2026 Winter PRO Conference Recap: Leadership, Systems, and Marketing in Action
PRO Members Open 2026 with Elevated Standards
Shop Fix Academy PRO Members gathered in the Greater Nashville area this January to begin the 2026 conference season. As the first of four PRO conferences this year, Winter PRO was not positioned as a reset or a rally. It was a recalibration.
From the opening session, the standard was clear: in today’s market, the shop does not outperform the owner.
At Shop Fix Academy, that principle is not motivational. It is structural. Fix the Owner. Fix the Shop.
Winter PRO brought that framework into focus for the year ahead. One PRO Member summarized the experience simply: “I feel emotionally refilled.”
Ownership Is the Leverage Point
Across coaching sessions, peer connections, and mainstage conversations, the discussion consistently returned to ownership behavior. Margin pressure, technician scarcity, and rising customer expectations are real. But external conditions rarely determine outcomes on their own. Leadership does.
Reactive owners create reactive shops. When decision-making is inconsistent, when financial oversight lacks discipline, or when accountability is selective, volatility shows up in culture and performance. High-performing shops are not built on availability or personality. They are built on clarity, consistency, and enforced standards at the ownership level.
PRO Members were challenged to evaluate where they are leading intentionally and where they are compensating emotionally. The work was direct, not theoretical. Because the constraint in most businesses is not information, it is execution.
Systems Create Freedom
From leadership, the focus moved naturally into operations. Growth was not framed as expansion, but as control. When workflow varies from advisor to advisor, when expectations shift from technician to technician, or when financial review only happens under pressure, owners absorb the instability. Hours increase, stress compounds, and margins fluctuate.
Winter PRO reinforced that disciplined systems reduce variability, defined processes create predictability, and predictability protects margin.
The conversation was not about adding new layers. It was about tightening the fundamentals that already exist. Consistent workflow. Clear role expectations. Regular financial review. Accountability that does not depend on mood. When those elements are stable, growth becomes sustainable rather than chaotic.
Marketing That Aligns with Operations
Marketing discussions followed the same logic. Visibility without operational strength amplifies breakdowns. Visibility supported by structure accelerates performance.
Rather than chasing activity, PRO Members examined how their brand positioning, online presence, and customer experience reflect the internal standards of their shop. Effective marketing is not separate from operations. It is an extension of them.
Where Execution Is Reinforced
While the main sessions clarified direction, smaller Tribe Sessions reinforced accountability. In those settings, conversations moved past ideas and into ownership. Members challenged one another’s assumptions, clarified next steps, and committed to measurable adjustments before returning home. The tone was not inspirational. It was responsible.
PRO is not built around information exchange. It is built around implementation and enforcement.
Built on Standards. Strengthened by Community.
Even with a strong emphasis on ownership and execution, Winter PRO created intentional space for connection and shared experience. During a general session, illusionist Alex Ramon brought energy and levity to the room, blending precision and performance. Moments like these added dimension to the week and reminded members that growth and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive.
PRO Members also spent time connecting with our valued sponsors, strengthening relationships with partners who support the operational growth of their shops year-round.
The event concluded with a relaxed, family-style dinner where conversations extended beyond strategy and into shared stories, wins, and challenges. It was a fitting close to a conference built on high standards and sustained by strong community.
Breakthrough Begins With What Works
Winter PRO did not introduce cutting-edge shop strategies. It reinforced what has been proven to work, time and time again.
Shops that perform in 2026 will not do so because the market gets easier. They will do so because ownership becomes stronger, systems become tighter, and standards become non-negotiable.
The work remains the same. Fix the owner. Fix the shop. Execute consistently.
Hear from our Attendees
“Every other minute of the day was full of business advice, friendship with my tribe, or personal growth inspiration. This is my third conference, and everyone has been magical, inspirational, and full of learning at every level. I truly feel blessed. I am in the right place.”
– David M., Shop Owner & PRO Member
“What a great time and awesome conversations with some outstanding individuals!”
– Paul B., Shop Owner & PRO Member
“This has been an amazing conference!! Best one I have been to!”
–Jesse M., Shop Owner & PRO Member
🎥 PRO Member Recordings
PRO Members have on-demand access to all session recordings and resources inside their member portal.
How to access:
Log in to the PRO Member Portal
Navigate to Conference Recordings
📸 Relive Winter PRO Conference
Event Photos
Relive the moments, connections, and conversations from the 2026 Winter PRO Conference in our full photo gallery, or click to view the video recap.
Moving Forward
Winter PRO reminded us that progress doesn’t come from hype; it comes from leadership, systems, and community.
With three more PRO events ahead this year, the momentum is already building, and the impact is already showing.
While our PRO Conferences are exclusively for PRO Members, we also host additional events open to the public—offering in-person training and conferences to equip and empower shop owners and their teams. Explore our Upcoming Events and experience the real transformation our community is known for.
To find out more about the Shop Fix PRO Program, click HERE.