Axalta Coating Systems held its first quarterly Commercial Business Council meeting for new members in Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 26-27. Axalta’s Business Council meetings are designed to offer commercial fleet repair business owners and managers leadership skills training to help improve shop efficiency, enhance profitability and grow their business.

The Commercial Business Council, established in 2009 with a group of 10 Axalta commercial fleet customers from across the U.S., brings together specialists in heavy-duty truck, RV, bus and commercial equipment repair and refinishing. The goal of the Commercial Business Council is to promote an environment where owners and managers can interact with other professionals, share best practices and further develop their business management skills. Led by industry expert Mike Anderson of Collision Advice and hosted by Axalta, the meetings are scheduled on a quarterly basis and include discussions about financial management principles, private group tours of select trade industry facilities, member shop tours, as well as guest speakers who provide relevant and timely industry information.

The attendees formally established a second Axalta Business Council group specifically for business owners in the commercial transportation industry. The debut meeting included a private tour of the Allied Recreation Group manufacturing production shop and paint facility. Allied uses Axalta’s coatings on the American Coach, Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler and Monaco brand recreational vehicles produced at its Fort Wayne plant. Special guest speaker, Lucas Deal, an editor for Truck Parts and Service magazine, shared recent survey data on commercial vehicle population, age, economic activity and truck sale trends as well as aftermarket parts and service trends.

“I am impressed with the energy and expertise Axalta is investing in my business to make us the best that we can be,” said Jon Zehnder, owner of Precision Fleet Image in Saginaw, Michigan, who has been in business for 35 years. “The investment from Axalta in their customers is unmatched in the industry,” said Jim Kolea, owner of Penn Fleet in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. “This Business Council is just one example and I am proud that we switched to Axalta.”