Collision Repairer in Australia and The New Zealand Collision Repairer.
While the U.S. has only recently been exposed to online bidding requirements for parts procurement, other countries such as New Zealand have dealt with carrier-mandated parts tendering for many years. This session will provide attendees with a global perspective on the economic impact of New Zealand-based bidding programs, procedural impacts they have had on cycle times and estimating practices, and changes they have had on repairer/supplier relationships. It will also include a historical overview of the national rollout, changes made to the program along the way and market impact from inception to present day, including market response at various points throughout the past eight years.
Game Changers Innovation Forum Will Allow Repairers to ‘Eavesdrop’ on Discussion Among Collision Leaders
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is offering a ton of informative educational sessions through its Repairer Drive Education (RDE) series at the 2012 SEMA Show, but the spotlight will be on the Game Changers Innovation Forum on Friday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall upstairs.
Collision repair industry leaders Michael Giarrizzo Jr. (DCR Systems), Randy Stabler (Pride Auto Body), Gary Wano Jr. (GW and Son Auto Body) and Scott Biggs (Assured Performance Network) will offer ideas on how foster innovation as a core value that shapes the framework of your business.
“Instead of being a traditional panel that’s set up in a Q-and-A style format where you have a moderator and go down the line and ask questions, what we really wanted to do was have a candid, organic discussion among four innovative folks about the process of innovation,” says SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. “So it’s not necessarily going to be, ‘Here’s something innovative you can do in your paint shop,’ but more of a discussion about why they think the way they do. Our hope for the audience is that it will make them feel like they’re looking into a discussion between these four guys about how they created their businesses. I think it’s going to be a neat way to present what I think is one of the most critical topics in our industry.”
Attendees can also expect to learn:
• What innovation can look like in the collision repair business – including technology, product, service and business model innovation – and how it’s becoming core to business strategy.
• How leading companies manage for innovation, including the internal and external partners needed for success, overcoming barriers, and utilizing tools and technologies to accelerate implementation.
• Key success factors for making your company a leader in your market through embracing ongoing innovation as a core function of your business.
Even though the speakers will be having a discussion among themselves, Schulenburg says there will plenty of opportunity for the audience to jump in and get some feedback on their own operations.
“For example, Gary Wano’s role in this isn’t just to talk about his experience,” says Schulenburg. “He has spent a lot of his career traveling from one store to the next, learning how people approach their business and what he can take from that to improve his own. What we’ve asked him to do in his role in the Game Changers Innovation Forum is to act like he’s sitting in someone’s shop and asking questions to figure out how they come up with solutions in their shop and how he can apply that to his own. This is going to be a very focused look at what it means to innovate in your business how that’s important to independent businesses looking to expand in their market.”
Repairer Driven Education Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 30 — 10:00 a.m. – noon
RD2012 – Is New Vehicle Technology Endangering Your Business? (Kim Hazelbaker, Highway Loss Data
Institute)
Tuesday, Oct. 30 — 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
RD1 – Hybrid Power & Platforms (David Gruskos, RAE Inc.)
RD2 – Marketing: More Customers, Sales & Profits (Frank Terlep, Summit Software and Mobile Solutions)
RD3 – Monetize Your Opportunity: The Benefits of Business Diversification (Tom Myroniak, SEMA)
Tuesday, Oct. 30 — 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
RD4 – Learn How to Make Sense of OEM Repair Information (Tom McGee, ALLDATA)
RD5 – Change the Way You Think at a CORE Level (Bill Park and Dr. Byron Bissell, MpowerU)
RD6 – Numbers You Can Take to the Bank: Measuring and Improving Performance (Tom Hoerner, BASF)
Wednesday, Oct. 31 — 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
RD7 – Paint Shop Throughput: A Quick Changeover Approach (Robb Power and Brett Bialowas, PPG Automotive Refinish)
RD8 – Marketing to Consumers – Supporting Customer Pay Sales Efforts (Steve Trapp, DuPont Performance Coatings & Robert Rick, Gates Business Solutions)
RD9 – Understanding Design-Based Repairs (Richard Perry, CHIEF Automotive)
Wednesday, Oct. 31 — 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
RD10 – Going Green Doesn’t Have to be Expensive (Steven Schilling, GRC-Pirk Management)
RD11 – Dedicated vs. Universal Fixtures: The Pros and Cons (Shawn Hart, Car-O-Liner Company)
RD12 – Lean Flow Concepts: Improve Your Hours Completed Per Day (Steve Trapp, DuPont Performance Coatings & John Sweigart, The Body Shop)
Thursday, Nov. 1 — 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
RD13 – Maximize Your Web Presence (Mark Claypool, Optima Automotive)
RD14 – Make More Money WITHOUT Spending an Arm and a Leg! (Toby Chess)
RD15 – Bidding Wars: A Global View on the Possible Economic Impact of Insurer Involvement in Parts Procurement (David Newton-Ross, Collision Repair Specialists of Australia (CRSA)
Thursday, Nov. 1 — 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
RD16 – Importance of Repair Standards in Completing a Safe and Seamless Repair (John Spoto & Shawn Collins, 3M)
RD17 – Waterborne Refinish Coatings: What Are You Waiting For? (Jeff Griffin & John Parran, PPG Automotive Refinish)
RD18 – Bulletproof Your Company: Effective Human Resources, Policies and Procedures (Cory J. King, Fine, Boggs & Perkins LLP)
Friday, Nov. 2 — 10:00 a.m. – noon
RD2012 – RDE Headline Session: Game Changers – Innovation Forum
Friday, Nov. 2 — 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
RD19 – Vehicle Knowledge for Triage, Blueprinting and Estimating (Larry Montanez III, P&L Consulting)
RD20 – Achieving Service Excellence by Applying LEAN Thinking (Steven Feltovich, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes)
RD21 – He Who Controls the Data, Controls the Truth (Michael Anderson, Collision Advice)
Things to Do
Dream Racing
As its name suggests, Dream Racing allows riders to fulfill their fantasies of driving a world-class racecar around a professional track. Suit up in full-body racing gear, then get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430 GT for some fast-paced thrills at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Choose your own “experience” according to your desired challenge and burn some rubber!
7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North
(702) 599-5199
Haunted Vegas Tours
Channel your inner ghostbuster through one of these spooky historical tours. Patrons will visit local haunts and hear bone-chilling tales of paranormal occurrences and mysterious deaths. Brace yourself for an eerie séance at the end of the tour – and be prepared to sleep with the lights on afterward.
(702) 339-8744
Guns N’ Roses
Let your hair down and get ready to rock! The beloved ’80s group finds paradise in Sin City for a 12-day residency at The Joint at the Hard Rock. Catch them on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, and be sure to wash off your eyeliner before attending SEMA the next day.
The Joint
4455 Paradise Road
(702) 693-5000
Eli Roth’s Goretorium
If you’re looking to get scared to death, then a visit to Eli Roth’s Goretorium may be in store for you. Created by the director of “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel,” this horror fest goes beyond your average haunted house by making the terrifying story of a serial killing family a reality. You’ll feel like the star of one of Roth’s films as you run for your life.
Located across from The Cosmopolitan
www.goretorium.com
Vegas Vittles
Burger Bar
With endless burger combinations available, the Burger Bar appeases picky eaters and adventurous palates alike. Patrons customize their creations by choosing their own beef (buffalo, anyone?) and bun. If you’re looking for lighter fare, opt for a veggie patty or Atlantic salmon steak. Then prepare to load up on as many toppings as possible, from truffle mayo to jalapeno bacon. Save room for sweet potato or zucchini fries and dig in!
3930 South Las Vegas Boulevard #121 A
(702) 632-9364
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab
Featuring a hearty menu of seafood, burgers and steaks, Joe’s has something for everyone in your party. Stone crab serves as the signature, as each one is freshly hand harvested. After having your fill, select from one of the menu’s numerous pies to take home as a late-night snack.
3500 South Las Vegas Boulevard
(702) 792-9222
Roy’s Restaurant
Say “aloha” to flavor from the islands. Located right in the midst of the Strip, this joint serves up delectable dishes such as seared duck, mahi-mahi and eclectic sushi rolls. Aloha Hour is from 4 to 6 every night and features $5 appetizers and tropical specialty cocktails. Select from one of the spacious private rooms for a business supper and dine-in paradise.
620 East Flamingo Road
(702) 691-2053
