Deep Rooted in Education: Texas Auto Body Trade Show Branches Out
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
ABAT’s Texas Auto Body Trade Show has grown exponentially since it began in 2016, and its success can largely be attributed to the association’s willingness to branch out and try something new. This has been the case each year, and 2025 is certainly no different!
Taking place September 12-13 in its new location, at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center in Allen, the 2025 Texas Auto Body Trade Show promises to deliver the same high-energy education presentations that attendees have come to expect from the event, but as always (in true Texan fashion), it just keeps getting bigger and better as ABAT strives to offer the training that shops need most.
ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle is “incredibly excited about this year’s educational lineup! We are branching out and trying some new things, including a special presentation with motivational speaker and leadership expert Amy Pecachek, while still offering hard-hitting sessions on practical topics, presented by the nation’s top-rated industry favorites.”
A new addition to this year’s agenda is the inclusion of two sessions that will be delivered in Spanish. “When I was approached and asked why we didn’t offer classes in Spanish, I felt about 10 inches tall and realized this is Texas; the Spanish-speaking community is a huge part, not only of our state but also of the collision industry. We want the trade show to serve ALL collision repairers in our region, so it was a no-brainer to offer some options to eliminate possible language barriers and serve a broader audience.”
The opportunity to learn kicks off on Friday morning with How to Create and Achieve Your Post Shop Life, presented by Laura Gay (Consolidation Coach) and Matt DiFrancesco (High Lift Financial).
“Every shop owner will exit their business at some point, and they should be planning their succession from the moment they open up shop,” insists DiFrancesco. “From day one, you should be building value in the business and in your personal assets, so you’re ready to transition when the time comes.”
“Every shop owner will eventually leave their business – whether they plan to or not,” Gay agrees. “The question isn’t if they’ll transition, but how well they’ll be prepared when the time comes. Unfortunately, most owners are so focused on day-to-day operations that they don’t take the time to think strategically about their future. As a result, they risk leaving significant value – and peace of mind – on the table. The earlier an owner begins to plan – building value, organizing finances and aligning their business with personal goals – the more options they’ll have and the better outcomes they can expect. We want to empower shop owners to take control of that process, rather than leaving it to chance.”
DiFrancesco promises that attendees will walk away from their session with three things: recognition of the importance in planning ahead for their eventual transition, a better understanding of ways they may be neglecting to build value in their business and a general knowledge of how to build value, not just revenue.
Gay adds an additional takeaway: “A clearer roadmap for building a successful future – both for their business and their personal life after the shop. Whether they’re thinking about selling in the next year or just starting to plan, they’ll gain practical strategies to increase the value of their shop, prepare for a sale and transition on their own terms. They’ll also better understand what today’s buyers are really looking for, how to position themselves in a competitive market and how to avoid common pitfalls that can derail a deal or reduce a payout. But most importantly, they’ll learn how to align their exit strategy with their personal vision – so they’re not just stepping away from the business, but stepping confidently into what comes next. This session isn’t just about selling – it’s about setting up a fulfilling, secure post-shop life.”
At 10:15am, attendees can choose between Leveraging Body Shop KPIs to Drive Profit with Taylor Moss (OEConnection), From Dent to Delivery: AI Tools and Strategies to Reduce Cycle Time presented by Tom Zobelein (Capture the Keys) and Overcoming Information Overload, taught by Danny Gredinberg (Database Enhancement Gateway and Collision Advice) and Kyle Motzkus (subject matter expert).
Whenever Gredinberg and Motzkus team up, one can be certain they’ll be providing valuable information while having a ton of fun! Motzkus is particularly passionate about helping shops understand the dangers of information overload. “In the repair, we have four parties – technicians, estimators, customers and insurance companies – and none of them are on the same wavelength. Estimators think the repair should be done one way, and technicians view it differently, while insurers and customers just don’t want to pay the bill. The information should come from the repair planner, but they often don’t know how to explain what is needed. We all need to learn to communicate better, which starts with listening to understand instead of listening merely to respond. Understanding your audience and adapting to their needs is a key component to overcoming information overload.”
“You need to have buy-in from all the involved parties,” Gredinberg adds. “Help them understand why certain operations are required by the manufacturer. It can be overwhelming to apply all that information at once, but by breaking it down and making it digestible, it’s easier to effect meaningful change. Start with small changes and then progress to the next thing.”
The dynamic duo will seek to infuse attendees with confidence and an improved ability to tackle chaotic situations. “We want to help reduce the emotional stress that weighs on estimators,” Gredinberg says, and Motzkus agrees, “Being able to remove opinion from fact and embracing a calmer understanding of the situation is the main objective,” though he warns that attendees should be prepared to “listen, learn and don’t be afraid to drop your expectations of handling the repair from start to finish. Let the outcome be what it is, and let it go.”
From 11:30am-1:30pm, during Beyond the Wreckage: Proactive Leadership, Better Communication and Less Stress, keynote speaker Amy Pechacek (Alpstra & Co.) will explore how proactive leadership, emotional intelligence and clear communication can turn chaos into clarity.
“For many shops, stress (or chaos) has become the norm,” Pechacek observes. “Shops are fast-paced by nature – parts don’t arrive on time, color matches are off, customers are frustrated, and communication breaks down between departments. These challenges aren’t unique to one shop but rather are systemic across the industry. And while technical skills are vital, the real difference between a shop that’s simply ‘surviving’ and one that’s thriving often comes down to leadership and communication. Instead of reacting to problems all day long, shops can learn how to lead proactively, communicate more clearly and build a culture of accountability and calm.
“Learning how to lead with emotional intelligence and structure can reduce turnover, improve morale and boost profitability,” she continues, promising that attendees can expect to walk away with practical, real-world strategies they can apply the moment they return to the shop floor. Whether someone is a technician tired of unclear expectations, a painter frustrated by last-minute changes or a manager overwhelmed by putting out fires all day, attendees will leave with tools to help fix the ‘people’ part of their jobs. Because when a shop runs better, everyone wins – the team, the customers and the bottom line!”
Friday’s educational lineup will conclude with The Industry Over a Pint: A Calibration Conversation, beginning at 4pm. “A false narrative has been established that anyone can do in-house calibrations, and that’s simply not true; it’s setting some people up for failure,” facilitator Tommy Ames (1Source ADAS and Automotive Electronic Solutions) explains the concept for this happy hour seminar. “A lot of shops just don’t have the space or the knowledge to bring calibrations in-house. It requires a controlled environment, and without clearly understanding everything that’s involved, shops cannot make the right decision for their businesses.”
To help shops better understand everything involved, this panel will consist of shop owners who have successfully brought calibrations in-house, as well as those who choose to sublet the work. Ames has also invited a calibration company to explain how they do things, along with a tool vendor who will address how it is approached on that side of the equation. “Attendees will hear about all angles of this topic so they can judge for themselves: ‘Is this right for me? Can I do some of it or all of it, or should I sublet calibrations?’ Rather than exploring the possibility of bringing calibrations in-house from someone who is merely trying to sell them equipment and winding up in a situation where they are way over their head, they will learn about the challenges and possibilities from people who have actually done it so they can make an informed decision.”
On Saturday morning, beginning at 9am, ABAT invites repairers to Rise and Grind with an OEM panel offering insights on expectations for safe, efficient repairs, scanning and parts hot topics. During the same timeslot, Ricardo Garcia will tackle some of the industry’s most pressing topics in ABAT’s first Spanish-language seminar; a second class en español is planned but has not yet been finalized.
Three sessions are scheduled to commence at 10:45am, providing attendees to learn about Building the Office Team You’ve Always Wanted with Chuck Baldridge, Collision Center Director at Mike Calvert Toyota; Unlocking Repairability Beyond Traditional Repair Techniques with Danny Hacker (KECO Body Repair Products); or Growing the Future: A Conversation Between Future Technicians and Body Shops with Raven Luna, collision repair instructor at Collin County College (Allen).
“For years, the collision repair industry has been grappling with a shrinking talent pool, often recycling the same estimators or facing challenges in hiring skilled personnel,” Baldridge shares. “It’s crucial for shop owners and managers to shift their focus from solely evaluating candidates based on their estimating skills to prioritizing personality, values and work ethic. By developing a structured training plan, we can attract talented individuals who may not have traditional estimating experience but possess the potential to excel in our field. This approach not only empowers shops to make better hiring decisions but also fosters a new generation of skilled professionals in the industry.
“Attendees will gain valuable insights as I outline the components that contribute to the success of our training program, including the online learning modules, role-playing sessions and live-action training,” he states. “Participants will learn about the resources and platforms that can facilitate their own training initiatives and how to create a comprehensive training format that resonates with their teams. Ultimately, this session will equip them with the tools and knowledge to effectively onboard and train their ‘perfect hire’ in just 90 days!”
Luna will tackle the workforce shortage from a different angle by helping shops understand a bit more about the “new generation of technicians joining the workforce. I want to introduce that group to the industry by sharing what new technicians are looking for in an employer and what they can contribute to your shop. I also want to highlight what shops can do to accommodate these new technicians.”
Since it’s highly likely that most shops will need to hire an entry-level technician within the next five years, Luna recommends this session for anyone interested in learning “new strategies for recruiting, retaining and training entry-level technicians.”
The final educational session this year will feature industry icon Mike Anderson of Collision Advice as he delivers an enigmatic and energetic presentation that repairers won’t want to miss focused on trends regarding customer pay increasing and how collision repairers need to Stay Humble, Stay Hungry in all aspects of their business including customer interaction and repair plans.
The educational agenda isn’t the only area where the 2025 Texas Auto Body Trade Show will be branching out this year. While attendees can look forward to the return of crowd favorites – like the BIG SHOTS Competition and annual car show – ABAT has a few surprises planned for the exhibit hall floor, which will be open 1-8pm on Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday. And this year’s After Party may look a little different as well as ABAT celebrates the recent legislative victory on mandatory Right to Appraisal by scaling up the jubilee with a champagne toast and more.
Stay tuned for additional updates on the 2025 Texas Auto Body Trade Show in next month’s Texas Automotive. To learn more about the show and to register, visit abat.us/trade-show.
Want more? Check out the July 2025 issue of Texas Automotive!
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