In the upcoming months, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and associations in the Northeast and Southeast will host conferences with a common goal to unite and educate the repair industry.

Association leaders say conference discussions will touch on topics that matter most in the quickly changing industry. The conferences will also expose attendees to education, new technology and vendors that will help businesses succeed.

The Oklahoma Auto Body Association (OKABA) Trade Show will be held Feb. 2-3 at Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It will be the first conference for OKABA, as the association began a year ago, Ementi Coary, OKABA executive director, said.

“Our hope is to bring more education and awareness on how to fix cars in a safe and proper way, so our shops are doing the right things,” Coary said. “Hopefully, they will get paid more for doing the right thing.”

A comedy show with Billy D. Washington, previously featured on HBO and Comedy Central, will close out the conference’s first night.

On the second day, keynote speakers Allison Massari, a car crash burn survivor, and Mark Olson, Veco Experts founder, will speak about how members can succeed.

The conference will also feature breakout session speakers, a vendor reception, a public trade show, and raffle.

To register, click here.

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey will hold the  NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show March 15-17 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.

“NORTHEAST is an event tailored specifically to fit the needs of today’s professionals representing all walks of the automotive repair industry,” the website states.

The event features seminars, presentations and product demos, along with shopping and networking opportunities.

Training is available from a variety of providers including I-CAR, MEA, AMI and ASE.

New York City is about 8 miles from Meadowlands Exposition Center for those who want to explore.  Outlet shopping, restaurants movie theaters and the Meadowlands Racetrack can be found in Meadowlands.

To register, click here.

The Wisconsin Collision Repair Professionals (WCRP) 2024 Conference & Trade Show will be April 4-5 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. A pre-conference welcoming gathering will be April 3.

This will be WCRP’s first conference since the pandemic started in 2020.

“We are hoping to bring everyone together to start bettering their shops and themselves,” WCRP Executive Director Deb Burnett said. “We have found a lot of places feel separated after the pandemic. We really are working towards the same idea and goals.”

More than ever, the industry in Wisconsin needs unity as it faces many challenges, including insurance companies refusing to pay some labor and repair costs, Burnett said.

“It gives us strength in numbers,” Burnett said. “You’re not the only shop dealing with insurance and consumer issues.”

Keynote speaker Dave Luehr, of Elite Body Shop Solutions, will open the conference with a discussion on how to thrive in changing times.

A series of speakers will explore topics specific to technicians, along with topics interesting to owners and managers, Burnett said. Vendors and sponsors also will help provide direction for shops, she said.

“The things that conference attendees are going to learn, they can put into practice as soon as they get back to their shops,” Burnett said.

Burnett said the conference’s location makes it perfect for attendees to bring their families, as the hotel has an indoor water park with free passes through the conference’s room rate.

To register, click here.

The Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) will host the Southeast Collision Conference featuring WMABA’s Collision P.R.E.P. May 16-18 at the Greensboro Coliseum, in Greensboro, North Carolina.

By combining resources, the two associations can provide an advanced experience for attendees, Jordan Hendler, WMABA executive director, said.

“Our priority is to get national level speakers to the regional market and offer them [attendees] access to leading information,” Hendler said.

While a regional conference, it has attracted attendees from across the nation and as far away as California, Hendler said.

The associations are currently accepting presentation submittals for the conference. The deadline for submitting a presentation for the Southeast Collision Conference is Dec. 29. Email proposals to Chris Cage at chris@southeastcollisionconference.com.

Hendler said they are looking for speakers in business management, advanced repair planning, and new vehicle technologies.

Speakers will engage the audience through two panels and breakout sessions. A tradeshow and classes through Collision P.R.E.P also will be offered to attendees.

“Every person in the modern repair facility will be engaged, informed, and challenged by a slate of nationally known and recognized speakers,” the conference’s website says.

The CCA and WMABA  take turns holding the event in their territory. Last year it was held in Richmond, Virginia.

Sports lovers might be intrigued by this year’s conference location at the Greensboro Coliseum, Hendler said. The complex once hosted a final-four game and sits next door to the ACC Hall of Champions.

To register, click here.

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