technology Center, Enid, OK)
Christopher Mussel (Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC)
William Plont (Athens Technical College, Athens, GA)
Erick Rebelukag (Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, WA)
Javier Rey (Texas State Technical College, Harlingen, TX)
Aaron Rhines (Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, WA)
Robert Rioux (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Alexander Romero II (Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, CO)
Dariel Saldana (Automotive Training Center, Warminster, PA)
Aaron Schaffer (Ivy Tech Community College, Terre Haute, IN)
Joseph Schmidt (Washburn Institute of Technology, Topeka, KS)
Ramiro Serrano (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Doug Smallwood (Lake Technical College, Eustis, FL)
Matthew Smith (Lenoir Community College, Kinston, NC)
Jacob Talsma (Ridgewater College, Willmar, MN)
Joshua Tapia (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Brandon Thames (Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, MS)
Austin Vorasith (DMACC, Ankeny, IA)
Eric Wade (Pulaski Technical College, North Little Rock, AR)
Leeland Warren (Morgan County Community College (Fort Morgan, CO)
Randall Wright (Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK)

In addition, four collision students who have immediate family members who served or are serving in the military were selected as scholarship winners. Each student received an award of $2,500 to help with their education costs.

3M Hire Our Heroes – Veteran Family Award Recipients

Caelan Campbell (Automotive Technology Center, Troutman NC)
Denovario Goode (Gadsden State, Anniston, AL)
Ashley McNamara (Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI)
Vaughn Weaver (Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City, KS)

This is the fourth year that 3M has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of our industry and our nation’s veterans. Since 2013, 3M Hire Our Heroes program has generated $750,000 to be used toward scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members.

“Supporting both our industry and our military veterans remains a high priority for us” said Dale Ross, US Marketing Operations Manager for 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division.” This year, we were excited to have our customers and 3M employees join us in supporting the 3M Hire Our Heroes program and donating more than $200,000 through the calendar campaign.”

The Collision Repair Education Foundation is looking to help connect these students with industry businesses who would be interested in meeting and potentially hiring them. If your business is interested in hiring one of the winning students, please send your business information including location to the Collision Repair Education Foundation at [email protected] and the organization will help introduce both parties for potential employment opportunities.

Additional information on 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division can be found at www.3Mcollision.com

The post Collision Repair Education Foundation & 3M Announce Winners of Hire Our Heroes Grants appeared first on Allston Collision Center | Expert Boston Auto Body Repair.