Soak It All Up at SEMA
by Alana Quartuccio
Hungry for knowledge and thirsty for success? There is no better place to soak up all the solutions and innovations you need than at the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center (November 2 – November 6).
The events that take place during, and in conjunction with, SEMA are of the utmost value to any collision repair professional – no matter what skill set or engagement level one possesses. Knowledge is the key to success and in today’s ever-evolving world of collision repair, the more you absorb and utilize information from events like the Collision Industry Conference – which returns to the Westgate this year! – and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series of events the better positioned you’ll be toward being triumphant in all you do.
Open your mind to new insights and experiences in the classrooms and on the Show floor. Be inspired by thought-provoking concepts via the IDEAS Collide Showcase and obtain the latest designs and technologies from the automotive manufacturers during the OEM Technology Summit. Interact with peers at industry events such as the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards and the SCRS’ SkyVilla After Party.
Make time to visit the countless exhibitors on the upper level of the South Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center and get to know all the new tools and resources on the market to bring back to the shop.
And of course, make time to meet up with your colleagues and friends and have fun among the bright lights in the big city. With so many options, the possibilities are endless!
Turn the pages to get all the details about the very many things taking place during Industry Week at SEMA!
It’s time to soak it all up like a sponge!
Tuesday, November 3
On the Agenda:
SEMA Show 9am – 5pm LVCC South Hall
CIC 8am – 5pm Westgate
RDE Education 9:30am – 4pm LVCC South Hall Skybridge Classrooms
*Catch classes on capturing mechanical labor, digital marketing and more!
CIC Reception 6pm Westgate Ballroom
Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Night
7:30pm Westgate Ballroom
Chances are you have been in Las Vegas since the weekend, and have had some time to enjoy the city before diving into the activities of the day. But even if you just got in on the red-eye, there’s so much on the agenda to keep you busy and energized!
Whether you choose to spend the day at the Westgate taking in all that the Collision Industry Conference has to offer in panel discussions, or spend it all in the RDE classrooms at the LVCC – or perhaps a mixture of both – you are guaranteed to walk away with a notebook full of new ideas!
If CIC is first on your list, head over to the Westgate before 8am, grab a coffee and find a seat to catch new CIC Chairman Trent Tinsley (Entegral) give his opening remarks. Then head up to the upper level of the South Hall before 9:30am so you don’t miss the start of SCRS’ RDE series, kicking off with Keith Manich (Automotive Training Institute) who will present “Reclaiming Technical Authority: The Collision Shop’s Fiduciary Role.” This session will explore how collision repair businesses can strengthen their position as the technical authority responsible for safe and proper repairs while navigating the realities of negotiation with insurers and other stakeholders.
Your other RDE options from 9:30am to 11am include “Fix Your Shop’s Digital Marketing: A Live Advertising Workshop” (Michaela Mundorf, Austin Carroll and Lizzie Jones; SoKal) and “Repair Planning That Pays: Protecting Revenue through Research” (Isaac Aronson; OEC).
Head to the Show floor to visit some vendors and grab a bite at the concession stand, but be back in time for SCRS veteran and industry super star presenter Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) who will enlighten attendees with “Capturing Mechanical Labor: Being Intentional About the Opportunity.” Mechanical operations are often an overlooked revenue source. Anderson will show attendees where missed opportunities may lie and how to thoroughly assess repair plans in order to intentionally capture mechanical operations that are required to return vehicles back to their pre-loss condition safely and properly.
Other RDE options for 12pm to 1:30pm include “The Estimator Bottleneck: How Modern Shops Shape Mindset for Complex Repair” (Deric Krist, Kri-Tech Solutions) and “Beyond the Class: Turning Training into Real Shop Performance” (Chris White and Danny Hacker: KECO Body Repair Products).
Whether you left the building to get a bite or ran back to the Westgate to catch some of the CIC afternoon panel discussions, make your way back the SCRS RDE classrooms for “Repair Transparency: The Key to Defensible Repairs and Better Outcomes” panel discussion featuring DCR Systems’ Arynne Kelly, David Martin and Michael Giarrizzo, WMABA and SCRS’ Barry Dorn and WMABA President Kris Burton (Rosslyn Auto Body).
This engaging panel discussion will dive into the need for transparency which increases more and more as vehicle complexity expands. The session will explore why documentation, clarity and accountability must be foundational elements of today’s collision repair operation. Panelists will use real world examples to demonstrate how structural transparency can improve communication and defend repairs.
Other RDE options from 2:30pm to 4pm include “Run Your Collision Business Like a Fortune 100 Company” (Rachel James; Torque Financial Group) and “Bringing Mechanical Repairs In-House” (Steve Dawson; Hunter Engineering).
If time in the classrooms learning wasn’t enough knowledge to feed your mind for the day, head back to the Westgate to catch the final panel of the day at CIC or head out with colleagues for an early dinner.
Soon it will be time to get gussied up for the CIC Reception, which begins at 6:30pm at the Westgate ballroom followed by the main event of the night: the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards. This event is a can’t miss. Sip a cocktail and sit back and help celebrate those who have helped make the industry shine with their contributions.
Wednesday, November 4
On the Agenda:
SEMA Show 9am – 5pm LVCC South Hall
RDE Education 9:30am – 1pm LVCC South Hall Skybridge Classrooms
*Catch classes on in-house glass work, effective communication and more!
IDEAS Collide 2:30pm – 4pm LVCC South Hall Skybridge Classrooms
After a fun night of celebration, it’s time to get ready for another day of innovation and inspiration. Grab some breakfast and your caffeinated beverage of choice and head back to the LVCC Skybridge classrooms. The RDE series continues at 9:30am with “The Three Daily Mistakes Repair Shops Make That Empower Insurers” presented by Sean Preston (Coverall Law) and Tim Ronak (AkzoNobel). Routine shop practices can inadvertently give insurers leverage in negotiations and disputes. This discussion will shift away from behaviors of insurers and focus inward to help repairers recognise how small operational choices can influence payment outcomes, documentation strength and the overall negotiating position.
Other options for the 9:30am to 11am slot include “Own It: The Difference Between Responsibility and Accountability” (Tony Adams and Melissa Wolfe; LeadersWay), and “Stop Guessing, Start Earning: Building Bulletproof Repair Plans” (Danny Gredinberg; Database Enhancement Gateway and Andrew Batenhorst; Pacific Collision Center).
Take some time in between classes to walk the Show floor and be sure to visit the SCRS booth while you’re there!
Return to the classrooms at 12pm for “Speak Their Language: Communication That Actually Works in a Body Shop.” Tony Adams and Melissa Wolfe (LeadersWay) return with a discussion designed to help leaders and team members communicate more effectively without changing who they are. The session will use the DiSC communication model to help attendees recognize how different people are wired so they can better understand what information they need to hear and how they prefer to be approached.
Other options for the 12pm to 1:30pm timeslot include “The Profit & Control Playbook: Bringing Auto Glass In-House” (Shauna Davis, Jason Horne and Jorge Sandoval; Kaizen Glass Solutions), and “Financial Success Starts with a Plan: Turning Numbers into Action” (Tracy Dombrowski; Collision Advice and Maria Quintero; Body Builders Automotive).
Grab some pizza or a sandwich in the South Hall and take a walk around the Show floor to meet vendors and see what activities may be taking place on the SEMA Collision Repair and Refinish Stage before heading back to the Skybridge classrooms for the IDEAS Collide Showcase at 2:30pm!
One of the more popular segments of the RDE series, the showcase features multiple presentations from a unique collection of presenters from various parts of the industry in a fast-paced “TED Talk” like setting.
Attendees will hear from Ryan Taylor (BodyShop Booster), who will deliver “The Body Shop That Works While You Don’t” and Coverall Law’s Sean Preston will explain “The Law of Reasonable Pricing: Why Shops Must Be Paid and Customers Must Be Reimbursed.” Joel Adcock (REVV) will share “The Scan is Not the Story: Closing the Gap Between Diagnostics and Calibration.” OPUS IVS’ Brian Herron will present “Growing Your Business,” Justin Alllen (Hunter Engineering) will pose the question “What Will You Do When the Cars Stop Crashing?” Daniel Burkholder (BodyShop Marketing) will explain “The AI Takeover: Is Your Shop Ready to Be Found?” Maria Quintero (Body Builders Automotive) will give “Technician Roadmap: Financial Awareness Leads to Technician Excellence.”
With a full day of education under your belt, it’s time to grab some dinner with colleagues and find out what the evening has in store.
Thursday, November 5
On the Agenda:
SEMA Show 9am – 5pm LVCC South Hall
SCRS OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit 12:30pm – 4:30pm LVCC South Hall Skybridge Classrooms
SCRS Sky Villa RDE Afterparty 9pm – 12am Westgate Las Vegas Casino Resort
*Registration Required
Thursday morning leaves you time to peruse the halls of the LVCC. Be sure to visit the SCRS booth and get yourself a ticket to the most-happening party in town: SCRS’ Sky Villa RDE Afterparty, which takes place at the Westgate Hotel beginning at 9pm!
Be sure to make your way to the Skybridge classrooms and snag a seat for the OEM Technology Summit. Via three engaging sessions, the Summit puts collision repair professionals and automotive structural design and technology innovators in the same room to explore the latest intel on advancing motor vehicle designs and technologies.
The first session, beginning at 12:30pm, will feature Lee White of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) who will present “The National Safety Objective: Safer Vehicles, Safer Roads.”
White will discuss the agency’s current vehicle and roadway safety priorities, emerging transportation technologies, data-driven research and the federal government’s work with industry to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
OEM Summit Sessions II and III will follow at 2pm and 3:30pm.
After the Summit concludes, there’s still time to make more rounds on the Show floor before heading back to the hotel to grab a bite and get ready for a fabulous night of networking at the Westgate via the SkyVilla Afterparty!
Friday, November 6
On the Agenda:
SEMA Show 9am – 4pm LVCC South Hall
SEMA week is beginning to come to a close. Friday should provide plenty of time to continue exploring all the offerings at the South Hall and beyond at the LVCC.
If staying in town for the weekend, visit semashow.com and get tickets to SEMA Fest! What better way to end your SEMA experience then with the music of The Offspring, Jimmy Eat Word, 311 and more!
Once it’s time to pack up and head home, remember that the SEMA 2026 show may be over, but the experience will have left you with new knowledge and inspiration that is going to last you for years to come.
Now that you’re prepared for a jam-packed week of activities, be sure to sign up for RDE courses by visiting
scrs.com/rde. Attend CIC by registering at ciclink.com.
If you can’t make SEMA 2026, mark your calendars for November 1-5, 2027, and start making plans now!
Want more? Check out the November 2026 issue of Hammer & Dolly!