Driven Brands Collision Conference Opens Inaugural Combined U.S. Conference with CARSTAR, Abra and Fix Auto USA

By: CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts | 0 Shares 284 Reads

October 04, 2023 // Franchising.com // ORLANDO, FL - Abra, CARSTAR and Fix Auto USA franchise partners gathered in Florida as Driven Brands kicks off the inaugural Driven Brands U.S. collision repair joint conference on Thursday, September 28, along with Driven Brands team members, vendors and industry leaders from across the U.S.

The Evolution 2023 conference ran through Saturday, September 30, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL. The 2023 Driven Brands U.S collision conference will feature two days of education, thought provoking discussions, and networking opportunities capped off with the Fenders and Fairways charity golf event.

Before conference got underway, three Orlando-area women and their families experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of reliable transportation to help them get to work, school and family activities. Through the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program, GEICO donated all three vehicles, CARSTAR Collimotive Center refurbished two of them and CARSTAR Superior Auto Body refurbished one. Jerry’s Abra in Mankato and Fix Auto Fort Myers helped stuff the trunks with much-needed items and gift cards for the recipients and their families. The National Auto Body Council® has had a long partnership with CARSTAR, Abra and Fix Auto USA, collectively presenting more than 225 NABC Recycled Rides® vehicles to military members, veterans and families in need.

Franchise partners, team members and guests kicked off the festivities with brand-specific cocktail receptions for CARSTAR, Fix Auto USA and Abra. Following the cocktail welcome receptions, the conference officially opened as Hannah Whitesides, SVP of P&C marketing at Driven Brands, served as emcee, and Driven Brands collision repair leaders Sabrina Thring and Damien Reyna took the stage to share their outlook for the collision repair network and the year ahead.

“There are three critical pillars for us to have a common vision and common goal: profitability, excellence, and growth,” said Thring. “We have the collective power to continue driving this industry forward. We are in the best position to influence the changes in the field and by uniting our forces, we will continue to blaze trails in the collision repair industry space.”

Reyna shared his outlook on how CARSTAR, Abra and Fix Auto USA can continue to move forward and navigate this ever-changing industry.

The mainstage presentations were closed out for the night with a keynote address from was Jon Acuff, a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including his most recent, Soundtracks, The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. When he’s not writing, Acuff can be found on a stage as a leadership speaker.

Acuff’s message for the audience was facing the inevitability of change and the dilemma of pivot or panic. His story of refocusing, rebuilding, and relaunching to better serve the community was a motivating message for everyone.

Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, guests celebrated at the opening night party that featured whiskey tasting, cigar rolling, axe throwing, a live jazz band and more. A dunk tank of Driven Brands Collision Group VPs for charity and a 50/50 raffle helped raise more than $6,000 during the evening for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Friday’s events will feature keynote speaker Matt Mayberry, retired Chicago Bears linebacker and an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and one of the world’s foremost thought leaders on leadership development and culture; an OE panel focused on the current and future state of EVs led by Dirk Fuchs featuring panelists from Nissan, Lucid and Rivian; presentations on marketing and DrivenAdvantage and breakout sessions for the franchise partners. There will be a vendor tradeshow in the afternoon followed by the awards gala that evening.

SOURCE Driven Brands

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