State collision associations announce upcoming conferences

Two upcoming collision conferences will help collision repairers looking to stay up to date on the latest trends and connect with their industry. 

The Music City Collision Conference will be held Aug. 13-15 by the Tennessee Collision Repairers Association in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Inn at Opryland.

A month later, the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) will hold its Texas Auto Body Trade Show, Sept. 18-19 in Allen, Texas, at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center. 

Four state auto body associations have also announced a new conference set for spring 2027. 

The Central States Collision Conference (CSCC) will be held by the Kansas Auto Body Association (KABA), the Oklahoma Auto Body Association (OKABA), the Nebraska Auto Body Association (NABA), and the Missouri Auto Body Association (MABA). 

It will be held April 23-24 in Wichita, Kansas. 

NORTHEAST has also announced the dates for its 2027 conference, which will be March 19-21. Registration for the event opens Dec. 1, and exhibitor badge registration opens Feb. 1. 

The Music City Collision Conference 

The trade show floor will be free with doors opening at 8 a.m. on Aug. 14 and at 7 a.m. on Aug. 15. 

Collision repair professionals wanting to attend conference educational classes can register here. 

To book a room at The Inn at Opryland with the conference’s group rate, visit this link. 

The education series will focus on leadership, insurance reimbursement, “principles of victory,” OEM repair procedures, repair planning, and OEM certification topics.

Scheduled speakers include: 

• • Tony Adams, Leadersway 
  • Joel Boyce, AkzoNobel 
  • Dave Luehr, Dave Luehr’s Elite Body Shop Solutions 
  • Jeff Oldenettel, Collision Advice 
  • Mark Olson, Future Forensics 
  • James Anderson, Tractable 

For more information on the education series, visit this link. 

Texas Auto Body Trade Show

The event will kick off Thursday, Sept. 17 with a Kaizen Golf Tournament at 10 a.m. 

Education and the trade show will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

To register for the event, visit this link. 

Education sessions will include conversations about AI, vehicle technology, lessons on repairing windshield chips and cracks, customer experience, refinishing and alternative revenue stream panels, urethane certification, repair planning and more. 

 Scheduled speakers include: 

• • James Spears, Traceable 
  • Deric Krist, KriTech Solutions 
  • Jason Horne, Kaizen Glass Solutions 
  • Kyle Bradshaw, K&M Collision 
  • Sean Preston, Coverall Law 
  • Mike Anderson, Collision Advice
  • Manual Rubio, Miracle Body and Paints
  • Burl Richards, Classic Collision 
  • Shauna Davis, Kaizen Glass Solutions 
  • Mark O’Brion, Sika Automotive
  • Kody Allan, DuPont 
  • Jorge Sandoval, Kaizen Glass Solutions 
  • Ryan Taylor, Body Shop Booster 

For more information about the education series, visit this link. 

Central States Collision Conference 

The conference is a collaborative effort to strengthen the collision repair industry through education, networking, and the exchange of ideas, a release states. 

It will include: 

• • “Industry-leading educational sessions presented by respected experts.
  • “A dynamic trade show showcasing the latest products, equipment, technology, and services.
  • “Networking opportunities with repair professionals, educators, suppliers, OEM representatives, and industry partners from across the Central States region.
  • “Collaborative discussions focused on the future of collision repair, workforce development, business management, emerging vehicle technology, and legislative advocacy.”

Additional information regarding registration, sponsorship opportunities, exhibitors, educational sessions, and hotel accommodations will be announced in the coming months. Visit this link to stay informed. 

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