The all-digital Women & Automotive Canadian Leadership Forum is set for Oct. 5-7.
Here’s a look at how the agenda is set up for that week.
Monday, Oct. 5: Live sessions
11 a.m. (ET) – Conference welcome
11:15 a.m. – Retail Trends that the Automotive Industry Needs to Embrace
SPEAKER: Carol Deacon, COO, Pfaff Automotive
11:45 a.m. – Audience Q&A
Noon – Say it with Intent
SPEAKER: Lydia Bowser, Senior Manager HR, Hyundai Auto Canada
12:30 p.m. – Audience Q&A
12:45 p.m. – Closing remarks
6:00 p.m. – Sessions available on-demand
Tuesday, Oct. 6: Pre-recorded sessions
– Pre-recorded workshops released. Stay tuned for more details
– Women & Automotive Profiles in Leadership honoree recognition
Wednesday, Oct. 7
11 a.m. – Conference welcome
11:15 a.m. – Fear is a Four-Letter Word
SPEAKER: Dee Murphy, VP Dealer Services, Coverage Corp.
11:45 a.m. – Audience Q&A
Noon – What Remote Leadership Teaches Us About People in Real Life
SPEAKER: Briar Latam, Director of Operations, FlexDealer.com
12:30 p.m. – Audience Q&A
12:45 p.m. – Closing remarks
6:00 p.m. – Sessions available on-demand
For more details on these sessions and to register, visit https://www.womenandautomotive.com/agenda/.
The first leg of the all-digital Auto Remarketing Canada Conference begins in less than two weeks with the Dealer Training segment of the event.
Here’s how that piece, which runs Sept. 14-18, shakes out:
Sept. 14​
11 a.m. (ET)
Physically Distant Selling: Prospering During the Pandemic // Alan Dickie, President, Alan Dickie, Inc.
Noon
The Evolution of Car Shopping Behaviour and a View into Future Trends // Lilian Lau, Vice President, Marketing TRADER Corporation
Sept. 15
Release of recorded workshops:
Jon Arnett, Liveperson Canada
Jeremy Belanger, VINSolutions
Melina Beeston, EDealer
Ian MacDonald, Trader.ca
Derek Sloan, Sym-Tech Dealer Services
Sept. 16
11 a.m.
Stop your hires from disappearing into the Bermuda Triangle! // Jon Dawson, Founder & President, Sellchology
Noon
Digital Retail // Andrew Tai, CEO, Motoinsight
Sept. 17
Release of recorded workshops:
Jody Gill, TRADER Corp.
Chris Schulthies, Wye Management
Ali Chapman, CarGurus
Scott Pechstein, Digital Air Strike
Sept. 18
11 a.m.
THE FIRST 30 DAYS! The strategies you need to be lean, clean and profitable in used car sales. // Jasen Rice, President, Lotpop
Noon
Creating Loyal Customers // Drew Harden, Manager Research & Insights, CARFAX Canada
For further details on the agenda, visit https://arcanada.autoremarketing.com/agenda/
Dealer training is back at the all-digital Auto Remarketing Canada Conference.
As part of our wealth of content spread out over two weeks, Sept. 14-18 will be our Dealer Training piece, focusing on the retail side of automotive.
Then, the week of Sept. 21-25 will focus on remarketing, auto finance and industry analysis.
Among the Dealer Training speakers is Jonathan Dawson of Sellchology, a return speaker in this series.
His session, “The Bermuda Triangle of Hiring — Onboarding Process,” will explore how dealers can implement an effective onboarding process to equip new salespeople with the tools and support they need to succeed.
To check out Dawson’s presentation from last year's ARC event and from Used Car Week 2019, see the podcasts below.
For more information and to register for AR Canada 2020, visit arcanada.autoremarketing.com.
The speaker list for next month's all-digital Auto Remarketing Canada conference continues to grow.
Below is a list of the lineup so far, with more to come. The 2020 ARC Conference will be held over two weeks in September.
Jon Arnett, LivePerson Automotive Canada
Melina Beeston, EDealer
Jeremy Belanger, VinSolutions
Jonathan Dawson, Sellchology
Alan Dickie, Alan Dickie Inc.
Daniel Drews, Auto Remote Direct
Jody Gill, TRADER Corporation
Drew Harden, CARFAX Canada
Eric Janca, IARA
Robert Karwel, Power Information Network (PIN Canada)
Vladimir Kovacevic, Inovatech
Steve Langdon, KAR Global
Lilian Lau, TRADER Corp.
Ian MacDonald, TRADER Corp.
Ray O'Kane, motoInsight
Richard Pasta, IARA
Jasen Rice, Lotpop
David Robins, Canadian Black Book
Ryan Robinson, Deloitte
Chris Schulthies, Wye Management
Derek Sloan, Sym-tech Dealer Services
Andrew Tai, MotoInsight
Wilton Wong, Equifax Canada
Ali Chapman, CarGurus
Scott Pechstein, Digital Air Strike
Howard Thompson, TD Auto Finance
More to come!
The content will be spread out over two weeks.
The week of Sept. 14-18 will be our Dealer Training piece, focusing on the retail side of automotive. This is the setup for that week:
- Sept. 14: Two live keynotes
- Sept. 15: Online workshops are released
- Sept. 16: Two more live keynotes
- Sept. 17: More online workshops are released
- Sept. 18: Two more live keynotes
Then, the week of Sept. 21 will focus on remarketing, auto finance and industry analysis. While the topics will change, the structure will be the same as the first week.
- Sept. 21: Two live keynotes
- Sept. 22: Online workshops are released
- Sept. 23: Two more live keynotes
- Sept. 24: More online workshops are released
- Sept. 25: Two more live keynotes
The Auto Remarketing Canada Conference is an annual event bringing together all corners of the remarketing and used-vehicle industry.
The event covers a wide array of topics within retail, remarketing and auto finance. For more information and to register, visit: https://arcanada.autoremarketing.com/
According to Laura Zanchin of Zanchin Automotive — Toronto’s largest auto group — the automotive field is a “world of its own.”
And if anyone knows what makes the auto industry tick, it’s the Zanchin sisters. At very early ages Laura Zanchin and sister Andria Zanchin, both 2019 Women & Automotive Profiles in Leadership honorees, worked in the family business and dealerships in positions ranging from reception to controller.
“It’s these roles and challenges that have taught us to become successful executive vice presidents within our own company and have taught us everything we know about the car industry today,” said Laura Zanchin, who serves as both principal and executive vice president within the family business, along with sister Andria Zanchin.
Andria Zanchin told Auto Remarketing Canada she finished university and always knew she would be working in the family business.
“It was the only place I had ever worked or wanted to work from a young age,” said Andria Zanchin. “What I like most about the automotive business is that no two days are often alike. Everyday there are new challenges, and we have to be ready for them.”
Laura Zanchin explained that serving as the general manager at the smallest dealership in the dealer group (Airport Mazda) has been her favorite role in the business so far. She cites learning from a hands-on perspective from everyone in the store to contributing to her success in the role.
“It’s been extremely rewarding for me to make the necessary changes in both culture and business and then see the exceptional results. It’s been an absolute pleasure,” she added.
Currently, both sisters also hold the title of executive vice president. Andria Zanchin explained that the strength she thinks she contributes to the role is “bringing process and many best practices to the group as a whole.
“I action many of the group initiatives and keep everyone aligned,” she added. The Zanchin marketing department and its Guest Centre staff reports to Andria Zanchin, as well, and she also helps oversee the dealer group’s Mazda dealerships.
It’s clear that both the sisters bring a different perspective to the business. And Andria Zanchin pointed out that while the pair do work alongside one another, “sometimes to be more efficient we divide and conquer what needs to get accomplished.
“We are both very strong in different areas, and we like to collaborate and share the successes that we may have in order to share best practices and processes on what is driving results,” she said.
When asked what makes working and running a family business different, Andria Zanchin pointed to the perception of roles and responsibilities.
“We are often providing input and stepping in where ever there is a need,” she said.
In other words, if something needs to be accomplished you just do it — “no matter what the task or who’s role it is,” she added.
“You are all working very strongly towards the same goal, no matter who’s bucket of responsibility it falls,” Andria Zanchin said.
The Zanchins are among several talented leaders sharing their industry perspectives in the January/February print and digital editions of the Auto Remarketing Canada magazine as part of our Women & Automotive Profiles in Leadership.
Many of those leaders and more will continue the conversation at the upcoming Women & Automotive Canadian Leadership Forum. The forum is scheduled to follow the Auto Remarketing Canada Conference on March 21 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.
‘A challenge and tremendous opportunity’
Laura Zanchin explained it’s like she was “born into the automotive world.”
But that’s unusual for most women.
Laura Zanchin said that not only is the industry “male-dominated,” but it’s also a world of “passionate, dynamic and testosterone-driven people.”
But, she said, it can still be a great career for women who are willing to work at building strong relationships with both their clients, colleagues and employees.
And she didn’t miss a beat when asked whether there should be a larger representation of women in auto.
“Of course there should be more women in automotive,” Laura Zanchin said.
But how?
“… By being honest with each other and talking about our wins and especially talking about what we learned by our misses,” she said.
Trial and error can often be a great teacher
“It’s also important to find what your own strength is and build on that,” Laura Zanchin said. “Maybe you are an excellent communicator, maybe you’re great with numbers, maybe you enjoy working on cars; whatever it is, build on it until you achieve all your goals.”
Sometimes all it takes to attract the next generation of leaders in to a business is simple conversations.
“It’s amazing what I learn when I start talking to someone that has just started within one of stores,” said Laura Zanchin. “I get to know their backgrounds, their family, their goals and their priorities. Their journey becomes part of my journey. I measure my success by their success, and believe me I’m here to make everyone try and succeed.”
And being a woman in an auto dealership doesn’t always have to be a challenge. Laura Zanchin explained it can be a tremendous opportunity, as well.
“Your worth in this business is achieved through your hard work and by learning everything that you can,” she said. “Once you gain respect, you can bring your own perspective and energy to the business as a woman. That can truly lead to success for yourself as well as the dealership.”
The key, she says, for women in auto, is being true to themselves in this industry.
“In years to come, gender will be less of a factor as long as we remain strong in character and realize that we do deserve to be here,” said Laura Zanchin. “Most of the battle will be in realizing that we are just as competent as anyone else.”
According to Laura Zanchin, perhaps the biggest challenge for many women “is realizing that we actually can make a difference and be successful in the automotive world.
“We have to remain positive, and we have to learn everything we can. That’s how we become empowered and how we all succeed,” she added.
Leadership: ‘It’s not all about you’
Man or woman, leadership — and the characteristics most important in our leaders — is changing. And according to Laura Zanchin, in today’s world, “you have to be smart enough to know that business is changing, and you have to be even smarter to realize that the end result will always stay the same.”
That is, if you work to satisfy your customers by building great experience and strong relationships — and do this by having amazing employees that feel the same way you do — said Laura Zanchin.
Her leadership philosophy is fairly simple: “If your people are happy and engaged, it shows within the store, and it also reflects through to your customers and the overall success of the dealership. It’s a positive ripple effect where everyone wins.”
Ultimately, the automotive industry is not for the faint of heart. To be a leader in this industry, you do have to be tough-skinned, she says, but that by no means discounts women from the industry.
“Setbacks come with the territory as long as you learn from them, and everybody has their share of setbacks,” Laura Zanchin said.
She concluded: “The most important trait in a leader is to understand that it’s not all about ‘you.’”
Phil Sura of UnityWorks is known as the foremost expert in integrating video on dealer websites.
Phil will share his expertise and guide dealers to higher levels of success during Dealer Training Tuesday as part of the Auto Remarketing Canada Conference next month in Toronto.
The conference runs from March 19-20 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.
Listen in to the podcast below as Phil and AR Canada Conference chair Bill Zadeits catch up during the recent NADA Show 2019 in San Francisco.
The full discussion can be found below.
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Cox Automotive continued to build its Women With Drive initiatives across the globe in celebration of the work women accomplish in the automotive industry every day.
This past Monday, more than 125 company employees gathered together at the Mississauga Convention Centre for Cox Automotive Canada’s fourth Women With Drive event. The company described the initiative as an inclusive movement built to support female successes and aspirations.
“Gender diversity is essential,” said Maria Soklis, president of Cox Automotive Canada. “Cox Automotive continues to work hard to cultivate and maintain a culture that values true diversity and inclusiveness. We all end up winning, when the most talented and capable people can rise to the top — regardless of what they look like, their religious beliefs, or where they come from.”
The afternoon began with a team lunch, followed by a motivating keynote presentation from Janet Barnard, executive vice president and chief people officer at Cox Automotive.
Barnard gave attendees a variety of suggestions, including:
— Establish your own board of directors.
— Find advocates and mentors.
— Select those with your best interests at heart.
— Don’t be afraid to show your true self.
— Seek stretch assignments.
— Innovate every day.
— Have a higher purpose.
— Never quit.
Later during the event, Cox Automotive Canada vice president of human resources Grace Kong hosted a panel discussion that included:
— Leanne Kripp, director and head of autos at Kijiji
— Helen Fotinos, partner at Dentons Canada
— Mary Liptay, chief financial officer and chief financial officer at The Great Northern Auction (TGNA)
After Kong offered personal insights into what it means to make rewarding career choices, while choosing to champion equality in and out of the workplace, the panelists spoke about the importance of further developing and supporting women during the Q&A session.
Cox Automotive Canada mentioned The Second City Works led an interactive experience to round out the afternoon. Famous for crafting events that are interactive, educational and hilarious, The Second City Works provided Cox Automotive Canada team members with a crash course in improv as a tool for better collaboration, innovation and agility.
“With the goal of continuing to strengthen and inspire the workforce, Cox Automotive Canada’s latest Women With Drive event looked to empower team members — male and female alike — while also aiming to inspire improvement and drive personal growth,” the company said.
Cherokee Media Group also continues to build momentum with a similar event — Women & Automotive Canadian Leadership Forum — which unfolds immediately after the Auto Remarketing Canada Conference. The Women & Automotive Canadian Leadership Forum will return to the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto on March 21.
More details about the event can be found at www.womenandautomotive.com.
Dealers can pick up tips specifically regarding transitioning, change management and strategizing for the future at Kijiji’s tri-city conference — DealerTalkx 2018.
Kijiji has announced that this year’s DealerTalkx conference theme is ‘The Agile Dealership’ and will be held in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
The conference in Calgary convenes Thursday, while the next conference in Toronto will span two days next month on Oct. 10 and 11. And the third conference is set to take place on Oct. 16.
Kijiji said that this year’s DealerTalkx conferences will feature hands-on workshops, as well as various keynotes and speakers.
In addition to Kijiji head of analytics Rohn Jackson, keynote speakers will include leaders from LotLinx, Car Wars, Ampolio Strategies & illuxi and "Disney U" author Doug Lipp.
“Coming hot off the heels of a legendary keynote in 2017 from Gary Vaynerchuk, Kijiji has upped the ante by welcoming Doug Lipp from Disney U as its star keynote in all three markets this year,” the company said in a news release.
On top of providing instruction about the most useful tools for responding to societal, workforce and industry issues, Kijiji said that DealerTalkx 2018 is designed to will help guide dealerships through periods of elevated change and development.
“Kijiji is more than a digital advertiser; we enable connections between businesses and consumers, and, most importantly, in a non-transactional way,” added Kijiji director of autos Leanne Kripp. “Our vision for the trajectory of our autos business is to focus on the long-term value we provide and the relationship we foster with our dealers.
“Through our various events and reports, we are showcasing in a real way our commitment to a consistent and steady stream of insights, knowledge, and expertise, which we’re putting right back into the hands of dealers, to allow them to be more successful at their business,” Kripp continued.
To learn more about DealerTalkx Calgary, Toronto or Montreal, visit dealertalk.ca.
Event organizers called, and Barenaked Ladies answered.
It was announced this week that these 2018 Canadian Hall of Fame inductees and rockers extraordinaire will be performing at the “Canada Night NAD’eh” event at NADA Show 2019 in January.
“We are so excited to have Barenaked Ladies perform at Canada Night NAD’eh,” event chair Lara Appleton said in a news release.
“They are a true Canadian rock band and what a better way to kick off your NADA conference than with all your Canadian friends and BNL performing live on stage,” she said. “It’s going to be a spectacular night.”
The Canada Night event is set for Jan. 24 at The Mezzanine SF and is designed to be an unofficial kickoff to NADA for the Canadian contingent of dealers and attendees heading to the convention.
The function is attended by sponsoring vendors and is free for Canadian dealers, their spouses and teams as well as Provincial Dealer Association board members and teams. Dealer registration is set to open in early fall.
Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Appleton at [email protected].
There are currently 19 confirmed sponsors, according to organizers.
“We are happy to throw our support behind Canada Night NAD’eh and sponsor the event again,” CADA president John White said in a news release. “Supporting our industry via Canada Night NAD’eh encourages camaraderie within the industry and a great way to celebrate what unites us.”
One hundred and forty-eight Cox Automotive Canada executives, vendors and customers from Southern and Southwestern Ontario teed off this summer for the annual joint fundraising tournament hosted by Manheim and the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (UCDA).
Not only did Cox Automotive Canada recently announce that this year’s Manheim and UCDA Ruth Hart-Stephens and Bob Beattie Annual Golf Tournament was a sold-out event this month, Manheim Toronto also kickstarted Cox Automotive Canada’s annual Drive Away Hunger campaign and food drive.
This year’s tournament held at the Royal Ontario Golf Club follows nearly two decades that Manheim has invited dealers, sponsors and partners out for golf, food and prizes.
Over the years, the fundraiser has collected tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships for students attending the Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, as well as help bring in non-perishable food items for those in need throughout the province, according to Cox Automotive Canada.
“Our goal is to ensure that this is one of our biggest and most successful corporate social responsibility initiatives yet,” Cox Automotive Canada president Maria Soklis said in a news release. “Last year, team members from coast to coast raised 6,492 lbs. of food for Canadians in need. This year’s goal is to surpass that amount by at least 10 percent.”
The 2-week long Cox Automotive Canada Drive Away Hunger initiative that ends on Friday asks team members to bring in non-perishable food donations that area food banks are in need of and often provide those in need.
In addition to Cox Automotive Canada, the 2018 Manheim and UCDA Ruth Hart-Stephens and Bob Beattie Annual Golf Tournament sponsors include the list of companies below:
- Desjardins
- NAPA
- UCDA & Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers
- NextGear Capital
- iA Financial Group
- Dealertrack Canada
- CARPROOF
- Wye Management
- UCDA (ontariocars.ca)
- Insurance Insight
- Bendix Foreign Exchange
- The Capital Group
- Dent Wizard Canada
- Apex Inspection Solutions
- Ready Logistics
- Canadian Black Book
- Jaguar Land Rover Canada
- First Canadian Financial Group
