"Don't put training to the side because money is tight," Reiling said.  "It'll cost you in the long run."  Many shop owners attend EXCEL with their employees to get pumped up for another year, he said.  "It's basically networking with like-minded professionals.

"When times are slow, you really need to get the training," he said, adding that knowledge is power and shops still need to make efficient and effective repairs.

The three-day event features a Friday evening and Saturday afternoon trade show and a variety of management and technical training classes for mechanical and collision repair shop owners and personnel, Reiling said, adding that the training schedule is highlighted by several Automotive Management Institute (AMI) courses as well as technical and I-CAR classes.

Keynote speaker Margie Seyfer will deliver her  "Attitude is Infectious" keynote as well as teaching classes titled "Selling From The Inside Out" and "Lip Service -- First-class Telephone Skills for Automotive Businesses," Reiling said, adding that  these classes will earn AMI credits. 

 
Cory King will be teaching a class titled "Human Resources 101--Stay on Target or be a Target," he said.

The technical I-CAR classes on the roster are "Customer Relations and Collision Repair," "Steel Utilized Structure Technologies and Repair," "Steel Full Frame Technologies," "Electric Hybrid Vehicles," and a Chrysler repair overview, Reiling said.

Reiling said another notable trainer at the conference, Jim Wilson, who is sponsored by O'Reilly Auto Parts, will be teaching classes on "Misfire Diagnostics" and "Practical Advance DVOM."  

Mike Hecht on behalf of Lou Fusz Automotive Network will be teaching a general update class on Toyota drivability diagnosis, Reiling said.

The cost to attend the three-day event depends on how early attendees register, he said.  Early-bird prices that AASP-MO members will be charged per attendee is $275 for the management classes, $195 for the technical classes, and $275 for the I-CAR classes.  The prices are $10 more per class for nonmembers, he added.  After the early-bird pricing ends, the prices for the classes will increase to $290 for management, $210 for technical, and $290 for I-CAR, he said, adding that as an added incentive the attendee and exhibitor prices remained the same as last year's.

Reiling said he plans on at least 400 attendees and 85 exhibitor booths, where venders will showcase their wares from shop equipment to management software.