Caroline Legrand | Shop Marketing Pros

FM-01 Finding and Creating Social Media Content to Help Your Customers Know, Like and Trust You

There is no shortage of content to share from an auto repair shop when it comes to helping your customers know you better. Every repair order is an opportunity to teach not only the car owner but your entire customer base about their vehicles and why you are the top-tier shop that should handle them.
In this class, Shop Marketing Pros Senior Marketing Strategist Caroline Legrand will share:

• How to turn day-to-day work into social media content
• What it means for your customers to know, like, and trust you
• How your social media plays a role in customer relationships
• How you can plan your content to provide consistent posts to your social media
• Which tools can help you to streamline your social media process (hint: they’re all free and easy to learn!)

Taking this class will equip you with the tools and tips you need to take what you already know about your shop, your staff, and the vehicles you work on and turn it into content that your customers can learn from to improve your brand awareness and reputation.

Jeremy O’Neal | WTI/Worldpac

FM-02 Lead Conversion: Master the Game

There is one thing that all auto repair shops need to be successful, CARS to fix! This course is designed to help you master the skills needed to convert today’s auto repair lead into a paying customer for your shop. As society shifts to digital platforms, shop owners need to ensure everyone in their shop is skilled at converting telephone as well as digital leads. You will leave with the skills needed to increase your telephone lead conversion rate and fill your bays with qualified repair customers. We then share with you the strategies and techniques needed to master the digital lead. You will leave with a complete library of responses to take the toughest digital lead and convert them into a raving fan!

• Learn the skills needed to covert tough price shoppers.
• Understand the mindset of the consumer and how to place your shop as the number 1 choice.
• Turn the customer who wants a price into wanting your expertise and skillset to help them solve their concerns.
• Create your own lead conversion system.
• Fill your bays with high quality customers!

Sara Fraser | AutoLeap

FM-03 From Chaos to Clarity: Enhanced Communication for Auto Repair Shops

In the fast-paced and demanding environment of automotive repair shops, effective communication is the key to success. this course presented by Sara Fraser is specifically designed to help automotive repair shop owners, managers, and staff transform their daily interactions into a well-oiled machine, leading to improved efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.

This course will cover topics such as the importance of communication, meeting essentials, effective team collaboration, customer interaction, conflict resolution, and more.

Want to turn your shop environment into a thriving, customer-centric, and efficient business? Join us and become empowered to communicate better, deliver excellent service, and drive success. Sara is ready to take you on the journey to enhance communication in your shop.

Eric Ziegler | WTI/Worldpac

FT-01 Variable Valve Timing: Fundamentals & Diagnostic Processes

Using case studies of repaired vehicles and actual part cutaways this class demonstrates how VVT systems work, what kinds of problems they have, and what can cause these systems to set codes. The focus is a diagnostic routine that provides a flow of testing steps with technician checkpoints along the way.

Topics covered:

• Types of VVT systems
• Using scan data first
• Correlation and performance codes
• Finding problems without disassembly
• Case studies for mechanical problems, control problems, oil problems, and electrical problems
• Cheat sheets for successful scope setups
• Testing phasers, actuators, and solenoids
• What to do when codes return
• Useful specifications
• Flow of diagnostics chart that guides you to what to do next

Technicians need a trusted process they can rely on to uncover VVT problems and the routine highlighted will lead you to a successful conclusion for Asian & Domestic vehicles.

Brandon Steckler | WTI/Worldpac

FT-02 A Streamlined Approach To Diagnostic Dilemmas

Gary Smith | WTI/Worldpac

Is there a better Way?​

This class will fill the attendee with several out-of-the-box diagnostic ​thoughts, approaches and strategies for​ tracking down and successfully diagnosing those gnarly​ “ghost” faults that can be so difficult to solve.​ We will look at several methods used every day on the DiagNation Support ​Hotline to help technicians with a​ “Guided Fault Finding” pathway to solve these vexing issues, regardless of ​the system you are working with.​ Learn why the shop and technicians often make intermittent diagnosis more ​difficult, and learn how to avoid these​ mistakes and leverage a customized approach to each intermittent fault you ​approach. We will use actual case​ studies to prove these methods of approach.

| MACS

FT-04 Macs A/C 609 Certification Class and Test

While you are at Accelerate, why not get your A/C Certification with MACS Section 609 of the US Clean Air Act requires technicians who service mobile A/C systems to be certified in order to legally do so. This certification is also required to purchase refrigerants in containers larger than 2 pounds. MACS, the leader in Section 609 Certification, will provide this training and the required test at no charge for up to 40 technicians.

You must be registered with FLACA to attend Accelerate, and you must pre-register with MACS for the 609 test.

Jaron Kleber | Repair Shop of Tomorrow 

SM-05 From Customer To Client: How To Win By Building Effective Relationships

In an automotive shop, building strong relationships with clients is essential for success. This seminar will provide participants with practical strategies for cultivating relationships that lead to increased customer loyalty, retention, and referrals. From understanding client needs, to providing exceptional service, and leveraging technology, participants will learn how to build trust, Credibility, and long-term relationships with clients to help drive business growth.

Key Topics

• The importance of building relationships
• Understanding the client’s needs and preferences
• Building trust and credibility
• Effective communication skills
• Personalizing the experience
• Managing client expectations
• Handling feedback & resolving issues

Bill Haas | AIM – Auto Ignite Management

SM-06 7 Habits of Highly Successful Service Advisors

There are no secrets to what makes a person successful in their career. A career as a service advisor does not have to be frustrating or unrewarding. Learn the seven habits identified by Stephen Covey. Implement the seven habits and you are assured a rewarding career to be celebrated.

The seven habits will help you:

• Define your top priorities and achieve the results you want
• Be more productive
• Eliminate behavior that distracts and defeats you
• Develop strong relationships based on mutual trust
• Prepare to deal with difficult situations

Jeremy O’Neal | WTI/Worldpac

SM-07 The Essential Laws of The Profitable Shop Manager

Achieving shop operational profitability involves far more than good wrenching – it requires savvy management spanning complex responsibilities. Shop managers must master financial oversight, productivity workflows, personnel leadership, and customer satisfaction to drive a thriving business. This class reveals the definitive “essential laws” veteran managers employ across these critical areas.

Attendees will gain the structured procedures and best practices to transform their shop into a lean, efficient machine. Training incorporates real-world advice on optimizing team assignments, cracking down on waste, keeping the bays and techs busy, accounting for total average repair order, and maintaining a 5-star culture.

Participants will learn how to identify and address bottlenecks while freeing up wasted resources that lead to burnt out personnel and disgruntled customers. Following established guidelines to balance productivity, fairness, consistency, and high morale, managers will benefit from decades of management wisdom.

By class completion, attendees will have a clear blueprint to implement procedures, systems, and structure for operating an accountable, profitable shop without sacrificing repute. The essential laws provide a comprehensive management methodology for any shop environment.

Rich Falco | CTI/Carquest Technical Institute

ST-05 Conquering Network Diagnostics

This class coves modern vehicle network operation and how to efficiently diagnose ​them using common tooling. The overwhelming majority of network related issues ​do not require decoding of individual packets of data. It is important to understand ​how a network exchanges information, but a deep dive into the bits. bytes, nibbles ​and ticks of each network is not needed to repair the vehicle. Knowledge of the ​network type, the expected voltage levels, and the layout of the network wiring to ​the modules can provide us with enough information to gain diagnostic direction. At ​that point, we can use our available tooling to determine the root cause of the ​
problem.

Topics Include:

• Understanding common automotive networks and where ​to get help if we don’t understand them
• Discuss OE and aftermarket scan tool ​communication benefits and challenges
• Developing a logical diagnostic approach ​using service information and our own tooling
• Understanding diagnosis through ​communication-related case studies

Gerard Tonno

ST-06 Tactical Diagnostic Series – Scan and Scope

Misdiagnosis and unnecessary parts replacements plague many shops and technicians. Eliminating these pitfalls to maximize diagnostic efficiency is the strategic focus of this class. A tactical approach to using your full arsenal of diagnostic equipment in concert, as conditions require, to quickly diagnose with 99.9% certainty, is the goal. This provides the diagnostic and repair efficiency that satisfies customers and make you money.

Capabilities of OEM scan tools
Review the capabilities and limitations of aftermarket scan tools
Realize the full capabilities of DSOs (Digital Storage Oscilloscopes)
Discuss integration of scan tool and scope usage to clarify and validate diagnosis

Keith Perkins | CTI/Carquest Technical Institute

ST-07 Introduction to Keys & Immobilizer Systems

Vehicle security systems are considered by most technicians to be overly complex ​and difficult to repair. We will explore some solid foundations of how vehicle security​works, how each OE implements the systems and how to effectively approach ​diagnosis, key production, copying, and key registering/programming. We talk about​ PINs, NASTF, and tools, as well as current industry challenges.

Topics include:
• ​Security system operation
• Fob communication and programming
• VSP ​requirements
• OEM vs. Aftermarket tools

Brand Steckler | WTI/Worldpac

ST-08 Pressure Waveform Acquisition and Analysis, From The Inside-Out (all-day)

Course objective is to take the pressure-transducer novice to a whole new ​level. The goal is for someone with labscope/engine mechanical operation ​knowledge, to gain the ability to capture pressure waveforms (from the ​intake manifold/tailpipe and in-cylinder) and be able to use the information ​to make diagnostic-decisions. The course will cover transducer functionality ​with both absolute transducers as well as delta transducers. It will touch on ​the benefits and characteristics of both types of transducers and how they ​can be used to gain an edge. Diagnostic-approach will be carried out using ​real world examples and actual case studies from my own library. Attendees ​leave with confidence to invest in the tooling to perform pressure testing ​and analysis to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Gary Smith + Adam Robertson | WTI/Worldpac

ST-09 Hybrid -EV Class

A COMPLETE, full day look at EV and Hybrid Vehicle Technology. We cover everything from high-voltage safety, basic diagnosis and basic high voltage system repairs to more advanced electronic controls like resolver circuits and other EV and HV diagnosis from a technician perspective. This all-day class is designed to provide any competent technician (that already has a good, fundamental electrical understanding) with all of the Safety, PPE Testing, Hybrid-EV Theory and of course Hands-On Testing Techniques are covered. This class looks at how to safely understand and work on and perform basic diagnostic service on Hybrid and all-electric vehicles in general. Includes overview of theory on function and control of motor generators, power split and planetary gear function high voltage and battery service and more. During this 8-hour class, we use real life diagnostic cases and scenarios to back up the theory taught, don’t miss this class with Adam and Gary!

Sara Fraser, Bill Haas | AIM – Auto Ignite Management

SM-09 Culture Shock Electrifying the Workplace

This course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to create a harmonious, inclusive, and high-performing work environment. This class delves into essential topics such as personality dynamics, effective communication, inclusive leadership, and bridging generational gaps.

Course Highlights:
Unveil the power of DISC profiles to understand and leverage diverse personalities.
Master communication strategies that foster empathy and respect among colleagues.
Embrace inclusive leadership styles to drive innovation and team motivation.
Bridge generational differences for more effective collaboration and results.

Develop a profound ability to navigaboration thrives.

Conner Tracy | KUKUI

SM-010 Provide you 10 steps to being crazy easy to do business with & Delegation: The ability to put your team in the driver seat, and create deeper engagement

Part 1

• Provide you 10 steps to being crazy easy to do business with.
• Learn how to,
• Be visible to the customer you want
• Use an online scheduling tool
• Streamline your drop-off/check-in procedure
• Offer Consumer financing options up front
• Get the initial inspection done quickly and efficiently
• Set an appropriate time frame for repairs
• And much more.

Part 2

• Delegation The ability to put your team in the driver seat, and create deeper engagement.
• Learn how to have
• Better Car Count
• Customer acquisition and retention
• Improve Work-Life harmony
• Dominate online Presence
• Increase ARO
• Better insight with Better Data
• and more

Jeremy O’Neal | WTI/Worldpac

SM-011 Effective Time Management for Service Advisor, Shop Owners and Technicians

What would you do with an extra 1 hour per day? Effective Service Advisors understand how to be proactive with their time and prioritize their day in a way to achieve maximum sales and customer satisfaction. Our focus is in helping you develop systems that enable you to be ultra-productive throughout your day. This isn’t your typical time management course, we’ll view your day through the eyes of your service advisor, technicians, and customers. This alternative view on time management will help you create breakthroughs in your personal effectiveness. With a focus on work-life balance you’ll leave feeling in control of your destiny and ready to create new breakthroughs in your work & life!

• Find an extra 1 hour per day to add the Fun back into your life.
• Learn how to be proactive in your time management.
• Learn how to put menial tasks on autopilot saving you time.
• Learn how to automate your customer follow up.
• Learn how to save 30 minutes per day through effective lead conversion.
• Increase your sales and profits by creating a work-life balance.

Rich Falco | CTI/Carquest Technical Institute

ST-010 Diagnostic Application of Wiring Schematics

This course guides technicians through the effective use of wiring schematics as a ​diagnostic tool. Learn to combine schematics, circuit operation information, and ​power flow techniques along with applied circuit principles to diagnose problems ​quickly and accurately. Find electrical faults fast by recognizing the characteristics ​of shorts, opens, and high resistance circuit problems. Learn the most effective tools​
and techniques to use for a given fault. During this interactive course, students will ​use selected schematics to diagnose assigned circuit problems and conditions.​

This class coves modern vehicle network operation and how to efficiently diagnose ​them using common tooling. The overwhelming majority of network related issues ​do not require decoding of individual packets of data. It is important to understand ​how a network exchanges information, but a deep dive into the bits. bytes, nibbles ​and ticks of each network is not needed to repair the vehicle. Knowledge of the ​network type, the expected voltage levels, and the layout of the network wiring to ​the modules can provide us with enough information to gain diagnostic direction. At ​that point, we can use our available tooling to determine the root cause of the ​problem.

Topics Include:

• Understanding common automotive networks and where ​
  to get help if we don’t understand them
• Discuss OE and aftermarket scan tool ​communication benefits and challenges
• Developing a logical diagnostic approach ​using service information and our own tooling
• Understanding diagnosis through ​communication related case studies

Justin Morgan | Pico Technologies

ST-011 PicoScope 7 Operating Tips & Tricks

What does that do?! Where is that feature? Learn to operate the powerful PicoScope7 software. If you struggle to use PicoScope or just want to learn some of the more useful features this class is for you. Covering getting started and working our way up to advanced features, this class will lay out channel settings, sample rates, filtering, cursors, measurements, and math channels to make operating PicoScope 7 a breeze regardless of your experience level.

Keith Perkins | CTI/Carquest Technical Institute

ST-012 J2534 Asian Programming Update

J2534 technology is always evolving As the need for programming Asian vehicles ​increases, especially with mandated OE diagnostic software being provided for use ​with a J-device, technicians need to be more familiar with the J2534 process. This ​course focuses on the need for J2534 today. The current information for hardware ​setup, software configurations, and changing OE websites are covered in detail.
​

Topics include:

• Computer and operating system setup
• Java and browser security ​configurations
• J-device selection and management
• OE websites and APIs
• The ​reprogramming process
• Problems and solutions