I-CAR, CIC and NACE team up for Industry Week 2014

NACE (the International Autobody Congress & Exposition), I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) and CIC (Collision Industry Conference) announced the formation of Industry Week 2014, uniting several of the industry's key events. Industry week, taking place July 28-Aug. 2, 2014 at Detroit's Cobo Center, will initially be the home to this unprecedented line up of events.

The preliminary schedule of events is:

• Tuesday, July 29 - CIC Meeting & Reception 
• Wednesday, July 30 - I-CAR Conference & Reception 
• Thursday, July 31 - Collision Repair Education Foundation Golf Outing 
• Thursday and Friday, July 31-Aug.1 - NACE Education & Expo 
• Saturday, Aug. 2 - Education & Hosted Industry Tours

"Co-locating NACE with the I-CAR and CIC conferences in July and creating Industry Week represents the beginning of a new era for our industry, and this is extremely exciting. Professionals in the industry can now truly take one week and participate in all the meetings they need involving the industry's most influential individuals and organizations, attend all the conferences, walk the show, network, and receive the education critical to their business success," stated Dan Risley, executive director of the Automotive Service Association (ASA). "Beyond the events already mentioned, there will be innumerable opportunities for attendees and exhibitors because it's located in Detroit, the heart of the automotive industry. Additional announcements will be forthcoming in the ensuing months but suffice it to say, if you are a 'car person' you will not leave the city disappointed."

John Van Alstyne, I-CAR CEO and president, shared his enthusiasm, "Industry Week is an opportunity to bring more of the industry together and simplify coordination of scheduling for all events, which we believe will be valued by the industry." He added, "Industry Week will present attendees with excellent educational, knowledge-building, and networking opportunities; and I-CAR's longstanding July Conference, which has been aligned with CIC for many years, will remain an independent event that will now take place under the new umbrella of Industry Week. Additionally, the annual fund-raiser for the Collision Repair Education Foundation will continue to be held the same week, offering a fantastic social networking opportunity while raising money for a great cause that helps us to sustain the future of our industry."

"The Collision Industry Conference looks forward to meeting during this time when all groups come together," stated Jeff Hendler, founder, Collision Industry Conference. "The more often that all entities attempt to share the calendar with the varying functions of meetings, educations, trade displays, and networking opportunities, the better it is for those who attend. Everyone and every entity stands to benefit."

"The Collision Industry Conference looks forward to building upon our longtime alignment with I-CAR to welcome ASA into the fold and offer our collision industry stakeholders the opportunity to attain even more industry knowledge, make even more valuable industry connections, and conduct even more business," said George Avery, CIC chairman. "Better yet, Industry Week lets them do it all in one week, under one roof, and in the heart of the Motor City to enable everyone to maximize their time and travel."

Additional details on each event taking place during Industry Week 2014 will be released by each organization in the coming months. Hotel details will be available in the near future.

More information will soon be available at www.naceexpo.com, www.i-car.com, and www.cic.com.

I-CAR Conference:ing for the collision repair industrybrings together experts from all segments of the industry to discuss timely and relevant topics. The conference provides attendees both educational and networking opportunities.

Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings are held four or five times a year, each in a different region of the country. In January of each year, there is an additional planning meeting for the coming year that is open to everyone. Participation in CIC is open to all individuals who share an interest in the collision industry. There are no "members" of CIC, only participants. All participants share an equal standing.

NACE represents the only B2B event of its kind specifically designed for collision repair industry professionals from around the globe. NACE features a comprehensive educational conference and exposition with hundreds of diverse exhibiting companies displaying the latest equipment, products, services and technology available to today's collision repair industry.

At the Collision Repair Education Foundation Golf Outing, industry professionals from around the country gather to raise additional funds for collision students during a day of golf, networking, and awareness.