The 2025 SEMA Show, running Nov. 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is known for the acres of custom builds and exhibitors showing off their latest tools, products and equipment for the automotive aftermarket industry.
But the show also offers a robust lineup of educational sessions and demonstrations throughout the week, giving attendees actionable steps they can apply to their business as soon as they get home.
For collision repairers in particular, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and I-CAR put months of work into crafting a schedule that puts subject matter experts in the spotlight, helping shops address current challenges and prepare for the future.
Autobody News spoke to both about what they are bringing to the 2025 SEMA Show.
SCRS Repairer Driven Education
When asked which sessions in SCRS’ Repairer Driven Education series are can’t-miss from a shop management standpoint, Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg couldn’t choose a favorite.
“It's hard for me because this is such an amazing lineup and I truthfully believe that all of these have a lot of value for shop management, operators, owners and the people within the business,” said Schulenburg.
SCRS develops its schedule so it covers a wide array of topics it knows are challenging shop owners.
For instance, a shop owner who needs help learning how to get customers involved in petitioning their insurance carriers for full reimbursement would benefit from “A Consumer’s Guide to Getting Fully Reimbursed for Automobile Claims,” presented by Tony Adams and Tim Ronak of AkzoNobel, set for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in Room S230 in South Hall Upper, outside the Collision Repair & Refinish Hall.
Ryan Taylor of BodyShop Booster speaking during an SCRS RDE session in 2024.
A shop owner looking to increase revenue by offering auto glass services should attend “Take Control: How Bringing Auto Glass In-House Can Boost Profit and Procedural Compliance” with Jason Horne and Shauna Davis of Kaizen Glass Solutions, also at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in Room S231.
Financial literacy is a hot topic, Schulenburg said, highlighting two sessions he thinks will be valuable to shop owners.
First, “Financial Fundamentals for Collision Repair Centers,” at noon Nov. 4 in Room S229, will feature Maria Quintero and Tracy Dombrowski of Collision Advice, offering an understanding of essential financial principles and best practices specific to the collision repair industry.
“I think this is really going to help people understand the financial aspects of running the business and what that looks like,” Schulenburg said.
Second, “The Body Shop Business Trifecta: A Roadmap to Build Generational Wealth,” at noon Nov. 5 in Room S229, will be presented by Bill Park of Crunchit Financial Services, giving owners a “blueprint” on structuring a collision repair business, and any other business entities an owner may have, to support long-term success for their families.
“I think there is an element of financial literacy that a lot of newer business owners may not have had exposure to, that can help them change the way they look at their business and operate their business,” Schulenburg said.
Shop owners looking to incentivize their team should attend “The Unseen Effect of Bonus Plans in Your Shop” with Andrew Batenhorst of Pacific BMW Collision Center and Melissa Wolfe of Leader’s Way, who will present on the effect of certain types of bonus plans in a shop, at noon Nov. 5 in Room S231.
“I think there's going to be great material coming out of that because Andrew has learned a lot from Melissa and implemented a lot of it in his own business,” Schulenburg said.
Every year, SCRS hosts three OEM Summits the Thursday of the show, which this year falls on Nov. 6.
This year’s summits will look a bit different, as all three will feature Mike Anderson of Collision Advice talking about post-repair safety inspections of critical features like ADAS, airbags, seat belts and steering columns. Anderson will be joined by three shop operators: Batenhorst, and Tyler Foote and Gerry Rosenbarker of Mohawk Collision Center.
The hour-long summits are scheduled for 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in Room S233.
“Safety inspections are something that are really challenging in the industry right now,” Schulenburg said. “There is a lot of very clear documentation around what's necessary, very clear instruction about what's to be performed and when and how from the OEs, and there's a lot of challenge and pushback on it from the carrier level.”
Shops may be reluctant to push back, but they need to protect their own liability. “If the instructions say to do this task, then I need to perform this task for the safety of my customer,” Schulenburg said.
The OEM Summit sessions will feature videos produced by Anderson and his fellow speakers to walk attendees through the processes. The speakers will also share how shop operators can start building SOPs to perform and document the inspections after every repair.
I-CAR’s Three-Pronged Approach
I-CAR’s SEMA presence is built on three pillars, according to Arianna Sherlock, vice president of marketing: education sessions, the Collision Repair Stage, and the I-CAR booth.
“There's something for everyone,” Sherlock said.
The Collision Repair Stage featured several presentations a day during the 2024 show.
The education sessions cover topics like MIG welding, EV repairs and ADAS diagnostics, each offered multiple times Nov. 4-6 in the meeting rooms outside the Collision Repair & Refinish Hall in South Upper Hall. Attendees can earn I-CAR annual training credits.
The Collision Repair Stage is located inside the Collision Repair & Refinish Hall. Along with content from SCRS, the stage will feature presentations and hands-on demos by I-CAR that tie back into the sessions, like welding. The presentations will be recorded and available on-demand on I-CAR’s YouTube channel.
The stage will also feature a “mixed reality” section for the second year, demoing how virtual reality (VR) goggles are being integrated into I-CAR training courses. Sherlock said VR training is still being piloted, but the technology has proven its value in making training more accessible and, in some cases, safer — like when learning how to properly handle high-voltage battery packs in electrified vehicles. In 2026, I-CAR expects to convert some of its existing courses to VR.
The I-CAR booth is next to the Collision Repair Stage, and will feature “all things I-CAR,” Sherlock said. “Our team is there to provide hands-on coaching” with shop and technician certifications.
This year, for the first time, I-CAR ran a contest to sponsor a deserving Platinum-certified technician to attend the SEMA Show. “We're going to follow him around and give a look at what that SEMA experience is like,” Sherlock said.
Elizabeth Prosser, marketing director for I-CAR, said the organization’s key focus at the SEMA Show is to be part of the education experience.
“That's our role in the industry. It's what we do,” she said.
Sherlock said the SEMA Show is I-CAR’s chance every year to connect with the industry.
“We're looking forward to it,” she said.
Abby Andrews