Texas Auto Body Trade Show and Music City Collision Conference are happening this month

The Texas Auto Body Trade Show and Music City Collision Conference are happening this month and offer an opportunity for those in the industry to connect and learn. 

First up, the Texas Auto Body Show, held by the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT), will take place Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center, 777 Watters Creek Blvd., in Allen, Texas. 

Jill Tuggle, ABAT executive director, said events like the trade show are critically important to the collision repair industry, as it is currently under fire from economic pressures, because they bring together shop owners, technicians, suppliers, educators, and thought leaders all under one roof. 

“Whether it’s new vehicle technology, repair procedures, or insurance challenges — face-to-face education and networking are invaluable,” Tuggle said. 

The exhibit hall will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with seminar hours from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 

“At the show, attendees don’t just sit in classes; they get hands-on access to the latest tools, equipment, and products, and can have real conversations with the manufacturers and vendors who understand how to maximize shop efficiency and profitability,” Tuggle said. “That kind of interaction helps shops make smarter investment decisions.”

Presenters will include, but are not limited to, Mike Anderson, Collision Advice; Kyle Motzkus, Schaefer Autobody Centers; Danny Gredinberg, Database Enhancement Gateway; Frank Philips, ADAS Solutions; Josh Cascanet, AirPro Diagnostics; and Hector Flores, BASF. 

A “Rise and Grind” breakfast on Saturday will include insights from OEM representatives on expectations for safe and efficient repairs, scanning, and parts hot topics. 

“Whether you’re a shop owner, technician, or manager, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of where the industry is headed — and how to stay ahead,” the OEM breakfast session summary says. 

For more information on education sessions, click here. 

ABAT’s show stands out because it combines top-tier education and exhibits with unique networking opportunities, including an after party and a ladies-only mixer, Tuggle said. 

“Events like this foster a sense of community,” Tuggle said. “Shop owners and managers often face similar challenges, and the ability to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from peers can be a game-changer for their business. You cannot get that interaction with local shop owners anywhere else.

“In short: if your shop is looking for ways to work smarter, stay ahead of technology, and connect with the best minds in the business, there’s no better place than the Texas Auto Body Trade Show. Especially now.” 

Register for the Texas Auto Body Trade Show here. 

The Music City Collision Conference will be held by the Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA) on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Southwestern Conference Center, 451 Atrium Way in Nashville, Tennessee. 

On Friday, education will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the trade show will be open from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, education will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the trade show will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Speakers will include Mike Anders, Collision Advice owner; Sean Preston, owner of Coverall Law; Rick Selover, Garmat national account manager; Mark Olson, Veco Experts owner; Matt Di Francesco, High Lift Financial; Laura Gay, Consolidation Coach founder; Dave Luehr, Elite Body Shop Solutions owner; Mary Mahoney, Enterprise Mobility vice president; Mike Jones, Discover Leadership Training president; and Greg Peeters, Car ADAS CEO. 

For more information on the speaker series, click here. 

“This event is the first for Tennessee, so I think it’s important for the ones who don’t take the time to travel to industry events,” said Josh Kent, TCRA executive director. “We are bringing some of the industry’s best to their backyard. This event is for all and not just members. School instructors are invited as well, and they [can attend] free.” 

Register for the event here. 

Registration is also open for the 2025 Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) Series and IDEAS Collide Showcase to be held at the SEMA Show in November. 

This year’s series will cover a variety of topics important to the industry, including financial and employee management, marketing, profit-boosting tips, and consumer support. 

Maria Quintero and Tracy Dombrowski will provide financial insights during the session, “Financial Fundamentals for Collision Repair Centers.”

“This session is designed for shop owners, managers, and financial personnel seeking a clearer understanding of essential financial principles and best practices specific to the collision repair industry,” states a summary of the session. 

It adds that the seminar will provide practical tools and expert guidance on informed financial decisions, maintaining accurate financials, and ultimately improving profitability. 

“The Body Shop Business Trifecta: A Roadmap to Build Generational Wealth,” presented by Bill Park with CrunchIt Financial Services, will provide a blueprint to maximize tax efficiency, protect assets, and create generational wealth. 

Owners, managers, or estimators can learn the key characteristics of leadership during the seminar, “Winning Leadership: Influence, Impact and Driving Results in Collision Repair,” presented by Sheryl Diggers with Collision Advice. 

“In today’s collision repair landscape, leadership is less about titles and more about influence, impact, and the ability to drive results,” states the description of the session. “Whether you’re an owner, manager, or estimator with aspirations to grow into a leadership role, this session will teach you the key characteristics of winning leaders and how to lead from where you are.”

“The Unseen Effect of Bonus Plans in Your Shop,” presented by Andrew Batenhorst with Pacific BMW Collision Center, and Melissa Wolfe with Leader’s Way, will focus on whether offering a bonus for work production is the best method in the collision industry. 

“We will examine the roots of this belief, which is called pop behaviorism, what it is creating in your shop, and alternatives to dangling the carrot in front of the horse,” the session description states.  

Those looking for insight into marketing will want to attend “Automotive Advertising: The Road Map to Building a Successful Online Presence,” presented by a team from Sokal. 

“Join us as we explore the latest trends in automotive advertising from 2025 and forecast what’s ahead for 2026,” the session summary says. “This session is designed for collision centers looking to drive growth by leveraging proven strategies from the automotive industry.”

“Unlock Hidden Profit: Leverage Missed Operations, Materials, and Labor to Transform Your Refinish Department,” presented by John Shoemaker and Phil Knapp of BASF, will focus on maximizing paint profitability in a collision shop. 

“Many managers and owners only look at the cost of paint compared to their sales to determine if they are profitable or not,” the summary says. “There is a wide range of factors that are overlooked that affect paint department profitability and are not used as ways to create or track incremental improvement.”

Another session focused on profit, titled “Take Control: How Bringing Auto Glass In-House Can Boost Profit and Procedural Compliance,” presented by Shauna Davis and Jason Horne of Kaizen Glass Solutions, will discuss how shops can boost revenue by bringing auto glass services in-house. 

“We’ll explore the key benefits, including faster turnaround times, improved quality control, and significant cost savings — while expanding your shop’s capabilities,” the summary says. 

“A Consumer’s Guide to Getting Fully Reimbursed for Automobile Claims,” presented by Tony Adams and Tim Ronak of AkzoNobel, will serve as a tool for shops to provide consumers with a step-by-step guide on how to petition for full insurer reimbursement. 

“When the consumer’s insurance provider does not want to fully reimburse a repair center’s bill for rates or needed procedures as outlined in the database guides and OEM service repair procedures, this guide will help clarify the steps required,” the summary says. 

For a full list of sessions or to register, click here. 

This year’s IDEAS Collide Showcase will feature a new lineup of speakers, including: 

• • Jordan Hendler, Admin Concepts, Inc., president
  • Joe Rector, Entegral vice president
  • Richie Seaberry, Decisely vice president of enterprise sales 
  • Shawn Collins, 3M advanced application development specialist
  • Rachel James, Torque Financial Group owner and founder 
  • Kaye Gitibin, GO Rentals CEO 
  • John Yoswick, CRASH Network editor 

SCRS will announce its annual OEM Summit sessions lineup soon. 

Last year’s OEM Summit sessions are available for purchase on SCRS’ RDE website. All three sessions are $99, or they can be purchased separately for $49 each.

Images

Featured image: The floor of NORTHEAST 2019 is shown. (Provided by Thomas Greco Publishing)