“Why do you care?”, was the hostile response I got from Ron Nagy, an Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division Operations Committee member about whether ASA would be sending anyone to represent the largest repair association in the country at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators’ (NCOIL) hearing in July — where NCOIL will decide whether to endorse a model Certified Aftermarket Parts Act.
Well, let’s see. Maybe it’s because this model act is inadequately and foolishly (I can hardly bring myself to say it) crafted and can have a dire impact on unsuspecting consumers, for starters — to say nothing of the impact on collision repairers and other business segments. Maybe it’s because I am an advocate of controlling your own destiny and being involved in the political process is part of that formula. Maybe it’s just because I believe the sector this model act would most immediately affect is the collision repair industry, and, therefore, the industry should be heard on the issue.
Anyone who knows me is aware that I have been speaking, writing, and stumping around the country to make collision repairers aware of the fact that NCOIL is considering this model act, which would affirmatively lead to state-by-state legislation of it (which, incidently, is already in process in some jurisdictions). Yet, I have no vested interest in whether this act is endorsed by NCOIL or not. I have no financial stake in this decision. I only care that consumers don’t get poor quality products dressed up as great quality products and that collision repairers realize they could soon have more legislation imposed upon them. The majority of repairers, howevever, are entirely unaware that this model act is up for consideration, and now I know why. Because members of their “leadership” don’t seem to think that making themselves aware of issues affecting collision repairers, sharing that information, and taking a stance are part of their responsibilities.
When I pinned him down for a specific statement, Nagy confirmed that “ASA would not be sending anyone as a representative of the organization to the NCOIL meeting in July.” The rationale given to me was that ASA has a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Yes, you read that correctly. When I pointed out that the Washington lobbyist has focused on federal issues, and the NCOIL model act was the prelude to many state law concerns, the bizarre response I got from Nagy was, “Why are you attacking me?” No attempt to address the issue. No intelligent response. Just the knee-jerk, “You have to pick your battles, so you can win the war; I’m just a small shop owner and can’t take time away from my business.” All the silly same word tracks over and over.
Well, Ron, if you don’t want the responsibility of answering to your constituents and interested parties, don’t place yourself in a position of leadership. But then, as Automotive Body Repair News Editor-in-Chief, Michael Willins, wrote, “Leadership has its rewards”. In the February 2005 publication, Willins wrote that Nagy “feels an obligation to help the industry”, but also realizes that the networking and brain-picking opportunities are so great that Nagy is “willing to get involved to gain that knowledge.”
It seems apparent to me that Nagy’s purpose in becoming a member of an important ASA committee has little to do with helping the industry and substantially more with helping himself. When asked to perform like a leader, Nagy gets defensive and disclaims responsibility. He won’t even return phone calls from ASA members. (I give him this much credit; at least he returned mine.)
Amazingly, Willins described Nagy as a “forward thinker”, and says that “[a]ttending conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and being part of industry committees place Nagy and others like him at the forefront of these changes.” (What ever happened to I’m-a-small-shop-owner-and-can’t-take-time-away-from-my-business?) As Willins so aptly goes on to say about Nagy and others like him, “They’ve smartly positioned themselves to be the survivors, when plenty of others haven’t.”
Gee, and I thought cannibalism was illegal.
UPDATE: Ron’s wife responds: (She sent this to me as an email, rather than posting in the comment section, but I am posting it here in the main body to make certain his defense didn’t get buried in the comments.)
I am the wife or Ron Nagy and I would just wonder why you would question the character of someone who you don’t know on any level. You don’t know the level of involvement that my husband has in the industry, in our church, or in anything else. You chose to call him at work ~ and yes, he works about 14 hours per day, he runs his shop, and so he really doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on the phone as he already spends time away to do all the things that you quoted in your article. (And, you don’t know that he was in Texas at a meeting on Friday and Saturday, took the red eye home Sat. night so he could teach junior high Sunday school on Sunday morning on 3 hours sleep and was then at an all day training on Tuesday ~ yep, that is what I would call selfish!) He needs to spend his time running his business when he is there. Why not call ASA national and get a statement from them or from the chair of the collision division? I am wondering why you have chosen my husband as your target. He gives his heart and soul to his industry and you know nothing of that. And, yes, he does return phone calls, as you found out. But, there are people in the association who he will not respond to because they have earned that disrespect. That happens. That is why he is in a VOLUNTEER and I assure you, if there were plenty of people putting themselves in a place of leadership, he would choose to focus all of his energy on his own business. But, because there are not people lined up for the volunteer positions, he feels that he can help out. Your attack is unfair and not based on any knowledge of my husband, other than a phone conversation or what you have heard from someone else. Believe me, he works his tail off for ASA and only complains when someone attacks him at a personal level ~ You are way out of line saying that he is only out for himself. He is one of the most giving people that I know ~ You stated: “It seems apparent to me that Nagy’s purpose in becoming a member of an important ASA committee has little to do with helping the industry and substantially more with helping himself.” To say that the only reason he is on the ASA committee is to help himself is ridiculous. I would like to know how it benefits him at a personal level. Let’s see, time away from home ( I do not travel with him, as someone has to take care of the responsibilities at home), lots of expenses, driving to meetings, etc., etc, etc. My husband does NOT like to spotlight. He likes to make an effort to help the industry. I don’t see a line of people waiting to serve. And that is the key word here: SERVE. Remember, this is not a paid position and the “perks” are flights to all day meetings (leaving your shop) and an occasional free meal (and you know nothing of his health issues and how the traveling affects him physically). He does not stand up to constantly take credit for things done well and prefers to be in the background, and yes, he gets defensive when personally attacked. Ron has no personal “agenda” or is not using this position to simply get him to a higher one. He truly wants to help the organization. He is NOT power hungry. And although you may not have intended your attack to be personal, it reads that way. I think that you would be hard pressed to find anyone involved in ASA (other than a few individuals who have their own agendas), the community, or the industry who have anything negative about my husband. He is an honest, hardworking, Godly man. And yes, this is written on a personal level. I will not have my husband come home, unable to eat or sleep because of negative things written about him by someone who doesn’t know anything about him. I apologize for this letter, as I don’t know you either, but I will not apologize for defending my husband.
Kristine Nagy
My comment to Kristine:
I fail to see how I have questioned Ron’s character. I merely commented on his responses when asked about an issue directly involving his representation of ASA members. Ironically, the person who said Ron became a leader in ASA for self-serving reasons was Michael Willins of ABRN. If you are unhappy with that characterization, perhaps, you might consider taking that up with him.
As to why I called Ron, it is because he is in Ohio and is someone with whom I had hoped I could discuss Ohio issues. I will, however, take your suggestion, and ask for any future information directly from ASA national.