SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES ANNUAL A-PLUS™ NETWORK VISION CONFERENCE FOR LEADING COLLISION REPAIRERS

November 2011

Naples, Fla. - Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes announced it will hold its A-Plus™ Network annual Vision Conference at the Naples Grand Beach Resort in Naples, Fla., Dec. 7-10, 2011. The conference will provide more than 80 leading collision facility owners and managers with world-class training, top industry speakers, and group breakout sessions, all with a focus on continued success in a difficult economic climate.

The A-Plus™ Network is made up of an exclusive group of collision repair specialists who reflect the industry's highest standards. They are part of the Sherwin-Williams leading value added program that combines comprehensive business solutions to help them improve customer service, employee growth, insurance relationships, process refinement, productivity, and profitability.

The conference agenda will feature many outstanding industry leaders and speakers from the collision repair and business arena, including:

• Robert H. Lane, Managing Partner of Robert Lane and Associates, a leading business advisory headquartered in Toronto, will deliver the keynote on Business Analytics – what they are and how they can benefit your shop.
• Darren Fristoe, President, The Fristoe Group, and Dan Bailey, former President, CarStar Collision Centers, will present 'Succession Planning,' an in-depth look into your collision shop's future – how to prepare your business for future generations and/or how to make it more attractive to potential purchasers.
• Steve Feltovich, Manager of Business Consulting Services, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, will present 'Beyond Lean;' a deeper dive into shop analytics, succession planning and what are the next key steps for collision industry facilities to adopt as they go further along their lean journey.
• Matt Ohrnstein, Principal at Matt Ohrnstein Advisors, a top automotive industry consultant, will take the group through the state of the industry - today and tomorrow - and what to expect when you opening multiple locations.

After keynote speakers are finished, a number of breakout sessions will be held in tandem with peer-to-peer discussion groups throughout the three-day event. The discussion groups will give attendees the chance to review financial performance, discuss lean implementation, build marketing plans and define their goals.

"Our 2011 conference is intended to support and educate our Vision Group Members as they formulate their 2012 business plans, continuing to give them the competitive edge to succeed in this challenging environment. The conference is just one of several meetings our Vision Group Members attend and all are designed to keep their businesses at the industry forefront," said Troy Neuerburg, Manager of Marketing Business Services at Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes began the A-Plus™ Network Vision Group Program in 2000 and now has two independent owners groups, one manager's group, two dealership collision center groups and one Canadian collision facility leadership group. These groups consist of both single and multiple shop owners and managers. Square One Systems, Inc., one of the premier independent "20-Group" providers in the industry, administers and moderates the A-Plus™ Network Vision Groups.

A-Plus™ Network members not only benefit through their Vision Group participation, but are also assisted by the program's many business-building opportunities. These include specialized marketing and management programs, industry leading business training through A-Plus™ Network University, insurance relations programs, loyalty benefits and specialized programs and services from outstanding contributors.

For more information about the Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes A-Plus™ Network, its features, advantages and benefits visit www.sherwin-automotive.com; or call 1-800-SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).