NABC® Award Recognizes John Hamdan and Anne Kolea from Dynasty Auto Body and Bob Waldron from CARSTAR Waldron’s for Community Leadership, Philanthropy
PORT CHARLOTTE (November 6, 2025) –- The National Auto Body Council® announced the NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award winners for 2025 at the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards event on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and honored them as part of its 2025 NABC® SEMA Celebration on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award recognizes the individuals in the collision repair industry who have delivered exemplary service in the NABC® mission of Changing and Saving Lives Every Day, far beyond their role in the industry.
For the first time, there was a tie of two amazing winners for the award — John Hamdan and Anne Kolea, owners of Dynasty Auto Body in New Jersey, and Bob Waldron, owner of four CARSTAR locations in Massachusetts. Both are true champions of their communities with long legacies of giving back to need both small and large.
John Hamdan and Anne Kolea host NABC Recycled Rides® presentations that are legendary, with mounted policeman, fire engines, military units, bagpipes and more. Some 13 years ago, when John and Anne were at SEMA, they witnessed their first NABC Recycled Rides® gifting. They went back home, talked with their GEICO rep, joined the NABC®, and the rest is history. In September 2025, Dynasty Auto Body held their 13th NABC Recycled Ride® gifting event, and presented their 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st vehicles to four deserving veterans.
The annual event is a moving tribute to the military and first responders, from mounted and motorcycle police to flags and firetrucks lining the street. Local dignitaries gather to honor the veteran recipients and the community cheers them on. The event grows larger and more spectacular each year, but always keeps the focus on honoring the veteran recipients with reliable transportation. Their actions not only have changed the lives of 21 families, but also bring the whole community together to celebrate and thank not only our veterans, but to also feed and show appreciation for the people who protect the community daily–law enforcement, firefighters and first responders.
“This is really an honor for us, and much of the credit goes to our team for making this possible,” said Kolea. “We decided early on that we wanted to honor veterans and those who serve, so this has become a very special celebration for us. Thank you to the NABC® for your support and recognition.”
The second recipient of the NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award is Bob Waldron, owner of CARSTAR Waldron’s with four locations in Massachusetts. Waldron entered the collision repair industry as a vo-tech student in 1975, working in the field part-time after graduation until an opportunity to purchase his own shop presented itself in 1981. He started as a one-man crew, and it grew from there. Today he has four locations. Over the years, he has been deeply involved in his community, giving back to an area that has given him much. Not only has he presented dozens of NABC Recycled Rides®, held coat and toy drives, provided holiday meals and more, he has been an active ambassador for the local technical college, hosting students for career days and internships.
Waldon has always been a staunch supporter of his community. He has gifted more than a dozen NABC Recycled Rides® over the years, including three in 2024 and three in 2025. He is planning on three giftings next year. Waldron also has a unique backdrop for his giftings and other events. One of his locations had been a Ford dealership in its day and there was a huge showroom that was under-utilized for years, so he decided to redo it for their 40th business anniversary. They did a complete remodel and filled it with nostalgic automotive products along with a 1960s atmosphere. There is an old gas pump they restored, a pay phone, a rebuilt jukebox, a Coca-Cola cooler and products, 1960 Chevy Bel Air, lighted signage, and the main attraction – a life-size full set of the Beatles with all instruments. They offer this room to any local organizations that would like to use it for their meetings and events.
“I’ve been fortunate over the years and want to give back to help others in our community,” says Waldron. “Our entire team takes a great deal of pride in presenting NABC Recycled Rides® and giving back to those in need. Thank you to the NABC for this recognition. I work with a number of collision repair students and hope this inspires them in their career and how it can provide a great opportunity for serving others.”
The recipients receive an engraved trophy to signify their accomplishments. In addition, the NABC® will make a contribution to a charitable organization in the recipient’s name.
“As our organization has grown and evolved, we have an opportunity to work with so many great leaders, companies and charities across the country,” said Debby Robinson, executive director of the National Auto Body Council®. “We were honored to present the 2025 NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award to John Hamdan and Anne Kolea from Dynasty Auto Body and Bob Waldron from CARSTAR Waldron’s. We are excited to recognize our partners who help us serve communities across the country.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,500 vehicles and provided extrication opportunities for some 6,000 First Responders in communities around the country through the NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) programs. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars.
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.