STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – PPG Industries has hired David Knapp as senior manager in its MVP Business Solutions group. Knapp has more than 15 years of process improvement, business development and strategic marketing experience in the collision industry. His experience includes nearly every aspect of collision repair center management including finance, marketing, process consulting, parts control and strategic planning. Prior to joining PPG, Knapp held positions at Akzo Nobel Coatings and CARSTAR.

Knapp entered the collision repair industry at the age of 14 working as a detailer in a body shop in Omaha, Neb. He continued through high school and college, gaining experience as a light body technician and painter. While working, Knapp earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and public relations. He then continued his studies and received a master of business administration degree.

At the upcoming NACE Expo in Las Vegas, Knapp will conduct an MVP Business Solutions seminar entitled “Competing in the 21st Century.” The seminar will explore industry and business challenges facing owners and managers of collision shops and how focusing on key critical success factors can significantly improve a shop’s ability to gain a competitive advantage in quality, throughput and cost. According to Knapp, the overall mission of the seminar is to help attendees gain a vision of how they can transform today’s challenges into opportunities and achieve sustainable growth and profitability. The seminar is scheduled for 1:30 – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5.