NACE/CARS 2014 Meets Shop Owners’ Education, Training Needs

NACE/CARS 2014 has announced the full training and education conference program that organizers say will have shop owners, technicians and industry stakeholders covered from A to Z when it comes to training, education and unbeatable new sessions. In addition to this year's event being the largest conference offering in NACE/CARS history, show organizers also have many of the industry's leading experts speaking at this year's event.

NACE/CARS 2014 has announced the full
training and education conference program that organizers say will have shop
owners, technicians and industry stakeholders covered from A to Z when it comes
to training, education and unbeatable new sessions. In addition to this year’s
event being the largest conference offering in NACE/CARS history, show
organizers also have many of the industry’s leading experts speaking at this
year’s event.

Click here to view the Schedule-At-A-Glance on the
NACE/CARS website.

Now in its 32nd year, NACE/CARS 2014
features numerous opportunities for technical training, business and management
education, demonstrations, networking and technology showcases for
stakeholders, owners, managers and technicians in the collision and mechanical
repair industries.

The complexity of today’s vehicles from
a collision- and mechanical-repair perspective is eliminating competition and
reducing the number of shops in the country. Cars manufactured today require
specialized tooling, training and equipment, and the use of aluminum and
high-strength steels are changing the dynamics of the collision repair industry
as well. These are just some of the challenges that will be addressed with real
world solutions at NACE, according to event organizers.

Show organizers say CARS also is on
track to be better than ever thanks to a specific focus on telematics. Today’s
“connected car” can communicate information to the car in front of you, behind
you, a streetlight, a stop sign or a satellite as you drive down the road.
Telematics is a hot issue and CARS will exclusively offer a six-hour dedicated
program, the Technology & Telematics Forum, on Friday, Aug. 1, sponsored by
the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

The full conference program is available
on the NACE/CARS website, which can be viewed HERE.

“Investing in training to ensure a
proper repair and remain current with today’s technology is a requirement. Your
customers and the success of your business are dependent upon your commitment
to ongoing education. We’ve spent countless hours developing this year’s
program to ensure we deliver upon our goal to assist collision and mechanical
repair professionals in performing a safe and proper repair while improving
efficiency and profitability,” said Dan Risley, ASA president and executive
director.

NACE/CARS 2014 welcomes students and
educators focused on the automotive repair industry; special discounts are
available to both. In addition, shops dedicated to ongoing education may be
eligible for a 50 percent discount. To qualify, shops, owners, technicians or
staff must be I-CAR Gold, I-CAR Platinum, ASE Blue Seal or an ASE Master
Technician.

Registration is now open and available
at http://www.naceexpo.com/Content/Register/3/.

Additionally, all NACE | CARS participants are
encouraged to book their hotel reservations at their earliest convenience, as
the rooms are filling fast. Attendees can review the hotels within the official
housing block and reserve rooms online through: https://www.tphousing.com/r2/index_new.aspX?EICode=2948&Attcode=72&WebSessionsResID=21980053 or by calling (800) 221-3531 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
EDT.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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