Bodyshop News: July 2004

Kyle Petty to Deliver NACE 2004 Keynote Address

The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) announced that NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kyle Petty will deliver the 2004 keynote address in Las Vegas.

NACE also announced Richard Flint, Richard Flint Seminars, as the speaker for the event’s luncheon on Nov. 5, and Jim “The Rookie” Morris, a school teacher who pursued his dream to become a professional baseball player, as the keynote speaker for the general session on Nov. 6.

Petty is the son of Richard Petty, the most successful driver in the history of the sport, and will enter his 25th season behind the wheel of the No. 45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge.

He runs the day-to-day operations at Petty Enterprises, a two-car operation, and has eight victories on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit. Besides being known for his racing skills, Petty is also known for his charity work. In 1995, he founded the “Kyle Petty’s Charity Ride Across America” to benefit children’s charities.

His camp, “Victory Junction Gang Camp,” will soon open near his home in Level Cross, N.C., and will be the sixth camp in the “Hole in the Wall Gang” camps founded by actor Paul Newman.

For his efforts, Petty was named NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year” in both 1999 and 2000. He has also won the 2000 Meyers Brothers Award, the highest award presented by the National Motorsports Press Association, and in 2002, Petty was awarded the True Value Person of the Year Award for his humanitarian efforts.

Flint, the Friday luncheon speaker, counselled for many years both with businesses and private clients and taught at the university level before embarking on his speaking career 22 years ago. He brings to the platform a blend of insight and experience. He believes in dreams, not just goals, and his luncheon address will cover ways to make success a lifestyle. People who really want to take action and who are ready for a true change will benefit from Flint’s motivational address.

NACE will be held November 4 to 6, 2004 at the Mandalay Bay convention facility in Las Vegas, Nev.

Tickets to these and other special events are included in the NACE Full Congress Registration Package (and are also available individually). To register for NACE, visit www.NACEexpo.com.

Product Integration to Benefit Automotive Distributors

PPG Canada has combined several of its product offerings into a new line, saying that the change expands the options available to automotive refinish distributors in Canada.

The Commercial Performance Coatings (CP Coatings) Line combines the technology and resources of the Light Industrial Coatings, Architectural Finishes, and General Industrial Coatings Groups to offer customers an offering of new and exciting products. This new line offers automotive refinish distributors a broader range of choices to find the products that best fit the individual needs of their customers.

The CP Coatings product line includes waterborne, alkyd, epoxy, high-bake and urethane topcoats as well as many new specialty products. Supporting the CP Coatings product launch are new label designs, technical sheets and sales information.

“Formed to strengthen PPG offerings in the commercial and industrial arena, the CP Coatings team has harnessed technologies and experience from all three business units to create this new commercial brand for refinish – a product line capable of competing aggressively in the small – to mid-size commercial and industrial manufacturing industries,” said Debbie Nucciarone, product manager, Refinish Canada.

“PPG’s dependable distributor network makes sure inventory levels are ‘just right’, preventing costly delays or production shutdowns,” Nucciarone adds. “In addition, for applications where performance is second only to the need for great value, PPG offers affordably priced coatings that are guaranteed to provide consistent results time after time.”

“PPG is the world’s largest supplier of industrial coatings, known for products that are consistent in quality and performance, and provide ease of use,” Nucciarone says. “Whether your projects or jobs are large or small, for consumer or industry, CP Coatings customer service representatives can work with you to tailor a system to meet your specific needs.”