Collision Industry Executive · Author · Software Builder

Charles A. Whitaker III

25+ years in collision repair. I fix the numbers behind the shop: profit, production, people, and the claims process. Now I build the software and the playbook to do it at scale.

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Charlie Whitaker, arms crossed, smiling
  • 25+years in collision
  • 30%+org growth as contract COO
  • $80Mperformance group led at AkzoNobel
  • 27%operating income lift for that group

About

Shop floor to P&L to code.

Charlie Whitaker portrait

I started in the trade. Collision technician, sales, sales manager, then owner of my own shop. From there I ran high-volume collision centers, led national programs for Valspar, and coached AkzoNobel's top-performing independent group.

Today I run Collision Claims Advisors, build AppraisalIQ, lead marketing and growth work through Credenda Capital, and wrote The Collision Recovery Playbook. Same mission across all of it: shops and vehicle owners should get paid what the repair and the loss are actually worth.

P&L managementMulti-location leadershipKPI scorecardsProduction workflowDiminished value & total lossChange managementLeadership coaching

Experience

The track record.

  1. Collision Claims Advisors, LLC

    Founder & CEO · Arizona

    Independent appraisals for diminished value, total loss, and repair disputes. Operating advisory for repair organizations.

  2. Multi-Location Collision Organization

    Contract Chief Operating Officer · Arizona

    Grew the organization more than 30%. Gross-profit performance up about 17%. EBITDA up seven points.

  3. Liberty Ford Collision

    Collision Center Manager · Vermilion, OH

    Full P&L for a dealership collision operation with about 18 team members.

  4. AkzoNobel

    Services Consultant · Troy, MI

    Led a roughly $80M independent performance group to the top of the program. Aggregate operating income up 27%. Helped launch Carbeat.

  5. Valspar Automotive

    Technical Rep, Quality First National Technical Manager, Business Development Services Manager

    Ran a national profitability and best-practices program for strategic collision customers.

  6. Collision Authority

    Production / Damage Claims Manager, then General Manager · Las Vegas, NV

    Added about $1.2M in annual revenue. CSI above 95%. Top five in a 150-location group.

  7. Where it started

    Whitaker's Collision Center (Owner/Operator) · AutoNation Ford, Amherst, Ohio (Sales Associate, Internet Sales Manager) · AutoNation Collision Center, Las Vegas (Collision Technician) · Ridge Tool Company (Lean Process Leader)

Credentials

Licensed Auto Appraiser · I-CAR Platinum · Lean Six Sigma Green & Yellow Belt · AMI Certificate in Automotive Management · CCC Advanced Estimating · Audatex Estimating · BMW Structural & Aluminum Repair · University of Phoenix, Business Administration coursework

Ventures

What I'm building.

CCA

Collision Claims Advisors

Independent diminished value and total loss appraisals. When the insurer's number is wrong, we prove it.

collisionclaimsadvisors.com → Software

AppraisalIQ

Appraisal software I designed and built. Comps, valuations, dealer quotes and reports in one workflow.

Visit AppraisalIQ → Growth

Credenda Capital

Marketing, SEO and online presence built for collision centers that want more of the right cars.

Visit Credenda Capital → Network

CCA Executive Network

Hands-on operating partnership for collision owners. Scorecards, financials, accountability, and a rollout plan that sticks.

Visit the Executive Network →

Author

The Collision Recovery Playbook by Charlie Whitaker

The Collision Recovery Playbook

Releases November 1, 2026

Everything I've learned about getting a collision claim paid right, written for the people who actually live it.

Get the book

More books are on the way.

Speaking & Media

On stage and on air.

Consolidation Nation

Podcast guest · Coming soon

Episode coming soon.

SCRS Repairer Driven Education

Instructor at SEMA since 2015

Developing New Talent in a Shrinking Workforce While Reducing Labor Cost.

Collision Industry Conference

Gold Pin Member

Long-standing participant in the industry's leading forum.

Charles Whitaker on his partnership with SCRS and Valspar

Valspar Automotive Refinish

In the Press

Quoted and published.

BodyShop Business · Sep 2015

Valspar Automotive Exec to Talk Money Making Strategies at SEMA

FenderBender · Sep 2015

Valspar announces SEMA class

FenderBender · Oct 2015

Valspar Automotive exec talks money-making strategies at SEMA

Collision Repair Magazine · Oct 2016

Valspar's Charlie Whitaker to lead talent acquisition seminar at SEMA

BodyShop Business · Oct 2016

Valspar supports SCRS Repairer Driven Education at SEMA 2016

ABRN · May 2014

Steps shops can take to improve labor, materials profits in the paint department

ABRN · May 2015

Build A Prep Program With Your Paint Department

Contact

Let's talk.

Consulting, speaking, appraisal work, or the book. Reach out directly.

charlie@collisionclaimsadvisors.com 877.587.3040 LinkedIn Gilbert, Arizona