EP 526: We Built A Collision Center That Gives People A Second Chance

What makes Kriss Omana with Iskom Collision Center a good neighbor?

We talk with Kriss Omana of Iskom Collision Center about what happens when an automotive repair business focuses as much on trust and communication as it does on repairing vehicles. Kriss shares how Iskom was built to simplify what can often be a stressful and confusing process for drivers dealing with accidents, insurance claims, and vehicle repairs.

Kriss explains how Iskom provides an all in one automotive experience that includes collision repair, vehicle sales, financing support, commercial towing services, and assistance navigating the insurance claims process. He discusses the importance of following manufacturer repair procedures and why proper documentation, organization, and quality control are critical when restoring a vehicle to its pre accident condition.

We also explore some of the common misconceptions people have about independent collision repair shops. Kriss explains why the quality of a repair depends on far more than equipment and paint. Consistent processes, skilled technicians, attention to detail, and clear communication all play a major role in delivering safe and reliable results for customers.

One of the most inspiring parts of the conversation focuses on the company’s commitment to community impact. Kriss shares how Iskom supports a second chance employment program that helps individuals transitioning from the correctional system build stable careers through technical training, mentorship, and meaningful employment opportunities. The company also invests in mentoring students pursuing technical education and career development.

If you are looking for collision repair services, help navigating an insurance claim, or simply want to learn what sets a customer focused automotive business apart, this conversation offers valuable insight into both the industry and the people behind it.

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Guest Info: Iskom Collision Center | 

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in native a collision center? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Chris Omana, with Eastcom Collision Center. Chris, it's great to have you on today. Now we are excited to learn more about you and your business. So go ahead and tell our listeners just a little bit more about your company.

Eastcom’s All In One Auto Services

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Yes, of course. Once again, thank you, Sophia, for having me in this space. And it's a pleasure to be here. I lead an integrated automotive business in Garden, Texas, which basically includes ESCOM Motors and Eastcom Collision Center. We offer all-in-one experience to our clients. We handle everything from vehicle sales in health finances to a high precision body shop repairs on the manufacturer's protocols. We also do commercial towing and managing like the insurance clean. Our goal is to make the process completely transparent, safe, and comfortable for our communities.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Wonderful. Now, how did you originally get into this business?

Chris’s Path From Corporate Ops

SPEAKER_01 1:14

So I have a bachelor's degree in business administrations and over 13 years of international domestic experience in the corporate operations and supply chains. So early in my career, so I managed a complex national logistics from a large store in Venezuela. And later, I ran financial and operational systems for a food distribution company in New York City. When I decided to move to Texas, I saw that the automotive and transportation sectors, they were critical on the everyday life. But customers often faces major stress with repairs and insurance. I knew my corporate background could help optimize these processes, reducing costs and build a trusted, well-organized local business.

Busting Myths With Compliance And Jobs

SPEAKER_02 2:02

So, Chris, what is the number one misconception you come across in your industry today? And how does your background play a part in helping you answer some of these questions for your clients?

SPEAKER_01 2:16

Yes. So the biggest myth is that independent automotive business lack professionals and organizations or transparency in our companies, we're actively fighting that misconception with two things, compliance and social impact. First, in the um in our financial operation, we just had a successful, successful, clear and rigorous multi-year on-site examination by the Texas Officer of Consumer Credit Consumer. That's basically called the OCCC. We had really excellent results. And second, that that's like the one of the most important things is that we run a second chance work for integration program. So we provide a stable technical jobs and mentorship our collision center to individuals that they're transitioning from the correctional system and who are under active probation programs. Um, we also onboard and mentor graduate-level students from technical schools. So we proved that a local business can operate with a high carpet standards and a big heart.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

Wonderful, wonderful. Now we're gonna go ahead and switch gears here for a

Ideal Customers And Social Media Reach

SPEAKER_02 3:24

second. We know marketing is the heart of every business. So ideally, give us a better picture of your ideal clients and how you're attracting them today.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

So our best clients basically is whoever needs the service who wants to get like the best of everything. Since we are in the automotive industry and we offer all-in-one services, we want them to have, like I said, the best experience ever from buying, getting, um, working with the credits. Also, if they need assistance from any um possibly Greg or maybe you know, a crash, so we can be here for them since we follow all the protocols and all the industry's rules, we want them to get their cars back in shape on the roads. Wonderful. And how are you reaching this audience today? So, right now, um, we're working on a lot with social media. Um, we're doing a lot of videos over TikTok, Instagram, and also Facebook. We also have our website where they can reach us out and they can get free estimates, maybe also deductible assistance and many other options.

SPEAKER_02 4:42

Wonderful, wonderful.

Family Time And Recharging Outdoors

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Now, outside of work, Chris, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01 4:48

So, first thing is that I like to live in Texas and basically without doing auditing any cash flow or managing my inventory. My favorite thing is to spend quality time with my family. I love to go out since Texas has beautiful parts to enjoy with my family and a tooler. And that's like the best thing. Just watching learn and playing outdoors is the best way for me to recharge my energy.

SPEAKER_02 5:13

That is always so important. Now, switching back to your business for a second here.

Community Impact Through Second Chances

SPEAKER_02 5:21

Now, what is the biggest takeaway you would like our listeners to learn about ISCOM Collision Center?

SPEAKER_01 5:29

So I wish that they know that even though they support ESCOM Water and ESCOM Collision Center, we're helping their own community. And every service that we provide helps us to sustain our programs that we're giving like um second chances to people under probation. And we launch careers to young technical students. So we're a local business that we're dedicated to safety, transparency, and helping people move forward in life.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Wow. Now, where does your heart for that come from?

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Um, so I always like to help my communities, and the best way to do it is that I found that there was like a hole in the system where there's a lot of opportunities and a lot of people that know a lot of skills. And I was like, all right, so how can we attract these people to our job site? And that was like one of the ideas. So we engage to help these communities.

SPEAKER_02 6:21

That's beautiful, very beautiful.

How To Contact Eastcom Collision Center

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Now, final question for you today: where can our listeners go to learn more about ISCOM Collision Center?

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Yes, so they can go to www.iscomcollisioncenter.com that's spells as I-S-K-O-M, and they can reach us right there also through a phone number. It's that it's 972-504-5354. Also, we have other social media as ISCOM Motors and ISCOM Collision Center, Facebook, TikTok, and also Instagram.

SPEAKER_02 6:52

Well, Chris, I really appreciate you being on the show today. We wish you and your business the best moving forward. Thank you, Sophia.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor

Nominate A Local Business

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfrisco.com. That's gnpfrisco.com or call four six nine two two two two two two two two two two two two one nine three four five.