Each year, Auto-Wares Group of Companies brings together automotive service professionals from across the upper Midwest to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for its Auto Value & Bumper to Bumper Tech Expo.
After postponing the 2022 Tech Expo from February to Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, Auto-Wares was excited to host its 25th Tech Expo together with 2,750 registrants at the DeVos Convention Center & Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids.
Tech Expo provides training for automotive shop and store owners, technicians, service writers and anyone else looking to increase their knowledge in nearly all categories of the automotive industry. Training is provided by industry professionals in 15+ categories, ranging from auto body, emission, chassis, heavy-duty, shop management and more.
“In addition to the best suppliers in the industry, we brought in some of the best technical trainers available anywhere,” said Steve Helwig, director of training at Auto-Wares Group of Companies. “Our class offerings were very diverse – from base-line technician classes to the most advanced diagnostic classes being taught in the country. Heavy-duty, PBE, service writer and personal development classes were also presented with great reviews from our participants.”
Also included is access to a two-day trade show featuring more than 160 aftermarket suppliers and channel partners.
“We have the best group of suppliers in the aftermarket, and the energy they brought to our event blew our customers away,” said Jonny Dykstra, product manager at Auto-Wares, who also organizes the tradeshow floor. “Being able to finally be back in-person with our customers brought back that enthusiasm and reminded all of us of our partnerships in all levels of our businesses. We continue to pride ourselves on quality, service and relationships and Tech Expo took that to a whole new level.
Tech Expo is just as fun as it is business. Friday evening, Auto-Wares brought in the Rooster Jones band for an exclusive two-hour concert for attendees. Saturday evening, Tech Expo concluded with Casino Night – an evening of mock gambling, dancing and socializing. Prizes ranging from concert tickets to MacBooks and Yeti coolers were given away to lucky winners. This year, Casino Night turned into Fred Auto-Wares owner Fred Bunting’s 75th birthday party. American blues legend John Primer helped celebrate the evening and close out the weekend with a special concert.
