A Sneak Peek at ABAT’s 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show
by Jill Tuggle, ABAT Executive Director
I feel a bit like a broken record when I come to you each year and tell you how this will be the BEST and MOST FUN year yet at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show, but each time, it is actually true! We do get bigger, better, more fun and more impactful each year! And…wait for it…2024 will be our best year yet! For real though!
We have NEW education on some of the hottest topics in the industry, presented by the industry’s BEST trainers. And we’ll be showcasing NEW tools and equipment and hosting NEW special events…and I ALWAYS have a few tricks up my sleeve! But for now, I want to share some of our class information with you.
Some of our education will include tried-and-true and back by popular demand topics and speakers. At the top of that list is the king of the collision industry: Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson! But this year it’s not just Mike. We are getting Mike AND HIS TEAM – this is a special treat. Mike called me up and said he wanted to do something very special for Texas because he loves us more than any other state (well, maybe he didn’t exactly say that last part, but I’m pretty sure he was thinking it) and offered to clear the calendar for anyone on his team to come speak at our show! We will hear from them on topics like negotiation, repair planning and more. Repair planning is a hot topic every year, and we aim to deliver the goods for you and your team in 2024.
Yanni Koutmos from Eagle MMS will bring a great presentation on how to properly estimate and invoice for repair materials, and in the next room, you can hear from Tom Zobelein of Capture the Keys as he reveals tried and true digital marketing strategies that have paid dividends for many of our members and Board. Come have an “Honest Conversation” with Clay Hoberecht – you may have seen him a few times on Facebook as the outspoken and innovative owner of one of the top shops in America: Best Body Shop in Wichita, Kansas.
The education certainly does not stop there; additional class topics will include legislation and repair laws in Texas, shop culture, procedures and estimating.
Of course, there’s always tons of fun in the mix…Erin Solis (Certified Collision Group) and Danny Gredinberg (Database Enhancement Gateway) will be donning evening wear to bring you Repairidy, a collision repair game show similar to the popular game show, Jeopardy. You may even be called to the stage, so bring your A-game to this seminar!
Whatever you are looking for to support your collision business and career, I can guarantee you will find it July 12-13 at the 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show in Irving! Be sure to register early because many of these classes WILL SELL OUT! See you there!
Want more? Check out the March 2024 issue of Texas Automotive!