AKRON—In addition to offering great service and quality products, independent tire dealers and auto service professionals must be effective business managers to stay ahead in today's cutthroat tire and service marketplace.
Among the 50-plus educational sessions offered at this year's International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) Show for tire dealers and auto service professionals are nine focused on business management.
The ITEC Tire Dealers/Auto Service Show is a conference and trade show focused on independent tire dealers and auto service professionals. It takes place Aug. 20-22 at the Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Fla.
Business management speakers and topics planned for this year's show include:
c “Planning to Exit Your Business,” by Raymond Lampner, partner, entrepreneurial service, BCG & Co.;
c “Analyzing Your Business to Ensure Growth/Profitability,” by Matt Winslow, director of speakers and content, Automotive Training Institute;
c “Solving the Financial Puzzle,” by Kurt Geiseimer, CPA, president of Integrity Group Ltd.;
c “Globalization and Dealer Consolidation,” by Dennis Byrne, professor emeritus of economics, University of Akron;
c “Business Management: Recruiting, Retaining and More,” by A.C. Guarino, owner AC Auto Service Center, Winston-Salem, N.C.;
c “Small Business Administration Capital Access Program,” by Ed Ramos, Orlando area manager, Small Business Administration;
c “How Can You Position Your Stores' Tire Pricing and Assortment to Succeed in Today's Market?” by Sam Williams, vice president of sales and strategic initiatives, Fitment Group, and Jim Walker, executive account manager, IHS Automotive Group;
c “Marketplace Fairness,” by Gordon Gough, president and CEO, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants and past executive director of the Ohio Tire & Automotive Association; and
c “Make Better Business Decisions/Gain Peace of Mind,” by Richard “Dick” Morgan, president, Morgan Marketing Solutions.
The ITEC Tire Dealers/Auto Service show features a total of 45 educational presentations, nine panel programs and two roundtable discussions.
In addition, ITEC provides a large trade show featuring tire and automotive service suppliers and plenty of networking opportunities, including a networking cocktail reception sponsored by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
The registration fee is $65, which includes all three days of the educational sessions, the trade show and networking reception.
To register and secure a hotel room, visit the ITEC website at www.itec-tireshow.com.