Electrifying sessions united a packed house at CSN’s 14th Annual Conference in Vancouver.
Both professional and personal performance were the theme of this year’s CSN Conference, which took place at the Westin Bayshore, in Vancouver, September 22-24.
The event encompassed a whole host of information sessions, as well as a vendor trade show and an evening gala/awards ceremony, as well as plenty of opportunity for attendees to network and socialize.
The event kicked off on Thursday, September 22, with a welcome address from Emcee James Cunningham, comedian and host of Food Network Canada’s Eat St. as well as a trade show that showcased the latest offering from CSN vendor partners, including shop supplies, refinish products, repair equipment and business services.
Inspiring message
On Friday, it was the turn of information sessions. In his address entitled The Checklist of Champions, world-renowned motivator and communicator Mike Lipkin delivered a truly inspirational message. Lipkin discussed the concept of professional and personal motivation and how to think, dream and act like a champion in every aspect of life. So powerful was the message, that many attendees not only came away inspired but also also inquired about hearing from Lipkin at future events.
A very interesting presentation came from Orthomolecular Nutritionist Carmen Dunn on Nutrition and its Effects on Your Performance. Dunn discussed the relationship between how we eat and how we perform. She also provided a list of food types that can help ensure we’re able to operate at peak performance and striking the right health/work balance, including effective stress management. Clearly many attendees took it to heart, for during the lunch break, they were actively seeking Carmen’s approval of their lunch choices.
During a group discussion that followed, CSN’s corporate executive team members Flavio Battilana, Larry French and Jay Hayward provided an overview of CSN’s progress, highlighting some of the initiatives currently underway, such as an emphasis on technology, training and certification through I-CAR’s Gold Class recognition program, as well as tips to help shops set the standard for customer service and grow their business.
“We felt it was important for our partners to hear first-hand what initiatives CSN has launched in 2016 and what’s to come in 2017 and beyond” said Larry French Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “We’re excited about the future at CSN and we want them to feel that same energy form our network.”
People matter
In “It’s About the People, Mike Black, Senior Vice President and COO Dent Wizard, discussed that when it comes down to it, the performance of a business comes down to those who work within in it and how focusing on staff needs is what drives growth and success.
The Industry panel discussion, moderated by Trista Anger-Miklusek which brought together representatives from across the stakeholder spectrum—including Joe Carvalho, Economical Insurance, Chris Hancock, ICBC and Luc Ruest, TD Insurance; as well as Scott Wideman, Volkswagen Group Canada and Jay Rodenroth from AsTech—also focused on performance, specifically the concept of scanning vehicles as it relates to repair procedures.
The panel provided the opportunity for a range of different perspectives, including that from the OEM (Volkswagen), equipment provider (AsTech) as well as insurance partners.
The general consensus was that while currently, there is no “right or wrong” way when it comes to pre and post scanning repairs, this technology represents the ideal opportunity for all collision industry stakeholders to work closely together and by doing so, create a win-win scenario for the shop, the OEM, insurance provider, equipment vendor, and customer.
The power of social media
Songwriter/musician Dave Carroll, who talked about Customer Experience in the Age of Social Media, related his harrowing experience with United Airlines after his guitar was damaged by baggage handlers and through the power of social media, the airline was faced with a storm of bad publicity, Carroll emphasized the importance of customer reputation, how the battle can easily be won or lost through social media, as well as the power of having a single voice to make a difference.
Following Carroll’s session, the Evening of Excellence award ceremony provided the opportunity for CSN members to be recognized for their achievements. It really was great to see how our members are making a difference and showcase their dedication and commitment to going the extra mile,” said Jenny Trokic, Marketing Manager; CSN Collision Centres.
Following the conclusion of Friday’s events, the Saturday morning presented gathered CSN Members a chance to sightsee with a group trip to spectacular Whistler before returning home.