From April 27 to May 1, representatives of approximately 200 Fix Network franchisees from twenty countries gathered at the luxurious Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort in Mexico for the organization’s Global Conference.

The Fix Network 2025 Global Conference brought together professionals from across the entire Fix Network family: Fix Auto and ProColor Collision repair shops, Speedy Auto Service mechanical locations, NOVUS Glass facilities, and their various global counterparts.

The theme of this year’s event was “Mission Possible.” The Conference featured discussions on a variety of key topics. Steve Leal, President and CEO of Fix Network kicked off the event by highlighting that in the two years since the previous Global Conference, the organization had achieved remarkable growth across all markets. He outlined how the sessions would cover the key areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, integrity, and environmental commitment, while reinforcing the family spirit that united all attendees.

“The vision of Fix Network’s leadership is to reassure consumers who are facing unexpected situations that we’re ready to help,” he said.  But this vision must be translated into action, and we need to ensure everyone is aligned towards the same goals. We continue to expand our network, one location at a time, strengthened by the trust consumers place in us.”

Leal set the stage for the presentations that would follow over the next two days.

A strong image 

Alexandra Zalec, Global Vice President of Brand Marketing for Fix Network highlighted the power of the Fix brand, and detailed how her team works to unify the brand image throughout the network to enhance consumer recognition. “Whichever franchise signature a location operates under, we strive to create a strong connection between these businesses and their customers,” she said. “This consistent approach helps build consumer trust and loyalty, with customers recognizing the added value provided by these diverse brands within our family.”

Zalec provided a quick overview of recent franchisee activities worldwide, presenting photos from the many local and community events.

Leadership and business strategist Matt Havens then took the floor to explain to attendees that despite our generational differences, we all form a community. He explained that individuals can effectively maintain quality relationships with a limited number of people, estimated at 150, according to him. “It’s up to us to build these communities within our businesses by showing that we care about the people we lead,” he added. “This positive environment directly influences employee productivity, and strengthens their commitment to your organization. Naturally, this approach also creates measurable improvements in customer experience and satisfaction levels.”

Advice from a race car driver 

Race car driver Romain Grosjean captivated the audience by reflecting on his career. He delighted participants by expressing his appreciation for automotive maintenance and repair specialists. “We must not forget the teams behind our successes,” he insisted. “There is passion in their work. Moreover, they have an enormous responsibility for our safety. There is an obvious parallel with your industry, where your work serves customers who need absolute confidence in your expertise.”

Grosjean also mentioned the preparation work that takes place with high-level racing teams. Although he considers himself extremely impatient, he had to learn to temper his eagerness. “I’m competitive, I hate losing, but I know it’s pointless to argue with team members, as it represents a waste of energy,” he said. According to Grosjean, the best approach relies on constant and precise communication.

This racing champion brings the same amount of passion and persistence to his business endeavours. He operates his companies with the same focused determination he displays on the circuit, “always pursuing innovation. Similar to racing, I continuously strive for improvement. I also realize the importance of recruiting exceptional people for strategic roles within my business operations—people whose insights I genuinely value.”

Artificial intelligence serving repair shops 

The next morning, a panel discussion was organized to address the sensitive issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on our industry. According to industry specialists on the panel, AI has the potential to alleviate some workforce shortages, particularly in damage appraisal processes. The experts highlighted how the integration of advanced driver assistance systems, coupled with new materials, has been increasing repair complexity, and explained that AI applications could significantly improve the specification and organization of these repairs.

This technology will also prove useful for streamlining exchanges between repair shops, insurers, and customers during collision repairs.

An engaging panel discussion, organized by Fix Network, featured representatives from their operations across North America, Europe, and Australia who shared insights into challenges that are unique to their individual markets. The presenters described how business growth strategies differ significantly between countries, while also identifying numerous common elements. “Our primary approach is to demonstrate effective processes backed by compelling data,” explained Travis Arnold from Australia. “This requires shop managers to periodically step away from daily production to conduct a thorough operational analysis.”

Shared challenges 

The Fix Network panelists also highlighted several shared concerns: the ripple effects of American market tariffs, the increasingly technical nature of modern vehicle repairs, and the ongoing challenge of sourcing qualified technicians—a difficulty encountered worldwide.

The Global Conference concluded with charismatic businessman, and popular figure, Grant Cardone reigniting the discussion around personal achievement. “I always wonder how I can improve myself. I always see the potential I represent and the next level to reach,” he declared.

He admitted that his business approach is not for everyone. However, addressing the attendees, he encouraged them, “Let success fuel your appetite, not satisfy it.”

Just before the gala evening, Molly Bloom, the poker princess and former Olympic skier, shared how she overcame challenges both in sports and business. She drew lessons from her experiences, highlighting that making mistakes is part of life’s journey, and that failures represent doorways to personal transformation, rather than dead ends.

Time to connect 

This Global Conference, where Canadian collision repair specialists mingled with their counterparts from Europe, the United States, Australia, or the Middle East provided generous blocks of free time, allowing attendees to share their daily experiences in an exceptional setting. The value of these exchanges, where professional ideas and experiences circulated freely, cannot be underestimated. Additionally, casual cocktail receptions, themed meals, and a gala evening multiplied the opportunities to make new acquaintances.