Collision P.R.E.P. – Class Schedule and Information
MAY 2
Friday
8:30am – 10:00am |
Stay Humble, Stay Hungry
Presented by: Mike Anderson, Collision Advice
In today’s collision environment it is easy to become calloused when consumers are in an accident. Mike will share trends regarding customer pay increasing and how we should stay Humble and Hungry in all aspects of our business to include customer interaction, quality of estimates/repair plans, training. Investing in our staff and self-improvement. Additionally, Mike will share with attendees what the #1 KPI is that they should be tracking in 2025. Lastly as always Mike will share what the average severity, average body, paint, mechanical and frame labor units were per estimate for ALL States in 2024 and uncover some alarming trends. Additional insights will be shared on what to expect with insurance and OEM trends in 2025 and further out in the future.
11:30am – 12:30pm | LUNCH & LEARN
Hear it from the OEMs: Procedures, Vehicle Repairability, and a Focus on ADAS Issues [Panel Discussion]
Hear insights and new advancements in vehicle technology and procedures with a focus on industry pitfalls with ADAS calibrations, pre- and post-scans. OEs are expressing concerns about shops doing not enough, and some doing “too much”. Profitability and documentation are two repairer priorities, while working to ensure a safe and complete repair. A range of OEM certification program directors – domestic, foreign, EV – will be sharing the latest, while fielding real-world questions every repairer wants to ask!
2:00pm – 3:00pm | Option 1
Death of the Estimator Role
Presented by: Andrew Batenhorst
Set your shop up for the future and learn why the legacy estimator role is causing severe damage to your operation. Andrew will be leading an interactive workshop on the pitfalls of the estimator status quo, and how to design an effective, segmented repair plan team. Participants will go home with their own custom designed SOP to deploy in their shop along with a new way of thinking. Be prepared to have your pre-conceived notions of repair planning disrupted!
2:00pm – 3:00pm | Option 2
Keep it Kleen: The True Costs of Contamination
Presented by: Rick Selover, National Account Manager- GARMAT USA Spray Booths, Founder & Host of The Mind Wrench Podcast
In this educational workshop, 40+ year industry veteran Rick Selover helps us uncover the 3 “Root Sources” of refinish work contamination that slows shop production and provides a rock-solid plan to minimize those risks. Spotlighting how to identify & destroy the opportunities for surface contaminates to force reworking your paint finishes before you pull the trigger. We pull back the curtain on the 4 true costs of rework and how your “influencer” can help reduce that financial impact… including that ultra-critical retention cost. Lastly, we discuss the importance and real value of implementing a preventative maintenance program for your paint department equipment!
4:30pm – 5:30pm | Option 1
Overcoming Information Overload – Streamlining Repair Planning
Presented by: Danny Gredinberg, the DEG, and Kyle Motzkus
Addressing the growing challenge of information overload faced by today’s collision repair pros. With the increasing complexity of vehicle technology, repair procedures, and data sources, efficiently managing information is crucial for accurate planning and ultimately, shop profitability.
4:30pm – 5:30pm | Option 2
Elevating Customer Service in Collision Repair: Hospitality-Driven Strategies for Repeat Business and Referrals
Presented by: Kaye Gitibin, CEO, GO Rentals
In today’s competitive collision repair landscape, businesses must go beyond technical expertise to win customer loyalty. This presentation focuses on the intersection of customer service and hospitality, offering actionable strategies that Body Shops can implement to enhance the customer experience. Drawing from GO Rentals’ proven success in customer-focused service models, the session will explore how collision repair businesses can leverage hospitality principles to create lasting impressions, generate repeat business, and build a robust referral network. Attendees will leave equipped with tools to elevate service delivery and differentiate their business in a crowded market.
MAY 3
Saturday
8:30am – 9:30am | Option 1
There’s Big Money In WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION
Presented by: Lee Rush, Sherwin-Williams
Your goal? Make YOUR workspace make sense to you. Workshop design is a critical component of the agile shop. An evolution of 5S is the flexibility to utilize space within our collision centers to best adapt to constant and unpredictable change on our production floors. An Agile work environment can be structured in a way that makes it self-explaining, self-ordering, and self-improving and can be managed more easily. An out-of-standard situation is immediately obvious and can be easily and quickly adjusted to optimize production outputs. Workspace Organization covers methods to utilize people, space and equipment for the maximum bottom line impact.
8:30am – 9:30am | Option 2
Taking the Blind spots out of ADAS Calibration
Presented by: Steve Dawson, Regional Manager, Hunter Engineering
This presentation will discuss the team approach to addressing ADAS calibration whether in house or sublet. We will discuss many of the pitfalls and challenges faced in today’s shop with completing ADAS calibration. We also will talk about who would be the right technician & what skills to look for in the right technician.
11:30am – 12:30pm | LUNCH & LEARN
Change is Inevitable, Growth is Optional
Presented by: Mike Jones, President of Discover Leadership Training
This session will focus on the difference between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset. Quite often the true measure of success is not getting to an outcome, the true measurement is what you did to get to the outcome, the circumstances you overcame; how you preserved through tough situations. When you adopt the Growth Mindset, with the understanding that there is always room for improvement, you will benefit both professionally and personally.
3:00pm – 4:30pm | Option 1
Safety Inspections [Panel Discussion]
Presented by: Mike Anderson
Facilitated by Mike Anderson of Collision Advice. In this session attendees will hear firsthand from shop owners who have made Safety Inspections a priority in their repair planning process. Hear from real shop owners on how they research, perform and document this required inspections per the OEM’s ESM”s. Topics to include Steering column inspections, Steering Gear inspections, Seatbelts, SRS components and more.
3:00pm – 4:30pm | Option 2
AI in Collision Repair – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Presented by: Taylor Moss, OEConnection
This presentation will provide a comprehensive exploration into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the collision repair industry. Attendees will learn about the numerous benefits AI offers, including enhanced customer communication, operational efficiency, and the potential to improve repair quality. However, the presentation will also address significant challenges, such as high costs, cybersecurity risks, and the complexities of workforce dynamics. Finally, it will confront the darker implications of AI’s integration, including the potential for increased fraud and the risks associated with over-reliance on technology. Through case studies and forward-looking insights, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in collision repair.