BACK TO THE FUTURE
A Message from URG CEO Kristi Werner on the 2026 URG & Team PRP Conference
“In 2026, we’re returning to the state where URG’s conference story began. But this isn’t about going backward. It’s about using our roots as a launchpad to accelerate the next era of innovation in our industry.” — Kristi Werner
This year, the industry’s premier training and networking event returns to Colorado, where the very first URG Conference was held. But this homecoming is far from a repeat. Instead, it marks a powerful moment to celebrate how far the automotive recycling industry has come and where it’s headed next.
“In 2026, we’re returning to the state where URG’s conference story began,” says Kristi Werner, CEO of URG. “But this isn’t about going backward. It’s about using our roots as a launchpad to accelerate the next era of innovation in our industry.”
The theme draws inspiration from the nostalgic energy of Back to the Future, blending familiarity and fun with URG’s long-standing focus on technology, acceleration, and forward momentum. The conference tagline, ‘Accelerating Recycling to New Heights,’ pays homage to Denver’s identity as the Mile High City as well as URG’s commitment to pushing the industry upward through education, data leadership, software innovation, and cuttingedge operational tools.
A Theme That Honors the Past While Driving the Future
The 2026 concept invites attendees to look back at where URG and the industry started, while also spotlighting the dramatic evolution of automotive recycling:
• From manual systems to advanced datadriven YMS tools
• From traditional “junkyard” perception to today’s professional, technology-powered recyclers
• From isolated operations to a connected, collaborative global network
“Returning to Denver symbolizes more than location,” Werner explains. “It marks where URG began and the start of a new era focused on shaping the future of the industry together.”
A Conference Designed for the Next Generation of Recyclers
Each year, the URG Conference with Team PRP attracts 1,000+ attendees from across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The 2026 lineup will continue that tradition by delivering:
• World-class training sessions for owners, managers, sales teams, accounting, quality control, data professionals, and self-service and full-service yards
• Technology-driven content focused on automation, AI, integrations, and smarter workflows
• Industry leadership sessions highlighting trends in sustainability, data protection, EVs, consumer expectations, and inventory visibility
• Networking opportunities that bring recyclers, vendors, YMS providers, insurers, and collision partners together
• Creative theme-driven visuals and experiences inspired by Back to the Future
The theme reinforces URG’s positioning as the organization leading the future of automotive recycling, one built on innovation, education, and community.
Why the Back to the Future Theme Matters
This year’s creative direction is not just playful, it’s strategic. The design and messaging: • Capture a nostalgic era everyone can immediately recognize
• Reflect URG’s long history of accelerating industry change
• Position URG as the vehicle driving recyclers into the next generation
• Create a memorable, engaging experience for attendees and sponsors
• Tie directly into URG’s mission of pushing the industry “to new heights” Just as in the film, the theme represents transformation, bold ideas, and the power of looking ahead.
Join Us in Denver
Whether you’re a returning attendee or a first-timer, the 2026 URG Conference with Team PRP offers an opportunity to reconnect with the industry’s roots and take part in shaping its future.
Save the date and get ready to accelerate your business, elevate your team, and fast-forward into the next chapter of automotive recycling. For more information about the 2026 URG Conference with Team PRP, contact URG at [email protected] or visit our website at https://urg.regfox.com/2026-urg-conferenceregistration
