It was a look at how to prepare for the future of business and work at Auto Care Connect 2026.
Held May 11-14 in Atlanta, the event delivered four days of thoughtful conversations, practical insights and big-picture thinking across the aftermarket. From leadership and technology to consumer behaviour and personal growth, the conference offered something for young professionals, content professionals and the industry as a whole.
The week began with Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) programming, highlighted by Scott Tillema, a SWAT hostage negotiator, who spoke about leadership under pressure. He urged attendees to treat the person on the other side of the table with respect. Tillema emphasized how quickly situations can escalate when people feel disrespected, noting that respect is increasingly lacking in society and yet more important than ever for success.
YANG programming also included the popular 5 for 5 presentations, a workshop on defining personal brand and a networking event at the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Auto Care Professional Network (ACPN) featured Heather E. McGowan, a future of work strategist who challenged attendees to rethink how they approach problem-solving. Her presentation explored consumer expectations, trust, how people view work today and the importance of human connection in an evolving workplace.
Sessions across ACPN and YANG covered leadership, working across generations, data’s growing influence on the aftermarket, career development, and what content professionals and shops need from suppliers to better serve customers.
From the keynotes, Jay Baer’s message was centred on experience over execution. As AI becomes table stakes, he argued that differentiation will come from people. Speed, clarity and kindness matter, especially as response time increasingly defines trust. As automation grows, the human touch, particularly when things go wrong, will shape customer experience, starting from within organizations themselves.
The final day featured a mix of inspiration and insight, beginning with illusionist David Kwong, followed by a sharp look at consumer behaviour from Michael Chung. Rising costs are pushing consumers to save, accessories may face pressure, private label is expected to grow, and the average age of vehicles continues to climb as affordability challenges persist.
The conference closed with a powerful keynote from athlete and multi-world record holder Colin O’Brady, who spoke about risk, perseverance and pushing past self-doubt.
Catch our highlight reel and photo gallery for more!
