Bennett Toyota Collision Center in Allentown, PA, was named a 2023 Toyota Certified Collision Center (TCCC) of the Year, its fifth time winning the award. It previously won in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
The 15,000-square-foot facility is part of the Bennett Automotive Group in Pennsylvania. Its 15 employees repair 70 to 80 cars per month, mostly Toyotas, as well as vehicles from the auto group’s other brands.
Mike Anderson, left, president of Collision Advice, and Randy Kuntz, right, Bennett Toyota Collision Center manager, at the award presentation.
Three Toyota Certified Collision Centers -- one from each of three tiers, grouped by annual sales volume -- are named winners every year, selected based on their repair volume, as well as achievements in master level training in all collision center guilds, strong financials and consistent improvement of key performance indicators.
Bennett Toyota Collision Center was the winner among more than 360 repair facilities in the Tier 1 group.
Team members from Bennett Toyota Collision Center joined the other two 2023 winners at Toyota’s annual performance group meeting in North Carolina to be recognized.
Randy Kuntz, collision center manager, said he and his facility’s technicians, estimators and office staff all regularly take advantage of the training offered by Toyota, both in-person at one of four training centers around the U.S., and online.
He also appreciates that his collision center’s certification gives his employees access to Toyota tech support, which is always quick to find a solution when they run into issues or have questions.
“It’s really good stuff; hats off to the manufacturer,” Kuntz said. “I enjoy working for the brand.”
Kuntz joined Bennett Automotive Group in 2014 and became the Toyota collision center’s manager in 2021.
Last year, he started an apprenticeship program, when a new high school graduate, who had been hired as a shop helper and detailer, said he was bored and wanted to try body work.
“In our industry, no one’s breaking down the door [to get in],” Kuntz said. “So I gave him a shot, and it worked out.”
Kuntz assigned the new apprentice to his shop’s “A” technician, who is mentoring him. The apprentice is learning from the same curriculum used by a local community college, and has access to a shop toolbox while he builds his own set.
Every three months, Kuntz, the apprentice and the mentor meet to review skills learned and results, as well as set new goals for the coming three months. Eventually, the apprentice will learn enough to become a full-time technician.
Kuntz already has a second apprentice lined up to join the shop this summer after he graduates from community college.
“If somebody wants to work, I’d be foolish not to bring him in,” Kuntz said.
Abby Andrews