Perfect for beginners or those looking to refine their estimating skills, this session focuses on the fundamentals of damage assessment and writing accurate initial estimates. The emphasis is on precision and efficient repair planning.

Key topics include:

Capturing correct vehicle details
Identifying related vs. unrelated damage
Considering adjacent panels and components
Proper estimate documentation to tell the full repair story
A Q&A session will be included for any additional topics of interest.

This class will cover extensive static and dynamic calibration steps for all vehicle types including Asian, Domestic, and European.  This class includes requirements for performing calibrations and steps for verifying OEM specifications for safety of the repair  

When a calibration fails, this class will help you diagnose the cause of the DTC code failure.  We will also cover the various reasons why a calibration can fail and how to calibrate the vehicle under those circumstances. 

Practical demonstration and "hands on" Calibrations will be performed in a laboratory environment with OEM tooling and the Autel ADAS system. Come and learn from the largest ADAS company, LKQ.

ADAS and your repair process

ADAS has the potential to control Steering, Braking, and Acceleration, and the repair industry is responsible for maintaining the integrity of these systems. This session is aimed at discussing the importance of accurately identifying ADAS calibration needs related to services performed by you or your shop. Whether calibrations are performed in-house or sublet, it is ultimately up to you, the service provider, to understand the needs and reasons for calibration. It is also important to verify the procedures related to ADAS are performed accurately and systems are verified to be performing as intended. Just because there are no codes set and no warning
lights lit does not mean everything is good and working properly.

We will discuss the common systems including the different variations of each, the common components, and potential reasons for calibrations and system checks. Additionally, we will go over some common misconceptions related to ADAS and a few real-world scenarios to help bring awareness to the importance of knowing your role as it relates to ADAS.

Establish Foundational Safety Practices for High-Voltage Work Define where EV safety begins in the collision repair process, including personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate shop signage, and risk awareness protocols.

Proper Handling and Storage of Safety Equipment Train technicians on the correct storage, maintenance, and inspection routines for high-voltage PPE and tooling within a collision shop environment.

Vehicle Condition Assessment and Risk Identification Teach technicians how to determine if a vehicle is electrified, assess the state-of-charge or damage condition post-collision, and identify the presence of deployment loops and other high-voltage indicators.

Visual and Electrical Verification Techniques Guide technicians through visual inspection of high-voltage cabling and components, and train them to conduct an absence-of-voltage test prior to initiating any structural or mechanical repairs.

Safe Vehicle Power-Down Procedures Demonstrate how to perform a live vehicle safe-down using OEM procedures on a known platform, focusing on technician safety and system deactivation verification.

In this Paint Prep Class with Jeff, you will master the essential techniques needed for a flawless automotive paint job. This comprehensive course covers every step of the process, including blocking and sanding, blend prep, masking, and final inspection. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned painter looking to refine your skills, Jeff will guide you through the fundamentals and teach new techniques to take your skills to the next level. In addition to prep work, you'll also learn final finishing techniques such as de-nibbing and buffing. These final touches are crucial for achieving a showroom-quality result, and we will provide hands-on training to help you perfect them. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your painting skills and take your craftsmanship to the next level!

Boost your autobody shop’s profitability with this dynamic, dual-instructor class featuring Keith Clark and Mike Duncan of Industrial Finishes. Keith will share expert strategies for creating accurate, detailed materials invoices that ensure you’re properly compensated for every product used. Mike will then guide you through proven marketing techniques to attract new customers, enhance your shop’s visibility, and build long-term client relationships. This class offers practical, real-world insights designed to streamline your operations, increase revenue, and strengthen your shop’s competitive edge.

Learn the secrets to professional-grade plastic repair from industry expert Ben Else of Industrial Finishes in this comprehensive, hands-on class. With years of autobody experience, Ben will demonstrate the latest techniques for repairing common plastic components, including bumper covers, grilles, and interior panels. Participants will gain practical skills in plastic welding, adhesion, and finishing methods to achieve seamless, durable repairs that meet OEM standards. Whether you’re looking to expand your skill set or refine your craftsmanship, this class will give you the confidence and expertise to tackle plastic repairs with precision and efficiency.

Transform Your Shop's Communication to Connect Every Time and Maximize Your Revenue Are These Shop Challenges Costing You Money? 
• Customers who don't trust your service recommendations. 
• Estimators struggling to explain repairs to customers. 
• Other Employees and Estimators not communicating effectively. 
• Front office conflicts affecting shop efficiency. 
• Customer complaints about communication. 
• Lost repeat business due to misunderstandings. 

Turn Your Team into a High-Performance Pit Crew 

Discover how you can use the Bird Personality system to: 
• Close more service recommendations by matching each customer's communication style. 
• Transform estimator and other employee relationships for faster ticket completion. 
• Reduce costly comebacks through better team communication. 
• Turn angry customers into raving fans. 
• Increase average repair order through better explanation techniques. 

This Isn't Your Typical Shop Training Participants will experience hands-on, automotive-specific scenarios including: 
• Other employee-estimator communication exercises 
• Interactive team dynamics scenarios 
• Real-world case studies from successful stories Real Shop Results 
• Increase in service recommendation approval rate. 
• Reduction in customer complaints. 
• Improvement in shop efficiency. 
• Higher CSI scores. 
• Increased customer retention. 
• More 5-star reviews. 
• Reduced employee turnover. 

Perfect For: 
• Owners working with estimators, managers, and other employees. 
• Estimators who need to build trust quickly. 
• Shop Managers balancing customer and team needs. 
• Other Employees struggling to explain technical issues. 
• Front Office Staff handling difficult customers. 
• Parts Department personnel coordinating with multiple departments. 

There will be a meal served during the Expo.  There will be eight exhibitors there for you to see. 

This class will cover extensive static and dynamic calibration steps for all vehicle types including Asian, Domestic, and European.  This class includes requirements for performing calibrations and steps for verifying OEM specifications for safety of the repair  

When a calibration fails, this class will help you diagnose the cause of the DTC code failure.  We will also cover the various reasons why a calibration can fail and how to calibrate the vehicle under those circumstances. 

Practical demonstration and "hands on" Calibrations will be performed in a laboratory environment with OEM tooling and the Autel ADAS system. Come and learn from the largest ADAS company, LKQ.

In this Paint Prep Class with Jeff, you will master the essential techniques needed for a flawless automotive paint job. This comprehensive course covers every step of the process, including blocking and sanding, blend prep, masking, and final inspection. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned painter looking to refine your skills, Jeff will guide you through the fundamentals and teach new techniques to take your skills to the next level. In addition to prep work, you'll also learn final finishing techniques such as de-nibbing and buffing. These final touches are crucial for achieving a showroom-quality result, and we will provide hands-on training to help you perfect them. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your painting skills and take your craftsmanship to the next level!

In the rapidly evolving Collision Repair Industry, the difference between a good shop and a great one comes down to one thing—leadership. This course is designed for collision shop owners, managers, and team leaders who are ready to break through performance plateaus and build teams that operate with accountability, consistency, and passion.

Led by Cecil Bullard, one of the most respected minds in the aftermarket space, this immersive leadership session dives deep into what it takes to lead effectively in today’s high-pressure repair environment. You’ll learn the exact mindset, systems, and communication strategies that transform average employees into highly engaged team members who take ownership of their results.

Understand the six stages of leadership, the four phases of building trust, and how to create a culture where your team doesn't just follow—they lead. Whether you’re managing technicians, estimators, or front office staff, this session delivers practical, collision-specific tools to boost morale, productivity, and profitability.

Top 5 Takeaways for Participants: Master the Six Stages of Leadership and how they apply to managing high-stakes collision teams.

Develop a Trust-Building Framework that eliminates micromanagement and boosts independent decision-making.
Learn Practical Systems for Accountability that reduce rework, improve cycle times, and increase morale.
Discover the Secrets to Inspiring Culture Change and empowering team members to become problem-solvers.
Walk Away with a Proven Leadership Toolkit you can implement immediately to lead your shop to the next level.

Master OEM Procedure Navigation – Learn how to efficiently access, interpret, and apply collision repair procedures, including proper High-Voltage service disconnect procedures, battery handling, and storage protocols.

Essential Electrical Tooling & Testing Techniques – Identify the minimum required tooling, such as CAT III meters, and apply foundational electrical safety tests without needing full diagnostic proficiency.

Post-Collision High-Voltage Procedures – Gain critical awareness around EV and hybrid systems, including when orange wiring presents a hazard. Methods for identifying welded contactors, High-Voltage isolation faults, verifying zero potential, and the importance of proper equipotential bonding.

Welding & Structural Repair Considerations – Understand OEM guidelines for welding on High-Voltage vehicles, ensuring electronic system safety during structural repairs.

Bake Booth & Thermal Management Best Practices – Explore how varying bake booth temperatures affect sensitive components in EVs and ICE vehicles, and implement protocols to mitigate thermal damage during refinishing.

Whether you perform alignments in-house or sublet them, it is important to understand a proper wheel alignment goes beyond Camber, Caster, and Toe. Today’s alignment equipment can provide many additional measurements to help diagnose issues and ensure you are returning your customer's vehicles to them in pre-accident condition. This class will address the additional measurements such as SAI/IA, Setback, Turning Angle, Max Steer, and Symmetry. In a nutshell, don’t guess what's bent. It will also cover the relationship between wheel alignments and vehicle electronics, from ABS and Stability control to ADAS and related calibrations. Every one of the modern vehicle control systems relies on a solid foundation that starts with a proper wheel alignment.

Once there’s an understanding of the vehicle damage and the initial estimate is written, it’s crucial to ensure that the estimate also reflects all operations necessary to repair the vehicle and restore it to pre- loss condition. There are also important items to consider as the estimator works with the parts specialist, production manager, and other roles involved in the repair process.

To build on the topics covered in the introductory class, this course will cover topics such as:
• Blueprinting
• OE operations
• Part Codes
• Applying the MOTOR Guide
• Customized repair operations
• Workfile quality
This class will also feature Q&A for special interest topics.

Refine your seam sealing skills in this expert-led clinic with Steve Oliver from Northwest Sales and Marketing, featuring premium SEM products. Designed for autobody technicians, this hands-on session focuses on the precise techniques required to replicate OEM seam seal beads with accuracy and consistency. Steve will demonstrate best practices for applying, shaping, and finishing sealers to achieve factory-quality results, ensuring durability and visual authenticity. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your craftsmanship or stay current with industry standards, this clinic will give you the confidence and expertise to deliver flawless, OEM-level seam sealing on every repair.

Embark on a transformative journey to redefine your phone skills under the guidance of renowned expert, Jimmy Lea from The Institute. Discover the secrets to crafting compelling value propositions and effortlessly setting appointments that drive business success. "Ringing in Success" isn't just a course; it's a game-changer in the realm of customer service. This immersive experience unveils the pivotal role of phone etiquette in shaping customer perceptions and driving business growth.
In this electrifying course, you will delve into:

- Harnessing the Power of the First 4.5 Seconds: Learn to captivate your audience from the outset.
- Overcoming Objections with Finesse: Equip yourself with strategies to handle objections with confidence and grace.
- Closing Mastery: Unlock the secrets to boosting appointment conversion rates with effective closing techniques.
- Pitfall Prevention: Identify and avoid common pitfalls that sabotage your success.
- Cultivating Advocates: Transform inquiries into devoted advocates who champion your business.
- Energized Engagement: Discover how to infuse every interaction with excitement, enthusiasm, and genuine interest.
- Value Creation and Objection Mastery: Equip yourself with techniques to demonstrate value, overcome objections, and convert.
- The Art of Closing: Learn when and how to confidently seal the deal, securing appointments that propel your success.
- Strategic Engagement: Identify opportune moments to nurture leads and elevate your service offerings.
- Empowerment through Practice: Hone your skills through real-world examples and practical exercises, ensuring seamless execution in any scenario.

Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your phone prowess and unlock a world of untapped potential. Enroll now and revolutionize your approach to phone interactions for unparalleled success!

Whether you perform alignments in-house or sublet them, it is important to understand a proper wheel alignment goes beyond Camber, Caster, and Toe. Today’s alignment equipment can provide many additional measurements to help diagnose issues and ensure you are returning your customer's vehicles to them in pre-accident condition. This class will address the additional measurements such as SAI/IA, Setback, Turning Angle, Max Steer, and Symmetry. In a nutshell, don’t guess what's bent. It will also cover the relationship between wheel alignments and vehicle electronics, from ABS and Stability control to ADAS and related calibrations. Every one of the modern vehicle control systems relies on a solid foundation that starts with a proper wheel alignment.

Let’s face it: most collision shop owners are working harder than ever and still not seeing the financial results they deserve. It’s not because they aren’t capable—it’s because they were never taught the financial systems that top-performing shops rely on to thrive.

This course led by Cecil Bullard, delivers the financial roadmap every collision shop owner and operator needs to finally get control of their numbers, improve cash flow, and build long-term wealth. Whether you're running DRP-heavy operations or navigating a mix of insurance and retail, the principles in this course will apply directly to your reality.

Participants will dive into the 10 most important numbers every shop must track, learn how to create financial projections, and develop pricing strategies that protect margins without sacrificing customer retention. You’ll also learn the 6 keys to sustainable financial success—and how to stop working 60+ hours a week just to break even.

Top 5 Takeaways for Participants:
Understand the 10 Financial Metrics every successful collision shop tracks—and how to interpret them.
Learn the 4 Critical Financial Reports that tell you exactly where you stand—and what needs to change.
Build a Pricing Model that Works by balancing insurance rates, labor profitability, and parts markup.
Discover the 6 Keys to Financial Success that allow you to work less and make more.
Walk Away with a Collision-Focused Financial Blueprint to grow revenue, protect your margins, and scale with confidence.

Join industry expert Ben Else from Industrial Finishes for an in-depth, hands-on class dedicated to the art and science of autobody frame measuring. With years of experience and a reputation for precision, Ben will guide participants through the latest techniques, tools, and best practices essential for accurately diagnosing and correcting frame damage. This course covers everything from interpreting measuring data to making precise structural adjustments, ensuring vehicles are restored to OEM specifications. Whether you’re a seasoned technician or looking to refine your skills, this class offers practical insights that will elevate your repair accuracy and efficiency.

Once there’s an understanding of the vehicle damage and the initial estimate is written, it’s crucial to ensure that the estimate also reflects all operations necessary to repair the vehicle and restore it to pre- loss condition. There are also important items to consider as the estimator works with the parts specialist, production manager, and other roles involved in the repair process.

To build on the topics covered in the introductory class, this course will cover topics such as:
• Blueprinting
• OE operations
• Part Codes
• Applying the MOTOR Guide
• Customized repair operations
• Workfile quality
This class will also feature Q&A for special interest topics.

Calibrating Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist System and Blind Spot Detection Module is a crucial process that ensures the vehicle’s advanced safety features function correctly. This hands-on class will cover Subarus post collision inspection process including the steering column and the step-by-step procedures required for accurate calibration. Participants will learn when calibration is necessary, such as after a windshield replacement, wheel alignment, or collision repair. The course will cover both static and dynamic calibration procedures, using Subaru’s OEM guidelines, specialized tools, and software to achieve precise adjustments. 

Welcome to the 21st where if you don’t exist digitally… you don’t exist. Grab your recession ready checklist for building a fool-proof foundation to establish your marketing superiority online. Step into the digital age and ensure your brand's immortality with "Is Your Digital Footprint Recession Ready?" led by the maestro of marketing, Jimmy Lea from The Institute. In this electrifying session, Jimmy unveils the keys to digital dominance, guiding you through the intricacies of establishing an unassailable online presence.

Embrace the Revolution: Join Jimmy Lea on a journey to not just survive but thrive in the relentless digital landscape. Armed with a recession-ready checklist, you'll uncover the strategies to fortify your digital fortress and elevate your brand's visibility to unprecedented heights.

Takeaways:
1. Master the Art of Digital Dominance: Gain expert insights into optimizing your online identity, ensuring you stand out amidst the digital noise.
2. Fortify Your Online Fortress: Learn how to navigate Google's algorithms, claim your social territories, and construct a resilient online presence impervious to economic downturns.
3. Future-Proof Your Brand: Equip yourself with the tools and techniques to confidently conquer the digital landscape, securing your brand's relevance and resilience for years to come.

Don't let economic uncertainties dim your brand's shine. Secure your spot now and embark on a journey to digital supremacy!

Inviting ALL Collision shop owners and Managers to join the Shop Owner/Manager Roundtable from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This roundtable is designed to help you with those burning questions that keep you up at night. Most of us have the same issues running a collision shop, learn from others, bring your questions to this open roundtable discussion, and get the answers you are looking for. Remember, this event is all about Bringing The collision Industry to a Higher Level of Excellence. This free roundtable is open to ALL shop owners, managers and CTE exhibitors to attend.