PREVIEW: Live Rodeo and Texas Barbecue to Kick of International Autobody Congress & Exposition

The 20th Annual International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) in Dallas, Tex., will officially open on Dec. 5 with a Big “D” Welcome Party featuring a Live Rodeo and a traditional Texas barbecue with all the trimmings. The evening’s entertainment will also include a country band with an award-winning fiddler, Yellow Rose Country Dance instructors, card shark demonstrations, quick draw artists and a costume photo corner.
The Big “D” Welcome Party will be held at the Resistol Arena, home of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Tickets for this special event will be included in the NACE Full Congress registration package or may be purchased on an individual basis.
“This Welcome Party will feature an abundance of Texas charm, hospitality and excitement. It will be a very big celebration to mark the significance and importance of this 20th annual NACE,” said Dana Bellantone, NACE show director.
NACE 2002 will be held Dec. 5-8, at the Dallas Convention Center and is expected to draw an attendance of 30,000-plus from around the globe. It will feature more than 60 timely educational sessions, an Exposition with 500+ exhibiting companies, a keynote address by the George Bush, the 41st President of the United States, and a live performance by comedian and actor Bill Cosby.
For more information visit, www.nace-99.com.
The NACE events include a comprehensive set of education sessions, which include:
 Jobber Track – A track has been designed specifically for the Jobbers this year. It will be offered on Thursday, December 5. The cost is $150 for the entire day (includes two sessions and lunch). Individual tickets may be purchased – $75 for each session and $25 for the luncheon.

 Small Shop Track – Courses designed to address the needs of the small shop owner / manager, or those new to the industry. In addition to the Small Shop Track, NACE recommends all management track sessions for small shops.

 Certain sessions have been recommended for dealer bodyshop professionals. – Look for courses coded with ‘D logo’ denoting dealer focused track.

 Spanish Language Classes – Offered by I-CAR and in the NACE Technical Track.

 ARMS Luncheon – If you plan to attend the ARMS program on Thursday, December 5, you will want to add the optional luncheon to your itinerary. Tickets may be purchased for $25 each.
Schedule of Events
For more information, visit www.nace-99.com
Thursday, December 5
7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Shuttle Service
*Hours extended to accommodate the Big ‘D’ Welcome Party
7:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
 Attendee Registration Open
 Exhibitor Registration Open
 International Business Center Open
 Press Room Open

8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. I-CAR Technical Training
 IC-01 (I-CAR): Structural Parts Steel Program 3 (Frames)
 IC-02 (I-CAR): Welding & Cutting Steel Program 4 (STRSW)
 IC-03 (I-CAR): Pegamento Adhesivo (Adhesive Bonding) – Spanish logo
 IC-04 (I-CAR): Refinishing Program 3 (Color Matching & Application)(continued at 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.)

8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Congress Seminars
 TH-01 (Management): Contracts: Do You Know What You’re Signing?
 TH-02 (Management): Attracting, Motivating & Retaining Good Employees
 TH-03 (Technical): Proper Towing Procedures
 TH-04 (Small Shop): Working Small & Effective
8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Congress Workshop
 TH-05 (Management): ARMS 2002 Part 1
8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Jobber Workshop
 JO-01 (Jobber): Customer Segmentation & Differentiation: Treating Your Best Customers Best
10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. NAII Class
 NA-01 (NAII): Insurance & Auto Repair: Issues 2003
10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Congress Seminars
 TH-06 (Management): Front Office Staffing: Wish You Could Clone Yourself?
 TH-07 (Management): A Look at Internet Claims Handling
 TH-08 (Technical): Safe Airbag Techniques Understanding the Restraint System
 TH-09 (Industry): Damage Analysis with an Estimating Focus
11:45 a.m. 1:15 p.m. Luncheons
 OL-01 (Management): ARMS Luncheon
 J0-02 (Jobber): Jobber Luncheon
1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. I-CAR Technical Training
 IC-04 (I-CAR): Refinishing Program 3 (Color Application & Matching) (continued).
 IC-05 (I-CAR): Structural Parts Steel Program 3 (Frames)
 IC-06 (I-CAR): Corrosion Protection Program 1
 IC-07 (I-CAR): Programa de Plasticos 2 (Plastics Program 2) Spanish logo
1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Congress Seminars
 TH-10 (Management): Profitable Strategies for Collecting Old Debts
 TH-11 (Management): Avoiding Concessions in DRP’s
 TH-12 (Technical): Entry Level Welding
 TH-13 (Small Shop): Planning & Forecasting: Best Practices for the Small Shop
 TH-14 (Lifestyle): The Essence of Aromatherapy
1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Congress Workshop
 TH-15 (Management): ARMS 2002 Part II
1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Jobber Workshop
 JO-03 (Jobber): 10 Things Your Customers Wish You Did
3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Congress Seminars
 TH-16 (Management): Building Better Business Practices for Your Shop with Accounting Software
 TH-17 (Management): The Impact of Negotiation
 TH-18 (Management): Estimating Do I Charge for That?
 TH-19 (Technical): Beyond Bonding Composite Repair with Laminating Techniques
 TH-20 (Lifestyle): The Art of Feng Shui
7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Big ‘D’ Welcome Party & Rodeo
(buses depart at 6:30 p.m.)

Friday, December 6
7:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Shuttle Service
7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
 Attendee Registration Open
 Exhibitor Registration Open
 International Business Center Open
 Press Room Open
8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. NACE 2002 General Session (doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. NACE 2002 Exposition
10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Tours
 Cookin’ with Carol at the Dallas World Aquarium
 A Day of Wellness @ Copper Clinic
11:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Tour
 The American Women’s Museum
12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Action Demonstration
 Auto Glass Installation
2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Action Demonstraton
 Resistance Spot Welding
4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Congress Seminars
 FR-21 (Management): The Art of Managing Assignments & Missed DRP Opportunities
 FR-22 (Management): Estimating Do I Charge for That?
 FR-23 (Management): A Fresh Look at Cycle Times
 FR-24 (Technical): Speeding Up the Paint Shop
 FR-25 (Small Shop): Benchmarking Collision Center Performance
 FR-26 (Industry): Meeting the Challenges of Today’s Global Collision Repair Industry
 FR-27 (Industry): A Close-Up Look at Diminished Value & Post Repair Inspection
6:30 p.m. Exhibitor Hospitality Night

Saturday, December 7
7:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Shuttle Service
(Hours extended to accommodate the Saturday Night Party)
7:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
 Attendee Registration Open
 Exhibitor Registration Open
 International Business Center Open
 Press Room Open
8:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Congress Workshops
 SA-28 (Management): Know You are Winning
 SA-29 (Management): Compensation Plans: What’s Right for Your Employees?
8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Congress Seminars
 SA-30 (Management): Buying Business Insurance Coverages You May Not Have Considered
 SA-31 (Management): Building Value in a Sustainable Business
 SA-32 (Technical): Reacabado (Refinishing)
 SA-33 (Technical): Make More $$ By Using Helpers and Team Members
 SA-34 (Lifestyle): Self-Defense Basics
10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. NACE 2002 Exposition
11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Act
ion Demonstration
 Panel Bonding
11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Saturday Townhall Luncheon (Doors open at 11:00 a.m.)
1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Action Demonstration
 Aluminum Welding
3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Action Demonstration
 Airbags
4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. NACE 2002 Press Conference
4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Congress Seminars
 SA-35 (Management): Competing Against the “Big Guys” in Today’s Challenging Marketplace
 SA-36 (Management): Creating a Legacy Bringing the Next Generation into Your Family Business
 SA-37 (Management): Production and Work Flow: Getting Big $ Out of Small Boxes
 SA-38 (Technical): New Vehicle Technologies What’s Coming Down the Road?
 SA-39 (Technical): Soldadura del MIG (Welding Steel)- Spanish logo
 SA-40 (Industry): Staying Compliant Tips from OSHA and the EPA
 SA-41 (Lifestyle): Life is What Happens to You While You’re Making Other Plans
8:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Saturday Night with Bill Cosby Sponsored by “Mitchell logo” (Doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

Sunday, December 8
7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Shuttle Service
8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
 Attendee Registration Open
 Exhibitor Registration Open
 International Business Center Open
 Press Room Open
8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Congress Seminars
 SU-42 (Management): Managing Multiple Centers Getting to Two or More
 SU-43 (Management): Planning & Forecasting The Way to Increased Profits
 SU-44 (Management): Establishing Customer Expectations
 SU-45 (Technical): Frames & Measurements
 SU-46 (Small Shop): Marketing Like the Big Guys
 SU-47 (Lifestyle): Please Pick Up After Yourself, Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here
10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. NACE Exposition