CIECA CONNEX announces speakers for 2023 conference: Connected Car, Connected Industry

CIECA has announced its speakers for the annual CONNEX 2023 Conference. The event is being held in Bloomington, Ilinois, Sept. 12-13. In addition to a lineup of insightful thought leaders, there will be networking opportunities, a vehicle gifting ceremony by the National Auto Body Council (NABC) as part of its NABC Recycled Rides program, CIECA’s open annual meeting, and a tour of electric vehicle company Rivian’s manufacturing facility.

This year’s theme is "Connected Car, Connected Industry," and will be emceed by industry veteran Bill Garoutte. All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to attend.

The agenda will include OEM representatives from Audi, Lucid Motors and Rivian, as well as a panel discussion focused on digital claims, with individuals from Allstate, Kemper Insurance and State Farm. Information will also be shared about the following topics and how they will impact the collision industry and CIECA standards in the future: artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/virtual reality, electric vehicles (EVs), information privacy and security, OEM repair procedures, smart cities, and telematics.

“As vehicle technology increases, there is a growing interconnection between vehicles, the cities and streets they drive on, first responders, manufacturers, repairers, insurers and every other segment of the automotive ecosystem,” said Paul Barry, CIECA’s executive director. “As an industry, we need to be prepared to repair and service vehicles that are quickly becoming nodes on a complex network. It is imperative that we understand what changes are coming and how they will affect the industry and CIECA Standards in the future.”

“Rivian is excited to invite the CONNEX attendees to our manufacturing facility for an exclusive tour of the plant,” said Frank Phillips, Rivian’s senior manager, Certified Collision Network. “The Rivian collision team is extremely proud to be a partner with the Rivian team in Normal, Illinois, to bring this to the attendees this year.”

As a CIECA member, Phillips said the Rivian Certified Collision Network (RCCN) recognizes the value of the CIECA organization and welcomes attending members to enjoy the tour. “We believe what we are doing in the area of OEM collision programs is certainly an industry disruption, and we are proud to continue our effort in establishing an industry-leading RCCN,” he said.

“CIECA CONNEX is your opportunity to network with industry stakeholders and expand your knowledge of the issues impacting our industry,” said CIECA Chair Greg Best, senior business analyst, California Causality. “There will be informative presentations and panel discussions about emerging technologies, and you will also gain insight into how CIECA is positioning itself to keep us all connected in our ever-evolving marketplace—now and into the future.”

Speakers include:

EVs & Rivian Tour: Frank Phillips, Rivian

Augmented/Virtual Reality: Jake Rodenroth, Lucid Motors

Industry Updates: Sean Carey, SCG Management Consultants; Marty Ellingsworth, J.D. Power; and Tanya Sweetland, OEConnection

Telematics: Cornelius Young, Cambridge Mobile Telematics and Michael Neuber & Chad Witt, State Farm

Connected Vehicles/Smart Cities: Damon Aldrich, Enterprise Holdings; and Brandon Branham, Peachtree Corners/Curiosity Lab

Learning Technologies & Redefining Skillsets: Jeff Peevy, I-CAR

Digital Claims Insurance Panel, moderated by Bill Brower, Solera: Craig Edmonds, Allstate; Brianne Jones, State Farm; and Scott Kohl, Kemper Insurance

Information Privacy & Security Panel, moderated by Brandon Laur, CCi Global Technologies: Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Amy Beard; Sumit Chauhan, CerebrumX; and Pete Tagliapietra, DataTouch

OEM Repair Procedures Panel, moderated by Mark Allen, Audi: Chuck Olsen, AirPro Diagnostics; and Frank Terlep, Opus IVS

CAPIS Technical Updates: Paul Barry, CIECA; Jeff Schroder, Car-Part.com;and Pete Sheehan, Mountaineer Business Technology

This year’s Gold sponsors include: CarPartPro.com, IAA, Spanesi, and OEConnection. Silver sponsors include Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA); Axalta; Caliber Collision; Comsearch; Enterprise Holdings; LKQ Corp.; Mitchell, an Enlyte company; Nexysis; and United Recyclers Group (URG).

"We're honored to be part of the CIECA Conference again this year and share the inspiring presentation of NABC Recycled Rides vehicles," said Debby Robinson, executive director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC). "We are thankful to all of our NABC members who make these vehicle presentations possible, many of whom are CIECA members, and look forward to having the CIECA attendees join us for this event."

Conference attendees are eligible to receive credit toward a professional designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMi).

For more information about CIECA CONNEX, including the agenda, click HERE.

For information about sponsorship opportunities, click HERE.

Early-bird registration and discounted room rates at the Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington are available until August 20. Register today!