Plasnomic is pleased to welcome Derrell Burgin, Senior Director of Physical Damage Claims at GEICO, to the Plasnomic Plastic Repair Alliance Council. With more than three decades of experience spanning collision repair operations and national claims leadership, Burgin’s appointment further strengthens the council’s mission to bring greater collaboration, technical clarity, and repair-first momentum to plastic repair across the global collision industry.
“Derrell represents the type of leadership this industry needs right now,” said Mario Dimovski, Chairman and Head of the Plastic Repair Alliance Council. “He understands plastic repair from the shop floor to the claims office. His experience strengthens our commitment to bring greater alignment around best practices, technical education, and the long-term advancement of plastic repair.”
Burgin brings more than 35 years of experience in physical damage and collision repair. He began his career as a technician in a collision repair facility before advancing to estimator and ultimately moving into executive leadership within GEICO’s Physical Damage organization, where he has served for more than 27 years.
His career path, spanning hands-on repair work through national claims leadership, provides a unique perspective on both the operational realities inside repair facilities and the broader structural and financial considerations of modern claims management.
During his tenure at GEICO, Burgin has also contributed to the development of the company’s catastrophe response strategies, helping establish systems designed to respond effectively during periods of high claim volume and operational complexity.
Supporting the industry’s shift toward repair-first strategies
Burgin’s addition to the council fits perfectly within Plasnomic’s vision, as plastic components such as bumper covers and headlamp assemblies have become some of the most frequently replaced and highest-cost items in modern collision claims.
While these parts are commonly repairable, the industry has historically lacked a centralized framework to define consistent repair methodologies, structured education pathways, and validated repair standards.
From its inception, Plasnomic has focused on addressing this gap by bringing together stakeholders from across the collision ecosystem to create a collaborative framework supporting plastic repair.
With participation from multiple major insurers, global MSO networks, technical leaders, and materials science partners, the Plastic Repair Alliance Council is helping guide the industry toward a more structured and evidence-based approach to plastic repair.
Moving from discussion to implementation
Plasnomic continues to advance initiatives designed to bring greater clarity and structure to plastic repair across the collision repair ecosystem. These efforts include the development of laboratory-supported testing, best-practice guidance, industry education initiatives, and digital tools designed to help organizations better track and manage repair-first opportunities.
By combining technical expertise, industry collaboration, and technology platforms, Plasnomic aims to help ensure that plastic repair becomes a process that is measurable, repeatable, and scalable across modern repair networks.
“Plasnomic’s role is to help the industry move forward together,” Dimovski said. “By bringing insurers, repair organizations, and technical experts into one collaborative structure, we can accelerate the adoption of smarter, more sustainable repair practices.”
