Dallas, Texas - The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) announced the returning chairs of both the Attendee Advisory and Exhibitor Advisory Councils. Geralynn Kottschade, AAM, co-owner of Jerry's Body Shop, will again serve as chairman of the NACE 2006 event and Attendee Advisory Council. Michael Henk of General Motors will again serve as the chairman of the NACE 2006 Exhibitor Advisory Council Chairman.

Kottschade begins her second consecutive year as NACE Chairman with 23 years of collision repair experience and is a strong advocate of NACE, ASA and the entire collision repair industry. Jerry's Body Shop in Mankato, MN, has been in business for 34 years and has received the Minnesota Quality Service Award and the Mankato Area Quality Award. Kottschade runs this 22 employee, 18,700 square foot shop with her husband, Jerry. Kottschade has held several industry positions, including 2004 chairman of the international Automotive Service Association (ASA). She is a current ASA member, as well as a member of the local Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), the Advisory Council for Collision Industry Advancement Initiative (CIAI) and the MACS School System. She served as treasurer and secretary of the Collision Industry Electronic Conference Association (CIECA), and has specialized training from AKZO, ADP, Mitchell and CCC. She earned her Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) in 1996. Her non-industry affiliations include membership in the Better Business Bureau, and her service in the U.S. National Guard from 1977-1982.

"With NACE 2005 behind us, it is time to look to 2006 and continue to come together as an industry. Together, we'll face new challenges in our everyday routines and work through the current issues as we solidify our industry's future success! I am very excited to again be serving as the NACE chairman and look forward to working with the other council members to plan another world-class event," said Kottschade.

Henk has been involved in the collision repair industry for over 12 years and currently serves as Marketing Leader - GM Collision/Restoration Parts for GM Service and Parts Operations. He handles all the marketing promotions, advertising, trade show coordination, internet and parts training information for this GM business line. As NACE Exhibitor Advisory Council Chairman (EAC), Henk leads the 20-member council that serves as a forum for exhibitors to present their concerns and ideas to NACE. Council members also offer suggestions on seminar topics, entertainment and keynote speakers, provide input into show floor design, concessions and live demonstrations, and identify ways to create additional value for attendees and exhibitors.

"During my second year as EAC Chairman, it is my goal to work with the council, ASA and show producers to identify areas of improvement to ensure future NACE events continue to deliver a valuable collision repair experience for both exhibitors and attendees alike," remarked Henk. "The members of the EAC represent all segments of the exhibitor body -- working together to achieve this goal."

NACE 2006 will be held Nov. 1-4, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The educational Conference will run from Nov. 1-4 (Wednesday-Saturday), and the Exposition will take place Nov. 2-4 (Thursday-Saturday). The event will again be held during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), taking place that same week in Las Vegas.