FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                             May 14, 2004

For More Information call:                       Fred M. Iantorno                      (847) 498-6945

                                                                      Executive Director                   (847) 562-0739 FAX

CIECA announces First Quarter Strategic Plan Results

Northbrook, IL – CIECA announced the progress it has made on completion of its 2004 Strategic Plan initiatives. Board Chairman Darrell Ebert, Allstate Insurance, said, “We have completed all twenty one (21) 1^st Quarter initiatives, and two (2) 2^nd Quarter initiatives. This is the first time in CIECA’s history that we have seen this type of progress. The Board commends all the member volunteers and staff on their accomplishments.”

The Strategic Planning Committee identified ten (10) projects for 2004:

·         Vehicle Damaging and Imaging Standards;

·         Certification;

·         User Groups & Web Resource Center;

·         Rental Standards;

·         Salvage Assignment & Notification;

·         Paintless Dent Repair Standards for Management Reporting;

·         Automated Procurement;

·         Customer Satisfaction Indexing Standards;

·         Glass Standards; and,

·         Development of 1, 3 and 5 year Strategic Plan.

Executive Director Fred Iantorno, at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting on April 9, announced, “CIECA members and non-members are invited to participate on the Web Resource Center Committee. Call or email CIECA to participate. This new web site will benefit the entire Collision Repair Industry and we are soliciting input from as many people as possible.” The telephone number is (847) 498-6945 and the email address is fred@cieca.com. Or visit www.crclink.org.

Since 2003, all CIECA Standards are developed using XML which allow developers to use a common language for both large and small systems,” said Fred Iantorno, CIECA Executive Director. “Additionally, the Automated Procurement project is the first project chaired exclusively by the Repairer Segment. Paul Krauss, representing SCRS (Society of Collision Repair Specialists) and Robert Turchan representing the Everest Partners lead this group as Co-Chairs of the Automated Procurement project.”

“Now more than ever, the industry’s involvement in CIECA is needed. We are seeking additional members to participate on all of our committees, especially the Procurement project,” says Mike Noirot, Automotive Service Association and CIECA Marketing Committee Co-Chair. “In 2003, CIECA membership grew 37%. In 2004, we are seeking greater involvement from the Repairer Segment. Our Plan is targeted at issues that directly affect all repairers,” said John Webb, CSi Complete and CIECA Marketing Committee Co-Chair.

The complete 2004 CIECA Strategic Plan and more information about CIECA can be viewed on the CIECA web site: www.cieca.com.

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About CIECA: CIECA assists the Collision Industry in the effective use of electronic commerce and the National Information Superhighway. It is directed by a Board of Trustees and has offices in Illinois. Its members jointly work on Standards Development Committees (SDM) addressing standards for Electronic Data Interchange, Interoperability, XML and Imaging.

CIECA addresses Electronic Commerce issues on a national scale. It has developed processes for identifying and prioritizing industry issues, establishing SDMs to design solutions, and then working these solutions through the broadest base of acceptance mechanisms possible, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).