NORTHEAST 2020 Promises to Clarify Attendees’ View of the Collision Repair Industry

Printed in Autobody News

The 43rd installment of AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show is scheduled to take place at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ on March 20–22.

The largest automotive services show on the East Coast, NORTHEAST attracts thousands of automotive and collision repair specialists eager for the event’s educational offerings and the opportunity to visit well-known vendors on the trade show floor. 

AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant stated, “We are once again looking forward to NORTHEAST. I can’t wait to attend the trade show, because it’s the number one place to see every new type of equipment and any new service being offered to our industry. There is no better event that allows the shops that are looking to keep on top of their game than NORTHEAST. I hope to see every member of AASP/NJ at the show.”

For the third year, AASP/NJ will collaborate with the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) to provide some of the nation’s best educational seminars through the Collision Professional Repairer Education Program (P.R.E.P.). “WMABA aims to bring the most relevant and timely education available to the NORTHEAST show for all participants coming from near and far,” said Jordan Hendler, Executive Director of WMABA. “We want to cover a variety of subjects that pertain to each key employee type in the repair shop – from front office to technician to owner. Not only is NORTHEAST the premier education event for the entire East Coast as far as learning a lot in a short time, but it is also a great place to make new industry acquaintances who can strengthen your peer group. It’s important to revitalize your mind with the latest in technologies, processes and how to maintain that culture throughout the year.”

On Friday afternoon, AASP/NJ host the annual NORTHEAST East Coast Resolution Forum and Leadership Meeting, moderated by LIABRA Executive Director Ed Kizenberger. The forum is open by invitation only and is limited to only collision repair professionals who are currently members of participating trade associations.

At 3 p.m. on Friday, Ford Motor Company and I-CAR® will present an OEM workshop entitled “Ford Discusses Accessing Repair Information, Collision Sectioning Procedures for Aluminum.” Panelists will include Ford’s Senior Engineer for Paint and Body Repair Gerry Bonanni and Adam Gair, FCSD Collision Technical Operations Manager for Ford Motor Company, along with I-CAR Instructor Pete Fryzel.

Three options will be available on Friday night at 5 p.m. Industry veteran Frank Terlep will present “Test Drives Done Right! Why and How to Perform, Manage, Document and Get Paid for Test Drives,” while Bill Enross of cPrax Marketing will share information on “Tackling Online Storefront Presence for the Collision Repair Business.” BASF’s Business Development Manager John Shoemaker will also be sharing valuable collision repair industry information in his presentation on the first evening of NORTHEAST 2020.

At 7 p.m., “Utilizing the Vehicle Owner’s Manual to Educate Consumers and Insurers, and Special SCRS Blueprint Optimization Tool Preview” will be presented by Mike Anderson of Collision Advice and the DEG’s Danny Gredinberg.

On Saturday morning, attendees seeking educational opportunities can choose between Gredinberg’s “Commonly Missed Items in Estimating – SCRS Blueprint Optimization Tool Utilization,” “How to Control the Money in Your Collision Business in 2020” with ATI’s Matt Winslow, and “Getting and Staying Certified – OEM Repair Requirements and Relationships Intertwined,” presented by Dave Gruskos of Reliable Automotive Equipment.

“The Life of a Certified Repairer: An In-Depth Panel Discussion with Nationally-Known Certified Repairers” will explore the various aspects of OEM certification implementation as well as panelists’ personal hurdles and successes. The discussion begins at 12:30 p.m.; panelists have not yet been announced.

Saturday afternoon’s sessions, beginning at 3 p.m., cover various aspects of the industry. “Documenting for Repair Process and Liability, Building a Bulletproof File, and Improving Processes Over Time” will be the topics of discussion during the seminar with Mark Olson of VECO Experts. Car-O-Liner’s Kelly Logan will explain “Structural Identification for Profitability – Knowing and Understanding Structural Damage,” and “Build Great People: Creating an In-House Technician Development Program” with Charlie Whitaker of AkzoNobel will help shop owners define a career path for employees.

A collection of industry experts will discuss the importance of safety systems in “The Wide World of ADAS: Panelist Discussion of Advancements in Safety Systems, Diagnostics and Calibration” at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, Enross will deliver an encore of his Friday night training session. Additionally, Chuck Olson of AirPro Diagnostics will share information on “Scanning and Calibration – Getting It Right for Successful ADAS Diagnostics Rebooted for 2020,” and Paul Stern from Liftnow Automotive Equipment will discuss “Safety System Alignment: A New Focus on Body Shop Profitability.”

The trade show floor always promises around 100 industry vendors and suppliers, and during NORTHEAST 2020, it will be open on Friday evening from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. AASP/NJ will host its annual Exhibitor Appreciation After-Party on Friday evening after the show closes, and Sunday will feature a variety of fun for all ages during the 12th Annual NORTHEAST Family Day. Sponsors for NORTHEAST 2020 include BASF, Innovative Solutions & Technology/Pro Spot, and Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.

AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee urged collision repairers to focus on their futures in the industry: “Register now. It is the largest show of its kind, and it is right in your own backyard. NORTHEAST is jam-packed with all the relevant products, training and information you can’t get anywhere else. It’s the best bang for your buck.”

For more information about AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org. For more information about NORTHEAST 2020 or to register, visit aaspnjnortheast.com.