We might still be in the month of July but in the grand scheme of things, September isn’t far off, which means a roster of events, including the B.C. Auto Industry Conference, presented by the New Car Dealers Association of B.C.
Taking place from Sunday September 15 through Tuesday September 17 at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, B.C., this year’s event promises a solid lineup of star speakers and plenty of opportunities for dealers to network, learn and take something back to their businesses to help them further grow and prosper.
Confirmed speakers for the conference this year, include Farid Ahmad, president and founder of Auto Careers Group Inc., Alex Baum, chairman of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and owner of Cochrane Toyota, in Cochrane, Alta., as well as Michael Campbell, senior business analyst for BCTV on Global and host of Money Talks; Mark Cohon, Canadian Football League commissioner, Shane Gibson, author of Sociable! How Social Media is Turning Sales and Marketing Upside Down; plus Carlos Gomes, senior economist with Scotiabank, Catherine Jay, director of CADA Governance & Plan Management and Benefit 360 Health and Welfare Trust, and Shaun Raines, executive director, DrivingSales University.
In speaking with Blair Qualey, president of the New Car Dealers of B.C. hosting the event in Whistler should prove to be popular with dealers across the province. “Nita Lake Lodge, is a beautiful property,” he says “and Whistler has always been popular, every time we’ve had a conference there.” Qualey notes that with the new highway, built as a result of the 2012 Winter Olympics, the drive to Whistler from the lower mainland should prove much quicker and less precarious than in the past.
In terms of themes, Qualey says that online marketing solutions are still a big topic for many dealers and the association aims to continue supporting its members by bringing quality speakers who can help guide them through the marketing maze in cyberspace.
Besides the speaker sessions, the conference will also include a multitude of workshops, where dealers will get a chance to network and share ideas.
“We want to make sure we’re providing the latest and greatest information,” says Qualey. “The world of the dealer continues to change — businesses are becoming more sophisticated and complex, and demands, whether on dealer principals, their executive management, or dealership staff, continue to grow. In addition, the economic situation globally continues to be tenuous from time to time. As a result we try to put on events and activities that we see have and will continue to support the interests of dealers.”
For more information on the 2013 B.C. Auto Industry Conference, visit www.newcardealers.ca
