By SEMA News Editors, with contribution by Lurah Lowery
Attendees to the 2024 SEMA Show, November 5-8 in Las Vegas, have the opportunity to participate in and learn from a collision-repaired-focused education series--plus events specifically created for the collision-repair industry--thanks to dedicated programs by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).
Discover these unique programs--detailed in full below--to best prepare for your 2024 SEMA Show experience. Attendees can register for select education events as part of the online registration process here. Attendee, buyer, and media registration for the 2024 SEMA Show is open at semashow.com/register. Registration is only $60 for qualified attendees who register by Friday, September 27. Deadlines and fees for other registration categories can be found at semashow.com/register.
I-CAR Gears Up for SEMA 2024: A Commitment to Collision Repair Excellence
I-CAR--renowned as one of the leading providers of credentialing powered by educational programming, technical resources, technical advisory services and talent attraction and retention solutions for the automotive collision repair industry--is poised to make a significant impact at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. As a cornerstone event for the automotive aftermarket, SEMA offers the perfect stage for I-CAR to demonstrate its dedication to empowering collision repair professionals and advancing the industry.
With a robust 15-year history of participation, I-CAR has become an indispensable resource for the collision repair community. The organization's steadfast dedication to supporting industry professionals is reflected in its comprehensive range of offerings, including talent development programs, educational initiatives, technical information and industry-leading technical services.
I-CAR will present a series of specialized courses designed to advance professional skills and knowledge at the 2024 SEMA Show. Stop by the SEMA Show Collision Repair and Refinish Stage and Booth #33139 in the Upper South Hall to learn more.
I-CAR's "I Count on I-CAR" campaign highlights the organization's commitment to delivering exceptional value to both industry stakeholders and consumers. As a leading not-for-profit organization, I-CAR is dedicated to enhancing the quality and efficiency of automotive collision repair through innovative education, training, and technical resources.
Learn With I-CAR at SEMA
At the 2024 SEMA Show, I-CAR will present a series of specialized courses designed to advance professional skills and knowledge. These in-person learning opportunities include:
- "MIG Welding Technology & Applications": This course explores advanced MIG welding techniques and applications, covering the latest advancements in welding technology and their effective use in collision repair.
- "Electric Vehicle (EV) Overview & Considerations": Participants will gain a thorough understanding of EV technology, including unique repair considerations and best practices for handling these increasingly common vehicles.
- "Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Overview & Considerations": This session provides an in-depth look at ADAS technology, focusing on repair and calibration techniques necessary for accurate and safe vehicle repairs.
Engage With I-CAR at SEMA
The SEMA Show Collision Repair and Refinish Stage (view it on the floorplan here) will be a dynamic center for engagement and interaction. Subject matter experts from I-CAR will deliver informative presentations and panel discussions throughout each day on crucial industry topics, emerging trends and the future of collision repair. Attendees will have the chance to engage with these experts through interactive Q&A sessions, enhancing their understanding of key issues.
Additionally, hands-on welding demonstrations will be conducted by experienced welding experts. These practical sessions are designed to showcase advanced welding techniques and offer interactive learning experiences.
Connect With I-CAR at SEMA
Network with I-CAR members and the team and share your perspectives on the future of collision repair. This is a prime opportunity to expand your professional network and collaborate with peers who are equally passionate about advancing the industry. Discover more about how collision careers is empowering the collision-repair industry to attract and retain skilled technicians through a dynamic platform, including website, social media and digital advertising. With recent enhancements like detailed career paths, engaging videos and downloadable resources for counselors, educators, parents, shops, and schools, I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) are reaching more future technicians than ever before.
To fully experience I-CAR's offerings at SEMA, visit Booth #33139 in the Upper South Hall. Explore new initiatives like I-CAR Academy, a comprehensive training program for entry-level technicians, and discover enhancements to the "myI-CAR" digital platform, featuring the latest tools and resources for professional development.
Join I-CAR at the SEMA Show to reaffirm your commitment to industry excellence and stay at the forefront of automotive collision repair!
Repairer-Driven Education at the SEMA Show: SCRS Set to Present an Exciting Mix of Seminars, Networking and Awards Events in Las Vegas
This year marks the 15th season of SCRS' acclaimed Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series. It was launched in 2010 as part of a new affiliation between the SEMA and SCRS, in response to the expressed interest of SCRS members to grow the paint, body and equipment sector's participation at the Show.
The educational program--and the collision-repair and refinish industry--have since established themselves as key mainstays of the annual trade-only event.
High-level education is vital to the collision repair sector, and SCRS programs at the 2024 SEMA Show will deliver a wealth of technical, safety and best practices content. Look for SCRS events on the SEMA Show Education schedule.
Even in the early days, the SCRS RDE featured a wide array of topics and course selections focused on bringing education and information covering relevant issues impacting collision repairers across the nation.
"SCRS' longstanding mission surrounding our collaboration with SEMA has always been focused around our mission to educate, inform and represent the collision-repair professional," said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "I've said it repeatedly over the years, but [the SEMA] Show, in particular, provides so much excitement and stimulation for our members and the industry. There is no better place to explore possibilities and to regain an appreciation for what an amazing field we work in.
"It's been fun to watch the evolution of the Show and the program, and we are continuing to find ways to build upon the educational focus of our activity, just as we did from the early onset."
SCRS Past Chairman Barry Dorn said in 2010 at the launch of the RDE series that responding to SCRS members' needs and desired direction has always been one of the strong traits of the organization.
"Through ongoing discussions with our membership, it is obvious that there is a strong desire to participate and have representation in this event," Dorn said at the time. "Partnering with SEMA to significantly enhance the offerings available to our industry makes a lot of sense, and we are ecstatic to build upon what is shaping out to be a very strong foundation between SCRS and the SEMA Show."
SCRA at SEMA: One Gathering for the Entire Industry
Now, Dorn appreciates that as a business owner, he can attend one automotive industry event for everything he wants and needs for his collision repair business, from extensive networking and stellar training to nonstop information and a large variety of vendors on site.
This year's RDE sessions welcome back RDE alumni that include Kena Dacus, Decus Auto Body and Collision Repair; Josh McFarlin, AirPro Diagnostics; Mike Anderson, Collision Advice; Tim Ronak and Tony Adams, AkzoNobel; Danny Gredinberg, Database Enhancement Gateway; Jason Garfoot, 3M Collision; Nick Schoolcraft, Phoenix Solutions Group; Jeff Wildman, BASF Automotive Refinish; Phill Knapp, BASF Automotive Refinish; Andy Dingman, Calibration Technologies; Andrew Batenhorst, Pacific BMW Collision Center; Ryan Taylor, BodyShop Booster; Chris White and Danny Hacker, KECO Body Repair Products; Barry Dorn, Dorn's Body and Paint; and Michael Bradshaw, K&M Collision.
Every year, SCRS strives to provide perspectives and information from new first-time event speakers as well. This year, those include Sheryl Driggers, Collision Advice co-owner; Taylor Moss, OEConnection Repair Intelligence Team manager; David Ghodoussi, Opti-Coat CEO; and Kris Burton, Rosslyn Auto Body owner.
These classroom sessions will be held in the Education Hallway in Upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention center on Tuesday and Wednesday of the Show, and topics will include:
- "Creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience"
- "Crafting a Collision Repair Powerhouse through Process and Technology"
- "Unleashing Paint Department Efficiency"
- "Cracking the Code: Understanding AI and the Invaluable Role of Human Intelligence"
- "How to Catch Talent and Keep It"
- "Negotiation Best Practices, with inspiration from 'Never Split The Difference'"
- "Collision Repair Marketing for the Digital Age: Engaging Gen Y and Gen Z Customers"
- "The Business of Processing a Total Loss Vehicle — A Job Cost Approach"
- "Revolutionizing Collision Centers: The Impact of Interconnectivity, Data, and Innovation Inspired by the NFL"
- "Repair Planning with Precision"
- "Industry Realities of Restoring ADAS Safety Systems and Consumer Confidence through Calibration"
- "The Benefits of Ceramic Coating for Your Customer and Your Collision Center"
- "AI is Here: How Others are Leveraging AI Interactions with Automotive Consumers"
- "Lateral Tension & Push Tools are taking GPR to a New Level"
- "Efficiency Unleashed: Rethinking Roles in Collision Repair"
SCRS At SEMA: Where Ideas, Innovation and Solutions Collide
Wednesday will also feature SCRS' IDEAS Collide Showcase, a one-of-a-kind event that features multiple fast-paced presentations designed to stimulate thought, innovation and resolution of business challenges with thought leaders from and in the industry.
Audience members always leave intrigued by individuals and topics seeking to rattle the status quo, and there is an opportunity to catch up on past IDEAS Collide sessions at no charge on the SCRS YouTube channel: youtube.com/scrscollision.
In fact, SCRS has offered digital access to a wide variety of past years' education sessions filmed at the SEMA Show, which can be found at rde.scrs.com. There are several sessions from the 2023 Repairer Driven Education series available, including the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit.
SCRS' OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit continues in 2024 with a focus on new and emerging trends and collision industry preparation for modern vehicle repairability.
The three OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit sessions for 2024 will take place on Thursday, November 7, in the afternoon from 12:30-4:30 p.m. PST.
The Summit is designed to put collision-repair businesses in a room with innovators in automotive structural design and technology. Each session will focus on emerging trends and collision-industry preparation for modern vehicle repairability.
Individual topics for each session are unveiled closer to the Show, and past events have delved into alternative fuels, safety technologies, vehicle design, construction and material makeup.
The morning leading up to the OEM summit, Schulenburg will also speak during the showcase on "Blend Outcomes in Black and White: Using Documentation to Drive Informed Conversation About Blending."
During the 2022 SEMA Show, SCRS released the results of a blend study that it conducted in coordination with North American coatings companies and audited by DEKRA. The study compared the difference between the time necessary to perform full refinish on the exterior of a new and undamaged panel to the time needed to blend the same panel. The results concluded that blending took more time, not less, than full refinish.
In this free session at this year's SEMA Show, Schulenburg will elaborate on the resulting changes to industry estimating systems, and effective ways to utilize the industry dialog and documentation to elevate conversations around changes made in the way the operation is presented.
Wide-Ranging SCRS Events for All SEMA Show Attendees
SCRS also participates in, hosts or helps coordinate a wide variety of industry events in conjunction with the SEMA Show.
There are a wide range of reasons that collision repairers gain benefit from active participation at the Show.
Kris Burton, SCRS secretary and Rosslyn Auto Body owner said he was impressed with last year's Student Networking Breakfast.
"The engagement from the students interested in our industry is inspiring--a couple hundred young people starting out their lives and careers looking at the collision industry," he said. "Aside from seeing all the cool new tools and equipment, networking has to be at the top; the opportunity to meet and speak with leaders from all aspects of the automotive industry is unmatched. New products judging on Monday before SEMA is a special opportunity to see all the new products and the winners and how proud they are from using it in their marketing to hanging a banner in the booth."
Ron Reichen, Precision Body & Paint owner and SCRS past chairman, said he looks forward to attending the SEMA Show every year because it culminates all the activities that have taken place in the collision repair industry annually.
"Seeing those incredible people that you've worked and interacted with in such a meaningful way in a face-to-face environment--there's no other event in the automotive industry that has the ability to do that on such a large scale," he said.
Todd Hesford, Community Collision Centers owner and SCRS national director, has attended the SEMA Show for several years but the most impactful memory he recalls occurred at the 2022 event.
"Coming back from COVID and poking my head into the meeting rooms of RDE seeing that my peers were filling these rooms desperate for learning, wanting more, taking time away from all of the cars, the tools, the merch from the vendors--just wanting to better themselves; that was a proud moment," he said.
Andrew Batenhorst, Pacific BMW body shop manager and SCRS director-at-large added that the most recent Red Carpet Awards resonated with him (more on the Red Carpet event below).
"It brought the legacy and history of everything we do full circle," he said. "I've been to SEMA many times, but being on the side of the event that I am now [on the SCRS Board], it's a different experience and incredibly fulfilling."
Red Carpet Awards and Recognitions by SCRS at SEMA
Some of the collision repair industry's most prestigious awards and recognitions will be given during the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards event on the evening of Tuesday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. PST at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
The event, which is free to attend, was established to take advantage of the energy and excitement surrounding the SEMA Show.
Award presentations will be given by "BodyShop Business," the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA), the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Fender Bender, I-CAR, the National Auto Body Council (NABC), SCRS, and more.
The awards ceremony follows the last and typically largest Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting of the year, which is also held during SEMA Week on Tuesday, November 5, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST at the Westgate, followed by a reception at 6 p.m. PST.
SCRS will wrap up SEMA Week with its afterparty held in the Verona Sky Villa at Westgate Resort and Casino on the evening of Thursday, November 7.
The afterparty has become one of the many fixtures of the SEMA Show, marking the end of a long and productive week and a well-earned opportunity for members of the industry from across the globe to let their hair down together and enjoy an evening among friends. Tickets are limited and early registration is encouraged.
For more details about SCRS activities and to register online for SCRS Repairer Driven Education, visit semashow.com or register here.
Attendee, buyer, and media registration for the 2024 SEMA Show is open at semashow.com/register. Registration is only $60 for qualified attendees who register by Friday, September 27. Deadlines and fees for other registration categories can be found at semashow.com/register.
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