The TPC Management Co.’s continuing education program for auction professionals, Auction Academy, has hosted two successful classes in the first half of the year and has two more scheduled in the next two months.
The program, designed to enhance essential skills sets, promote best practices and yield better auction performance, will host a session for “Class 4” in Spokane, Wash., next week (Monday through Thursday). The fourth class of the year will be hosted by DAA Northwest in conjunction with its 20th Anniversary Rock & Roll Sale.
Meanwhile, a session for Class 3 will be hosted August 27 through August 29 at Brasher’s Salt Lake Auto Auction.
TPC recently wrapped up hosting both the Class 3 and Class 4 groups jointly in the Baltimore area at the end of April, beginning with presentations by Todd August of Avis/Budget Remarketing and Frank Hackett, the chief exetcutive officer of the National Auto Auction Association. The group then traveled to the NADA headquarters in McLean, Va., for a version of the NADA Dealer Academy before being hosted to dinner by BSC America executives and Bel Air Auto Auction staff members in Annapolis, Md.
David Pendergraft of DAA Northwest reflected on his experience at the combined session as a member of the Auction Academy’s Class 4 group.
“The training offered by Auction Academy is a tremendous benefit to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge and understanding of the auto auction business, whether they’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran,” Pendergraft said. “No other program provides the opportunity to intimately learn from our industry’s key executives, offer in-depth operational walkthroughs with auction pioneers like Mr. Ray Nichols, or help build lifetime connections with other auction leaders. The value of the education Auction Academy provides is priceless, to both the individuals undergoing the training and by extension the companies for which they work.”
Auction Academy also plans to introduce a shorter, more intense Seminar Series to focus on a specific discipline related to remarketing and the auction industry. The first of these events, titled as Digital Managers Session, is scheduled for July 27 and 28 in Chicago.
“We had been discussing for some time the need in our industry for shorter, more focused sessions that bring together managers from specific disciplines, in contrast to the regular two-year Academy program which takes a broader approach, covering many topics and areas,” said Pierre Pons, the program’s chief executive officer. “The response to this initial Digital Managers Session has been overwhelming; not only did the session quickly sell out, but now stands at 30 percent more participants than we had originally anticipated. I look forward to the interaction of representatives from some 30 independent auctions on this session’s very timely focus to internet remarketing and its impact on our industry.”
For more information on Auction Academy, visit its site here.
The Used Car Week workshop room at the San Diego hotel was slam-packed like a triple-decker hoagie. Standing room only, and barely that.
It was 2013 and the National Remarketing Conference breakout session was a deep dive on multiplatform selling, a topic that has continued to evolve and generate discussions in the two years since, both at Used Car Week events and within our Auto Remarketing publications.
That’s why that conference room was splitting at the seams. Folks throughout the remarketing business had questions about multiplatform, had viewpoints they wanted expressed and were curious to hear what industry leaders had to say.
Part of the goal for our sessions at Used Car Week is, through our speakers and content, to generate thought-provoking discussion and answer questions about topics that interest and impact YOU.
We certainly have that on tap for Used Car Week 2015, as our agenda continues to grow with top content relevant to the certified pre-owned, subprime auto finance, Re3 and remarketing industries. The beauty of such an event is that we can take the topics we talk about in our publications, and turn those into vibrant, in-person conversations that challenge and inform everyone involved.
But we definitely want your input as well — not just for this year’s conference, but for future years, as Used Car Week blossoms even further.
So, what used-car topics are most important to you?
What would you like to see discussed in further detail?
Give us your thoughts through Twitter, email, Facebook, Paul Revere on a horse in New England … whatever medium you prefer. But share, and we’ll grow Used Car Week together.
Here’s where you can reach us:
Email: joverby@autoremarketing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UsedCarWeek or https://www.facebook.com/autoremarketing
Twitter: @UsedCarWeek, @AR_JoeOverby or @autoremkting.
Organizers of the North American Repossessors Summit (NARS), an industry event hosted by American Recovery Association (ARA), set the dates for their eighth annual event, which will be held on April 14-16.
The NARS 2016 planning committee members include some of the industry leaders from ARA, Capital One, California Association of Licensed Repossessors and Rocky Mountain Repossessors Association.
Sponsorship opportunities are already available for NARS 2016.
By becoming a NARS 2016 sponsor, officials highlighted that companies will have their brand promoted through NARS email announcements, social media posts, ARA newsletter articles and blog posts. All sponsors will also have their company logo featured on reposummit.com and will have an exclusive opportunity to gain access to the NARS 2016 attendee contact list.
The headline and lunch sponsorships now include the chance to host an ARA Continuing Education Webinar Series, which is open to more than 250 members of ARA.
“As our attendance grows, so does the potential client pool for your business. Our sponsorship opportunities allow companies to promote their brand in front of the leading industry professionals in the recovery and remarketing community,” ARA president Jerry Wilson said.
“The earlier these sponsorships fill up, the more opportunities there are for your brand to be promoted,” Wilson continued. “It’s a very valuable opportunity that is being offered.”
Earlier this month, Harding Brooks Associates signed on to be the 2016 Headline and Cocktail Sponsor. There are still 28 additional opportunities to take advantage of, including:
— Lunch Sponsor
— Breakfast Sponsor
— Snack & Networking Sponsor (3)
— Pads & Pens Sponsor
— Golf Tournament Sponsor
— Golf Tournament Hole-In-One Sponsor
— Golf Hole Sponsor (18)
Two new promotional opportunities have been added to the ever-growing list of sponsorships: A Tote Bag Sponsor and a chance to contribute to the 2016 speaker fund.
Officials explained the Tote Bag Sponsor will be able to provide branded tote bags to all conference attendees, and contributors to the speaker fund will help the NARS 2016 committee bring in the best possible NARS 2016 speaker.
Interested sponsors and exhibitors can register by calling (972) 755-4755 or emailing rachel@wellingtongrouppr.com.
A video highlighting the most recent NARS can be viewed at the top of this page.
To see a full list of sponsorship and exhibitor options, go to www.reposummit.com.
Here it is — the moment we know that you’ve been waiting for … we are excited to announce that registration is now officially open for the 2015 Used Car Week conferences!
For those of you who are Type A planners, that means it’s time to register so that you can check off that to-do list item.
Just click here, and you’ll be guaranteed our Early Bird rates, which are $200 per conference cheaper than if you wait until the last minute. And if you’re a Type B personality, well, we’re sure you’ll get around to it eventually! Just try to get your name on the list before Oct. 15, when our early registration rates expire.
As a loyal follower of all Used Car Week communications, I’m sure you’re aware that this year’s conferences will be held at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., Nov. 16-20. If you’ve been with us a few years, you’ll remember the Phoenician as the site of our 2012 Used Car Week conferences — the beautiful desert oasis with seven pools, a cactus garden and views of Camelback Mountain.
You don’t want to miss out on your opportunity to spend a week with us at this beautiful resort, now do you? Be sure to make your reservations at the Phoenician as soon as possible. We’ve got a great block of rooms, but they are going to go quickly. Once we’ve sold out our block, you might be looking at a daily trip in from our overflow hotel down the street, The W, so don’t delay!
For more information about all four Used Car Week Conferences — the CPO Forum, the SubPrime Forum, the Re3 Conference and the National Remarketing Conference — visit our brand-new website at www.usedcarweek.biz.
Frank Fuzy has officially started his term as the 2015–2016 president of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association.
The co-owner of Century Motors of South Florida addressed attendees of the association’s convention last week during the National Leadership Awards Banquet on Wednesday.
One of Fuzy’s big goals is boosting membership numbers, he said, noting that NIADA has added to its membership development budget to accomplish just that.
"As president this year, I want to make our membership grow," Fuzy said. "In numbers, we are powerful. I want everyone to do something to increase our numbers. That's why I'll be introducing new membership events, new programs and new incentives, and will create new excitement around our association.
"And when I say 'our' association, I mean everyone from the top down," he added. "When we add to our membership, our voice in Washington D.C. grows louder and has more impact. At this time in our industry, we cannot afford to lose the ground we're gaining in Washington and our state capitols."
Fuzy and his wife, Gina, own and operate the store, which is located in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Fuzy’s experience includes time as Florida IADA's president, secretary, treasurer and chairman. Within NIADA’s ranks, he has been treasurer, regional vice president and senior VP.
He has been featured in Auto Remarketing a couple times in recent weeks, sharing his thoughts on the benefits of the NIADA Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Program as well as his strategies for spotting flood-damaged vehicles.
While autumn may seem like a long ways off (particularly in our neck of the woods, where temps are creepin’ close to 100 degrees), our Used Car Week team is already rockin-and-rollin with three presenting sponsors lined up for this year’s conference series.
We’ve already talked about how important our partners are to Used Car Week, so we’re due to give a shout-out to these three presenting sponsors already on deck for the event, which is being held Nov.16-20 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz.
It’s companies like these — and all our partners and sponsors — that make Used Car Week possible with their contributions and investment in growing the remarketing and used-car industry.
These folks are leaders in the business and recognize the exceptional branding opportunity that Used Car Week brings. So if you’re interested in joining this lineup of distinguished sponsors, learn more here or contact conference chairman Bill Zadeits at (800) 608-7500 or bzadeits@autoremarketing.com.
For more information about Used Car Week, visit www.usedcarweek.biz.
There’s a story our publisher-emeritus Ron Smith tells that really pinpoints the importance of networking at industry events.
After one of the company’s automotive conferences a few years ago, an attendee approached Ron to tell him how much he had enjoyed the event.
Ron was certainly thankful to hear this news, but said he was a bit puzzled because he hadn’t seen the attendee at any of the workshops.
The reason, the attendee said, was because he had spent the entire time in meetings with folks he didn’t usually get to see.
Point is, the attendee was taking advantage of the opportunity to have face-to-face time with clients or colleagues that may be on a different coast or a couple flights away.
And that’s part of what coming to conferences like Used Car Week is all about: networking.
That’s also why we have loaded up this fall's Used Car Week agenda with handfuls of networking breaks, four receptions, and our annual Signature Event (more on that later).
To get a better picture, you can check out this handy mega-agenda to stay organized and plot out some meeting times. Or just kick back and enjoy some down time with your colleagues during these networking opportunities.
That (and these lettuce wraps) is why we have these breaks. And we’ve built in time and space for that networking to happen.
Now, we aren’t suggesting that the general sessions, workshops, awards presentations and other Used Car Week festivities aren’t equally as important as the networking opportunities; in fact, they’re just as important.
Each of those agenda items are part of the whole Used Car Week experience that you can enjoy Nov. 16-20 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz. But to really maximize your trip, it’s important to take full advantage of all the opportunities, including the chance to network with your peers.
I’ll give you another example.
I get to travel to at least a half-dozen or so industry events and conferences each year as part of my job as editor of Auto Remarketing.
And the workshops, presentations and panel discussions (just like the ones at Used Car Week) typically generate a full notebook’s worth of material for me to use in our editorial coverage.
But the one-on-one interviews during breaks and chatting about the business over a cup of coffee are vital to me getting the most out of a conference.
Actually, some of our stronger editorial projects been ideas spun from shooting the breeze with our friends at industry events.
I imagine the same could be said for business opportunities with your company.
So, take advantage of all the chances to network at Used Car Week. Like bacon-wrapped shrimp on an hors d'oeuvres tray, they’ll be gone before you know it.
If you weren’t among the crowds at the most-attended Used Car Week in history, you missed out.
Skipping Used Car Week may not get you punked on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s “Finger of Shame,” but it could lead to some serious #FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
But don’t worry, there’s a remedy for that: make sure you make it this year!
Aside from the fact that enjoying Arizona’s fall weather at The Phoenician resort is reason enough to go, check out the keynote speakers we already have lined up:
- CPO Forum: Paul Potratz, chief operating officer, Potratz Advertising
- CPO Forum: Joe Derkos, director of consulting and analytics, J.D. Power
- National Remarketing Conference: Jonathan Banks & Larry Dixon of NADA Used Car Guide
- SubPrime Forum: Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit, Experian Automotive
- SubPrime Forum/NRC: Tony Hughes, managing director of credit analytics, Moody's Analytics
- SubPrime Forum/Re3: Chris Metaxas, CEO, DRN
And that is just the beginning.
The Used Car Week team is hard at work pulling together a compelling lineup of speakers, panel discussions and workshops that run the gamut impacting the used-car, remarketing and auto finance industries.
We don’t to give away any spoilers, but here are a few of the topics you can look forward to being covered this year:
- Certified pre-owned market’s pace toward another year of record sales
- How to improve online buying and selling (wholesale and retail)
- CPO best practices
- CPO industry health report
- Retail market outlook
- Staffing/training your dealership’s used-car departments
- Technology and other developments in the repossession and recovery world
- Originations/underwriting
- Compliance best practices and the CFPB
- Used-car supply and pricing analysis
- Multiplatform remarketing
- Remarketing technologies
- Best practices for condition reports
- New initiatives from auctions
So, how do you make sure you don’t miss out?
- Explore the new Used Car Week website.
- Mark your calendar for Nov. 16-20.
- Book your hotel room at The Phoenician.
- Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements from the Used Car Week team as we share more speaker information, registration details and much more.
And if you need any more motivation, here are just a few of last year’s highlights.
Registration is now open for the 2015 International Automotive Remarketers Alliance Summer Remarketing Roundtable, which is being held August 17-20 at the Hilton Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas.
Registration can be completed here. The program for the IARA Summer Roundtable is also available online.
Among the highlights:
— Two roundtable sessions, which will repeat.
— Special awards luncheon with keynote speaker TBA
— Two sessions on generational diversity
— Annual presidential reception
When I attended my first Used Car Week convention in November 2012, one of the most enlightening sessions I covered for Auto Remarketing was the Women in Remarketing ceremony that took place the Thursday of that week.
Looking back at the story I filed from Scottsdale, Ariz., there was one sage bit of advice from that year’s group of honorees that stands out.
Jennifer Costabile, of General Motors — a 2011 honoree — moderated the Women in Remarketing panel discussion that day, and she asked recipients to share the best piece of wisdom they had received through the years.
Honoree Andrea Riley, of Ally Financial — who has moderated the panel discussion the past two years — said she learned this from her grandmother: “Leave this world better than you found it.”
That’s exactly what the Women in Remarketing are all about, and year after year, the recipients embody that spirit of making the world a better place.
Whether that “world” is their respective businesses, families, communities or industries, the 2015 Women in Remarketing seek to enrich it and the lives of others.
And the cool part about it is, they’re not alone — these women continue a long line of outstanding folks who share these exceptional qualities of leadership and service.
Now in its seventh year, 90 women have been recognized as Women in Remarketing so far.
That’s 90 people who are making a difference and fostering progress in the auto industry and their communities. And they represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people doing good work and leading by example in the remarketing business.
I’m excited to head back to Scottsdale this fall for my fourth Used Car Week and learn more from yet another outstanding group of leaders. And I hope you will join me.
In the meantime, check out the latest digital edition of Auto Remarketing to read about the 2015 Women in Remarketing and their efforts to make a positive mark on the world.
