About Us
Collision Management Services, Inc. has extensive experience in the complex and competitive field of collision repair. CMS principals and associates have over 50 years experience in shop ownership, management, distribution, finance, and general management. Their insights in assessing markets, setting specific goals, and developing action plans can be valuable tools for your operation. 
 		  
Bernie Blickenstaff
Principal

Bernie is former owner and operator of Auto Glo Body Shop in Baltimore, MD. He is also shareholder & CEO of Superior Auto Paints and the president of CMS. Former President of C.A.R.S. of Maryland (SCRS affiliate). Collision Industry Conference Gold Pin member and participant on the Education and Human Resources committees. Bernie was one of the originating founders of the Collision Technician Apprenticeship Program (CTAP).

As a shop owner, Bernie succeeded by building Auto Glo into a million dollar shop in its first seven years, but struggled with the challenges of business and technical changes. The need for more help from his paint jobber led Bernie to open Superior Auto Paints. Superior set the pace for distributors in the Baltimore - Washington area growing to 5 locations. Providing value to its customers beyond delivering paint led Bernie & Superior into shop consulting, "Key Numbers" analysis and tracking, the development of management seminars, and the eventual formation of a non-profit apprenticeship program. In 1995, BASF agreed to sponsor a series of four management seminars, the Vision Plus Professional Management Series, and Collision Management Services was formed.

Today, Bernie is a regular at national industry events, and maintains a rigorous speaking schedule of 50 - 70 dates per year plus conducting intensive 2-day training programs for manufacturers, consolidators, and industry groups.
John Halstead
Associate

John has an MBA degree from the State University of N.Y. at Buffalo and worked in various financial and planning positions with the Carborundum Company before relocating to the mid-Atlantic area in 1988. From 1988 – 1993 John worked as an independent business consultant working with small companies focusing on growth planning, acquisitions, divestitures, and business valuation. John connected with Bernie Blickenstaff late in 1991 and served Superior Auto Paints as a consultant for 18 months prior to joining the organization as General Manager in early 1993.

As a consultant and as GM, John developed Superior’s organization and financial structure to facilitate growth and longevity. John was also involved in customer-based value-added programs and worked hands-on with collision facility owners and managers on a wide range of issues from shop evaluations, to pay plans, to management training. Ultimately, John assumed the role of Business Development Manager.

With CMS, John brings his 30 years of management and consulting experience to apply leading edge management concepts to the collision industry through the development of new processes, measurements, and training courses. He also supports CMS clients with on-site consulting as well as tele-coaching.

Debbie Pukach
Office Manager


Debbie plays the leadership role in the arrangement of training seminars and works closely with BASF Reps and other clients to assure the location, room set-up, meals and transportation details are in order. She is responsible for all CMS office duties which include the planning and managing of Bernie's extensive travel schedule; client billing; and all accounting functions.

Debbie has worked with CMS since 2001.