The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) recently concluded another highly successful Annual Conference and Business Meeting in Indian Wells, California, bringing together collision repair industry leaders, aftermarket suppliers, insurers, manufacturers, and industry partners for several days of networking, education, and collaboration.
Hosted at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa, this year’s conference received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, many of whom praised both the property and the overall event experience. The combination of strong educational programming, networking opportunities, and industry collaboration helped make the 2026 conference one of the Association’s most successful gatherings in recent years.
The conference featured an impressive lineup of informative and engaging speakers covering critical topics impacting the collision repair and automotive aftermarket industries, including consumer affordability, legislative developments, repair economics, industry trends, artificial intelligence, supply chain issues, and the future of vehicle repair.
Attendees also enjoyed one of the most successful golf outings in recent memory at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, with participation reaching its highest level in years. The event provided attendees an opportunity to network and strengthen industry relationships in a relaxed setting while enjoying one of the premier golf destinations in the country.
Another highlight of the week was the off-site networking event at Shots in the Night, which delivered a memorable evening of entertainment, networking, and camaraderie among attendees. The event was exceptionally well received and further reinforced the strong relationships that continue to define the ABPA community.
During the conference, the ABPA also held its annual Board of Directors elections. The Association congratulates the following individuals on their election or re-election to the ABPA Board of Directors:
- Mark Scafati – LKQ Corp.
- Dale Sailer – Empire Auto Parts
- John Mosunic – KSI Collision Parts
- Jim Smith – JSC Group
- Sherry Liu – CarParts.com
The ABPA also recognized several outstanding individuals and organizations during its annual awards presentations:
- Alex and Max Dumas of At Pac Auto Parts received the prestigious Rodman Award
- Performance Radiator received the President’s Award
- Gerry Poirier of CAPA received an Industry Award
- Mike Albaugh of Nationwide Insurance received an Industry Award
- Chris Northup of Parts Authority received the Hogarty Award
In addition, attendees participated in the highly impactful National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides event, continuing a longstanding ABPA tradition of supporting charitable initiatives that directly help individuals and families in need. The Recycled Rides presentation once again served as one of the most meaningful moments of the conference week.
“The continued growth and success of the ABPA Annual Conference reflects the strength of the relationships throughout our industry and the importance of collaboration during a time of significant change within the automotive marketplace,” said Edward Salamy, Executive Director of the ABPA. “We sincerely appreciate the support of our members, sponsors, speakers, and attendees who helped make Indian Wells such a tremendous success.”
The ABPA also announced that its 2027 Annual Conference and Business Meeting will take place May 3–5, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.
The ABPA thanks all attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and industry partners for their continued support and participation and looks forward to building on this momentum moving forward.
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The following gallery contains photos from the 2026 ABPA Conference in Indian Wells:
