Tuesday during SEMA Week: CIC and the annual Red Carpet Awards

Tuesday during SEMA Week in Las Vegas will be packed with industry news and celebration as the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) fall meeting takes place, followed by a CIC reception and the annual Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards.

Both will be held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Red Carpet Awards will bring together collision repair professionals from across the industry to celebrate the individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and contributions continue to move the industry forward, according to a Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) press release.

The CIC meeting will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by its reception at 6 p.m. The awards program will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Red Carpet Awards ceremony is free to attend with first-come, first-served seating; cocktail attire is encouraged.

From industry veterans to rising stars, the evening will spotlight outstanding accomplishments across collision repair.

The program brings together recognition programs from BodyShop Business, CIC, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), FenderBender and ABRN, I-CAR, the National Auto Body Council (NABC), and SCRS.

Andy Tylka of TAG Auto Group will host the evening and guide attendees through a lineup of award presentations.

Awards presented during the evening will include:

BodyShop Business

• • Executive of the Year Awards

CIC

• • Volunteer of the Year Award

CREF

• • Fueling the Future Award
  • Clark Plucinski Legacy Award

FenderBender and ABRN

• • Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award

FenderBender

• • FenderBender Award

I-CAR

• • Jeff Silver Memorial Award — Platinum Individual
  • Russ Verona Memorial Award — Gold Class Shop

NABC

• • Changing and Saving Lives Award

SCRS

• • Humanitarian Award
  • Collision Industry Individual Service Award
  • 2026 March Taylor Kina’Ole Award

SCRS says the March Taylor Kina’Ole Award honors an individual who exemplifies the Hawaiian principle of Kina’Ole: doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right reasons.

The award celebrates the legacy of March Taylor, whose commitment to technical excellence, mentorship, and service to others left a lasting impression on the collision repair community and around the SCRS table.

It recognizes individuals who demonstrate those same values and passion for doing what is right through their contributions to the industry and the people around them.

A look at CIC’s meeting agenda

The theme of the Nov. 3 meeting, to be held in Westgate’s Pavilion 1, is “Customer Impacts.” Chairman Dan Risley will kick off the meeting, followed by incoming chairman Trent Tinsley, who will share his thoughts and goals for 2027.

Attendees will hear from CIC’s Governmental and Estimating and Repair Planning committees on AI disclosure in the repair and claims process and on submitting technical inquiries.

CIC says the Governmental Committee members will discuss documenting AI’s role, identifying who changed or approved an estimate, and making sure a qualified person can review decisions that affect payment or vehicle safety. Estimating and Repair Planning Committee members will break down how to craft and submit clear, complete technical inquiries to OEMs and estimating databases, according to CIC’s agenda.

The Industry Exchange, a podcast-esque portion of CIC’s meetings with Aaron Schulenburg, will include Kristin Dziczek, senior policy advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The agenda lists her as one of the nation’s leading voices on the economic forces shaping the automotive industry.

Dziczek’s research focuses on transportation and is backed by decades of experience studying automotive manufacturing, labor, supply chains, policy, and technology, according to the agenda. Earlier this year, Dziczek described the 2025 auto industry as a shock absorber during the Automotive Insights Symposium.

The OEM Industry Relations Committee plans to discuss how post-COVID economic and technological shifts are affecting aftermarket repair quality, warranty implications, and customer satisfaction. They’ll also go over strategies for OEMs to support repair readiness, manage repair costs, and maintain brand loyalty in an increasingly complex market.

Next, the Parts & Materials Committee will talk about how vehicle-specific consumables, as critical components of the OEM repair process, directly influence repair quality, safety, and compliance.

In a game of “Family Feud,” the Business Operations and Management Committee will cover retirement and exit planning for shop owners, whether through succession, management buyouts, employee stock ownership plans, or sale.

To close out committee presentations, Repair Process and Procedures will lead a panel discussion to showcase the details of what today’s modern collision repair facilities face in replicating modern, technical OEM finishes.

A special presentation on the 2026 SEMA Show New Products Showcase entries and winners, including personal favorites from CIC leaders, will wrap up the meeting.

To register for CIC, follow this link. Regular registration is $125.

Images

Featured image: A Talent Pool & Education Committee panel during the July 22, 2026, CIC meeting in Chicago. (RDN file photo)

Tim Ronak and his family in 2025, when Ronak received the March Taylor Kina’ole Award. (RDN file photo)