Innovation, Education & Mentorship: SEMA 2025

At this year’s SEMA Show, BASF Coatings returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center with a dynamic presence that reflects its commitment to innovation, education, and sustainability in the automotive refinishing and collision repair industry.

The SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association Show) is one of the largest automotive trade events in the world, held annually in Las Vegas.

Follow the program: 

SCRS RDE Session: Unlock Hidden Profit 
Industry experts John Shoemaker and Phil Knapp will lead a powerful session titled:

Unlock Hidden Profit: Leverage Missed Operations, Materials, and Labor to Transform Your Refinish Department 
Room S2302 
Tuesday, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

This SCRS Repairer Driven Education (RDE) session will help attendees uncover overlooked opportunities in the refinish process that can significantly boost profitability and operational efficiency. Please visit the SEMA website to purchase your pass. 

ADAS Feature Booth Sponsorship in the Collision Repair Center

As a proud sponsor of the ADAS Feature Booth, BASF Coatings will have team members available throughout the week to discuss radar and paint compatibility, a critical factor in ensuring the performance of modern vehicle safety systems.

Jeff Wildman and Bill Bierie will host a series of sessions exploring the invisible but essential role of paint in ADAS functionality:

Invisible Impact: How Color Affects Radar Accuracy 
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 10:30 AM 
The Hidden Role of Paint in Advanced Safety. How Color Drives Safety

Beyond the Finish: Testing Colors for Radar Compatibility 
Thursday at 3:00 PM

How Every Color Shapes Sensor Performance 
“As vehicles become increasingly reliant on radar-based safety systems, the role of paint and color formulation is no longer just cosmetic—it’s critical. Radar-compliant formulas ensure that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) perform as intended, without interference from the refinish process. At SEMA, we’re helping the industry understand how every color choice can impact sensor accuracy and ultimately, vehicle safety,” said Jeff Wildman, Expert, Automotive Aftermarket Industry.

Techs for Tomorrow: Investing in the Future 
We are proud to partner with the TechForce Foundation to present the Techs for Tomorrow initiative at SEMA 2025, which celebrates and empowers the next generation of collision repair professionals.

As part of this year’s program, five outstanding students have been selected for the Techs for Tomorrow SEMA Experience—an immersive opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and innovators.

Tina Nelles, John Shoemaker, and Phil Knapp will serve as mentors to these winning students, offering guidance, sharing expertise, and helping them navigate the evolving landscape of automotive repair and refinishing.

“The future of our industry depends on the passion, curiosity, and innovation of the next generation. Through our partnership with TechForce Foundation and the Techs for Tomorrow initiative, we’re not just showcasing opportunities—we’re actively investing in young talent. Mentoring these students at SEMA is a powerful way to connect, inspire, and help them see what’s possible in collision repair and refinishing,” said Tina Nelles, Marketing Communications Manager.