Walt Gorman
GlasWeld’s Windshield Repair Competition (WRO) in Honor of Walt Gorman will be held this September in Tampa, Fla., as part of Auto Glass Week™. The international competition is designed to honor the best auto glass repair technician in the world.
The competition was founded in 2006 by AGRR™ magazine.
Within the competition, each technician has 45 minutes to complete a windshield repair. The competition is based on quality, rather than speed, and time is a factor only in the case of a tie. All aspects of the repair, including customer service and professionalism, are considered in the technician’s final score.
The Technical aspects of the competition are based on the Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard (ROLAGS™), and all contestants also must participate in a short, 10-question test about proper windshield repair practices (based on ROLAGS™) during the mandatory contestant meeting held before the competition. The results of the test are included in the finalists’ scores (after the final round is complete).
Competitors take a proctor or customer through an entire repair from the customer/technician introduction through proper cleaning, resin placement, environmental element protection, curing and signing the finished work order. The six areas judged on the competition floor are as follows: customer greeting; technician comportment (professionalism/conduct); vehicle preparation; products to be used; repair technique; and post-repair procedures. There is a heavier weight given to the points assigned within the repair technique section.
Registration is now open at www.autoglassweek.com. The deadline to register is Monday, July 8.
Those who wish to compete must be employed currently as a technician in a bona fide operating auto glass company and must have at least one year of experience as a repair technician in the auto glass industry in order to compete.
The first-place winner will receive $10,000, a gold medal and trophy, as well as bragging rights as the “World’s Best Windshield Repair Technician.” Second place will receive $1,000 as well as a silver medal, and third place will receive $500 and a bronze medal.
