The 2026 Southeast Collision Conference is still a few months away, but excitement is already building among members of the two hosting organizations, the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association.
The event, CCA President Kyle Bradshaw told Autobody News, takes place April 23-24 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa in Charlotte, NC. It runs in conjunction with the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on April 22 and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) open board meeting on April 21 at the same venue, making it a triple whammy for those who want to take advantage.
“I think that's something that's very unique that not a lot of other conferences have to offer,” Bradshaw said. “From an industry involvement standpoint, there’s a lot going on that week, so I think that's pretty cool.”
Education and Community
A call for speakers is currently open and will remain so until December. Interested parties, Bradshaw said, are welcome to apply.
“We'll take all the submissions, and then it goes before a committee, and the committee ends up selecting the classes and speakers and presentations,” he said.
The event is designed to be educational and to pull members of the industry together.
Among the speakers at the 2025 show were Rick Selover of Garmat USA, who spoke about avoiding the hidden costs of paint contamination.
“We're really big on the community,” Bradshaw said. “I think the specialization of roles in collision repair has certainly expanded, and so it's not necessarily that one person is juggling and wearing that many hats anymore. Whether it's a customer service representative, an estimator, a technician or someone that specializes in ADAS, our goal is to have something there for everyone.”
The event has consistently brought in around 500 attendees in the past while hosting more than 40 vendors, he said.
The WAMBA partnership has been fruitful as Bradshaw pointed out that shops in Virginia experience the same challenges as Carolinas shops.
“I think we've kind of practiced what we preached when we linked up with WAMBA to put this conference on,” he said. “That's certainly been a good thing for us, and I think it's something that, hopefully, our members can see the value in … figuring out how we can team up and make things better for our members collectively has been really, really cool and really, really fun.”
Value in Uncertain Times
That value is especially relevant with the industrywide slowdown that has taken hold over the past 12 months, Bradshaw said. Conferences often offer avenues toward growth, even in challenging times.
“I don't have a crystal ball, but I believe that that's going to be something that continues,” he said. “So, I think people are going to have to be really, really intentional on their businesses and the way that they operate and certainly give themselves a competitive advantage.”
Bringing multiple team members from across a business, he said, is ideal for attendees looking to implement reach change, but even sending one rep who can bring information back to share is positive.
The venue is new for the conference, and it allows for lodging on site. Its all-in-one nature presents a benefit for those who choose to stay there and stay put for the weekend.
“I think it will enable people to kind of hang out a little bit more and enjoy themselves a little bit more, which I'm looking forward to,” Bradshaw said. “If they don't choose to leave, there wouldn't be a reason to leave, let's put it that way.”
‘This Industry Has Just Provided and Given’
Now in his fifth year as CCA president, Bradshaw reflected on his own roots in the industry and how they’ve led him to give back through leadership. The family business, K&M Collision in Hickory, NC, began in 1991 and now involves the four Bradshaw brothers, including Michael, who currently chairs SCRS.
“Ultimately, this industry has just provided and given so much to us as a family,” Bradshaw said. “It's just been really cool for us to do this together and to see what our businesses became. We're really big on giving back, and that's something that's really been a core value of not only our family but also our business.”
“I think the powerful thing, too, is who you surround yourself with,” he said. “It's really easy to stay in your own bubble … But I encourage anyone to step out, and I think that's really where the growth happens — when you get out of your comfort zone — and that's kind of what our association's really been about.”
Association involvement is a core piece of growth, Bradshaw said, and he’s seen individuals and businesses changed positively through it. Providing experiences like the upcoming conference are part of that process.
“They've got to put in the hard work, but we want to do our part to provide the resources so that their businesses can prosper and that they can thrive,” he said.
Elizabeth Green