Housing reservations are also showing a 45 percent increase over reservations at this time last year. "In addition, Congress registrations are coming in very strong, the new conference features are attracting solid interest, and the three-show Expo option, which allows collision professionals to attend NACE, and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) shows - AAPEX and SEMA - has been extremely well-received," said Dana Bellantone, NACE show director.
"We're very pleased with all the excitement generated by NACE this year," said Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive of the Automotive Service Association, the show sponsor. "There will be a great deal of synergy with the other shows held during Industry Week in Las Vegas. Many attendees and exhibitors are delighted that NACE starts a day earlier than usual and will be open all day on Saturday. The new format and location at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has everyone buzzing."
Dealer-focused sessions
Ten sessions focused for dealer professionals to better meet the needs of this segment of the NACE audience will be provided.
The following have been identified as dealer-focused sessions: Pre-Repair Management - The Key to Reduced Cycle Time; Management Do's and Don'ts; Understanding & Measuring Severity; Busting the Bottlenecks - Applying the Theory of Constraints in Your Business; Budget and Financials - The Numbers Don't Lie; Shop Owners/Insurers - Understanding the Issues; Benchmarking Collision Center Performance; Maximize Your Market Share with Effective Marketing Methods; Time Management; and Customer Satisfaction - The Road to Repeat Business.
"We have seen an increased interest in NACE from dealer personnel," said Dana Bellantone, NACE show director. "This market segment faces a range of challenges, many that will be addressed in the dealer-focused NACE sessions," said Bellantone.
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| Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada -- home of 2004 NACE. |
The dealer-focused sessions are part of the NACE educational conference. The conference also includes two new tracks, Sales & Marketing and Estimating, an increased number of focused sessions for jobbers and claims professionals, new 45-minute "crash course" sessions in several tracks, as well as many new speakers and instructors.
There will also be Management, Vehicle Repair, General and Lifestyle tracks and association-sponsored training with more than 50 targeted sessions comprising this year's Conference -- many of which will also be of interest to dealer professionals. A special international event - IBIS@NACE - will focus on the latest issues, trends and developments in the global collision repair industry. To register for NACE, visit the NACE web site at www.NACEexpo.com.
Continuing Ed for Claims Professionals
An Insurance Track with sessions designed specifically for today's claims professional, including continuing education credit opportunities, will also be featured.
The two continuing education sessions will be Auto Glass Replacement and Repair for Insurers [4-credit CE course in all approved states, except NY (5) and SC (2)], and Collision Repair for Insurers [3-credit CE course in all approved states, except CO (2) and WA (2)]. These sessions will be presented exclusively by the CertifiedFirst Network, a recognized source of continuing education for insurers.
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| Petty |
The additional sessions will be Successful Partnerships Between Shops and Insurers, Power Tools for Successful Negotiations - a National Leadership Institute Course sponsored by the CPCU Society - and Insurance and Auto Repair: Issues 2005, sponsored by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).
The new session, IC-01, will cover Material Safety Data Sheets, Product Labeling Requirements, Hazardous Materials and Waste, Personal Protective Equipment and Repair Facility Safety.
In addition, I-CAR will offer five other courses during NACE: IC-02/ Stationary Glass (GLA02); IC-03/ Structural Straightening Aluminum (SSA01); IC-04/Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles (ALT01); IC-05/ Advanced Restraint Systems (RES02); and IC-06/Structural Aluminum Design and Repair Processes (SPA01).