Chris Pfaff
With the CADA Summit less than a month away, organizers with the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association say they are confident this year’s agenda closely matches the issues that interest their dealer members. “We keep in close contact with our dealers, and that informs our choices for speakers and topics,” says Tim Ryan, CADA’s Vice-President and Director Industry Relations & General Counsel. “This event was conceived of, and designed entirely to help dealers better understand the forces impacting their business.”
Unlike other industry events that focus on one aspect of a dealership’s operations, such as used car sales, fixed ops or digital marketing, the CADA Summit looks at the industry from 30,000 feet. “The industry is facing unprecedented change,” says Ryan. “Dealers need to understand how forces such as the economy, evolving consumer trends and behaviours, new ownership models, changing vehicle technology and rising expectations for an elevated customer experience will affect them now — and in the near future.”
That’s why the event gathers speakers such as expert economists and forecasters to help dealers with their planning, leading dealers to share their stories, futurists to help them better imagine how the retail experience is evolving, and heavy hitters like former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney who can help shed light on how important global events like NAFTA talks could impact the auto industry in Canada.
Mulroney, the architect of NAFTA and now an advisor to the federal government, will take part in a moderated conversation with Huw Williams, CADA’s Director of Public Affairs.
“We have tremendous interest from the entire industry to attend,” says Bonnie Wasser, Industry Relations Officer with the CADA. “But we want to ensure no dealers miss out on their chance to attend this event that’s sure to sell out. We strongly encourage dealers to register now before it’s too late.”
John Ellis
The 6th annual CADA Summit is held Feb. 14 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event is supported by an exclusive sponsorship with TD Auto Finance.
Speakers include Peter Leto, Head of Industry, Automotive Retail Sales U.S., with Google; Craig Alexander, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist with the Conference Board of Canada; Dennis DesRosiers, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc; Peter K. Welch, President & CEO, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA); Sheryl Connelly, Manager, Consumer Trends and Futuring, Ford Motor Company; John Ellis, Author of “The Zero Dollar Car”; Norman Hébert, President and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Park Avenue; Steven Landry, President and Chief Executive Officer, AutoCanada, and Christopher Pfaff, President & CEO, Pfaff Automotive Partners.
You can view the agenda and register at: www.cada.ca
