There are a handful of individuals who have attended every International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) since its inception in 1983 in Nashville, Tenn. I have the good fortune of being one of those individuals.

Why, you might ask, would I take time every year, year after year, to attend NACE? The reason is simple. NACE is the superstore for the collision repair professional. It offers everything: tools, equipment, software, training and peer networking. It even offers something that I can't place a value on - motivation.

I use the term superstore to refer to one-stop shopping. When enlarging and updating our shop in Mexico, Mo., we discovered that the best hand tools, software and large equipment may not necessarily have a jobber serving our area. Consequently, we traveled thousands of miles shopping for the best equipment and distributors. We were away from our business several days and added up some hefty travel expenses.

By attending NACE, we found everything we needed was on the convention floor. It's one-stop shopping at its best! For a few days every year, you're able to touch, smell and kick the tires, so to speak, of any tool or piece of equipment.

Everything you would ever use in your shop is at the show: spray booths, surface prep products, paint, sprayers, safety equipment, wheel alignment systems, body and frame equipment, estimating systems, lifts and jacks, replacement parts and much more.

On the training and education side, NACE offers a wide range of courses. Congress seminars focus on current industry issues: marketing, hiring quality staff, cycle time, consolidation, customer diplomacy, etc. Additionally, there are classes sponsored by the Automotive Management Institute, I-CAR, NADA and jobbers.

The importance of peer networking cannot be overstated. There is so much knowledge that can be absorbed while sitting at a lunch table or riding the bus. Frequently, I have a one-time encounter with someone I never see again. But, in that one encounter, I'm given an idea that helps me do my job better. To get the most from networking opportunities, I make a point not to sit beside friends when attending seminars and roundtable discussions. This way I'm exposed to new people and new ideas.

I also mentioned that NACE offers something that's invaluable. Motivation. Every year, NACE recharges my batteries. It's the best antidote for burnout that I've discovered.

When you look back at its history and all that it has initiated, NACE has done more than any other event to elevate the professionalism of this industry. I've seen so many mom-and-pop operations grow to multiple stores. I've seen others develop their business and receive the attention of consolidators.

NACE has helped untold numbers of technicians grow to become professional managers. We've gone from the junkyard to the highest level of professionalism. I'm seeing shop offices that are nicer than insurance or doctor offices. This professionalism is important as we seek to draw more technicians to our industry.

One thing I always do at NACE is collect that year's lapel pin. I've collected all of the NACE pins and I'm proud of each one and the memories each represents. If you're a collision repair professional, I encourage you to attend NACE 1999 in Atlanta, collect your pin, and discover ways to improve your business and your profession.

NACE Web Site: www.NACE-99.com

Ben Steinman, AAM, owner of Ben's Auto Body, Mexico, Mo., serves on the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee. At the 1999 ASA Annual Convention, Steinman was the recipient of the Phoenix Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the collision repair industry.

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