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MSO Symposium

2024 Speaker Line-up

Master of Ceremonies: David SimmonsCEO, Caliber Holdings LLC

In March 2023, David Simmons assumed the role Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Caliber Holdings LLC. His leadership has been marked by a focus on strategy, operational excellence, and a commitment to delivering value to customers and stakeholders.

David has a diverse background leading large, multinational organizations in the pharmaceutical industry and brings a wealth of experience to Caliber’s next phase of growth. He previously served 9 years as CEO of PPD,  a business-to-business services organization of more than 30,000 employees across 46 countries. Prior to PPD, David spent 15 years at Pfizer as the President of Emerging Markets and Established Products business units.   

Simmons’ leadership style is characterized by his commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration within his organization.  As CEO of Caliber Holdings LLC, David Simmons leads the company with an unwavering commitment to execute on Caliber’s purpose of ”Restoring the Rhythm of your Life”.

David proudly hails from West Virginia, where he spent a decade in the steel industry after earning his B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie-Mellon University.   

David has earned a variety of accolades during his career including induction into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Louis V. Gerstner Excellence Award from The Carlyle Group in 2017.  

Keynote Speaker: Phil MackintoshChief Economist | Senior Vice President, Nasdaq

Phil Mackintosh is the Chief Economist and a Senior Vice President at Nasdaq. He manages Nasdaq’s microeconomic research to encourage capital formation and increase investor returns through better market structure. His weekly newsletter, Market Makers, is read by more than 55,000 subscribers and covers topics ranging from IPO markets, ETF trading, retail investor activity, why Nasdaq has the best markets, and more. 

Phil’s ability to simplify the complicated and explain what the economic data really means is highly regarded. He is frequently a featured speaker at conferences and often speaks with the media on macroeconomic themes and outlooks.

Phil joined Nasdaq in 2018, bringing over 30 years of financial, operational and trading experience. He has held senior trading and research roles at KCG/Virtu Financial, Credit Suisse and County Investment Management. He started his career at KPMG and is also a Chartered Accountant.

Dan RisleyVice President of Quality Repair & Market Development, CCC Intelligent Solutions

Dan is the Vice President of Quality Repair and Market Development for CCC Intelligent Solutions.  He has spent the past 30 years working in the collision repair industry. He began working in a family owned and operated collision repair facility in Chicago, Illinois. Upon leaving the family business, he began his career in the industry by working as a refinish sales and service representative for BASF and later as a project manager for CCC Information Services. He spent 8 years as the President of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and most recently, the past 5 years as the President of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).  In 2021, he was inducted into the collision industry’s hall of fame (Hall of Eagles).

In his current role, he works closely with the collision repair industry and the car manufacturers to better understand their needs to ensure CCC delivers products and services to meet their changing needs as it relates to things such as repair quality, certified collision repair programs and parts.

Dan’s has participated on many board and committees over his career including:  Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) board member, Collision Industry Conference (CIC) Database Task Force co-chair, CIC Data Access, Privacy & Security Committee co-chair, Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) board member, Automotive Management Institute (AMI) board member, Certified Aftermarket Parts Association (CAPA) technical committee, Aftermarket Telematics Task Force member, NSF Repair Standard advisory board, Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) board member,  State Farm Advisory Council, Taiwan Aftermarket Parts Task Force and National Auto Body Council (NABC) board member.

Kyle KrumlaufDirector of Industry Analytics, CCC Intelligent Solutions

Kyle Krumlauf is Director of Industry Analytics for CCC Intelligent Solutions, a leading cloud platform powering the P&C insurance economy, responsible for equipping customers with information and insights to help them manage their businesses.

Kyle brings over 20 years of industry experience, having served in a variety of leadership and individual contributor roles at Nationwide and Grange Insurance.  His list of relevant accomplishments is long and varied – working in Claims, Comparative Rating, Product Management, Competitive Intelligence, Commercial Lines BI & Analytics, and Innovation.  He was awarded a CEO Award at Nationwide in 2014 for Innovation & Continuous Improvement, and an Accolade Award at Grange in 2019 for his work in Innovation.

Kyle earned a BA in Political Science and History from Ashland University and an MBA from Ohio Dominican University. He also holds the CPCU and ARM designations.  Kyle resides in Dublin, Ohio with his wife, Clare, and sons, Evan and Henry.

David Roberts Founder | Managing Director, Focus Advisors

David Roberts is the Founder and Managing Director of Focus Advisors. the industry’s leading M&A advisor.  He is best known for co-founding Caliber Collision Centers with his partner Matthew Ohrnstein in 1997 — envisioning a more collaborative repair process across insurance companies, insureds, and repairers. After raising the first private equity capital in the industry, David and his partner began buying, rationalizing, and systematizing collision repair shops into the nation’s first consolidated, performance-based MSO. By the time of its sale in 2008, Caliber was the world’s largest collision repair consolidator, a position it continues to hold today with more than $8 billion in sales.

After leading dozens of acquisitions for Caliber, David saw an opportunity to help other MSO owners achieve superior results in growing and selling their businesses. He founded Focus Advisors Automotive M&A with a proven method to help them grow, thrive, and prepare for a strategic exit. Over the past ten years, David has led $500 million in 35 separate automotive transactions. Today, Focus Advisors, a FINRA-registered investment bank, has grown to include a team of eight professionals— all committed to the same mission of helping MSO owners realize the full value of what they’ve worked so hard to build.

Focus Advisors has invested in creating a comprehensive and proprietary database of the entire collision repair industry including the largest consolidators, private equity investors, more than 800 MSOs and 25,000 single shops including dealers.  The firm also tracks transaction values from large MSOs to single shops and everything in between which allows them to provide the best informed valuation advice to its many clients.

David received his B.A. from Duke University and his MBA and JD from University of California, Berkeley. He is married to Gail Simpson. Together they have two daughters and a new grandson!

Panelist: Craig EdmondsPresident, asTech

With over 30 years of leadership experience, Craig Edmonds is a prominent executive recognized for his expertise in organizational transformation and exceptional results in the collision and diagnostic sectors. As President of asTech, he leads the charge in delivering innovative diagnostic solutions and calibration services, utilizing his extensive background to enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer satisfaction in the collision industry.

Before joining asTech, Craig held pivotal leadership roles at Allstate and Esurance, where he directed auto claims operations, managed large teams of claims professionals, and oversaw multi-billion-dollar indemnity payments. His strategic leadership was instrumental during the integration of Esurance claims into Allstate’s operations, showcasing his ability to navigate complex transitions and drive process improvements.

Craig began his career at Progressive Insurance, where he developed a comprehensive understanding of claims management, physical damage processes, and vendor relations. He was also responsible for designing and implementing a nationwide Direct Repair Program, significantly improving quality and customer service outcomes.

At asTech, Craig is dedicated to advancing technology in diagnostics and calibration, ensuring that the collision repair process meets the evolving needs of the automotive industry. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Georgia and continues to be a driving force in shaping innovative solutions that enhance the future of automotive repair.

Panelist: Michelle SullivanChief Executive Officer, Certified Collision Group

Michelle joined CCG in 2024 bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership in the collision repair industry. With a distinguished career spanning 30 years, she has successfully spearheaded strategic initiatives, fostered innovation and achieved significant growth. She has built high-performing teams that create value for all industry stakeholders. Michelle held senior leadership positions in both the paint manufacturing and PBE distribution segments prior to joining CCG.   

Michelle is passionate about leaving the collision repair industry better than she found it by delivering value, mentorship and involvement with numerous industry organizations. She has been a member of the Women’s Industry Network since its inception, serving on the Board of Directors for seven years, and is the former Chair. In 2016, she was honored with the Most Influential Women award.  Michelle is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park.  She resides in the Baltimore metro area with her husband and they have 4 adult children.   

Panelist: Rich HarrisonChief Executive Officer, CollisionRight

As an experienced C-suite executive, Rich Harrison has helped to lead numerous major automotive aftermarket firms in navigating and leveraging the most important industry shifts of the past three decades. His prowess in strategy, operations, and business development—together with particular accomplishment in industry consolidation—has been a catalyst for rapid growth throughout his career. Rich has developed a consistent track record building high-performance teams and executing large-scale roll-up strategies, and has led well over 100 acquisitions to-date. 

Rich began his career with glass-repair group Belron International, where he was responsible for strategy, business development, and operations for multiple divisions. After leading Belron’s entry into the U.S. market, he joined Safelite AutoGlass as COOandhelped it double in size to become the leading auto-glass repair and replacement brand in the country.  Rich then co-founded TruRoad Holdings, which he led in becoming the U.S.’s second-largest auto glass-repair and replacement firm. 

In 2020, Rich founded CollisionRight, a leading regional multi-shop collision repair operator that has grown to 100 shops across 10 states within just four years. CollisionRight today employs over 1,500 collision repair professionals and serves more than 90,000 vehicles per year. It is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Rich continues to lead the company’s rapid expansion as CEO, both within the regions that it currently serves and into new markets throughout the U.S.

Panelist: Dan TessadriSr. Manager, Claims Process Auto Physical Damage, CSAA

With over 20 years of experience in the dynamic insurance and collision repair industry, I have had the privilege of working on both the carriers and MSO sides. Currently at CSAA, I am responsible for our APD Process & Performance, Vendor Contracts, and APD Strategy. I am passionate about process optimization, and have successfully led numerous transformative projects that have enhanced operations, elevated customer satisfaction, and developed data collation models. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am an enthusiastic traveler, reader, and history enthusiast. I proudly served my country as an Army officer in the Australian Defense Force, where I cultivated a strong sense of focus, self-discipline, and leadership. In addition to my professional and intellectual pursuits, my wife and I are fortunate to have three incredible teenagers who bring us immense joy, and to which I attribute my thinning hair.

Panelist: Brian FeningVice President & Sr. Field Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Brian Fening is a Vice President in the USRM business unit at Liberty Mutual Insurance.  He is currently leading the Auto Physical Damage (APD) Appraisal Claims operation, which handles 7,500 estimates a day between all our functions.  

Prior to his current role, Brian led the Desk Appraisal team within Claims. His team was instrumental in building a digital first culture, centered around increased productivity, efficiency, and quality.

During his career, Brian has held various claims leader roles including training across many lines of business, and Unit and Senior Claims Manager roles in Auto Field, Subrogation, Property, Casualty, and Logistics. Brian holds a Black Belt designation in Lean Six Sigma and is passionate about continuous improvement. He has been at Liberty Mutual/Safeco for 28 years.  He started his career as an adjuster after graduating from Miami University in Oxford, OH.

Brian currently lives in Ohio with his wife Sheri and their four kids.

Ryan TaylorCEO, BodyShop Booster

Fueled by way too much coffee, Ryan started his first Body Shop at age 17. Through unconventional and creative means, he grew it to be an MSO with locations across Canada with a successful exit in 2014. At present, he is the founder of the AI software BodyShop Booster. Ryan is an advisor and coach to thousands of Shops, OEM’s and fortune 500 companies around the globe.

Panelist: Ashley DenisonChief Information Officer, Caliber Collision Centers

Ashley serves as the Chief Information Officer at Caliber Collision Centers, the leading collision repair company in the United States. In this role, Ashley leads Caliber’s corporate IT strategy, implementation, and operations across the enterprise. She has overseen Caliber’s transformation from fewer than 100 sites to over 1,800 company-owned locations with various business lines. During this period, she upgraded legacy systems to support the company’s growth, utilized technology to automate scheduling, and implemented AI for training and enhancing car repair safety. She also established a foundation for new ventures to flourish.

Before joining Caliber, Ashley was the Director of Global Information Technology at AMX, a global provider of audio/visual hardware and software solutions, with offices in the U.S. and in 86 other countries worldwide. 

Panelist: Spencer ColemereLeader, Product Management, CollisionRight

As a leader of Product Management at Cisco, I bring over a decade of experience in developing cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. My work has focused on leveraging predictive and generative AI to enhance security, while also pioneering advancements in AI for security and security for AI.

Panelist: Jerry DavisCustomer Security Officer, Software and Digital Platforms, Microsoft

Jerry Davis is the Customer Security Officer (CSO) for Microsoft’s Software and Digital Platform Organizational Unit Jerry is a five-time Chief Information Security Officer/Chief Security Officer (CISO/CSO), and Chief Information Officer (CIO) with over two decades of technology risk management experience. Prior to joining Microsoft, Jerry was the SVP, Cyber Operations and Technology for Truist Bank. Throughout his career, Jerry has held senior executive technology roles at NASA, US Department of Education, and US Department of Veterans Affairs and in the commercial sector as the VP, Global CSO for Lam Research and VP, CSO for Pacific Gas and Electric.

Jerry is an appointed advisor and board member to the US Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA)., Cybersecurity Safety Review Board (CSRB), which investigates major disruptions to the nation’s cyber ecosystem and makes mitigation recommendations to the White House and DHS.

Panelist: Kyle RankinChief Information Security Officer, CCC Intelligent Solutions

Kyle Rankin is the Chief Information Security Officer at CCC Intelligent Solutions and a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 19 years of experience leading security programs across industries such as financial services, healthcare, transportation, and software as a service. He is known for aligning security strategies with business goals, delivering measurable risk reduction. Kyle’s expertise spans enterprise security, cloud security, product security and compliance, making him a trusted advisor to executive teams and boards.

Eric JessePartner, Boston Consulting Group

Eric is a leader in BCG’s Automotive and Mobility and Marketing, Sales and Pricing practices. He works across dealers, MSOs, OEMs, suppliers and distributors supporting strategy, operations, and enabling digital builds. He heads conversational commerce globally, a leading application of AI.

Peter RobertsPrincipal, Boston Consulting Group

Peter is a core member of BCG’s Automotive and Mobility practice working across NAMR and Europe.

Peter specializes in digital and ops transformations across the automotive and mobility sectors working with OEMs, maintenance and leasing providers.

Saba DowlatshahiPrincipal, Boston Consulting Group

Saba is a core member of BCG’s Automotive and Mobility practice. He leads data engineering and modeling for BCG’s AutoAI group in North America.