Niagara Falls, Ontario -- Consolidated Collision Services’ annual Certified Success conference is bringing dealer-affiliated collision centres from across Canada to Niagara Falls this week for three days of training, networking and celebration.
Held from October 15 to 17 at the Hilton Niagara Falls and Fallsview Casino, the event’s 2025 edition featured a full agenda of business updates, OEM panel discussions, an award ceremony and guest speakers — all centred on the theme of operational excellence and continued growth within dealer collision networks.
Mike Beier, president of Consolidated Dealers who was recently named among Collision Repair magazine’s Top 30 Under 40, opened the conference with a welcome address outlining CCS’s continued investment in dealer-owned bodyshops and the value of shared standards within its network. Beier spoke to guests about the growing importance of certification and collaboration across the CCS network.
Beier’s business and strategy update was followed by a presentation from CCS general manager Charles Aubry, who outlined the company’s direction heading into 2026.
“Getting shops certified is a priority,” said Aubry. “There is a market shift right now that is going to set the bar for the future of collision repair and we want our network to be ready for the future.”
Morning sessions continued with an OEM Collision Certification Panel moderated by industry consultant John Niechwiadowicz, featuring discussion on training demands, equipment investment and how certification affects insurer confidence. Presenters Kevin Poitras of Post Plastics and Tandem Recycling and Branden Roy of NCM Associates followed, highlighting sustainability trends and the financial benefits of process standardization for dealer-based operations.
The CCS Certified Success award ceremony was held later that morning, recognizing exceptional performance across the network.
The Certified Success Award was presented to Ryan Hurdman, Rui Canto and Chris Fernandez of Bramgate Collision Centre in Bramalea, Ontario, for their commitment to operational excellence and OEM repair standards.
The Enterprise LOR Performance Award went to Weston MB Collision, while the BASF Collision Centre of the Year Award was presented to Asees Bhatia and Krishna Dilkhush of Performance Brampton for leadership in process innovation and customer service.
“These awards demonstrate how we succeed together,” said Beier. “Certified success isn’t just the theme of the conference, but a commitment. All of the award recipients have proved what certified success looks like.”
Afternoon sessions transitioned into the Automotive Conference and Expo (ACE), which opened with a keynote from Commander Paul Smith of the Royal Canadian Navy. Evening events included a trade show featuring more than 70 Canadian vendors, followed by the ACE reception and kickoff party at Margaritaville, where attendees mingled with celebrity guests including NHL goaltender Curtis Joseph — a Maple Leafs veteran and Olympic gold medallist — Olympic volleyball icon Heather Bansley, and basketball trailblazer Leo Rautins, a former NBA player and longtime Toronto Raptors broadcaster.
Friday’s program opened with a networking breakfast and breakout workshops focused on certification, efficiency and future-proofing operations. Sessions included “Driving Excellence – The Power of OE Certifications” by Niechwiadowicz and “Future-Proof Collision – From Chaos to Confidence” by Roy.
The conference concluded with a luncheon and closing remarks from CCS and ACE leadership.
“Events like this build up your network cross-country,” said Rico Lopez, operations manager at Windsor Bodyworks CCS. “They show us we have people in every corner to help support us.”
