Keynote Announced for FenderBender Management Conference

Keller’s address, “How to Profit in a Consolidating Industry,” will offer real-world advice and inspiration to help shops face the challenges of today’s marketplace, from an industry professional who has experienced all of the highs and lows firsthand.

“During the past 25 years, the collision repair industry has evolved from a primarily technician-based, single-location owner model to an increasingly growing segment of corporate-owned, multiple-location chains, networks and franchises,” Keller said. “The regional and national consolidators, owned by private equity and publicly traded companies, have developed financial, operational, marketing, recruiting and training advantages, as well as strong insurer relationships. They have created a dramatic shift in marketplace share.  

“The competitive ‘bar’ has been raised. Today’s collision repairer has really two choices: Change, or watch as the competition changes, and wins market share advantage. The FenderBender Management Conference will provide powerful presentations and networking opportunities for repairers, all designed to assist progressive-thinking collision repair owners and managers to effect positive change in their business, and to successfully compete today and beyond.”

As the president of 1Collision Network, Keller oversees a network of independent and dealer shops in the Midwest, supporting the performance, marketing, and insurance relationship building areas of their businesses. He is also a past FenderBender feature subject.

“Keller’s current and past experiences combine to give him a perspective few in the collision repair industry have,” said FenderBender editor Jake Weyer. “He’s had an opportunity to work at the helm of five business models and has a strong knowledge of the challenges and opportunities that all of them face. He knows how to succeed, and how to help other shops achieve that same success.”  

The FenderBender Management Conference, scheduled from May 18–20 in Philadelphia, will include educational sessions, deep-dive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities all aimed at helping shop owners and managers make money, save money and work smarter. Conference sessions and speakers were pulled from the best FenderBender magazine content from the last several years.