Returning for its third year, the Multi-Shop Operator (MSO) Symposium was held Oct. 16 during Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) to a sold-out crowd of 275 MSOs with two or more locations. The day-long event that took place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas featured high-end content specific to collision repair MSOs and an evening networking reception.
“We had the combined benefit of collision repairers and capital market leaders, as well as expert speakers on leadership and decision-making contribute to our interactive event that focused on the current and future state of the U.S. collision repair industry,” said Vincent Romans, The Romans Group, producer of the MSO Symposium.
Designed for MSOs who aspire to improve their skills and knowledge, the symposium featured the following six sessions:
- Session 1
MSOs – Another Perspective: How They See Consolidation, Its Implications and Their Insights on How They Intend To Remain Relevant and Win in the Marketplace - Session 2
Leadership - Session 3
Making Good Decisions and Avoiding Bad Ones While Navigating the Changing Landscape: Lessons on Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Industry - Session 4
International MSOs: Presentation on International MSO Models Panel Discussion on International MSOs Compared To U.S. MSO Models - Session 5
Your Future with the Consolidators: Fight ‘Em or Join ‘Em? - Session 6
Three Years Later: What Has Changed, Where Are We, and How Does the Future Look?
“All the major players were represented at this year’s MSO Symposium and the room was a veritable ‘who’s who’ list,” said Ron Nagy, AAM, Nagy’s Collision Specialists. “This event continues to deliver.”
Added David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR, “As the largest MSO in North America, the CARSTAR team enjoyed the interaction between the small to mid-size MSOs and ‘the Big 5’ MSOs – there are many ways that we can partner to make the industry even better. Most of the participants we talked with said it was the best event to date – thanks for a great day!”
“The representation from both large and small MSOs at the symposium provided a good view of the changing landscape occurring within the industry on an almost daily basis,” said Frank LaViola, assistant vice president at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “These changes will undoubtedly affect all the constituents within the industry and helps us all be better prepared to tackle these changes.”
“The attendance at the symposium was strong and key MSOs were well-represented,” said Shelton Byrd, sales executive Western region, Mitchell International. “The overlying message of the panel discussion was the importance of recruiting talented people and fostering their growth.”
The 2013 MSO Symposium was sponsored by AudaExplore, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF, BB&T Capital Markets, Caliber Collision, CARSTAR, CCC Information Services, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Gerber Collision & Glass, Mitchell, PPG, The Romans Group, Sherwin-Williams, Universal Technical Institute, VeriFacts Automotive, and UniCure Spray Booths. The MSO Symposium was produced by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and The Romans Group.
The 2013 MSO Symposium was produced in memory of Matthew Ohrnstein, who produced the event in 2011 and 2012.
The fourth annual MSO Symposium will be held during Industry Week 2014, July 29-Aug. 2, 2014, at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Mich.
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