PRESS RELEASE
Date: February 23, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA)
Matt Marks, Executive Director
Phone: 973/398-2274
info@iaraonline.org
IARA’S Winter Meeting Held in Las Vegas February 16th Draws 160 Attendees
Mt Arlington, N.J.—The IARA’S Winter meeting held in Las Vegas February 16th was attended by more than 160 remarketers and persons associated with remarketing. The meeting was enthusiastically supported and rated as a very positive step in seeking ways to improve the remarketing industry. The IARA’s annual Circle of Excellence Award luncheon began the meeting with Mike Hockett, CEO, Auction Broadcasting Company, receiving the award for his contributions to the remarketing industry and for his selfless service to the community. Frank Hackett, the new Executive Director of the National Auto Auction Association was the luncheon’s keynote speaker. His topic was leadership in our everyday lives.
After the luncheon, the attendees were divided into two Roundtable groups to discuss vehicle grading scales and benchmarking. The grading scale issue involved gaining a consensus as to what type of grading scale will best serve the industry. The Roundtable was moderated by Dave Langley, Manager, Vehicle Remarketing, for American Honda Finance. The benchmarking roundtable session was moderated by Stuart Angert, Chairman, RSA. The discussion focused on what measurement points in the remarketing process lend themselves to benchmarking. It was agreed that measurement points would be helpful if carefully thought out and developed.
A lively panel discussion then followed the Roundtables with Scott Kolb, President of the SKI Group, moderating the topic of “Creating Partnerships”. Panelists included Nick Peluso, Manheim; Don Elliott, Adesa; Joe Pyle, Mountain States Auto Auction; Lynn Wolver, Bank One; Carl Scandura, Toyota Financial Services; Darrin Aiken, Wheels, Inc.
The IARA’s next Roundtable Series will be held July27-29th at the Drivecenter in Atlanta.