DRIVE EXPO 2026: Own Your Future. Build the Business You Deserve.

The schedule is published. The presentations are set. The workshops are ready. Now there is only one question left:

Will you be there?

 

From September 24-26, 2026, shop owners, managers and industry leaders from across North America will gather at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for DRIVE EXPO 2026.

For attendees looking to get an even bigger jump on their future, the experience can begin two days earlier with the Pre-EXPO Edge Workshops on September 22 and 23. These intensive, in-person workshops provide deep-dive training and hands-on learning before the main event begins.

Then, on Thursday, September 24, DRIVE EXPO officially kicks off with keynote presentations, educational sessions, networking opportunities and three days dedicated to helping shop owners build stronger businesses and better futures.

Every year, DRIVE EXPO delivers practical ideas, proven strategies and meaningful relationships that help shop owners build stronger businesses. But 2026 feels different.

This year’s theme, “Own Your Future. Build the Business You Deserve,” reflects the reality facing shop owners today. The industry is changing rapidly. Technology is evolving. Customer expectations continue to rise. Staffing challenges remain. Competition is stronger than ever. The shops that thrive over the next decade will not get there by accident. They will get there through intentional leadership, better systems, stronger teams and smarter decision-making.

That is exactly what DRIVE EXPO 2026 is designed to help you accomplish.

DRIVE’s Tony Wisler explains, “DRIVE EXPO gives shop owners something they rarely get enough of: time to step back, learn from great people and return home excited about what’s possible for their business.”

For many attendees, that opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of running a shop and focus on the future becomes one of the most valuable parts of the entire experience.

Start Early with the In-Person Pre-EXPO Edge Workshops

Before DRIVE EXPO officially opens on Thursday, September 24, attendees have the opportunity to participate in four powerful two-day, in-person workshops designed to provide deeper training and hands-on learning.

Dan Vasquez will lead AI Power Tools: A 2-Day Shop Owner’s Bootcamp, helping attendees understand how artificial intelligence can improve productivity, efficiency and profitability in their businesses.

Larry Monroe will present Control the Chaos: A Shop Owner’s Daily Game Plan, providing practical strategies to help owners gain control of their operations and spend more time leading rather than reacting.

Jesus Vargas will host Claves Para Comprender Los Informes Financieros, a Spanish-language workshop focused on helping shop owners better understand financial reports and make stronger business decisions.

Mark Bagg will lead Parts Department Profit Machine, showing attendees how to maximize profitability through improved parts management and operational processes.

These workshops are not surface-level introductions. They are intensive training experiences designed for owners and managers who want to leave Las Vegas with actionable plans and measurable results.

DRIVE EXPO Officially Begins!

After two days of Pre-EXPO Edge Workshops, DRIVE EXPO officially kicks off on Thursday, September 24, with keynote sessions, educational presentations and networking opportunities designed specifically for shop owners and their leadership teams.

One of the things that separates DRIVE EXPO from many industry events is the emphasis on helpful information. The speakers bring practical experience, not just ideas. They are operators, coaches, trainers and successful shop owners who have spent years solving the same challenges attendees face every day.

On Thursday, Todd Zurn and Phil Reddy will present The DVI Goldmine: Unlocking the Hidden Profit Inside Every Digital Vehicle Inspection. Most shops today perform digital inspections. Far fewer maximize the opportunities those inspections create. This presentation focuses on how to increase revenue, improve customer communication and create greater value from vehicles already entering your bays.

Later in the day, attendees can participate in industry-specific roundtables focused on General Repair, Collision Repair and Truck/Tow operations. These discussions consistently rank among the most valuable experiences of the event because they allow owners to learn directly from peers who face similar challenges.

Three Presentations. One Roadmap to a Stronger Shop.

Friday’s schedule may represent the most powerful educational sequence of the entire event. Three featured presentations combine to create a roadmap for building a stronger, healthier and more profitable business.

First is Stop the Bleed with Deanna Cole-Eure, Travis Sallee and Kris Bullinger.

Every successful shop starts with financial stability. Before focusing on growth, owners must eliminate the cash flow issues that prevent businesses from reaching their potential. This session addresses the five most common financial killers that impact shop profitability and provides practical solutions to overcome them.

Next comes The Car Count Code with Tony Wisler and John Starkey.

Once financial systems are under control, growth becomes the next priority. This session focuses on creating a predictable and consistent flow of vehicles into the shop. Rather than relying on luck or seasonal fluctuations, attendees will learn systems that help keep bays full and revenue flowing.

The final presentation in this series is Learn to Train to Keep the Best with Deanna Cole-Eure and Mark Bagg. Finding great employees is difficult. Keeping them can be even harder. This session focuses on developing people, creating career paths and building a workplace where employees want to stay and grow.

Together, these three presentations address the core pillars of business success: financial stability, customer acquisition and team development. For shop owners looking for one reason to attend DRIVE EXPO, this series alone may justify the trip.

 Celebrate Excellence

Friday evening brings one of the most meaningful moments of the entire conference: the DRIVE Awards Dinner.

This special event recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to professional development and business excellence through DRIVE certification programs.

From Effective Shop Manager and Professional certifications to Master, Master Elite and Sustained Master Elite achievements, these awards represent years of dedication, learning and implementation.

The Awards Dinner is more than a recognition ceremony. It is a celebration of what is possible when shop owners commit to continuous improvement.

For many attendees, it is also an opportunity to see what success looks like and gain inspiration for their own future.

 Building Better Teams

Saturday’s programming continues with a strong focus on leadership, staffing and organizational development.

The day begins with a Masters Panel led by Larry Monroe before attendees choose from several targeted educational tracks.

How to Survive a Tech Shortage with Erkan Oz and Dennis Goodhue addresses one of the most pressing issues facing the industry today. As vehicle technology continues to evolve, attracting and retaining qualified technicians becomes increasingly important.

 Training in the Attention Age with Larry Monroe focuses on helping leaders communicate more effectively and develop training programs that actually produce results.

For Spanish-speaking attendees, Jesus Vargas will present El Código para Mantener el Taller Lleno, sharing proven strategies for maintaining a steady flow of customers and improving shop performance.

Saturday afternoon continues with sessions that focus on hiring, leadership and long-term business value.

Exit Rich with Dan Vasquez and Chris Bierling explores how owners can build businesses that command maximum value when it is time to sell. Whether retirement is five years away or twenty years away, understanding what drives business value can influence decisions made today.

Hire Smarter: Best Practices for Conducting an Interview with Dennis Goodhue and Tony Wisler takes attendees inside the hiring process through live demonstrations and practical examples.

These sessions reinforce a simple truth: the future of your business depends on the people you attract, develop and retain.

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow’s Shop

Several Saturday presentations focus on where the industry is headed and how owners can prepare now.

Navigating Change: The Modern Collision Shop with Cassaundra Croel and Gibran Munozcano examines how leading collision repair facilities are adapting to insurer pressures, digital operations and evolving customer expectations.

Transparent by Design with Jonathan Bagg explores how transparency can improve customer trust, strengthen loyalty and create competitive advantages.

The AI Ready Shop with Phil Purnell and Dan Vasquez provides a practical roadmap for implementing artificial intelligence in a way that supports operational efficiency and business growth.

These presentations reflect one of the central themes of DRIVE EXPO 2026: preparation.

The future belongs to businesses that prepare for it.

 More Than Education

While the education is world-class, DRIVE EXPO has always been about more than presentations and workshops.

It is about relationships.

It is about spending time with other owners who understand your challenges.

It is about learning from people who have already solved problems you may be facing today.

It is about building friendships that continue long after the event ends.

From the welcome gathering to the Owner2Owner sessions, roundtables, networking opportunities and informal conversations throughout the resort, attendees will find countless opportunities to connect with people who can help accelerate their success.

DRIVE Coach Karla Vice sees the impact of those connections every year.

“I absolutely love seeing what happens when shop owners get out of their day-to-day routine and spend a few days learning, sharing ideas and connecting with people who truly understand their business. The energy at DRIVE EXPO is incredible and people leave inspired, motivated and excited about what’s next.”

That combination of learning, networking and inspiration is one of the reasons so many attendees return year after year. Many attendees will tell you that some of the most valuable conversations happen between sessions, over coffee, during lunch or late in the evening after the day’s programming has ended.

 And Then We Celebrate

No DRIVE EXPO would be complete without the world famous Saturday night theme party.

This year’s theme, Rep Your Team, invites attendees to show their colors by wearing their favorite sports jersey, t-shirt, hat or team gear. Whether you are a football fanatic, baseball fan, basketball enthusiast or loyal supporter of your hometown team, the party promises to be one of the most fun and memorable traditions of the entire event.

It is the perfect way to celebrate three days of learning, networking and growth.

Beyond the workshops, presentations and networking opportunities, DRIVE EXPO creates something that is increasingly rare in today’s business environment: a community of people genuinely committed to helping one another succeed.

That spirit is what stands out most to industry columnist and DRIVE’s own Erkan Oz.

“What I love most about DRIVE EXPO is that everyone is there to learn, share and help each other succeed. You leave with practical ideas and a whole lot of motivation.”

Those practical ideas and renewed motivation often become the catalyst for meaningful change when attendees return home and begin implementing what they learned.

 The Time Is Now

The schedule is published.

The speakers are ready.

The workshops are set.

The opportunities are waiting.

The decisions you make today will determine where your business stands next year, five years from now and beyond.

DRIVE EXPO 2026 is not simply another conference. It is an investment in your future.

If your goal is to build a stronger business, develop a better team, increase profitability, create more freedom and surround yourself with people who challenge you to think bigger, there is no better place to be this September.

Join us in Las Vegas.

 Own Your Future. Build the Business You Deserve.

 

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Carolyn Gray, DRIVE