The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) 2001 educational Conference will have first-time participation from the National Glass Association (NGA) and the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII). NGA will offer a seminar on "Protect Yourself from Auto Glass Liabilities." NAII will host a seminar on "Insurers and Auto Repair: A Complex Relationship."

The NACE 2001 Conference will offer 40-plus Congress sessions on technical, management, industry and lifestyle topics. One Congress session will provide a follow-up discussion to Brian Sullivan's Saturday keynote luncheon. "Hear What's Going On ... Straight Talk from the Insurance Companies" will be offered Saturday, Dec. 1, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) also returns to NACE 2001 with enhanced delivery programs on Corrosion Protection, Damage Analysis, Structural Parts Steel, and Welding & Cutting Aluminum.

This year, education will also take place outside the traditional classroom setting with live demonstrations on the show floor. The NACE 2001 Action Demonstration Arena will showcase the latest collision repair techniques, including auto glass installation, suspension diagnostics, resistance spot welding, panel bonding and airbags.

Attendees may purchase individual tickets to Congress sessions. This registration option, introduced last year, lets attendees select the sessions they wish to attend based on their time constraints and schedule.

Tickets for seminars, which last 90 minutes, may be purchased for $45. Tickets for workshops (which last three hours) are $65.

The 2001 NACE General Session on Nov. 30 will be the platform to address many of the recent developments in the collision repair industry. Charles N. "Chuck" Paul, vice president of the Claims Strategy Group, Allstate Insurance Co., will discuss the company's acquisition of Sterling Collision Centers and its 39 shops. Paul is the primary business unit leader who planned and negotiated the acquisition.

John F. "Jack" Smith Jr., chairman of General Motors Corp., will deliver the General Session keynote address with the presentation, "A View from Detroit." Smith will speak on several collision repair topics, including the Automotive-YES "school-to-career" program, the future of auto manufacturing, and GM collision repair initiatives, such as the Goodwrench Auto Body Center program and the OEConnection and its first product offering, CollisionLink.

Smith is responsible for building strong relationships with GM's various business partners, unions, dealers and governments around the world.

Chris Dameron, NACE 2001 chairman, will officially open the NACE General Session with a state-of-the-industry report.

Saturday:
Keynote Focuses on Insurance Trends

Brian P. Sullivan, editor and publisher of Auto Insurance Report, will share a detailed assessment of the auto insurance industry during the Saturday keynote luncheon address, "Walking a Mile in An Insurer's Shoes." He will also cover auto insurance trends and their impact on the collision industry, and tell how shops should position their businesses during times of change.

Sullivan's keynote address last year at NACE received overwhelming praise from attendees. As a journalist, Sullivan has a unique blend of an insider's access, with an outsider's perspective.

At 4 p.m., following his NACE keynote address, Sullivan will lead a panel discussion among insurance company representatives titled "Hear What's Going On ... Straight Talk From the Insurance Companies."

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