Collision Repair Leaders Lean In at the 7th Annual Positivity Summit

By : Michal Hlista

For people in the car repair industry, the best way to kick off 2026 may have been the 7th Annual Positivity Summit, hosted by Dave Luehr of Elite Body Shop Solutions and Ryan Taylor of BodyShop Booster. Free, informal and optimistic, the gathering brought together collision repair professionals for a full day of virtual education and inspiration on February 6.

The summit featured dozens of speakers and three keynotes, blending leadership development with practical business strategies. The conversations addressed declining car counts, car repair complexities, advancing technology in EVs, and the role of AI in shop operations. Beyond operational strategy, the recurring themes were human connection and encouragement to embrace change as a competitive advantage rather than a threat.

Auto-Gestion caught up with speaker Chelsea Stebner, managing partner at Saskatoon’s Parr Auto Body. For Stebner, what sets the Summit apart is its authenticity. “It’s a conversation,” she said. “The people are genuine and willing to tell it like it is.” That collaborative tone, she added, reflects what makes the collision repair industry strong: open dialogue, shared challenges and a willingness to support one another rather than compete. She also highlighted the importance of connection, saying, “We need to build on our communication between insurer and customer, and between insurer and body shops—clear, direct, respectful communication.”

What particularly resonated with Stebner was keynote Mike Jones, president of Discover Leadership Training. Jones emphasized that positive people lean forward into what’s happening rather than leaning back, and encouraged a shift in language from “feedback,” which can feel critical, to “feedforward,” a more future-focused approach designed to make people more receptive.

The Summit continues to blend motivational storytelling with actionable business insight, and leaving attendees not just informed, but also energized. If you missed it, the full video is available on the event’s website.