It’s common for shop operators featured in FenderBender to be flooded with phone calls after appearing in print. We hear it often, to the point where it seems our featured shop leaders and other industry professionals get more feedback on stories than we do. And that’s just fine with us. It shows that the strategies and philosophies the individuals featured in these pages discuss each month are ones that resonate with you—and you want to know more.
For years, we’ve discussed how to go beyond the magazine to provide business solutions in an even more engaging, personal way, not limited to the constraints of print. I couldn’t be more excited to announce that we now have the answer: the FenderBender Management Conference.
Slated for May 18–20 in Philadelphia, this unprecedented educational event will bring the pages of FenderBender to life, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet some of the top minds in the industry. We combed past issues to find the best business-building strategies and the most timely, trending industry topics—the ones you’ve showed the most interest in. We used those to develop a series of educational sessions, workshops and panels, led by industry superstars sourced from the same award-winning content.
If you’re interested in improving your collision repair operation, networking with like-minded peers and learning from the industry’s best, I hope you’ll join us. For those of you in the Northeast, it’s a short drive away.
To ensure participants get the most out of the event, attendance is limited. Go to fenderbenderconference.com for more details and to sign up for event updates. I hope to see you in Philly.
Shifting gears, you’ll notice several new sections in this month’s issue. We’ve made a few changes to improve the way you experience each issue of FenderBender, hopefully making the magazine easier to navigate and more valuable to you each month.
We also have a new face in this issue: Aaron Marshall of Marshall Auto Body in Waukesha, Wis. Marshall is highly regarded for his operation’s emphasis on efficiency. Since committing to lean processes in 2006, his Wisconsin shop has become a destination for other shop leaders looking to reduce waste and maximize throughput. Marshall is a perfect addition to the FenderBender team and I think you’ll agree.
Enjoy this issue and let me know what you think. Everything we do is geared toward helping you grow your business and like you, we’re always looking for ways to improve.
Jake Weyer
[email protected]
