SUN Collision Congratulates Anthony McNee, Winner of the Inaugural Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award

By SUN Collision Staff | September 10, 2024

As a proud sponsor of the Best Repair Planner/Estimator contest, SUN Collision congratulates Anthony McNee for winning the inaugural award based on his outstanding achievements as a blueprinting expert at Ultimate Collision Repair in Edison, New Jersey.

The nationwide competition, presented by Endeavor Business Media, kicked off in March/April 2024 to honor exceptional repair planners and estimators who not only excel in safety, quality and efficiency, but also demonstrate leadership and career growth within the collision repair industry.

In recognition of his outstanding achievement, SUN Collision has awarded McNee a one-year free subscription to SUN Collision Repair Information.

“We’re excited to recognize and reward repair planners and estimators who work hard to improve their skills and knowledge… professionals who go above and beyond to ensure vehicles are repaired to their original safety standards,” said Chris Bonneau, business manager for SUN Collision. “Anthony, as the first winner of the Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award, has really set the bar for excellence in the field.”

Bonneau emphasized SUN’s commitment to safety and shop efficiency as a panelist in a recent QuickChat video roundtable, hosted by Jay Sicht, editor-in-chief of FenderBender and ABRN. During the discussion, McNee shared his approach to repair planning, while the sponsors highlighted how their products contribute to ensuring safe, accurate repairs.

The contestants were selected and judged by the editorial team at FenderBender and ABRN, along with third-party collision repair technical experts. During the competition, McNee, 29, stood out among the six finalists in a recent hands-on exercise by delivering the most complete and accurate estimate, according to a recent article announcing the winner.

The contestants were tasked with writing an estimate for a 2022 Toyota Camry XSE based on a photo from a salvage pool, focusing on OEM repair guidelines rather than insurance standards. They were instructed to replace the right quarter panel, blind spot monitor and rear bumper. Most estimates ranged from $8,200 to nearly $20,000. But Anthony’s winning estimate, totaling $20,895, spanned 21-pages and 366-lines, included meticulously documented safety-related operations.

McNee has been writing blueprints/repair plans since Dec. 2019 at Ultimate Collision Repair, which his father owns. He is an I-CAR Platinum estimator, a previous recipient of the Outstanding Craftsmanship award from Verifacts (now OEC), and Rivian-certified. His colleagues commend him for his commitment to staying updated with OEM repair procedures and new vehicle technology.

During the inaugural contest, the competition’s in-house panel reviewed each submission for attributes including the repair planner’s commitment to continuing education, work ethic, and his or her attitude in the shop to coworkers.
As the recipient of the inaugural Best Repair Planner/Estimator, McNee won a trip for two to SEMA in November, where he will receive his award at the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards ceremony.

ABOUT SUN COLLISION

SUN Collision Repair Information, a brand of Snap-on, Inc., provides complete, accurate OEM data for collision and mechanical repairs that auto body shops can trust to fix any vehicle with maximum efficiency. Powered by its exclusive 1Search Plus search engine, the online software makes it quick and easy to access current repair procedures, diagrams and specifications for all makes, including the majority of Electrical Vehicles on the market and vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). For information about SUN Collision and its products, call 877-840-1973 or visit suncollision.com.