PRESS RELEASE
Date: August 2, 2007
For Immediate Release
By Jeffrey Bellant
Used Car News Staff Writer
Contact: International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA)
Matt Marks, Executive Director
Phone: 973/398-2274
info@iaraonline.org
Remarketing Certification Program Starts at IARA Summer Roundtable
MT. ARLINGTON, NJ - The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) Summer Roundtable was held in Cincinnati July 25-27. The Summer Roundtable featured the first testing session for the IARA’s new Certification of Automotive Remarketing program.
All five modules of the remarketer certification program are
available to those interested.
Matt Marks, IARA executive director, said the next scheduled testing
cycle will be at the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) in
Las Vegas in March 2008.
“However, we’ll also be releasing new courses in August and
September, and each month thereafter,” Marks said.
Remarketers who can’t come to CAR have the option of taking the test
through their local community college.
IARA President Layne Weber announced that 2007 also saw the addition
of Manheim and ADESA to the group’s membership body.
Other recent additions to the membership include Citi Financial,
Balboa Insurance, ARI Fleet and VW Credit, Weber said.
He added the IARA would like to boost membership by 10 percent in
the coming year, with a focus on consignors.
The IARA also honored past President Steve Houston and other former
IARA board members with special recognition awards recently.
Dave Alfonso, Kia Motors America’s national auction sales manager,
presented the honors at a special luncheon during the 2007 IARA
Summer Remarketing Roundtable.
“There’s been a lot said about the value of giving back,” Alfonso
said. “The IARA Special Achievement awards have been handed out to
people who have given back (to the industry).
“People who give back are special people. The IARA was founded on a
desire to give back.”
Alfonso said the honorees have all added to the lives of others
through the IARA.
Houston had a work commitment and missed the ceremony. Lou Verrengia,
from ADESA, accepted the award on Houston ’s behalf.
“Steve is proud of being at the ground level of this organization,”
Verrengia said.
Houston served in various positions in the IARA, including vice
president, president, and now chairman. Houston watched the group
grow into the current organization, Verrengia said.
Recent changes have included the creation of a certified remarketers
program and the addition of a British chapter of the IARA.
“He wanted to say he’s very proud,” Verrengia said. “He wanted to be
here because you are not only his industry colleagues, but his
friends.”
The IARA also honored four departing directors of the group,
including Dent Wizard’s Jean Hitterdal-Rosati; John Possumato, CEO
of Driveitaway; Chuck Nix, former general manager of Grand Rapids
Auto Auction; and Stuart Angert, formerly of Fiserv Lending
Solutions.
During the luncheon, the attendees heard a presentation from keynote
speaker Tom Searcy, from The Whale Hunters LLC.
Searcy’s presentation focused on how businesses – even smaller
companies – can capture large accounts by using techniques and
strategies from Inuit whale hunters.