Following the huge success of the inaugural Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show in 2022, the auto body associations of Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota and the Iowa Collision Repair Association are doubling the size of the event for 2023.
The 2023 Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show and Conference will be held May 19-20 in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS, again at the Overland Park Convention Center.
To register, go to www.midwesttradeshow.org.
Co-coordinators Janet Chaney and Gina Cotton, who manage the associations involved in hosting the Midwest Show, were thrilled with the success of the inaugural event.
“As we expected, the 2022 show was indeed a high energy event focused on the future of our industry. We helped shop owners, managers and technicians by providing the information and tools needed to take charge of the next steps ahead in our rapidly changing industry,” said Chaney.
“This year’s theme pays tribute to the technician, without whom our industry could not exist,” added Cotton. “We’re calling it ‘The Year of the Technician.’ Given our current workforce development challenges, what could possibly be more on point?”
Education sessions, from technical to managerial, will be offered from top shelf, highly respected industry leaders and professionals, including confirmed presenters Robert Grieve of Nylund’s Collision Center in Englewood, CO; Ron Reichen of Precision Body and Paint in Oregon; Danny Gredinberg of DEG and Collision Advice; web marketing expert Mark Claypool from Optima Automotive and more.
The trade show floor will include industry leading companies like Solidus, Axalta, Car-O-Liner, asTech, Optima Automotive and others.
At press time, exhibit space was still available but is expected to sell out fast, even with the space being doubled.
Each of the state association presidents have issued statements around this event, the Midwest’s largest trade show for collision repairers.
“It was amazing to see how good the 2022 Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show came together,” said Jared Nicholson, president of the Missouri Auto Body Association and owner of Collision Leaders, a group of six shops located east of Kansas City. “It far exceeded everyone’s expectations. As good as it was, 2023 is set to exceed that. Twice the space, more training opportunities and a technician-centered show! You won’t want to miss this, see you in May!”
“Success comes from knowledge and knowledge comes from education, networking and teamwork,” said Pete Stemper, owner of Stemper Auto Body and president of the South Dakota Auto Body Association. “We experienced the best of all these things at the the 2022 Midwest Collision show. Continue on your ladder to success by learning, networking and seeing all the new products that will be at the 2023 Midwest Collision show.”
“Our first show last year was a great success, proving that our states can all work together to provide fantastic education opportunities and great vendor show for the benefit of all collision repairers,” said Dick Merron, president of the Iowa Collision Repair Association and president of Iowa Auto Rebuilders in Waterloo, IA. “Here we come, May 19 and 20, 2023, at the Overland Park Convention Center!”
"The Midwest Trade show of 2022 was an excellent example of what can happen when organizations come together and make an event successful,” said Dillon Lapp, manager of Twin Rivers Body Shop in North Platte, NE, and president of the Nebraska Auto Body Association. “Year 2023 will be no different; the amount of experience and knowledge that will be coming this year will greatly improve every shop and every technician. The trade show of 2023 is being based around the shop technician. We are excited to provide vendors that have the most up to date with equipment and the how to guides. Hope to see everyone in Kansas City!”
To register as an attendee, or to reserve exhibit space at the trade show, go to www.midwesttradeshow.org.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Contact Janet Chaney at 480-720-2565 or Gina Cotton at 402-304-2140.
Hotel arrangements can be made at the host hotel, the Sheraton Overland Park At The Convention Center, on the website. A special tradeshow block rate is available until April 27. Cotton suggested booking rooms as quickly as possible, as the hotel filled quickly for last year’s event, along with three backup hotels.
Source: Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show
Abby Andrews