Mike Betts – CEO Betts Spring Company
HDAW ’12 is going to be something special. With a great theme: “Corporate Culture: The Foundation for Success” this year’s independent distributor conference will provide the attendees with an information and education program that promises to be both profound and reflective. The opening general session and four individual education sessions are designed to hit home. This is based on the fact that the “Culture” in your business is your key to success!
Let’s not kid ourselves, our industry is “graying” and the need for succession planning and a new generation of leaders has never been more important. We are hopeful that every CEO will bring their next generation of learners and leaders to this year’s event.
Most people attend events, such as concerts, plays or business conferences with a single goal in mind, to feel enriched and energized. HDAW 2012 has been planned and constructed to be more than just an enrichment experience. The educational sessions will focus on the importance of excellence in the culture of your business and the enormity of it as an integral part of your company’s DNA.
Several of the HDAW 12 speakers and sessions will drill-down on the conference theme and deliver real life stories and examples on what makes some businesses the best and why the best thrive and succeed.
Robert Richman of Zappos Insights is our conference-opening speaker and will set the stage for discussion of the overall theme for HDAW ’12. The audience will find out that there is good reason Zappos was voted #1 in the American Choice Awards for the best customer service in the world. Robert will describe and you will learn what makes the culture at Zappos unique and what is important to the “Y” generation and how the real world work environment has changed from years past.
We are also very pleased that Gov. Bill Graves, President and CEO of the American Trucking Association (ATA) will be a featured speaker. Bill has been involved in our industry his entire life. For almost 70 years, he and members of his family have operated trucking companies. Among the outstanding combination of attributes Bill Graves brings to his role are his ability to create public policy, his administrative experience, political skills, and a life-long knowledge of the motor-carrier industry. Gov. Graves will bring the audience up to date with the most pressing issues impacting our industry and the nation’s fleets today.
Business consultant Edgar Papke states “Effectively leading and leveraging an organization’s culture is one of the key challenges for all business leaders”. Papke will provide a proven framework for better understanding and leading organizational cultures. You will come away better able to assess the culture in your business. Is your culture and business strategy in alignment? Does your business create an environment where higher levels of performance are the norm? Do all those on your team know the vision of your business?
Todd Cohen will package all the education sessions and bring everything full circle. What makes a sale and why do people buy from you! You will learn how to obtain outstanding sales results and how to build a high performance sales team. Do you have a sales team or a sales culture? Come and learn the difference!
Annette Sandberg, CEO of Transafe Consulting held the top position as Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) during the previous administration. Annette will share with the audience step by step examples on what the distributor can and needs to do to help their fleet customers be successful in managing CSA requirements, or BASICs. The audience will learn how your business and your people can assist fleets with the compliance issues in the CSA rules; and how to capitalize on it.
Don Reimondo CEO of HDA Truck Pride will be the moderator of an industry executive panel discussion, consisting of an excellent cross section of the major elements of the North American aftermarket. Each panelist will address how the distributor is performing in today’s marketplace and what they can do to compete and grow their business and offer possible strategies for distributors to “Win in the Future”.
The panelists are: Don Nugent, of US Transport with the fleet’s perspective. Robyn Spitzke, of Fort Garry Industries will be the voice of the independent distributor. Kyle Treadway, of Kenworth Sales and current chairman of the American Truck Dealers (ATD) will speak from an OEM dealer’s perspective. John Wensel, of Wensel’s Truck Centers will present a truck repair and service center point of view.
The panelists will describe what makes each of their cultures a valuable asset to their business and how their culture ultimately reflects upon and defines their success. Prior to HDAW, we will survey the attendees for questions to ask the panel. Please feel free to email any questions in advance of HDAW 2012 to Sue Kalish at sue.kalish@aftermarket.org so we can be sure you are heard and get answers!
With several networking events, such as meals, breaks and receptions, HDAW offers industry leaders multiple opportunities to connect. Couple that with a world class product expo, one on one meetings and all that goes with Las Vegas and HDAW ’12 promises to be the event of the year for the independent heavy duty aftermarket.
Join us at HDAW 2012 go to our website at www.hdaw.org and register today!
