The upcoming Southeast Collision Conference, scheduled for May 16-18 in Greensboro, NC, has two full days of Collision P.R.E.P. classes and presentations for attendees.
The event is co-presented by the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and the Washington Metro Auto Body Association (WMABA). Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Friday, May 17
8:30-10 a.m.: "Future-Proof Your Shop: Tomorrow's Success Starts with Today"
Mike Anderson, Collision Advice
What does success look like today and what will it look like tomorrow? Mike Anderson shares insights gleaned from traveling over 300 days a year working with hundreds of shops, OEMs, software companies and his own personal experiences. He’ll discuss moving to a four-day work week, trends with OEM insurance, OEM certifications and DRP versus non-DRP. Find out what ESG is and how it may impact our industry, trends on customer pay repair orders, and why it is critical to build a relationship with the vehicle owner. Speculate on what the future holds for innovation in scheduling and how AI may impact that. In addition, Mike will share his latest state-by-state average labor hours per RO and per labor category and the consequences of “Being greedy!”
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: "Efficiency Unleashed: Rethinking Roles in Collision Repair"
Michael Bradshaw of K&M Collision, Barry Dorn of Dorn’s Body & Paint, and Kris Burton of Rosslyn Auto Body
This insightful seminar is designed for shop owners, managers and estimators in the collision repair industry, and offers a comprehensive approach to maximizing shop efficiency through strategic role segmentation. Takeaways include the concept of role segmentation and its critical impact on enhancing shop efficiency; successful strategies in other industries like manufacturing and health care and how to adapt these for collision repair; the importance of specializing in evolving vehicle technologies, including ADAS and electric vehicles, to stay ahead in the industry; practical, actionable steps for introducing and optimizing role segmentation in your shop, aimed at improving workflow and overall productivity; equipping yourself with the knowledge to adapt to and leverage future trends in the collision repair industry, ensuring long-term business growth and innovation.
2-3 p.m.
Option 1: "The Critical Steps Involved to Achieve an OEM-Centric Calibration"
Greg Peeters, CEO of Car ADAS Solutions
With the increasing focus on following OEM repair procedures to ensure a proper repair, collision repair facilities must understand the critical steps involved to achieve an ADAS calibration. Greg Peeters will talk about the most popular types of calibration being done today, as well as when and how to calibrate. He will also discuss why the setup of the calibration environment is an important factor in the accuracy of the calibration.
Option 2: "Building Value in Your Shop"
Matt DiFrancesco, principal and certified exit planner at High Lift Financial
As an owner, you pour your heart and soul into building a successful business. Many entrepreneurs are focused on daily operations, but it is just as important to strategize for the future. Every move you make should have your continued success and succession in mind, regardless of when or if you are planning it. Waiting until you burn out will make it very difficult to achieve the post-ownership lifestyle you want. Building the value in your business will allow you to focus on growth and exiting on your terms.
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Option 1: "Self Confidence: An Advanced Repair Plan You Can Expand On"
Danny Gredinberg, administrator of the DEG, and Kyle Motzkus, general manager of Hunter Autobody and Missouri Autobody Association
A dive into the what, why and how of the repair planning process. Repair planners are getting stuck in explaining the repair process with technicalities which can include required procedures, process of repairs and the truth of the conversation. Repair planners are challenged daily, having to understand every aspect of the repair process. This session will discuss non-negotiable required operations within the repair process. Starting with the initial consultation then onto diagnostics, advanced refinishing processes that must be considered, and unique repair steps when compliant with OEM certified expectations. Immerse yourself into this action-packed discussion, which will yield proven tactics to build a bullet proof repair plan supported by facts.
Option 2: "Navigating the Challenges of Recruiting & Retaining Technicians"
Jay Goninen, co-founder and president, WrenchWay
Recruiting and retaining technicians is one of the greatest challenges facing the collision industry. Not only is there a national technician shortage, but the priorities of job seekers is changing and recruiting as a whole isn’t as cut and dry as it used to be. Join us in this presentation as we discuss what today’s technicians are looking for in an employer, modern-day recruiting strategies that actually work, and tips for retaining top talent in your shop.
Saturday, May 18
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Option 1: "100% Disassembly"
Mike Anderson, Collision Advice
This class explores the importance of creating a culture of doing things WITH your team, not TO your team, and how to gain their support for the common goal of 100% disassembly. Often shops believe they are completely disassembling vehicles; however, we find the vehicles still have components that should have been R&I’d. Therefore, this course will look at the reasons why components need to be R&I’d from a vehicle and provide real-world examples for each reason.
Option 2: "Do You Have Leaky Profit? Find Out Where Profit Leaks from Your Collision Center and How to Fill the Holes!"
Taylor Moss, OEConnection
This presentation focuses on real-world examples where materials, labor, software, employees and other areas may be leaking profits out of your business. There are collision centers all over the nation that are mindful of these areas -- they are winning and collecting profits that others simply let leak out of their business. This presentation will highlight some of the most common areas where profit leaks out, while offering advice and recommendations on how to plug those gaps and fill your profit cup.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion: "RTAs and PRIs, The Process & the Shop’s Role"
Panelists: Adrian Mora, Collision Consumer Advocates, and Billy Walkowiak, Collision Safety Consultants; moderated by Steve Krieps, WMABA Imm past president/Collision Safety Consultants of WV
This panel discussion will be an open dialogue between local- and nationally-recognized leading experts on the right to appraisal and post-repair inspections, sharing viewpoints on how repairers properly use the RTA and/or PRI. This will give insights into where the customer or the repairer can invoke these resources, to assist in negotiations and completion of the repair process. Real examples and real discussion will round out the session, with a healthy allotment of time for interaction and questions.
2-3:30 p.m.
Option 1: "Nurturing the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg"
Bruce Schronce, StrongLead’s executive partner and leadership and business consultant
Companies typically get started because of a passion, an ability and an opportunity that eventually turns into a business. However, growing and sustaining that business while enjoying the journey can become a challenging feat at best, and at worst a living nightmare. This will be an interactive presentation on critical aspects of growing your business: attracting, developing and retaining great people, leadership cohesion and enjoying a meaningful and prosperous journey. Bruce will present and field questions on growing, enjoying and sustaining a successful business in today’s ever-changing environment of collision repair.
Option 2: "Increased Profitability Through Proper Documentation"
Keith Manich, AMAM, director of collision services, Automotive Training Institute
The presentation will identify the areas of opportunity we all face in trying to move collision shops in a more professional and direct way against those who might challenge the collision shop owner and their staff. One of the most important steps will be creating bigger and more effective associations to allow collision owners to develop more collaborative opportunities and business partnerships to move the entire industry forward. It’s about the collision shop owners taking back their industry at the same time they are becoming businesses the consumer can look to for quality and trust in the process.
