Education Speaker Submissions Open for Southeast Collision Conference 2026

Excitement is already beginning to build for the 2026 Southeast Collision Conference, scheduled for April 23-24, 2026 at the Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord in North Carolina. 

Once again, WMABA has teamed up with the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) for the fifth iteration of this show, which promises to bring national-level contributors, speakers and vendors to the East Coast via North Carolina. SCC is intended to move annually between the associations’ two regions to serve as many shops as possible, year over year.

 In addition to encouraging all to save the date, WMABA is requesting submissions from leaders in the industry for education opportunities related to management, profitability, vehicle technology, repair methodology or topics relevant to the modern repairer’s business to be selected for the Collision P.R.E.P. (Professional Repairer Education Program). Collision P.R.E.P. is expected to once again feature a full slate of nationally recognized speakers, and it will continue to grow and bring leading edge topics that are pertinent to repair industry advancements.

To submit an education session proposal, please head to bit.ly/SCC2026edproposal to share your ideas for valuable information our industry needs to hear! The deadline for submitting a presentation is Friday, December 19. Submissions received after the deadline may not be considered for this event.

“Seeing growth year over year, especially with our attendees, WMABA is proud to continue the collaboration and excited to see what we can do in bringing leading education opportunities to our membership regions,” said WMABA President Kris Burton (Rosslyn Auto Body; Alexandria, VA). “The collision repair market is difficult to manage on our own, but the inspiration found in community and education can change the way we navigate the future of our business.

“The Southeast Collision Conference has grown into so much more than just a trade show,” commented Kyle Bradshaw, CCA president and director of fixed operations at K&M Collision (Hickory, NC). “It’s become the place where repairers, vendors and educators come together to push our entire industry forward. What excites me most about 2026 is not just the scale of the event, but the energy and collaboration it creates for everyone who attends.”

CCA Executive Director Kaitlyn George commented, “The heart of the conference is about bringing shops together and creating opportunities for them to learn, grow and connect with their peers. This will be my first conference as executive director of CCA, and I couldn’t be more excited to experience it. We’ve put a lot of hard work into making it a success, and I’ve already seen from other events how rewarding it is when shops come together to learn, grow and build community. That energy and connection are exactly why I love what I do!” 

“I’m so excited for the addition of Kaitlyn to the CCA team,” added WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler. “The way our two associations come together to give this special event to the industry, for the industry, is one of the favorite endeavors I do. Seeing the lightbulb come on for repairers, for new ideas or processes, is rewarding and helps to change the landscape of the markets we serve – for the better!”

Want more? Check out the November 2025 issue of Hammer & Dolly!