Destination: NORTHEAST 2025 Journey to Success

by Alana Quartuccio

The wait is over! March is finally here.

To the automotive repair world, that can only mean one thing – the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show returns to the Meadowlands Exposition Center (MEC) in Secaucus on March 14-16. AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST is the go-to destination for automotive and collision repair professionals to get a first look at the newest equipment on the market, absorb new knowledge from the industry’s most informed representatives and engage and interact with peers. NORTHEAST is where the industry connects. 

“Managing the second-largest trade show of its kind, after SEMA, is certainly a challenge, especially in its 48th year,” says Thomas Greco, AASP/NJ Secretary and president of Thomas Greco Publishing, the event managers of NORTHEAST. “However, the history and reputation of NORTHEAST, along with the enthusiastic participation of the industry’s top speakers, vendors and attendees, make our efforts to enhance the show a bit easier. And this year is no exception. We have an incredible educational lineup, over 100 exhibitors covering 65,000 square feet of floor space with the latest technology and equipment, and an abundance of prizes and giveaways. Unless you can afford to spend thousands of dollars and a week away from your shop to go to Las Vegas, there is truly no other event like NORTHEAST for automotive repairers.”

Outside of SEMA, where else on this side of the country can one get access to hundreds of exhibitors offering the latest equipment, innovations and resources? Attendees know it’s the place to go, and clearly so do the vendors as the list of exhibitors continues to grow year after year. 

Tommy Ames of 1Source ADAS and Automotive Electronic Solutions and his team are headed from Texas to New Jersey because “we heard that NORTHEAST is the best show of the year.” Ames sees their debut at NORTHEAST as a “way to get involved with more organizations around the country, get plugged in and get our name out there. We love meeting new people, making new connections. Networking really is our favorite part.” 

A big proponent of training, Ames will also be a part of the educational component of the show by serving on the ADAS discussion panel over the weekend. (See the full educational schedule on page 30).

NexWeld Innovations is excited to make their way from the midwest to NORTHEAST for the first time. “We are really looking forward to networking and meeting people on the coast,” states AJ Bernhardt. Started in 2020, the company manufactures welding blankets, including the world’s only magnetic welding blanket that attaches to metal without falling off. Although they have exhibited at local shows in the midwest, this will be the first time at a larger event where they are eager “to get their name out there and into body shops.” 

NORTHEAST truly has it all. In addition to equipment offerings, resources are key to auto body professionals too. 

Attorney Tom Cherichello will make his debut exhibiting at NORTHEAST. With a strong background in collision repair in addition to his legal experience, Cherichello is a reliable source to many body shops when they need legal representation. 

“My first real job right out of college was as a claims adjustor. I worked for insurance companies. I’ve also managed a few body shops. Later, I became an attorney. Things are becoming more contentious between insurance companies and body shops, and that is only going to grow,” he shares of his experience, which makes him equipped to handle these types of situations. Cherichello sees the show as a great way to get his name out there. He also has strong ties to AASP/NJ and has worked with Executive Director Charles Bryant on related issues for at least 35 years. 

“People come to this show because they want to see the newest equipment and have the opportunity to try it and experience it,” says Dennis Farrell on behalf of SAR, B&R and HIKO, Chief automotive equipment distributors. “We will be displaying our 20-foot long Phoenix rack with 12,000-pound capacity, with a full-size truck mounted in truck clamps and structural holding. Attendees will have the opportunity to try out and experience our welders firsthand. That’s what brings people to the show, the ability to try things out.” 

And the excitement goes beyond eyeing and buying on the show floor! 

For the third consecutive year, the NORTHEAST Bodywork Bowl Collision Repair Skills Competition returns. This fun and friendly competition has quickly become an anticipated event, drawing crowds of spectators to the show to watch automotive professionals test their skills in the areas of estimating, welding and painting. 

Last year, 70 competitors showcased their skills, with the top three winners in each category taking home a number of exciting prizes.

The Bodywork Bowl was inspired by the Big Shots Competition, which is held annually at the Auto Body Association of Texas’ (ABAT) Texas Auto Body Trade Show. Once again, ABAT’s Executive Director Jill Tuggle will be on hand to coordinate the competition at NORTHEAST 2025.

“I’ll be putting on my cowboy boots and heading north again!” exclaims Tuggle. “I’m so excited to visit all of my friends up at NORTHEAST and help produce the Bodywork Bowl! The fun continues in 2025, and we will kick it up a notch or two this year. You’re going to see a little more hype surrounding the competition. It’s just as much fun to watch the competition as it is to compete, so make sure you swing by the booth and check out the hottest action on the show floor!” 

The competition takes place on Saturday, March 15. Finalists will be notified Saturday evening, and prizes will be awarded on Sunday, March 16. Think you got what it takes? Register now via aaspnjnortheast.com. 

While NORTHEAST 2025 officially begins on March 14, the educational component of the show will kick off on Thursday, March 13 as Dave Luehr (Elite Body Shop Solutions) returns to offer another full-day of education. Piggybacking on last year’s successful pre-show workshop debut, Luehr returns to show audience members how to not only increase productivity and profit, but also how to reduce stress with “Fundamentals of Operational Success.”

Most body shop chaos is avoidable by consistently doing the basics well. Luehr and his team have studied the effects of a few high-leverage actions that eliminate most of the stressors. His workshop will dive into transforming the atmosphere of one’s shop in the areas of work in process (WIP), repair planning accuracy and parts management. It’s recommended the entire team attend the course in order to learn and build an action plan together. 

“In other words, if you do these few things, you work less and accomplish more!” offers Luehr. “Time is the most precious thing we possess. I am on a mission to make 2025 the best year ever for hard-working collision professionals by helping them discover high leverage strategies to buy back their time.”

Tuition for the workshop is separate from the NORTHEAST education package. Follow this link at aaspnjnortheast.com/events for more information on how to register. NORTHEAST attendees can take advantage of a special 50 percent discount on registration with a valid badge ID. Members of AASP/NJ in good standing who attend this workshop will receive a certificate that can be used toward fulfilling the training requirement portion of the New Jersey Auto Body License Renewal.

The official NORTHEAST educational component (sponsored by AirPro Diagnostics) will get underway Friday, March 14 from 8am to 5pm as the one-and-only Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) teams up with Craig Stevens of CCC Intelligent Solutions to offer an exclusive, in-depth, one-day workshop – “Unleashing the Full Power of CCC ONE.” 

Friday evening seminars include “Navigating the Collision Industry Today,” presented by Society of Collision Repair Specialists Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, who will report on the latest from the blend study, review how conclusions made way for the information providers to conduct their own research, the results of those outcomes and changes to their systems and how that response can provide opportunities to document variations in the refinish process.

Attendees won’t want to miss engaging panels, starting with “Adapt, Assist, Advance: Exploring ADAS Trends in 2025 & Beyond.” Moderated by Liz Stein (Certified Collision Group), this panel of industry experts will discuss the evolution of ADAS with a look at the future of emerging technologies, regulatory and safety considerations and more. In addition to Ames, expected panelists include Josh McFarlin (AirPro Diagnostics), Greg Peeters (Car ADAS Solutions), Joffrey Starcher (TEXA) and Steve Dawson (Hunter Engineering). 

 Stein will also moderate an OEM panel discussion on “Driving the Future of Repairs,” which will take a look at the latest developments in certification programs. Kelli Doherty (General Motors), Ken Park (Volvo) and Dave Gruskos (Reliable Automotive Equipment) plan to serve on the panel. Rounding out the day will be presentations from Education Sponsor AirPro Diagnostics, I-CAR, Matthew’s Auto Supplies and others.

Sunday, March 16 will bring Anderson back to the classrooms to offer advice on how to “Stay Humble, Stay Hungry,” and Jim Saeli (DRIVE) will address “The Art of Leadership: Balancing People, Process and Profits.”

“Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your future!” AASP/NJ President Ken Miller exclaims. “We are proud to welcome back some of the best minds in the industry. The educational component of NORTHEAST is one of the many reasons automotive repair professionals up and down the East Coast make the trip as it’s the only place outside of SEMA where one can get the latest information on the industry’s most relevant topics.”

Each NORTHEAST educational session costs $35. Get a huge discount on a Full Access NORTHEAST Educational Pass for just $249. Returning for 2025, sign up for classes and bring a friend for FREE; NORTHEAST attendees who register for educational offerings have the option to add a “plus one” to that same class at no additional cost.

Be on the look out for special presentations on the show floor over the course of the weekend. Thanks to generous donations from Spark Underwriters and World Insurance, AASP/NJ plans to award $5,000 total ($2,500 each) worth of tools and equipment to two rising young technicians/painters employed at local collision repair shops or students at a New Jersey vocational or technical high school. 

As if one needs even more reasons to attend, just pre-registering to walk the show floor automatically enters one into a chance to win $500 in NORTHEAST Dollars to spend on the show floor (10 winners will be chosen at random over the course of the weekend), and those who obtain a VIP ticket from their preferred vendor prior to the show can participate in a drawing to win a $500 gift card! Winners must be present. 

Whether one intends to engage with the industry, invest in new equipment and resources, expand their mind or evolve their business to its best potential, NORTHEAST is the place to connect to all of those ambitions. 

Don’t hesitate! Register now for a FREE attendee badge at aaspnjnortheast.com. 

*All scheduled and anticipated seminars and events are subject to change.

Want more? Check out the March 2025 issue of New Jersey Automotive!