The Southeast Collision Conference is an opportunity to bring a big show feel closer to home. The event is set to take place May 2-3, 2025, in Richmond, VA, again co-hosted by the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA).
The event focus will be on managers, owners and technicians, according to a show press release. Organizers expect to attract vendors with local, regional and national presences alongside industry speakers and educational presenters.
There will be a particular focus this time, according to CCA Executive Director Josh Kent, on covering the whole shop.
“The goal is to try to cover each aspect of running a shop from check-in to repair planning to financial training,” he said. “(It will be) all aspects of a shop from front to finish -- our goal is to have a speaker for every topic.”
Emphasis on Education
Education will be at the forefront of the Southeast Collision Conference, with Collision Professional Repairer Education Program presentations in the form of panel discussions and seminars on both days.
CCA Executive Director Josh Kent.
The conference is still accepting presentation proposals in areas including management, vehicle technology, profitability and repair methodology. Proposals should include presentation title; names, companies, titles and email addresses of presenters involved; a description of the presentation; and three takeaways for attendees.
Those interested should contact Chris Cage at chris@southeastcollisionconference.com before Dec. 31.
The effort to cover all aspects of running a shop naturally extends to individuals in charge of those operations. Kent said event organizers desire to attract workers like refinishers and technicians so they can enhance their levels of education.
Jordan Hendler, WMABA executive director, emphasized in a press release the importance of the SCC in bringing together industry groups in one place.
“It brings added discussion and networking as well as other associations and pivotal industry groups,” she said. “Higher representation of vendors, OEMs, insurers and more will be present.”
The Importance of Collaboration
This will mark the third year WMABA and CCA have come together to put on the Southeast Collision Conference.
CCA President Kyle Bradshaw.
The collaboration, said CCA President Kyle Bradshaw, has elevated the conference through connection between leadership of the two organizations, which has generated new ideas and strength. These benefits, he said, have offset any difficulties in bringing together two associations to produce a single event.
“Obviously, it's had its challenges. It's not all sunshine and rainbows all the time, but it certainly has been able to provide a lot of value for members of both associations, [and] then obviously, helping us to reach more people than we normally would reach,” he said. “Our conference has seen continued growth year over year due to that.”
Kent echoed Bradshaw’s sentiments about added value from association collaboration.
“Jordan and her team have brought insight with regard to organizations and professionalism --things like that,” he said. “They've brought connections -- contacts that maybe I didn't have previously.”
Staying Up to Date and Profitable
In a rapidly evolving environment, the level of education and opportunity SCC organizers seek to provide is key to keeping industry members up to date and profitable, Bradshaw posited.
“Our industry is ever-changing, ever-evolving. Vehicles are evolving at a rapid pace, so certainly for us, we want to be able to provide that top tier level of education that people [need],” he said. “There are a lot of our members that are literally working and grinding in their shops every single day. They're not afforded the ability or the luxury to go out and spend a week at training or a week at a conference.
“Obviously, we're able to bring that type of environment to a local trade show. That's really what we're looking to do is basically bring education to people, bring resources to people,” Bradshaw continued. “We want to help them continue to sharpen their swords, and for people that are continuing to be in business and continuing to be an independent repairer, we certainly want to help them equip themselves and make sure that vehicles are repaired safely and, obviously, make sure people are profitable while doing it right. That's the whole purpose of being in business.”
Find more information at southeastcollisionconference.com.
Elizabeth Crumbly