“Bright light city gonna set my soul, Gonna set my soul on fire.
Got a whole lot of money that’s ready to burn, So get those stakes up higher.”

– Elvis Presley, “Viva Las Vegas”

The stakes may be high in the mega-casinos lining the Las Vegas strip – where roulette wheels, gaming tables and one-arm bandits are as abundant as tourists – but one bet you can bank on is the 2001 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), the world’s largest collision repair event. More than 35,000 collision repair professionals, 2,700 exhibit booths and 600 exhibiting companies are expected to fill the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 30 – Dec. 2.

In addition to a full house of seminars and workshops – including optional education by the National Glass Association and the National Association of Independent Insurers – this year’s exposition features a new Action Demonstration Arena on the show floor to provide technical training in auto glass installation, suspension diagnostics, resistance spot welding, panel bonding and air bags. And for the first time, the majority of management seminars are approved for credit by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and can be used toward earning an Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.

With a desert full of dazzling mega-resorts, Las Vegas is rapidly becoming the world’s most elaborate fantasy vacation destination. Almost 37 million tourists converged on this oasis of glitter and glamour last year alone. This year, thousands of collision repairers – hopefully you – will join in the thrills this city has to offer. With the excitement of Las Vegas by night and the enlightenment of seminars and exhibitor booths by day, NACE 2001 promises to be a jackpot of industry information, services, equipment – and fun.

Congress Sessions
The Full Congress Registration Package includes one ticket to any one seminar/workshop in each of the eight Congress session time slots. Individual seminar tickets can be purchased for $45 each; workshop tickets can be purchased for $65 each.

Industry Seminars

• Black Box Technology: Implications to the Insurance and Collision Repair Industries – Thursday, Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Learn about black box technology in automobiles and find out what information is harvestable. Identify vehicles that have harvestable information and see how the information can and can’t be used. Also, recognize business opportunities related to use of the information.
• Cycle Times: Best Practices – Thursday, Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Panelists will explore your shop – estimating and parts procurement processes, shop layout, load leveling, team-based incentives, quality control and more – where improvement in production management can positively affect your bottom line.
• Introduction to the Internet in Collision Repair – Thursday, Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Acquaint yourself with the many business uses of the Internet and what to expect in the future. You’ll learn how to use a business Web site to attract new customers and provide added services to existing customers, as well as how to use it as a marketing tool. You’ll also learn about real opportunities for gaining business process efficiencies using the Internet.
• Update 2001 – Thursday, Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Many auto manufacturers and dealers have decided to enter the collision repair business by developing their own repair programs. A panel of auto manufacturers’ representatives will share their companies’ visions for the future of these programs. Find out where they’re headed and learn what effects these programs may have on your business.
• Collision Repair in the “Information Providers” Age – Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Do the information providers know the concerns of repairers? Are they responsive to these concerns? Get the opportunity to have your questions posed to the information providers, and hear what changes and enhancements they may have planned for their products.
• Parts Sourcing – Are You Making the Right Decisions? – Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. to 5 :30 p.m. This panel, representing various segments of the collision industry, will explore the answers to this and other questions relating to the parts procurement and sourcing process. Learn how technology can help you with parts transactions.

• • Global Issues – The World of Collision Repair – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This international roundtable will discuss the past history of claims processes and explore present issues of participation in approved accident repair networks, human resource recruitment, investors, auto manufacturers, insurers and acquisitions. They’ll also discuss how other countries recruit and train their employees and how claims processes may be administered in the future.

• • Recyclable Parts: Can You Make Money? – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This panel will discuss the many aspects of using recycled parts and offer suggestions for ways to do it profitably. Learn the factors used to determine the condition of a recycled part, how technology can help identify the steps required when working with used parts and how the ASA Used Part Guide can be used as a reference in your shop.

• To Replace or Repair? That is the Question – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Changes in the collision repair industry are quickly reducing competition. Learn about how these issues will affect your business and how you can become a part of developing solutions. You’ll find out about new technology and the need to develop alternative repair procedures, as well as how to build and use a quality alternative repair parts network and to separate your operations from those that aren’t.
• Hear What’s Going On … Straight Talk from the Insurance Companies – Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Brian Sullivan moderates this panel of insurance executives who’ll report on their companies’ new developments and how these changes affect you. You’ll find out what key insurance companies are doing and what role collision repairers will play in the future. This a follow-up session to the Saturday Luncheon Keynote.
• From Aerospace to Automobiles – The Present & Future Uses of Aluminum – Sunday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This program will cover trends in the industry, reasons why aluminum will be as common as steel and the differences in skill training needed for the future collision repair technician.

• Shop Owners Roundtable – Sunday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Made up of collision repair professionals, this roundtable will discuss their experiences and successes. Learn some of the “tricks of the trade” used by other collision repairers and hear what others are thinking after their own experiences at NACE 2001.

Three-Hour Industry Workshops

• • DRPs Self-Management – Thursday, Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn from the experts how to land DRPs and keep them flowing to your door year after year. Learn about insurance performance measurements and reports, how to negotiate with insurers and how to maintain a positive relationship with your insurance partners. You’ll also identify insurers to target as potential DRP partners and understand how to better position yourself.

• Estimating for Profit – Thursday, Nov. 29, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Creating an accurate estimate is essential to repairing a vehicle to pre-accident condition. This course will include insight into the procedures and processes of dealing with the vehicle, the databases and the vehicle owner/insurer. You’ll learn which items are most frequently missed on an estimate and how to recognize additional labor operations necessary for returning the vehicle to pre-accident condition.

Technical Seminars

• • Electrical & Mechanical Repairs – Thursday, Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This presentation will focus on electrical and mechanical repairs in the collision shop. Learn how to develop the proper repair process and time lines to meet customer needs and demands; how to estimate electrical and mechanical repairs; and when to do these repairs in-house and when to sublet.

• • Welding Techniques – Thursday, Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This presentation will provide an understanding of the principles of welding techniques, with an emphasis on MIG welds. The program will also focus on the visual inspection of welds and how to identify potential problems.

• • Panel Bonding – Thursday, Nov. 29, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. This presentation will demonstrate the proper use of adhesives. It will also show the evaluation of panel bonding from the factory to the shop and the necessary testing to validate panel bonding.

• • Understanding Airbags – Thursday, Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. This presentation will provide an overview of airbag systems and the need for proper identification of the system in vehicles. The program will also describe proper procedures for repair and replacement.

• • Working on Hybrids – Safety First – Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This session offers an overview of Toyota’s development of the Prius Hybrid and an explanation of how the electrical and mechanical parts operate. You’ll learn what materials, clothing and equipment are required for disabling the vehicle’s high-voltage system, as well as the safety procedures used to prepare the Prius before collision repair work is started.

• ABS Brakes – Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In this presentation, you’ll learn about diagnosis on ABS and what changes have been made in the industry concerning ABS.

• Interpreting Alignment Angles – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This presentation will teach you how to use alignment reports to determine what’s bent and how much it’s bent. You’ll learn how to convert alignment angles to dimensional measurements and how to communicate with alignment techs to get the information you need.
• Auto Glass Installation – Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This presentation will focus on the duties of the windshield and provide insight into auto glass installation. Learn how and when to follow OEM recommendations and how adhesives play a role in structural integrity.
• Plastics Repair – Sunday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This presentation will explore the increasing use of plastics in automobiles. Learn to identify plastic composition, understand how to make repair vs. replace determinations and investigate various repair procedures.

Management Seminars

• Ten Steps to a Better Collision Repair Business – Thursday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Today’s fast-paced and highly competitive environment requires operations of all sizes to become process driven and turnkey. This program takes you through the 10 steps and illustrates the road map to get to the next level of success. This seminar is accredited by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) for credit toward Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
• Introduction to Excel for Collision Repair – Thursday, Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn the basic functions and principles of spreadsheets. Understand the functionality of spreadsheets for financial analysis and see demonstrations of basic actions, inputs and formulas. This seminar is accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.
• Mentoring – How to Develop Tomorrow’s Employees Today – Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This panel will discuss their successes in developing entry-level employees, their experiences working with local high schools and vocational schools and their efforts to enhance the industry’s image. Learn ways to partner with your local education system and about mentoring programs that your shop and employees can benefit from.
• So … You’re Ready to Grow Your Business – Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. At this program, you’ll learn to recognize the important considerations for growing a business, identify the reasons why you’d grow your business and learn from real-life examples of how to grow your business. This seminar is accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.
• Positioning Your Business for the Future – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Panelists at this program will share their techniques for working better, faster and cheaper; creating and maintaining relationships with dealers; selecting prime shop locations for additional shops; having DRP relationships or equally fruitful non-DRP relationships; marketing on billboards, bus benches and cable TV; and more.

• Exit Strategies: How to Exit Your Shop with Grace and Style – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This course explores tried and true exit strategies that help you to increase your shop’s net worth and get a win-win deal done. Learn how to identify you logical buyer and discover ways to sell your business faster, easier and for more money. This seminar is accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.
• How to Turn Your Paper Flow Into Positive Cash Flow – Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Explore efficient and proven ideas to improve your profits through the administration of the paper flow process. You’ll learn to process an order step by step; discuss proper documentation, filing and paper flow; and discover ways to master the administration of the production process. This seminar is accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.
• Your Body Shop – What’s It Worth to You? – Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you’re a shop owner or family member, this session will help you understand what makes a business valuable. Learn 11 tips to increase the value (and price) of your business and investigate (and avoid the pitfalls of) the myths of business valuation. This seminar is accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.

• Paint Shop Pros Share Their Secrets – Sunday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This panel of paint shop experts will discuss the challenges of setting up and running a successful paint shop environment. You’ll understand what it takes to run a profitable shop and learn the tricks of the trade from those who’ve succeeded.

Management Three-Hour Workshops
All workshops are accredited by AMI for credit toward AAM designation.

• Achieving Complete Customer Satisfaction – Thursday, Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This course describes what distinguishes a completely satisfied customer, how to implement the six steps of achieving complete customer satisfaction and how having nothing less than 100 percent completely satisfied customers is acceptable. You’ll learn to recognize what’s important to each and every customer and how to implement new procedures and tools to make certain customer needs are understood and met.
• Body Shop Financial Management Made Simple – Thursday, Nov. 29, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. By interactively developing a budget and business forecast, this hands-on session will allow you to use your own financial information as a tool for the future. Learn to identify areas in your business that can be improved and design achievable benchmarks for each department.
• DRP Contracts: Understanding the Language and Managing the Risks – Thursday, Nov. 29, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This workshop will examine specific clauses found in many current DRP contracts and will provide you with a working knowledge of DRP contract language and how it affects your business. You’ll also learn to manage risks through insurance and negotiations.
• Creating Winners: How to Turn Your Crew into a High Performance Team – Saturday, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Develop measuring systems to manage your business. Learn how to motivate employees to higher achievement and explore ways to create a great team effort with everyone working toward the same goals and objectives.

Key Events

• Friday Morning General Session – Friday, Nov. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. New this year, two experts address the hottest topics in the industry today.

1. Allstate Addresses the Industry – Charles Paul, vice president of Claims Strategy Group, Allstate Insurance Company, will speak on Allstate claim strategy and how Allstate’s acquisition of Sterling Collision Centers fits Allstate’s Priority Repair Option (PRO) program and other insurance topics.
2. A View from Detroit – John Smith Jr., chairman of General Motors Corporation, will speak on several topics, including Automotive YES, GM collision repair initiatives and the future of auto manufacturing.

• • Saturday Keynote Luncheon

Walking a Mile in an Insurer’s Shoes – Saturday, Dec. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Back for the second year in a row, Brian Sullivan – editor and publisher of Auto Insurance Report – will discuss the changes in the insurance industry since his keynote address at NACE 2000, share trends being set by the insurance companies and help you determine how to position your business amidst all the industry changes.

Let’s Party!

• • Welcome Reception – Thursday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Start off your evening at The Mirage Hotel & Casino with hors d’oeuvres and libations – leaving you plenty of time to enjoy Las Vegas night life. Tickets are included in full Congress Registration packages, or individual tickets may be purchased for $45 each.

• Saturday Night with Jay Leno – Saturday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy entertainment by the Emmy-winning host of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” As a comedian, Leno continues to perform in front of live audiences – and still enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles (an interest we’re sure you share). Tickets are included in full Congress Registration packages, or individual tickets may be purchased for $60 each.

Photos courtesy of the Las Vegas News Bureau.

For more information on NACE – including how to register, optional education, lifestyle seminars and details about the spouse/guest program – log on to www.bodyshopbusiness.com.