DALLAS, TEXAS — Geralynn Kottschade, AAM, co-owner of Jerry’s Body Shop, Mankato, Minn., has been named chairman of the 2005 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE). Kottschade is the first woman to chair NACE and brings 22 years of collision repair experience to the position.

Jerry’s Body Shop has been in business for 33 years and has received the Minnesota Quality Service Award and the Mankato Area Quality Award. Kottschade has held several industry positions, including 2004 chairman of the international Automotive Service Association (ASA). She is an ASA member, as well as a member of the local Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) and the MACS School System. She served as treasurer and secretary of the Collision Industry Electronic Conference Association (CIECA), and has specialized training from AKZO, ADP and CCC. She earned her Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) in 1996.

“I am very excited to serve as NACE chairman in 2005. I look forward to another successful show that will provide training, product introductions and networking to address the issues that face the collision industry,” said Kottschade.

NACE 2005 will be held Nov. 2-5, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The educational Conference will run from Nov. 2-5 (Wednesday-Saturday), and the Exposition will take place Nov. 3-5 (Thursday-Saturday). The event will again be held during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), taking place that same week in Las Vegas.

For more information, visit the NACE Web site: www.NACEexpo.com.

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