Casey Lund, President. Casey is the owner of Collision Leaders (formerly Warrensburg Collision), a new 8-shop MSO located in Missouri and Kansas. After finishing his Business Management degree from UCM, he began his career as a Development Officer but was thrust into the family business in 2004 when his father had a heart transplant. By 2012, frustrated with the industry, he drew a line in the sand. The business was either going to have to be drastically different or he was going to have to move on. Deciding to stay, Casey transformed the culture of the shop, engaged employees to help transform the business, incorporated lean practices and began working on earning multiple OEM certifications. The streamlined processes have allowed the business to grow tenfold within the same four walls utilizing only one paint booth and one shift at the original store. The shop is now something business leaders from around the Midwest bring their teams to see. Their successes have been recognized with the 2016 Missouri Chamber of Commerce ‘Fast Track’ Award, they were included in Ingram’s Magazine’s Corporate 100 as one of the KC Area’s Fastest Growing Companies four times (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2021), and have won numerous local awards, from ‘Chamber Business of the Year’ to ‘Best of the Burg’ multiple years.
The importance of serving the community and involvement is encouraged with employees and Casey absolutely leads by example, serving on various boards and committees. Casey is the former Mayor of Warrensburg, Past President of the Whiteman AFB Base Community Council, Past President of the Greater Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Past President of the Warrensburg Economic Coalition. He is the current President of the MABA (Missouri Auto Body Association), a Warrensburg City Councilman, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, Board Member for Johnson County Economic Development Corporation, the Warrensburg Schools Foundation, and the Western Missouri Medical Center Foundation. Casey was a 2018 graduate of Leadership Missouri, was included in Ingram’s Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2018 and named as a “50 Missourians to Know” by Ingram’s Magazine in 2022. Casey also mentors students, speaks to local groups and emcees many local events.
Tanner Kemna, Vice President. Tanner has been in the collision repair business for more than half of his life. He started before high school working for his parents Greg and Kristi and their collision shop, Kemna Collision Repair, sweeping floors, taking out trash and washing cars. After High School Tanner earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Central Missouri, while in Warrensburg he gained more experience in the auto body industry while working for Warrensburg Collision (now Collision Leaders) where he gained experience in teardown, blueprinting, refinish preparation, and front counter roles. After college Tanner returned home to Jefferson City to help with the family business where he has gained the experience to help lead the company to being recognized as one of the best options for customers in mid-Missouri. Since getting into the industry full-time, Tanner has had the opportunity to serve on several advisory boards for programs local to mid-Missouri. Tanner is a founding member and has served as the Vice President for the Missouri Autobody Association since its creation.
Jared Nicholson, Treasurer. Growing up in a small town in Missouri, Jared knew from a young age that he would be working with cars. Graduating from Linn State Technical College (now State Technical College of Missouri) in 2001. After receiving his associate degree Jared accepted a position as a combination, paint, and body technician with Bill Greer Ford in Sedalia, MO. He worked until March of 2009, when he began working for Bob Sight Ford in Lee’s Summit, MO. Working as a body technician and filling in for other areas until January of 2016. When he was promoted to Collision Center Manager. In June of 2021, he began working as the CIO for Collision Leaders. (Formally Warrensburg Collision) Jared is an ASE master certified technician, he has been certified as an I-CAR Platinum Technician in Refinishing, Non-Structural and structural repairs, Mechanical repairs, Electrical/Diagnostics, and Production management as well as Platinum certified in Estimating & Auto Physical damage appraisal. Jared has been the treasurer of the Kansas Auto Body Association from 2019-2022 as well as a founding member (treasurer) for the Missouri Auto Body Association. Jared also serves on multiple advisory boards for local high schools and colleges including State Technical College of Missouri – where it all began…
Kyle Motzkus, Founding Member and Secretary. Kyle is the manager at Hunter Auto Body. St. Louis, born and raised holds many accolades in the world of repair planning from sitting on many committees in the industry ranging from education to legislation to holding numerous OEM certifications for repairs. Kyle is also well versed in AIC-30, which is essentially the bible of claims handling.
Curtis Goacher, Board Member. Curtis is the Senior Solutions Specialist for Mitchell and resides in Northwest Missouri, Easton. He has worked in the Auto Body field in one form or another for 35 years. Curtis started painting when he was 14. He has worked in several independent shops, dealerships, and MOS over the years. Curtis has done just about everything in a shop, from being a tech all the way to General Manager. He has been ASE and I-Car Certified. He is also a former I-Car instructor. Curtis has worked for Mitchell since 2007.
Brody Simpson, Board Member. Brody started working in a body shop at 14 after school and on weekends. He went on to open his own shop at age 19 which operated for 5 years before moving his family to KC. Brody worked in a handful of different independent and dealership shops over the next 10 years as a body and occasional paint tech. He started managing about 8 years ago. Before managing Randy Curnow Buick GMC, Brody ran an independent shop for 4 years. Brody is now the Collision Center Director of both locations, Chillicothe, MO and KC, both of which are I-CAR gold class shops. The KC store is on the GM Collision Repair Network.
Gina Cotton, Executive Director. Gina is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Political Science. She has had a varied career in running her own business, working in non-profit fundraising, TV advertising, advocating for four-lane expressways, and now working with the Missouri Auto Body Association. Association building, collaborating, and advocacy are Gina’s strengths. Gina understands that a strong association can greatly benefit the industry, from much-needed legislation to public awareness and especially education. She understands there is strength in numbers. In her spare time, Gina enjoys golfing, traveling, and most importantly spending time with friends and family.
Bob Gallant,Missouri Auto Body Association Board Member
Bob started out as a porter washing cars in a small-town body shop to the manager of a large body shop for a dealership in a metropolitan area. With that experience, he obtained a position of Business Development Manager for a Regional Paint Distributor and also a Territory Manager for a Global Paint Corporation. He experienced many things throughout the industry and enjoy talking to everyone about the different positions and all the different avenues the industry offers for individuals looking for a career path that is something very unique.
Bob has been a part of many High School and College Level Collision Advisory Boards at local Schools and Technical Centers across the United States. He’s helped the Skills Competitions at the local levels to judging at the National Skills Competition. Bob also helps auto body associations. Bob is a member of KABA, OKABA, CIC and SCRS. He’d like to say, he’s seen it all, but he sees something new in this industry every day.
Bob loves this industry, and it is what gets him started every morning, excited for the day. He is here to help! If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows someone that does.
Bob’s number one goal is the correct repair of an automobile that has been in an accident and returned to the Consumer with a safe and proper repair, following the manufacturer guidelines. In the end, we are all Consumers and there is only one way to fix a car….The correct way!
Herby Fessler
Kevin Bopp
Ken Cielinski
