Time to Get Back to Class!
by Burl Richards, ABAT President
It’s almost time for the 2025 Texas Auto Body Trade Show (get the scoop on page 16), and while I’m always excited for ABAT’s annual event, I’m truly looking forward to getting back in the classroom and having the chance to learn from some of the greatest minds in our industry!
Hopefully, you caught the webinar with Mike Anderson last month because he shared a ton of great information (recap on page 10) – and you can bet your boots that he’ll have even more valuable insights to offer during the Trade Show! Unfortunately, while ABAT normally hosts pretty frequent meetings virtually or in person, we haven’t done as much of that this year because we’ve been so focused on getting legislation passed to require all insurers include the Right to Appraisal (RTA) in their Texas policies.
Don’t get me wrong; the effort was well worth the reward! But now that we’ve got that notch in our belt, it’s time to return our focus to providing shops with the training they need to succeed in their businesses. That’s exactly what our educational agenda delivers with topics covering everything from best repair planning practices and communication tips to overcoming a low workload and even exit strategy.
Wondering whether you should sublet ADAS or bring it in-house? Join “The Industry Over a Pint” for a transparent talk on this topic featuring specialists as well as shops who’ve gone both routes. And if you’re curious about everything that went into getting RTA legislation passed in Texas and what it means for your shop, you won’t want to miss Robert McDorman’s (Auto Claim Specialists) and my deep-dive into “The New Right to Appraisal Law” on Friday morning.
Our trade show floor offers everything you could possibly need to run a successful shop with our world-class vendors showcasing everything from tools and equipment to refinishing options, ADAS calibrations software and services to help you take things to the next level. No matter where you’re at in your business, we’ve got you covered!
While handling the business is at the forefront of everything ABAT does, we also like to have a good time, so be sure to partake in all the fun at the Car Show, the After Party and during our happy hours.
Those of you who know me will not be surprised when I admit that my favorite event is our Fifth Annual BIG SHOTS Competition! We know that this industry wouldn’t exist without the technicians, painters, estimators and PDR professionals who do the hard work, and this is their time to shine by showing what they’ve got and pitting their skills against their peers for a chance to win some great prizes and a little notoriety as they’ll appear on an upcoming cover of Texas Automotive. BIG SHOTS is a great way to recognize the folks who are amazing at what they do every single day, and I’m proud of how the competition has progressed over the past five years – we’re even seeing other shows introduce similar competitions modeled after it! I’m grateful to all the sponsors who help make the competition such a success year after year, and I can’t wait to see who will take the gold this time around.
I’m also really looking forward to the new venue this year and exploring all that’s available around the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center in Allen on September 12-13, and I’m confident that we’re all going to have a great time this year…we always do! But you can’t participate in the training, networking and fun if you don’t strap on your boots and head to the show, so be sure to register and book your room soon!
Visit abat.us/trade-show for details.
Want more? Check out the August 2025 issue of Texas Automotive!
>