Biographies

Erick Bickett
Erick has been in the Collision Industry for 19 years. He and his wife started their business, Auto Center Auto Body in 1984. Starting out in a 3,500-sq-ft. facility with four employees, Auto Center Auto Body Inc. now spans over 155,000 square feet in 9 locations with over 250 employees, doing an excess of $30m in gross revenues annually.

Always looking for ways to improve his business and the industry, Erick has been a leader and innovator since the mid 80's devoting countless hours to the collision repair industry. Leadership roles in local associations led to working on national issues. In 1995 Erick founded the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) a non-profit association organized to standardize E-Commerce and reduce inefficiency in information management. He remains a lifetime board member and is still active in the association today. In 1997 he was elected to a 2-year term as the Chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC). "Body Shop Business" named Erick Bickett Collision Repair Executive of the Year in 1998. He has also been named by ABRN as one of the top 20 most influential people in the Collision Repair industry.

In 1997, Erick Co-Founded FIX USA. FIX USA is an extension of one of the most successful and united independently owned repair shop networks in the world, FIX AUTO in the Province of Quebec, Canada.
Matthew Ohrnstein
Matthew Ohrnstein currently serves as Managing Director of Symphony Advisors, LLC, a management consulting firm focused on delivering strategic, operational and financial advisory services to participants in the automobile aftermarket parts and services supply chain and to automobile insurance physical damage claims organizations.

From the Company’s founding and initial financing in 1997 until October, 2004, Mr. Ohrnstein served as Chairman and CEO and led Caliber Collision Center’s strategic initiatives and key financial relationships. Mr. Ohrnstein led the development and the financing of the Company from The Zurich Group, Oak Hill Partners (the NY investment vehicle for the Robert Bass Group), The Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club of Southern California, BNY Capital Partners, L.P. (The Bank of New York) and 1818 Mezzanine Fund, L.P. (Brown Brothers Harriman).

Over the course of Ohrnstein’s 8 year tenure, Caliber Collisions Centers acquired or developed 68 collision repair centers in California (38) and Texas (30) with annual revenues exceeding $200 million and over 1,600 employees. In 2001, 2002 and 2003, Caliber Collision Centers was included on the INC 500 List of the fastest growing privately-held companies in America. In 2001, Caliber was ranked #9 by INC Magazine, and was the fastest growing privately-held company in California.

Mr. Ohrnstein began his career in 1977 with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (predecessor to KPMG), in New York and Los Angeles. In 1980, Mr. Ohrnstein joined Insureco Incorporated as vice president and corporate controller of this insurance and information processing holding company. Beginning in 1983, Mr. Ohrnstein served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of CAIR Systems Corporation, a leading information systems and services provider to property and casualty insurance agents and brokers. In 1991, Mr. Ohrnstein joined Specialty Insurance Service as President and CEO. Specialty Insurance Service, now a subsidiary of NYSE traded Fiserv, is a leading information systems and service provider to property and casualty insurance companies.

Mr. Ohrnstein holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Vincent Romans
Vincent Romans is the founding partner of The Romans Group LLC. He has over 30 years of consulting and operating experience with domestic and global enterprises. The Romans Group LLC, founded in 1996, provides business, market, financial, and strategic development advisory services to the property and casualty auto physical damage insurance, automotive services, property restoration, and related supply chain segments.

Mr. Romans and his associates have a history of success in general management, product, market and business development, strategic planning, financial analysis, management and planning, alliance and partnership development, mergers and acquisitions, sales and marketing, customer service, operations, and research and development. Mr. Romans understands and practices the art of interest alignment among existing and prospective clients, business associates, constituent groups, and strategic alliance partners.

Prior to forming The Romans Group LLC, Mr. Romans held senior management positions with CCC Information Services, Inc., a leading supplier of claims information, advanced software communications systems, and internet and wireless-enabled technology solutions to the automotive claims, collision repair, and property and casualty insurance industries. While at CCC, Mr. Romans developed and implemented collision repair networks outsourced by the property and casualty insurance industry for auto physical damage claims processing, management and business intelligence. Additionally, his responsibilities included new market and business development, executive-level consultative sales and marketing, strategic alliances and business partnerships, product and business acquisitions, and business and market exit planning and implementation.

Prior to CCC Information Services, Mr. Romans worked with the Globe Group, VISTAR, a national firm providing auto glass installation and preferred provider network services to the property and casualty insurance and collision repair industries. His responsibilities included the development, planning, and implementation of both the U.S.A. Glass and Auto Glass by Sears networks. These networks were implemented in conjunction with Allstate and other early adopter insurance companies. Additionally, Mr. Romans was responsible for establishing and integrating the corporate strategic planning process, developing sales and marketing strategies, and developing and implementing pricing policy.

His international experience includes extensive business, product, and market development in Asia, Europe, and South America for Tiger International (Flying Tigers). His 13-year career with Tiger International included sales and marketing management through general management of a $140 million air freight operation.

Mr. Romans participates as a board director and strategic advisory board member to various organizations. He received his MBA from Temple University and his BS in Marketing Management from Pennsylvania State University.