AkzoNobel Highlights Products, Performance And Sustainability at SEMA

AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings Americas will showcase its multi-brand refinish portfolio, industry sustainability platform, and exclusive education classes at SEMA 2013. Select products from the Sikkens, Lesonal, and Wanda brands will be on display in Booth #25043 in the South Hall’s Racing & Performance area. In addition, stickerfix, the first commercial DIY paint solution from AkzoNobel, will be featured in Booth #13049 in the North Hall’s Appearance and Accessories area.

SEMA week began for AkzoNobel with a press conference on Monday, November 4th announcing the collision repair industry’s first Sustainability Education Challenge Grant. The grant, sponsored by AkzoNobel and administered by the Collision Repair Education Foundation, was created to stimulate the awareness, development, and delivery of innovative sustainability solutions within secondary and post-secondary institutions.

The third annual AkzoNobel Sustainability Leadership Symposium is being presented this year, for the first time, as a learning component under the SEMA Education Program. It is free and open to all show attendees. The symposium is comprised of collision repair industry stakeholders discussing key issues and proposing strategies for advancing sustainability. The ultimate goal of this endeavour is to create an independent industry coalition dedicated to the advancement of sustainable business practices within collision repair. Facilitation will be by Mike Shesterkin of What’s Next Sustainability Consulting and Sara Tollin, AkzoNobel Global Sustainability Specialist. Guest panellists include:

• Jay Givens – Owner, Givens Collision Repair Center / FIT Honouree

• Jeff Butler – Owner, Haury’s Lake City Collision / FIT Honouree

• Clark Plucinski – Exec. Dir., Collision Repair Education Foundation / FIT Honouree

• Jake Weyer – Editor, Fender Bender Magazine

• Trish Serratore – President, NATEF

• Michael Giarrizio – President & CEO, DCR Systems

• Marcy Tieger – Consultant, Symphony Advisors

• Keith Hudd – National Manager, The Economical Insurance Group

• Eileen Sottile – VP of Governmental Affairs, LKQ Corporation

In addition, three other Education Programs will be led by AkzoNobel Services Consultants, Tim Ronak, Scott Wheeler and Bob Gilbert. The classes are entitled:

The Future of Cars – Self driving cars fact or fiction

Tuesday, November 5th – 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Competing in a Consolidated Marketplace

Wednesday, November 6th – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Collision Repair Center Parts Management

Thursday, November 7th – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“We are very excited to have so many unique opportunities to introduce show attendees to our industry-leading refinish brands and sustainability initiatives,” says Laura Costello, Director of Marketing for AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings Americas. “With the magnitude of SEMA’s global influence in the automotive aftermarket segment, we knew it was the perfect venue to showcase our ongoing commitment to products and practices that are designed to help grow and prosper our industry.”