Bringing education and training to body shops nationwide is often challenging, especially in states like Hawaii.
Earlier this year, Craig Stevens, director of solutions delivery at CCC Intelligent Solutions, and Mike Anderson, owner of Collision Advice, traveled to Hawaii to provide body shops in-depth training as part of a special event sponsored by Island Concepts and AkzoNobel.
“One of the most common discussions with shops in Hawaii is that they wish they could receive more CCC training, especially in person,” said Scot Takemoto, partner and general manager at Island Concepts. “When the opportunity was there, I jumped on it.”
Providing new opportunities — despite the distance
Being 2,500 miles from the mainland, Takemoto acknowledged that shops don’t often have opportunities to hear from industry experts unless they travel off the island. “Having them [Anderson and Stevens] here makes for a great opportunity for our collision shops,” he said.
Throughout the event, CCC team members and Anderson delivered information that everyone in attendance could apply to their businesses. During the day-long event, Takemoto said that CCC team members and Anderson delivered insightful and pertinent information that everyone in attendance could apply to their businesses.
The idea dates back a couple of years, when CCC and Anderson discussed teaming up for a road show to plan a full day of education for body shops nationwide. Stevens commented on how busy shops were following the pandemic and the resulting challenge of capturing people’s attention.
“Maintaining awareness of important topics is difficult,” said Stevens. “In today’s world, everybody is pulled in a million different directions.”
‘Becoming better and more knowledgeable’
The road show was created in the spirit of helping shops be more successful by talking about industry issues as well as CCC solution information.
The first event was held in North Carolina in late 2024 and has continued over the last year across the country. One of the largest and most popular was held in New Jersey before the Northeast Show.
“I’ve been in this industry since 1993, but I’m always very humbled when I see that many people in a room during a workday or on a Saturday when they are taking time off and dedicating themselves to becoming better and more knowledgeable,” said Stevens.
Tailoring the agenda to the region
Although the agenda is similar from coast to coast, there are often trending topics covered in some regions, depending on the attendees.
For example, Stevens noted that parts ordering is much different in Hawaii than in New York.
During the Hawaii road show, CCC team members discussed new features and best practices, with an emphasis on those that could be implemented when attendees return to their businesses.
“If they’re investing their money and their time into CCC ONE, then we feel we should be giving back and making sure that they’re aware of all these things that they could be doing,” said Stevens. “We want them to be successful and maximize their investment with CCC.”
How AI can help
Their approach included an introduction and demonstration of the CCC Repair Facility mobile app Jumpstart feature, which uses advanced AI to predict which parts should be repaired or replaced using a mobile device.
“It’s an eye-opener for everybody,” said Stevens. He explained that the new feature allows less experienced estimators to do a quick estimate in the parking lot.
“Suddenly, their personality, charisma, and ability to speak to people become just as much of a capture tool as the actual estimate itself,” he said. “They could be standing there at the car, talking to the customer, and within a couple of minutes have an estimate.”
Anderson shared insight about shop statistics and trends in his “Stay Hungry, Stay Humble” presentation. He outlined current trends with insurance companies, OEMs, vehicle owners, and EVs.
He noted the rise in software-as-a-service and subscription-based leases. “This will grow, and it will only get better with time,” he said.
Anderson also mentioned the importance of sales and marketing and encouraged attendees to build relationships with dealers. Regarding the customer experience, he stressed the importance of response time, post-emotional support, and follow-up.
Better results through working together
In addition to the educational aspect of the event, Stevens stressed how beneficial it is for shops to come together.
“There’s a lot of power in terms of them being able to network and talk to each other,” he said.
Working in collaboration with Mike Anderson was also a bonus.
“Mike Anderson is just so good and so well respected in the industry,” said Stevens, who emphasized how beneficial it was to have Anderson provide insight on industry trends.
More in store for Hawaii
Takemoto said that Island Concepts is committed to continually bringing education and training to Hawaii. The company is planning the second annual Collision Industry Experts Event (CIEE) in conjunction with AkzoNobel on Feb. 7, 2026, in Honolulu, HI. The first CIEE was held in January 2025.
The February event will feature a variety of topics focused on the challenges the collision repair industry is currently facing. Anderson will deliver the keynote presentation as well as moderate an OEM panel discussion. CCC will also be in attendance, holding two sessions focused on how shops can maximize their investment in CCC ONE. There will also be presentations on repair planning and winning negotiation strategies in estimating.
Stacey Phillips Ronak