By Stacey Phillips
Toronto, Ontario — October 12, 2018 — Last week, AkzoNobel held their Acoat Selected Canadian Profitability Conference in Montreal, attracting nearly 150 collision repair facility owners, managers and industry experts from across Canada.
The event opened with a welcoming reception, giving guests the opportunity to network and discuss their views on the industry.
Tasked with welcoming the automotive repair community, Tony Mahon, AkzoNobel’s North American service manager, began by applauding attendees for taking the time to work for the collective good of the industry.
“We work in a great, and ever-changing industry,” said Mahon. “It’s a testament to your commitment to the industry that you are here and working on your business. We need more of that in this industry.”
Following the reception, industry vendors, including Mirka Canada, Pro Spot International, Symach and Wedge Clamp Systems, showcased their products and services. Over the course of the next few days, a variety of training sessions and presentations took place.
In his presentation, Kevin Wolfe, president of LeadersWay, challenged participants to change the way they run their businesses and become the employer of choice by creating an innovative environment. He stressed the importance of looking forward, finding ways to challenge employees, and becoming a better listener.
Gerry Grenier and Eric Belanger of AkzoNobel shared information about colour innovation and the company’s digital colour techniques and technologies. The duo also talked about the MIXIT mobile app, which was designed to help with colour matching, and efficiency in the refinish industry.
Global automotive trends were discussed by Deirdre Mayhood, AkzoNobel’s global accounts manager. She identified four key megatrends for 2020-2050: zero emissions vehicles, vehicles within IoT (Internet of Things), the growth of shared mobility and the mass adoption of autonomous vehicles.
Other sessions throughout the day included detailed tax information from tax lawyer Thomas Copeland; information about optimizing a company’s online presence from Tyler Brunatti at Podium; and tips on how to build a multi-generational workforce from Michael Kuntz at AkzoNobel.
The following day, attendees were invited to tour Centre de Collision Europa before the afternoon training sessions began. After lunch, Tim Ronak, senior services consultant from AkzoNobel, gave an in-depth presentation on severity, why it doesn’t matter and what to do about it. The last part of the day was allocated to an Acoat Selected customer panel consisting of bodyshop representatives from across the country.
That evening, a dinner reception was held for all who attended the conference. During the reception, Bob Dubreuil, senior services consultant at AkzoNobel, who was retiring after 25 years with the company, was celebrated for his career and contributions to the industry.
“Thank you,” said Dubreuil. “I feel very humbled and I feel blessed. I have been extremely privileged because I’ve worked with many of you.
“People have said that I’ve been very successful at AkzoNobel, implemented many things and worked coast to coast, but I’ve only been successful because of people like you—people who believed I could help them with their business.”
Special guest Dennis Hull, often referred to as “The Third Best Hull,” also gave an entertaining memoir of his hockey career.
“This conference was great,” said Roya Khodabandehloo, manager CSN Elite Body Shop in North Vancouver. “I think the best thing is the speakers. They get you motivated, remind you what is important and get you going.”
Scott Kraft, regional manager for CARSTAR Collision Centres, and Badlands Collision Management Group, agreed. Kraft traveled to the conference with two of his managers and one lead appraiser. He said one of the most significant advantages of coming to the conference was to hear an overview of the challenges that are facing the collision repair industry and recognizing they aren’t just in his territory, but happening all across Canada as well as the United States.
“It was a big benefit for us to get the exposure to see the challenges that we face every day,” said Kraft. “Hearing it from other people gives us a better perspective on how to tackle them and move forward.”
