CIECA has announced its agenda and speakers for the upcoming CIECA CONNEX Conference. This year’s theme is "CIECA Next Gen: Evolving to Meet the Needs of the Collision Industry." All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to attend.
The event will be held in the St. Louis metro area city of St. Charles, Mo. Sept. 13-14.
In addition to a lineup of top industry speakers, there will be networking opportunities, a gifting ceremony by the National Auto Body Council (NABC) as part of its NABC Recycled Rides program, CIECA’s open annual meeting, and a tour of Hunter Engineering.
Speakers include:
EV Trends
Mark Allen, Audi of America; Frank Phillips, Rivian; and Jake Rodenroth, Lucid Motors
Industry Updates
Greg Horn, Parts Trader; Ryan Mandell, Mitchell International; and Pete Tagliapietra, DataTouch
The Digital Journey
Michael Anderson, Guidewire; Andy Boyd, 3M; James Palmer, Innovation Group; and Ryan Taylor, AMP Bureau
Emerging Technologies, including 3D printing, AI and Blockchain
Bill Brower, Solera; Greg Peeters, Car ADAS; Jonathan Pyle, Dents.co; Patrick Schmid, the Institutes; and Jason Verlen, CCC Intelligent Solutions
Technical Updates
Mike Hastings, Car-Part.com; Andy Bober, Entegral; and Dan Webster, Mitchell International
“With ADAS and autonomous features growing with every model year and new EV models expected from nearly every major manufacturer, technology is at the forefront of automobile design and the driving experience,” said Paul Barry, CIECA’s executive director. “All of this technology translates into data, and new repair methods, supply chains and repair procedures.”
“The CIECA CONNEX conference is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with leaders from some of the most influential companies in the industry,” said Phil Martinez, CIECA’s chairman of the Board of Trustees. “We encourage all industry segments to join us for two days of presentations and discussions about emerging technologies, how they impact the collision industry and what CIECA is doing to prepare for the rapidly-changing business environment.”
Conference attendees are eligible to receive credit toward a professional designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMi).
This year’s Gold sponsors include Enterprise, IAA, and Solera. Silver sponsors include Allstate, Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), BASF, Car-Part.com, Claim Genius, Comsearch, Mitchell International, Nexysis, and United Recyclers Group (URG). Media Matters – Collision Repair Magazine is a media sponsor of the event.
The day prior to the conference, NABC will be holding the Boone Valley Golf Club Fundraiser in Augusta, Mo.
“We hope CIECA conference attendees will be able attend and help us continue our mission to develop, implement and promote community-based initiatives that exemplify the professionalism and integrity of the collision repair industry,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of NABC and the master of ceremonies at the conference.
For more information about CIECA CONNEX, including the agenda, visit https://cieca.zohobackstage.com/CIECACONNEX2022.
For information about sponsorship opportunities, visit https://cieca.zohobackstage.com/CIECACONNEX2022#/sponsors?lang=en.
Early bird registration and discounted room rates at the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis St. Charles are available until August 14.
