Elixir for Rejuvenation

by Burl Richards, ABAT President

There’s no question about it – many of us are getting older, and generating high levels of energy just isn’t as easy as it used to be. But wow!

There’s nothing that gets my blood flowing and sparks my energy and passion for the collision repair industry like attending the Texas Auto Body Trade Show each year, and it’s great that the ABAT Board of Directors is filled with so many passionate industry leaders who feel the same way.

At our most recent Board meeting, ABAT discussed how we can bottle that energy up to disperse it throughout the year and keep us all feeling fresh consistently. Our goal is to really focus on helping Texas shops, as it always is, and we’re really narrowing in on some of the ways we want to do that. A lot of our effort recently was focused on the legislation to make the Appraisal Clause mandatory in our wonderful state, and now that we have that huge accomplishment under our belt, it’s time to get back to the industry, back to the shops.

We want to know what’s going on with our members…and we want all Texas collision repair shops to become members, so we can elevate our industry together. Right now, many of us are facing this shift in the market; let’s just call it what it is: slow! So, what are some things we can do to help our members and other shops? How can we help technicians? 

It really comes down to sharing information. That’s the most energizing ingredient at the trade show each year, but it’s not just about the things we learn in the classroom; it’s also about what we learn from one another when we’re able to chat in a casual setting. 

ABAT wants to bring more of that to the Texas collision industry, and we’ve got some exciting things in store for 2026! In addition to the 2026 Texas Auto Body Trade Show and our Annual Skeet Shoot, we’re planning several new events in different markets, and we’ll also be hosting specialty training for shops and their employees. 

If you’ve been feeling demotivated, worn down or just plain old sick-and-tired of it all, ABAT is here to help! Stay tuned to abat.us for more event info as it becomes available, and come on out! You just might be surprised by the energy boost you get from an evening of education and networking. This potion might not cure all your ails, but I’d be willing to bet you’ll learn something new to make your life easier if you’re willing to partake. Bottoms up! 

Want more? Check out the November 2025 issue of Texas Automotive!