London, United Kingdom — December 20, 2016 — The International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) has announced a new speaker for the IBIS 2017 Global Summit. Jeff McFadden, President of Service King, is uniquely placed to talk with authority on several key issues affecting the current market, including the skills shortage and what Service King is doing to lead the way.
Collision Repair magazine is the exclusive Canadian Media Partner for IBIS. The IBIS 2017 Global Summit takes place June 12 to 14 at the Meliá Castilla in Madrid, Spain.
Service King is one of the largest operators in the US collision repair market. The company founded the Service King Apprentice Development Program in the last year to help with the shortage of qualified technicians. Each class takes potential body technicians and subjects them to an intensive 52-week hands-on developmental program. At the end, the company has fully trained techs ready to go to work at one of the chain’s stores. According to a press release the company hopes to graduate more than 50 new techs through the program by the end of the year.
As President, McFadden is heavily involved in all aspects of Service King’s mergers and acquisitions resulting in its explosive expansion and status as one of the world’s biggest collision repair groups.
IBIS has also announced that representatives from Bosch will lead a session at the 2017 Global Summit. Bosch develops and produces systems and components for all major vehicle manufacturers around the world. The conference session will explore the triangle of electrification, autonomous drive and connectivity technology and how it is forcing the global auto industry to rethink how cars will operate in the future, and therefore how to repair and service them.
The connected and digitized repair centre will be key in this process and Bosch will be presenting its views and approach on this future strain of the industry.
The theme for 2017’s Global Summit is “The Currency of Trust.” Both sessions promise to highlight the importance of good collaboration and the benefits of cross-industry relationships.
Delegate places are available for £1,885 (about $3,113 CAD) and include full access to the Welcome Reception on 12 June, access to the full day’s conference on June 13; the International Dinner on the pitch in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on the evening of June 13, as well as the final half day’s conference and delegates’ lunch on June 14. The price also includes two nights’ accommodation (June 12 and 13) at the Meliá Castilla.
To confirm your place, email Nicola Keady at nicola@ibisworldwide.com.
