The Society of Collision Repair Specialists on Wednesday announced that early registration has opened for the November 2016 Repairer Driven Education series at SEMA.

Take a look at the more than 30 educational sessions Nov. 1-4 and make your plans for the classes and the Nov. 3 OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit before all the good, conveniently located hotels fill up. Or just register for the entire week before the early bird deadline and save on both the entire program and passes to SEMA.

For the $375 early bird price, you get access to the entire week, the OEM Summit, and the SCRS Sky Villa afterparty Nov. 3 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. That’s a steal since each class by itself is $75, including each of the three consecutive Nov. 3 OEM Summit sessions and the party later that night. Register for the full-series pass here.

Or, just register early for an individual class. Below find the lineup and excerpts from the full SCRS-SEMA description. See more and register at www.scrs.com/RDE or with the links below.

All events are $75; full-series pass: $375.

“The instructors are always very knowledgeable and passionate about the industry, and their expertise and direction from the content has helped me fine tune my  day-to-day involvement in every aspect of the repair process,” Oregon-based Precision Body and Paint quality control manager Aaron Stoller said in a statement. “RDE has given me the confidence to change the industry starting right here in our shop. I believe there are a lot of thanks due for the continuous educational information SCRS offers.”

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Family Business Succession: The Family Component”

“It is estimated 70% of family businesses will not survive into the 2nd generation and 90% will not make it to the 3rd generation. … By providing the participant with the tools necessary to develop a sound “Succession Plan”, they will have the ability to effectively manage the family component that has proven to be the major stumbling block for family businesses in the succession process. We intend to arm participants with the tools needed to incorporate proven strategies to assist family business owners and their successors in managing the all-important family component.”

Instructor: Lee Rush, Sherwin Williams

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Developing New Talent in a Shrinking Workforce While Reducing Labor Cost”

“Through this class, owners and managers can expect to take away methods of attracting quality employees while not having to sacrifice on our hiring standards. We will discuss methods of overcoming the challenge of a shrinking workforce pool. We will talk about the importance of culture within our business. How to create a culture in order to help develop employees skill sets, reduce turnover, and improve efficiencies in order to meet our goals.”

Charlie Whitaker, Valspar

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “The Future Landscape of Accident Repairs”

“With growing use of accident avoidance systems, 80% of all repairs are limited to 1-3 non-structural panels. So how will shops investing in delivering high quality, OEM-quality repairs contend with insurers seeking fast track, low-cost repair solutions? How can you optimize your opportunities, and what preparation is necessary to tap into future trends?”

Dave Gruskos, Reliable Automotive Equipment

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Today’s Marketing Landscape: Reaching People, Not Demographics”

“In today’s world a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing does not work. This is especially true when it comes to marketing to different age groups and buyer personas. When dealing with different age groups, genders, income levels, etc., you need to be flexible and understand the psychology and habits of each customer. … This session will engage shop owners in how current marketing tools, technologies and techniques help them successfully identify, market to, sell and service specific buyer personas rather than utilizing a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Frank Terlep, Summit eMarketing Sherpas

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Maximize Quality Control to Minimize Re-work and Liability”

“In this two-part quality control program, attendees will take a look at repair procedures that can produce large headaches if not done properly, and ways to avoid failures through proper application.

“Body Filler Meets Paint Edge The come-back you never saw coming. …

“How Repair Procedures Cause Corrosion–Minimizing Exposure to Corrosion Liability”

Shawn Collins, 3M

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “You Charge ‘How Much’ Per Hour?!”

“Repairers are facing significant unavoidable additional tooling and training expenses to remain capable of repairing modern vehicle damage due to new construction materials, methods, and technology to meet OEM certification requirements. This session explores the rapidly declining Labor GP% due directly to the required additional costs of investment in equipment, facility and training for repairers to remain capable of safe repairs. Strategies will be explored to understand the pricing mechanisms at your disposal to offset these rising business costs to justify a return on that capital expenditure.”

Tim Ronak, AkzoNobel Automotive and Aerospace Coatings

3-5 p.m.: “Competing with Consolidation: 5 ways to make more money and outmaneuver your biggest competitors in 2017”

“Within the presentation we will talk about:

“a. Industry Consolidation Trends.

“b. Consolidator Business Models and Financials.

“c. Single Store Business Models and Financials.

“d. Opportunities for Growth in a Consolidating Industry.

“e. Tools for Success”

Brad Mewes, Supplement

3-5 p.m.: “The Millennial Takeover: Your 5 Year Survival Guide”

“Millennials are the largest generation on the planet, and soon to be the ones dominating the back end of the shop where the rubber hits the road. Your traditional ways of hiring, training and retaining employees will likely mean the eventual death of your business due to the lack of people to do the work. Few shop owners/managers know the things that motivate Millennials, what their value system is, how they learn differently than any others you’ve ever trained before or how to retain them once they land in your shop.

“In this dynamic, hands-on workshop you’ll learn how to adapt to attract and explain to retain them in our industry’s workforce.”

Mark Claypool, Optima Automotive

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Structural Repair and Materials for 2016 and Beyond”

“As automotive construction and technology evolves, so do the methods and materials that are used to repair vehicles. In this course we will explain the current and future trends that our industry is facing with new materials and joining technologies that are associated with them. … Attendees of this session will be able to identify current materials used in vehicle construction, acceptable repair methods and solutions and will have foresight into types of material and joining technologies we may see in the near future.”

Ken Boylan, CHIEF Automotive

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Repair Plan Like you Mean It”

“Many shops claim to be Repair Planning, but when challenged, they can’t quantify how it has improved any business metrics. Part of the reason is that they aren’t measuring their Repair Planning efficiency, but a bigger reason is because they (aren’t) Repair Planning properly and, therefore, are not achieving the potential and desired results.”

Michael Giarrizzo Jr., DCR Systems

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Selling and Marketing in an Increasingly Competitive Marketplace”

“The attendee will get some insight to industry market data on what drives consumer decisions to select a location or business to get their vehicle repaired. We will then show data on what influences their purchasing decision. We will review examples of successful strategies and tactics to secure the job and improve the chances of repeat or referral in the future.”

Steve Trapp, Axalta Coating Systems

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Marketing To Your Referral Sources: The Business of Acquiring Business Leads”

“The focus of this class will be to help collision repairers grow their business through a targeted marketing plan. Today 45% of an average shops business comes through DRP relationships. This class will help you with the largely untapped 55% that want some direction in the repair process. The class is for both those that do DRP business and those that dont. The times of hoping a car drives into your driveway, or an assignment is received needs to be looked at as icing on the cake. Business growth will only come to those that pursue it relentlessly.”

Frank LaViola, Collision Industry Marketing

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Address Problems in the Shop Before They Happen”

“This presentation is focused on the people on your team, their behavior, how they interact with each other, and the effectiveness of the communication between them so things get done right the first time to increase productivity.”

Mike Jones, Discover Leadership Training

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “2020: The Future of Staffing – How to find, train & pay qualified people”

“Fast-forward to the year 2020 and beyond. What will it be like relative to the world of staffing? While no one knows for sure what 2020 will bring until it’s here, it is important to look forward and prepare for the possibilities. What will be different? What trends might drive your staffing needs, requirements and considerations? What challenges and obstacles will our industry face? What sectors of staffing will likely be “hot” and not so hot? Prepare your business for a mobile, educational and flexible workforce. Where Will You Be?”

Mike Lanza, Sherwin Williams

3-5 p.m.: “How to find ‘Open Capacity’ in any Body Shop Uncovering Your Hidden Factory”

“Discover your untapped potential in your current facility by uncovering your hidden factory; and moving your business toward perfect production.

“By providing the participant with the tools necessary to develop ‘Perfect Production’ to implement Lean production processes, they will be armed with the tools needed to change the way their companies operate!”

Mike Lanza, Sherwin Williams

3-5 p.m.: “Who Pays For What? Interpreting the results for your business”

“Have you ever heard from an insurance appraiser, You are the only one who asks to be paid for that? Find out the truth of who pays for what, based on quarterly surveys conducted by Mike Anderson of Collision Advice and the CRASH Network.”

Michael Anderson, Collision Advice

3-5 p.m.: “What the Collision Industry Needs to Know, Today”

“This session will provide you with an understanding of the who, what, where, why, and how to success and survival in today’s collision industry. Constant changes in vehicle technology, repair planning, equipment strategy, staffing, and marketing are all impacting stress levels, repair quality and profitability.

“This session will provide you with ideas on how to prepare your business for these five critical areas to success and survival in today’s collision industry.”

Tom McGee, Spanesi

Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, Parts 1-3

Part 1: 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Part 2: 12:30-2:30 p.m.; Part 3: 3-5 p.m.

“The three session times will feature distinctly different topics that host discussion between companies and individuals with rich histories of producing sophisticated advancements in the automotive and collision repair fields. The event content will highlight architectural and technological developments in modern vehicles, and how those advancements intersect with the repair process. Every participant in this industry can benefit from better insight into how vehicles and materials are evolving, what that means in the repair process and what will be expected of those who are performing these repairs. The future of our collision repair industry is highly skilled professionals, working on highly sophisticated automobiles that require the industry to embrace the necessary investments in training and equipment; but also relies on informed business owners who understand how to define for themselves what a sustainable and successful business model to support that investment looks like.”

Instructors TBA

9-11:59 p.m.: RDE Sky Villa After Party

“Located in one of the famed Sky Villa suites at the Westgate Hotel, this after-hours event gives you the opportunity to relax and network with some of the collision industry’s most influential leaders and educators, all while taking in the views of Las Vegas in some of the most recognized high-roller suites in the city.”

Friday, Nov. 4, 2016

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Scheduling and Workflow Solutions”

“During the work shop you will see first-hand in a workflow simulation how balanced scheduling improves workflow. Discussions include calculating WIP caps, providing scheduling considerations to break the Monday to Friday repair plan and how too much work kills productivity.”

Thomas Hoerner, BASF

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Managing Collision Centers Technical Training needs of today and tomorrow”

“Objective of this session is to review the technical training needs in today’s collision centers and how the Instructor/classroom model is no longer keeping up. The session will look at different ways from eLearning modules to Virtual classroom and Blended learning to train and maintain a high level of technical competency and efficiency while addressing the costs, time and travel constraints of today.”

Patrice Marcil, Axalta

9:30-11:30 a.m.: “Optimizing the Consumer Experience”

“Maintaining strong customer relationships is crucial to your success. This session will demonstrate best practices and techniques to optimize the customer experience by providing:

“a. Key information that allows the consumer to make up front informed decisions

“b. Consistent and improved communication via status updates and mobile technology throughout the vehicle repair process

“c. Methods to monitor and affect key metrics and KPIs to ensure on-time delivery

“d. Improved post-delivery CSI and tracking of customer satisfaction.”

Michael Callahan and Will Shen, CCC

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Competing with the Talking Car – Virtual Steering”

“Vehicles involved in accidents will communicate directly with insurers detailing the accident and severity of the damage. The car will be automatically connected with emergency and towing services, providing exact location of the accident.

“This session will explain the various emerging technologies and vehicle changes that will directly impact collision repairers and their customers. Additionally, it will provide ideas on how to use these technologies to continue to be competitive in the collision repair industry.”

Steven Feltovich, Sherwin Williams

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Advanced Vehicle Systems: Are We Ready?”

“This presentation will introduce the role that diagnostics play in a collision repair environment. The content will cover a variety of advanced vehicle systems and how a shop should react when these systems are encountered. Due to the nature of how these systems work, the often have an effect on repair vs. replace and part type selection.”

Jake Rodenroth, Collision Diagnostic Services

12:30-2:30 p.m.: “Case Study of the Procedures for Steel Quarter Panel Replacement”

“This program will discuss the procedures required to replace a steel quarter panel. We will discuss the similarities of quarter panel replacement of a Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Audi A5 and we will also discuss the slight differences. We will also discuss the additional not-included procedures and the additional materials required to perform a proper repair following the OEM procedures.”

Larry Montanez, P&L Consultants

More information:

“Early Registration for RDE at SEMA is Open – Get Registered Today!”

Society of Collision Repair Specialists, Aug. 3, 2016

SCRS SEMA Repairer Driven Education registration

SCRS via SEMA Show website

Featured images: The Society of Collision Repair Specialists has opened registration for the 2016 Repairer Driven Education Series at the SEMA Show. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)