| Panel discussions offer different viewpoints, like this one from the 2013 MSO Symposium consisting of Andrew Peet of Innovation Group, Michael Macaluso of CARSTAR and Bob Kirstiuk of Advantage Parts Marketing. The MSO Symposium has been revamaped for 2014 as the Collision Repair Executive Symposium, |
Colleyville, Texas — May 21, 2014 — NACE has released the schedule for the Collision Repair Executive Symposium (CRES), formerly the MSO Symposium. The MSO Symposium has been an extremely popular, sold-out event during NACE since it premiered in 2011, drawing attendance from the largest multi-shop operators in the collision repair industry.
This all-new CRES business event now caters to a broader group of collision repair executives allowing it to be more inclusive of some of the best, as well as the largest, operators in the marketplace. This year’s event includes key changes in content including a focus on management, operations and participation from insurance company executives presenting leading information on industry trends.
Designed for collision repair multi-shop operators, as well as operators looking for high-growth strategies, mergers and acquisitions, divesting, and operational excellence, CRES is scheduled for Friday, August 1. The NACE | CARS Expo will take place Thursday and Friday, July 31-Aug. 1, with education beginning Wednesday, July 29, at the Cobo Convention Center in Detroit.
Registration for CRES is $150 before June 14 and $250 following, and is available online at NACEexpo.com/Content/Register/3/ for qualified shop owners. This “next generation†CRES event provides information for high-growth shop owners and multiple-store operators that is unparalleled. This year’s CRES includes an Expo Pass, as well as a ticket to the Opening General Session and Welcome Party Thursday, July 31, allowing for multiple networking opportunities for shop owners and MSOs throughout the event.
“A significant amount of time, effort and planning has been invested in developing the fresh content for this year’s all-new format for CRES as we strive to deliver relevant, high-level content for this important and rapidly growing segment of the collision repair industry,†said Russell Thrall, symposium moderator and co-producer.
2014 Schedule-at-a-Glance
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Time |
Session |
| 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome |
|
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. |
Market Dynamics
Changes in vehicle ownership and driving patterns, ride-sharing, collision-avoidance technologies, usage based insurance and vehicle telematics are just some of the latest factors influencing the current marketplace. Learn from insurance and collision industry executives about how these trends have impacted today’s market and will influence the future market for collision repairs.
|
| 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Maximizing Capacity Utilization
Collision repair operating models are constantly evolving in response to both the marketplace and the desire to continuously improve the business. Increasingly, successful repair facility operators are focusing their operations on maximizing their capacity utilization to assure top level Key Performance Indicator performance and assure growth.
|
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
Lunch
|
| 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. |
Changing Vehicle Design and Increasing Repair Complexity
Everyone knows that the vehicles repaired today are vastly different from those of just five years ago. And, the pace of change will continue for many years to come.
Learn how the industry is:
– Planning their investments in plants and equipment necessary to repair the ever-changing automobile
– Building cultures geared for technical excellence
– Assuring the right car gets the right repair, by the right technician at the right repair facility
Led by: Roger Wright, Sterling Auto Body Centers
|
| 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. |
Anatomy of an Acquisition
Geared to small- and mid-size MSOs, this “mock†acquisition will go through the various steps of a transaction, looking at critical issues from both the buyer’s and the seller’s viewpoint. Topics will include pre-sale preparation, understanding how businesses are valued, confidentiality, due diligence, deal structure and negotiation strategy.
Led by: Marcy Tieger, Symphony Advisors, LLC
Participants: John Walcher, Veritas Advisors Inc. and Will Johnston, Service King
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“Some businesses are preparing for expansion through growth or acquisition while others are preparing for merger or divestiture,†said Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director, and CRES co-producer. “This symposium will provide information essential in understanding market conditions and preparing for the future, regardless the size of the business.â€
Sponsorship opportunities for the CRES are selling quickly, with 12 sponsors confirmed to date: ASA, AudaExplore, AutoZone, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF, Car-O-Liner, Chief Automotive Technologies, CollisionWeek, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, PPG, UniCure and Universal Technical Institute. It is co-produced by ASA, NACE and Russell Thrall.
CRES will be moderated by a team of experts including Marcy Tieger, Roger Wright, Erick Bickett and Russell Thrall.
