Here’s a list of 26 business strategy and leadership training sessions covering recruiting, retention, productivity, SOPs, artificial intelligence, and exit planning for shop owners

LAS VEGAS – September 15, 2026 – The aftermarket community knows training is essential for technicians. Technicians routinely identify training as an essential benefit they want to see from employers – and there’s a shortage of skilled auto technicians at the moment. Moreover, the pace of innovation is moving so quickly that training is essential to keep up with developments. 

Here’s the thing: business owners and leaders need training, too. As Michael E. Gerber noted  

in his classic book, The E-Myth Revisited, entrepreneurs get caught up working in their business rather than working on their business. 

AAPEX has you covered. We previously highlighted 18 technical sessions aimed at technicians being presented at this year’s show. There are also a number of sessions designed specifically for business owners and leaders at the show. Below is an at-a-glance look at those sessions. 

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

1. The Invisible System Inside Your Shop with Kathleen Callahan

2. Why Your Techs Only Produce 3-5 Hours a Day; How to Turn It Into 10-12 with Rick White

• Also see this recent AAPEX blog interview with Rick: The average auto tech bills just 5.2 hours a day. 

3. From Start to Stay – Hiring with Intention with Sara Fraser

• Also see this AAPEX blog guest post Sara: Bridging the divide – updated techniques for managing Gen Z in the aftermarket. 

4. Driven to Perform: Mastering Motivation for Success with Mark Seawell

5. 30 Seconds at a Time: How Small Steps Win in High-Pressure Environments with Jeff Luther 

• This is a complimentary session.

6. Leadership Under Fire: Building a Team That Stands the Test of Time with Regie Tiu

• This is a complimentary session.

7. Build the Bench: Attracting, Hiring, and Keeping the Right People in Today’s Market with Dori Eppstein

8. Turn Reviews into Raving Fans: Win the Google Game (Even with 1-Stars!) with Jimmy Lea

• This is a complimentary session.

9. How AI Is Changing Search And What Your Auto Repair Shop Must Do About It with Brian Walker

• This is a complimentary session.

10. You Need a Tech Now: A 90-Day Hiring Plan for Independent Shops with Christopher T. (Chris) Lawson

• This is a complimentary session.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

11. The Community Blueprint with Lauralee Schmidt

• This is a complimentary session.

12. Chaos to Control: Develop and Implementing SOP’s with Kent Bullard

13. Professional Shop Owner CEO – Collaborative SWOT Mastermind with Carman Capriotto

14. Plan today for turning your shop into a payday tomorrow: Sell, Scale or Pass it on with Hunt Demarest

15. Build a shop that Runs Without You – Capture Knowledge, Delegate Roles, and Scale with AI Jimmy Alauria

16. Numbers That Drive Performance: Turning KPIs Into Daily Shop Behavior with Dori Eppstein

17. AI for Shop Owners: From Curiosity to Competitive Advantage with Rick White

• This is a complimentary session.

18. Lead from Context, Not Control – How Burned-Out Owners Can Create a Championship Company with Michael H. Smith

• This is a complimentary session.

Thursday, November 5, 2026

19. Why Everything in Your Shop Still Runs Through You (And How to Fix It) with Jimmy Alauria

• This is a complimentary session.
• 20. Built to Sell: Strategic Exit Planning for Automotive Business Owners with Becca Zanders and Tony Zanders

21. The End of the Crutch: Why Culture and Accountability, Not Comp Plans, Drives the Bays with Mike Bennett

22. The Process Portal with Lauralee Schmidt

23. Building Your Dream Team: Attract, Hire & Lead for Long-Term Success with Cecil Bullard

24. Speed of Service – Time is Crucial! with Bill Haas

25. From Successful Shop to Enduring Enterprise – The Legacy Builder’s Powerful Journey with Michael H. Smith

26. The Owner Trap with Jimmy Purdy

• This is a complimentary session.

Training session pricing

Except where denoted as complimentary above, training sessions are priced at $150 each or buy two sessions and get a third session for free. In addition, you can use this bundled price as many times as you’d like; for example, if you buy four sessions, you get two additional sessions at no cost. 

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AAPEX 2026 will be held from Nov. 3–5, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at The Venetian Expo & AAPEX Forum. See the exhibitor prospectus for exhibiting details. Complimentary passes are available to the media; email: [email protected].

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