Oct. 25, 2012—More than 250 people attended the second annual Multi-Shop Operator (MSO) Symposium during Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) 2012 in New Orleans, doubling participation compared to last year’s inaugural event.
The daylong symposium—which was produced by Matthew Ohrnstein of Symphony Advisors—featured content specific to the MSO business model, including company culture, branding, relationships, leadership, growth and finance. Ron Nagy, chairman of the 2012 NACE Expo, said operators of several MSOs throughout the U.S. attended, including representatives from all of the “major players.”
“I was impressed by the choice of topics, the caliber of the speakers and the openness of the participants. It was refreshing to hear the ‘big four’ [MSOs] admit to some missteps on their growth paths, and the strong focus on culture and a defined and forcefully communicated emotive brand confirms our own priorities at Global Collision,” said Liza Milijasevic of Global Collision Centers. “The MSO day is truly a must-attend for any collision repair group that is serious about its future.”
ASRW organizers said some sponsors of the 2012 MSO Symposium already renewed sponsorship for next year’s event, such as UniCure Spraybooths.
“The symposium provides a great opportunity to build relationships with MSOs,” said Allen Jenkins, president of UniCure Spraybooths. “It helps us understand their market and how to meet their needs. We are honored to be a 2012 sponsor and look forward to sponsoring this amazing event next year.”
The third annual MSO Symposium will be held during ASRW 2013, which is scheduled for Oct. 16-19 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
