The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association will hold its 17th annual CONNEX conference at the Hilton Palacio del Rio in San Antonio, Texas, from September 29 to October 1.
This year’s theme is the rise of software-defined vehicles: collision industry impacts. Newly announced sessions will address artificial intelligence, ADAS calibration, data privacy, connectivity, insurance and replacement-parts risks.
It will feature two keynote speeches. Greg Horn of PartsTrader, who will discuss industry trends, and Steve Greenfield of Automotive Ventures, who will present “How Technology is Reshaping the Collision Industry.”
Other speakers will include Jeremy Carlson of S&P Global Mobility on software-defined vehicles, Matt Harden of AT&T Connected Cars on vehicle connectivity and Andrea Amico of Privacy4Cars on vehicle data and privacy.
Eliron Ekstein of RAVIN AI will present “The Dark Side of AI.” Nabeel Adam of Safelite and Charlie Rich of Azimuth Claims will discuss software-defined standards and ADAS calibration.
Levi Fawcett of Partly will address data silos and industry infrastructure. Mario Dimovski of the Plastic Repair Alliance Council and Plasnomic will discuss risks involving used, reconditioned, stolen and faulty parts.
The program will also include panel discussions featuring automakers, insurers, collision repair companies and technology providers.
The OEM panel will include Dan Malik of Slate Auto, Dave Mooney of Volkswagen Group of America and Nicholas Walker of American Honda. Bill Garoutte will moderate.
A collision repair procedures panel will feature Pat Blech of OEC, Tim Brown of ALLDATA and Jake Rodenroth of Quality Collision Group.
Chief information officers Mark Miller of Crash Champions, Casey Santos of Caliber Collision and Creighton Warren of Winnipeg-based Boyd Group will discuss technology priorities within large collision repair organizations.
The insurance panel will include Teresa Candiloro of State Farm, Ray Powers of Mobilitas and Paul Riffel of GAINSCO.
Attendees may also tour Toyota’s manufacturing plant and visitor centre in San Antonio. The facility produces the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia.
Agenda highlights
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: CIECA open board meeting, Toyota plant and visitor-centre tours, WIN meet-up and evening welcome reception
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Full day of presentations, two NABC Recycled Rides vehicle giftings and evening reception
- Thursday, Oct. 1: Half day of presentations, lunch and a second Toyota plant and visitor-centre tour
- CIECA will also hold a free IT Forum from 1 to 5 p.m. on October 1. Participants will discuss ADAS and calibration data, business-management-system information and new data requirements.
- CIECA members and non-members are invited to attend.
For more information or to register, visit CIECA CONNEX 2026.
