NACAT Conference Renamed to The Automotive Educator Conference

2026 Event Set for Sacramento, CA at American River College’s New Automotive Facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Heather Sebben, NACAT Business Manager
heather@nacat.org
[Gladstone, MO, September 29, 2025] – The North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) announces today that its annual conference will now be known as The Automotive Educator Conference, hosted by NACAT. This updated name makes the purpose of the event clear to all — an annual gathering dedicated exclusively to the needs of automotive instructors.

The first event under the new name will be held June 15–18, 2026, at American River College in Sacramento, California, hosted inside the college’s new state-of-the-art automotive building. NACAT will also be partnering with California Automotive Teachers (CAT) for the 2026 conference.

“For years, our conference has been one of the best-kept secrets in automotive education,” said Heather Sebben, Business Manager of NACAT. “By changing the name to The Automotive Educator Conference, we are making it clear exactly who this event is for and why it matters. This is the place where instructors come to sharpen their teaching skills, stay current with emerging technology, and connect with peers who face the same challenges in the classroom.”

The four-day event will feature workshops, technical sessions, and networking opportunities designed to address the unique challenges of teaching automotive technology today, including:
Learning how to turn complex technical content into lessons students actually retain
Discovering new strategies for teaching EVs, hybrids, and emerging technologies
Seeing how other instructors bring real-world shop skills into the classroom
Connecting with other educators who face the same challenges you do
Gaining proven teaching techniques designed specifically for automotive instructors

“Spending a few days at this conference can truly change the way you teach,” added Ed Martin, Automotive Instructor at Pickens Technical College and NACAT President. “Our mission has always been simple: for automotive teachers, by automotive teachers. This conference embodies that mission.”

To learn more about what the Automotive Educator conference entails, visit nacat.org/conference.