Day One: General Sessions, Networking Functions, & Focused Learning Tracks

7:00 - 8:00 a.m.

Networking Breakfast & Vendor Fair

Meet us on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas, where the industry will start their day sharing breakfast, catching up, and preparing for the day’s program.

Registration & Check-In opens at 7:00 a.m.


8:00 - 8:15 a.m.

Welcome & Overview

The HD Repair Forum is the place for industry updates and information in heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair. President and co-founder, Brian Nessen, welcomes attendees to Frisco and provides an overview of the 2024 conference’s session and speakers.

Brian Nessen, HD Repair Forum

8:15 - 9:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker


9:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Industry Data and Trends

This session will include an overview of trends and data in heavy-duty collision repair. Areas such as Severity, Sales Mix, Labor Mix, and Average Labor Cost/Estimate and more will be reviewed. This data derives from PPG’s AdjustRite® Commercial Estimating System.

Douglas Orr, Manager, AdjustRite, PPG Industries

9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Franchising an Industry

Steve Leal, President & CEO, Fix World

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Networking Break

Sponsored by


10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Driving Efficiency in the Claims Handling Process

Kelly Reich, Home Office Claims Manager – Material Damage, Federated Insurance – Property & Casualty Claims
John Spoto, Director of Collision , Premier Truck Group
Leo Nenortas, Field Operations Manager - Collision Centers, Penske Truck Leasing
Rick Melcher, Director of Service Body Shops, Rush Enterprises

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Truck Technology Updates and Preparations for the Future

With fleets pushing for more sustainable transportation solutions the needs to support these shifts require a look into where we are and where we are going. This session will discuss what will be required to repair these next generation vehicles, including modifications to facilities, additional training of technicians, and infrastructure enhancements. 

Bill Kahn, Sr. Principal Engineer, Manager Advanced Concepts, Peterbilt Motors

11:45 - 12:15 p.m.

Challenges and Opportunities to Improve the Total Loss Process

Ron Kuehn, President , Collision Business Solutions

12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Networking Luncheon

Sponsored by


Focused Learning Tracks: Session One

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Track A: Refinishing Fire and Emergency Vehicles with Different Substrates

Brandon Daemmrich, Technical Service Representative, AkzoNobel

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Track B: Evaluating Wiring Repairs

Carl Dumele, President, Aeromotive

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Track C: Getting it Right with QuickBooks … For Performance Management Success

QuickBooks is the most popular accounting software for service businesses in the United States, but is often not setup, or used properly to get the benefits it has available.  This session will examine the key points for obtaining performance management utilizing QuickBooks along with critical mistakes made during its setup and implementation with or without a 3rd party management system.  The program is designed for owners, managers, comptrollers, and bookkeepers desiring to gain the ability to utilize QuickBooks for Performance Management.

Tony Passwater, President, AEII

Focused Learning Tracks: Session Two

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Track A: Bus Repair

Stephane Lord, Network Collision Manager, Prevost

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Track B: Frame Repair

BeeLine

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Track C: Financials and Managing Your Business in the Heavy-& Medium-Duty Repair Facility

Business owners should view their financials as a historical roadmap and scorecard for their business. This 1-hour session will help the business owner learn how to identify areas of good performance of profit, as well as areas of opportunity for improvement. Additionally, you’ll learn how to make staffing decisions, as well as guidelines for budgeting and other critical objectives of your business.

Ron Kuehn, President, Collision Business Solutions

3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Networking Break

Sponsored by


Focused Learning Tracks: Session Three

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Track A: Material Management and Invoicing

This session will focus on the advantages of inventory management, material invoicing and how data tracking can increase your shop’s performance. We will discuss trends in the market and review how these topics have increased productivity and profitability.

John Ascheman, Senior Application Engineer, 3M

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Track B: Collision Damage to the Steering System: Seen and Unseen

This session will include information and guidance on repairing steering components when a vehicle has had frontal damage from a collision. What to look for externally and what could be damaged internally. Best Practices recommendations and repair procedures.

Mike Long, Product Support Specialist- Steering, Sheppard / Bendix CVS

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Track C: Growth Financing Options from SBA to Private Equity

Tipu Chauhdary, Senior Vice President, Byline Bank, John Walcher, M&A and Strategy | Automotive Aftermarket, Veritas Advisors

Industry Networking Reception

5:15 - 6:30 p.m.

Industry Networking Reception


Day Two: General Sessions, Networking Functions, & Focused Learning Tracks

7:00 - 8:00 a.m.

Networking Breakfast & Vendor Fair


General Sessions

8:00 - 8:15 a.m.

Welcome Back - Day 1 Recap

Brian Nessen, HD Repair Forum

8:15 - 8:45 a.m.

MHC Kenworth Presenting New Vehicle Technology

MHC Kenworth

8:45 - 9:45 a.m.

OSHA Compliance and the HD Repair industry

This session will provide information and guidance regarding workplace safety and health, regulatory compliance, statistics, and best practices. Attendees will have to opportunity to learn about safety and health hazards that have led to fatalities within the HD repair industry, and the methods used to correct them.

Stephen Boyd, Deputy Regional Administrator, OSHA Region VI, OSHA

9:45 - 10:15 a.m.

High Impact Insurance Evaluations for Heavy-Duty Repairers

As a quality Heavy Duty Repairer you endeavor to repair vehicles properly. How can you tell if your insurance provider is prepared to do the same for your business?  This session will also display other interesting aspects involving reductions in coverage, underwriting intent and claims handling.

David Willet, Chief Underwriting Officer, Spark Underwriters

10:15 - 10:45 a.m.

Networking Break

Sponsored by

Speaker to be confirmed

10:45 - 11:15 a.m.

TBA


11:15 - 11:45 a.m.

TBA


11:45 - 12:15 p.m.

Rivian Fleet ADAS Certification Program

Rivian

12:15 - 12:30 p.m.

Open Mic


12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Networking Lunch

Sponsored by


Focused Learning Tracks: Session Four

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Track A: Let’s Put Things Straight

In this session, George Prokos of Snap-on Equipment will discuss how repair facilities can quickly and effectively repair a damaged frame and suspension system on a heavy-duty vehicle. He will also share the needs and benefits of including alignment in the collision repair process, how to shorten your customer’s downtime, and other opportunities available to repair facilities that can increase the efficiency and profitability of your business.

George Prokos, Manager, Special Projects, Heavy Duty, Snap-On Equipment

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Track B: Box Truck Sidewall and Roof Repair with VHB Tape

Mark Jennings, Market Development Manager, 3M
Matt Melbye, Senior Application Engineering Specialist,, 3M

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Track C: Plastic Repair

Kent Automotive

Focused Learning Tracks: Session Five

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Track A: Total Loss Considerations - Cost or Profit?

Total losses can consume a tremendous amount of a shop’s labor and administrative resources, and frequently, shops do not recover the costs incurred. In this session, we’ll look at what considerations the HD market should think about when handling a total loss. Additionally, we’ll discuss a number of items that are required in the process and point to opportunities for revenue, how to document, and how to get compensated.

Ron Kuehn, President, Collision Business Solutions
Dean Hancock, Owner, Fleet Collision Solutions

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Track B: ADAS Certification network

Rivian

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Track C: Composite & Substrate Repairs on HD Trucks and RV’s

This session will discuss HD Truck composite repairs including FRP, SMC, and Metton.  Also included will be topics around common RV substrates and repair materials with a focus on an RV side wall splice repair method.

Matthew Aguirre, Key Account Manager - Heavy Duty Truck and Commercial Vehicle, 3M
Todd Mathes, Application Engineer, 3M