ARA’s 83rd Annual Convention will bring recyclers to Atlanta for four days of education, technology, networking and supplier engagement. With AI-focused keynote speaker Susan Frew, practical business sessions and the return of Tech Talks, the event aims to help recyclers improve operations, adopt new tools and prepare for future industry challenges.
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) will host its 83rd Annual Convention & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 14-17, 2026, bringing recyclers, suppliers and industry partners together at the Renaissance Cobb Galleria for a programme built heavily around education, technology and networking.
This year’s headline speaker is Susan Frew, an AI innovator and entrepreneur who built her early career at a Fortune 20 company in New York before moving into international operations as General Manager for AT&T Wireless across two Caribbean markets. She later founded Sunshine Home Services, a Colorado-based plumbing and heating company that grew by 535%, made the Inc. 5000 list, and was named one of Inc.’s Best Places to Work. Frew has since applied AI-driven strategies inside her own business to cut costs and improve efficiency, and her opening keynote will focus on using AI to drive growth.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Susan Frew as our Opening Keynote this year,” said Natalie Miller, Chair of ARA’s Annual Convention Educational Programming Committee. “She is both an AI innovator and an entrepreneur, and we believe our attendees will gain a great deal from hearing her speak.”
Education remains a core focus of the four-day event, with sessions across Friday and Saturday covering self-service metrics, visual AI and damage codes, family business transition, sales coaching, compensation and culture-building. Miller said the programme has been shaped directly by feedback from attendees and exhibitors, with an emphasis on making the most of members’ time away from their businesses.
The Tech Talks series returns for another year, offering a more conversational, off-show-floor setting for recyclers to explore new tools and get more from the technology they already use.
The Exhibit Hall, held at the adjoining Cobb Galleria Centre, is billed as the largest in the industry and will again accommodate large equipment displays alongside product demonstrations from vendors across the sector.
ARA Executive Director Vince Edivan said Atlanta’s status as a major international airline hub made it a natural fit for a convention with a growing global attendee base.
“As a major international airline hub and a vibrant metropolitan destination, we expect a strong turnout,” Edivan said, adding that room rates have been held at $234 a night despite a refreshed sponsorship offering and an expanded educational schedule. Saturday’s programme now wraps earlier in the evening, giving attendees the option to make their own dinner plans after a closing reception.
Networking remains a central strand of the event. Thursday’s open committee meetings give attendees a look at ARA’s volunteer-led initiatives, while daily prayer meetings continue a long-standing convention tradition. The Ladies of Automotive Recycling Association (LARA) will host its Wine & Cheese social ahead of Friday’s Awards Dinner, and the Friday Networking Dinner returns in its now more relaxed format, complete with a live DJ, recognition of the 2026 STAR Award winners, and an auction of experiences raising funds for the Automotive Recycling Training Institute (ARTI), the industry’s only not-for-profit dedicated to training and education. A departing reception on the final day gives delegates a last chance to connect before heading home.
Rooms at the Renaissance Cobb Galleria are available from $234 per night plus taxes, with self-parking at $35 and valet at $45. Reservations require a one-night non-refundable deposit, and ARA’s room block closes on September 21, 2026. Bookings can be made at book.passkey.com/e/51262040, or by phone quoting the ARA Annual Meeting group rate.
Further details, including registration, are available at a-r-a.org/annual-convention.
Further Reading on Auto Recycling World
- Key Takeaways From The 82nd ARA Convention
- Shannon Nordstrom Becomes President Of Automotive Recyclers Association
- Auto Recycling: ARA’s Plans And Perspectives
- OARA 2026: AI, Safety And Collaboration Take Centre Stage
