TAKES OVER RICHMOND, ROUNDS OUT INDUSTRY WEEK

BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

Have you booked your hotels and made travel arrangements yet? If not, there’s no time to waste – Industry Week in Richmond, VA is mere days away, and you don’t want to miss out on all the education, exhibitions and networking available for collision repair professionals from April 12-15, beginning with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) Open Board meeting, followed by a special session, as well as the Collision Industry Conference’s (CIC) quarterly gathering (preview the CIC agenda on page 20).

But WMABA and the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) is bringing something even more exciting to the area with Virginia’s firstever trade show, the Southeast Collision Conference (SCC)! Scheduled April 14-15 at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, VA, SCC 2023 promises two days of networking, exhibitions and education, featuring WMABA’s Collision P.R.E.P. (Professional Repairer Education Program) classes and a host of the industry’s leading trainers.

“Our Collision P.R.E.P. endeavor has always been about bringing forward national-level education opportunities to the local market and providing opportunities for all segments of collision repair,” shares WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler. (See page 26 for the full educational slate.)

Although the training agenda is sure to stir up a lot of excitement, the trade show aspect of the event will certainly turn some heads as well with dozens of local and national vendors participating to showcase the latest tools, products, equipment and services on the market to the shop owners, technicians, painters, estimators, suppliers and other industry professionals in attendance.

According to CCA Executive Director Josh Kent, what makes SCC stand out is “the vibe is different than at other shows with regard to community and networking. Attendees represent quality shops that come with a specific purpose – to ask questions and make purchases. We want people to meet each other, have a good time and truly enjoy themselves.”

And this year’s exhibitors absolutely anticipate an enjoyable show.

“There has never been an event of this magnitude for the Virginia markets, and I believe this area has been needing this type of event for a while, so I am really pumped up to be a part of it,” John Shoemaker of Platinum Sponsor BASF shares. “While I am always excited to facilitate presentations at national events, it is going to be great to be doing so in my backyard where I hope to see many customers and friends. I believe the information I am providing on properly identifying labor types and rates is going to be eye opening for the attendees as it seems the industry has been stuck focusing on insurance-allowed Labor Rates.

“Attendees will have many reasons to stop by the BASF Automotive Refinish booth,” he adds. “I am excited to have Kurt Lawrance from KTL Restorations in Danville, VA in our booth. He is bringing Pinnacle, a 1948 Ford F-1 Glasurit paint delivery truck that premiered at SEMA 2019 in the Spanesi booth. We will also have Operative Talent, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro project vehicle that, when completed, will be raffled off to support and attract future talent to the industry. This Collision Repair Education Foundation, KTL Restoration and BASF joint venture has traveled the country bringing awareness to the talent shortage in the