AKRON, OH — BodyShop Business magazine has awarded Gene Hamilton, owner of Sports & Imports Collision in Duluth, GA, with its 2006 Collision Repair Shop Executive of the Year Award.
The award has been given annually since 1984 to a true collision repair visionary, someone who has experienced great success by being forward thinking, overcoming challenges and persevering.
“Gene is a great pick,” said BodyShop Business Editor Georgina Carson. “He’s a tremendous businessman who decided to not be involved with DRPs, and is running a very successful operation with a unique strategy. He has great vision with his consumer angle and how he markets himself to high-end dealerships. He’s passionate about what he does and has dedicated his life to doing what he can to improve the industry.”
Hamilton has been involved in the collision repair business for 17 years. His first venture was a wholesale car dealership but now he also owns three collision shops, a salvage yard and an equipment distributorship. Ever since joining the industry, Hamilton has felt it important to get involved beyond just running his shops day to day. Evidence of that is his participation in I-CAR (past president), the National Autobody Council (past board member), the Collision Industry Conference, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (past chairman) and the Georgia Collision Industry Association (founder).
“If you don’t give back to the industry, it will stay the same as it is,” Hamilton said. “So it’s critical to get involved to better our image and the industry.”
BodyShop Business Publisher Jon Owens will give Hamilton the award at a special ceremony at the International Autobody Congress & Exposition Nov. 2-4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“BodyShop Business is proud to continue the tradition of singling out those in the collision repair industry who make a difference,” said Owens. “Gene Hamilton is one of those individuals, and we congratulate him on his business success, his invaluable contribution to the industry and his selection for this recognition. It’s an honor for me to be able to present this to him at NACE.”
