When the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) finalized its acquisition of the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers (NABD) this past December, the last thing Ken Shilson wanted to do was just power down his computer and never look spreadsheets or other financial documents and portfolio metrics.

But now Shilson, one of NABD’s founders, will continue to leverage his analytical and accounting backgrounds as NIADA announced on Thursday that it has contracted with Shilson and Subprime Analytics to provide analytical services for the association’s 16,000 members.

“I wanted to get back more into the analytics area,” Shilson said during a phone conversation in January. “I want to expand my analytical data to support the important positions of the industry

“It is data that will drive the decisions that regulators have to make that will impact the industry,” he added.

Subprime Analytics, a Houston-based company that analyzes subprime automotive portfolio performance using data-mining technology, has analyzed more than $20 billion in subprime auto installment contracts during the past 10 years. The firm provides nationally recognized automotive benchmarks that measure industry performance and trends.

“I am pleased to prepare and issue our used-car benchmarks and other analytical reports to assist NIADA in its representation of the used car industry,” said Shilson, who is president and founder of Subprime Analytics.

“At Subprime Analytics, we intend to develop data and analytical information in support of important legal and regulatory initiatives by NIADA that will impact the used-car industry. NIADA and Subprime Analytics, working together, plan to expand analytical reporting for its members.”

For the past 19 years, Shilson had served as president and founder of NABD, which was recently acquired by NIADA. Shilson will continue to assist both organizations and will participate in NIADA training and conferences planned for 2018 and beyond.

“We are now working together on the agenda for the 2018 NIADA/NABD Convention and Expo at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., June 18-21,” Shilson said in a news release. “It promises to be the largest used-car show in history, and I am delighted to join the NIADA team in helping design and conduct the educational sessions and to continue to provide NABD attendees the highly valuable specialized training they have come to expect.

“NIADA is also planning a subprime auto conference this fall in Las Vegas and other dealer training events. In the highly competitive subprime auto industry of today, education has never been more important and valuable,” he continued.

NIADA chief executive officer Steve Jordan said that that he is “thrilled Subprime Analytics is now the de facto data arm of NIADA" and that Ken Shilson is adding his 20-plus years of data mining and analytics expertise to the NIADA playbook of service to our members.

“Through Subprime Analytics, Ken has created an extremely valuable service platform for dealers and finance companies in the subprime automotive space that can help them better understand how data trends can impact their businesses and customers,” Jordan continued. “Aggregating data is one thing, but Ken’s expertise in interpreting the data and its operational trends is what puts him in a class by himself.

“As a real-life data ninja, Ken is a hugely valuable asset to NIADA, our members and the industry, and I look forward to our continued work together,” Jordan went on to say.

For more information about the 2018 NIADA Convention and Expo or to register, visit www.niadaconvention.com or www.bhphinfo.com or call (832) 767-4759. Availability is limited.