SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — I-CAR CEO and President John Edelen highlighted the successes of the company’s past fiscal year and provided insight into the future during the company’s International Annual Meeting held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

MONTREUX, Switzerland - - OEMs and repairers have several things in common. They both want to push as many shiny vehicles with flawless finishes out their doors as possible. OEMs want to sell parts to help return their crashed vehicles to pre-collision form. Repairs want these parts to do just the same thing. But from there, the two seem to be on widely disparate paths that times conflict with the interests of both.

"If we would have planned it, it probably never would have happened." That's Aaron O'Connor's take on the founding of his Dolgeville, NY, shop, Automotive Rescue + Repair. Twelve years ago, when O'Connor was working as a tow truck operator, he passed through Dolgeville on a service run.

An old business saying declares that a crisis (or any bit of bad luck) is really just an opportunity for new fortunes in disguise. Don't believe it? Consider the case of New Jersey shop owner Jim Oostdyk, who turned a turnover into an all-new business that continues to reward him, his employees and his customers alike.

Few issues stir up as much genuine frustration among business owners as insurance costs. Single out the cost of workers' compensation insurance, and you're likely to feel you've rattled a hornet's nest. In just the last four years, the cost of a premium for workers compensation has risen dramatically. Nationally, the average cost is up by 50 percent. In California, where premium hikes were the most severe, many business owners simply packed up and moved their companies elsewhere.

Keys to the Shop: Caution is a key word in the world of high-end vehicle repair where rare editions of Ferraris and Lamborghinis can cost several hundred thousand dollars, and repair mishaps can cost shops thousands.

Keys to the Shop: Alan Cox takes an unusual step to get to knowits clientele better and keep them coming back: Personal data, such as the names of children and pets, is added to customer information.

Keys to the Shop: Regardless of where they come from, Rosen says his customers learn one important lesson about service: Quality repairs need not cost a fortune, even on some of the most expensive production vehicles made today.

Keys to the Shop: Cannon envisioned afully modern facility, featuring state-of-the-art diagnostics, highly trained ASE-certified technicians and a friendly staff. The neighborly atmosphere would remain (Cannon refers to the shop as "my house"), and in the years that followed, he built that shop.