This year’s ASRW Industry Forums were a success for both collision repair and mechanical industry professionals in attendance, according to organizers. The forums took place Wednesday, Oct. 5 during the fourth annual Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) and were immediately followed by a networking reception sponsored by Toyota Wholesale Parts at the Orange County Convention Center in Las Vegas. The forum and reception concluded the first day of education at ASRW 2011, featuring the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) events.

Designed as a vehicle to discuss relevant, thought-provoking topics, the forums were filled with shop owners, managers and technicians. Moderator of the Collision Forums and Collision Hub Founder Kristen Felder said, "I was impressed to see the diversity of shop owners and employees coming together to discuss about their business in a friendly and appreciative matter."

Forum sponsors included the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Women’s Industry Network (WIN), the National Auto Body Council (NABC), the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and the I-CAR Collision Repair Education Foundation.

ASA president Ron Pyle said, "We really took the time to look forward and see what’s on the horizon of everyone’s needs in the industry. These are the topics that are affecting the industry right now and in to the years to come."

The forums ran with two concurrent panel sessions each for both the mechanical and collision repair segments of professionals. Mechanical topics included service information and training future automotive technicians; collision topics included future industry trends and the changing climate of insurance agreements.