April—June 2019

April—June 2019 | Volume 26 Issue 2

Life Moving Forward Help Me Help You...

The New QAP Audit For Small Family Dealers. It’s “Grow or Go” ...and so much more!

THE NMEDA MAGAZINE

The Future of Auto Mobility

NMEDA.org

see pg. 31

NEW CERTIFICATION

MASTER TECHNICIAN In recognition of the dedicated service and experience of our NMEDA Certified Technicians (NCT), we are launching a new rank of technician—the Master NCT. To be eligible to apply, candidates must provide: • •

An unexpired NCT Certificate Proof of two cumulative years of full-time employment with a NMEDA dealer member.

To qualify for Master NCT, applicants must meet the following requirements within one year of application acceptance: 1. Proof of MSS hands-on training attendance within last two years or proof of completion within one year of Master NCT application acceptance 2. Proof of Braun/VMI/Revability hands-on training attendance within last two years or proof of completion within one year of Master NCT application acceptance 3. Proof of Powered Gas & Brake Secondary School training attendance within last two years or proof of completion within one year of Master NCT application acceptance 4. Proof of four unexpired ASE electives A4 (Suspension and Steering), A5 (Brakes), A6 (Electrical/Electronic systems), and G1 (Automotive Maintenance and Repair) Download an application form at www.NMEDA.com/MasterNCTApp All supporting documentation can be emailed to learning@nmeda.org or faxed to 813.962.8970.

For more details, contact: Andy Ghillyer, Director of Education & Training Andy.Ghillyer@nmeda.org | 813.264.2697

NMEDA CIRCUIT BREAKER

APR—JUN 2019

THE NMEDA MAGAZINE

President Chad Blake

CEO

Danny Langfield

Layout, Editor & Creative Director Katie McDonald

Contributing Writers Harry Baergen Chuck Hardy Danny Langfield Katie McDonald David Parton Christian Quandt Peter Salinas Amy Schoppman Michael Wayland

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2

CONTENTS

FEATURES

COLUMNS

24 Help Me Help You

- By Amy Schoppman

8 Officer’s Message

- By Christian Quandt

28 5 Questions With...

- By Amy Schoppman

18

31

On the Cover The Future of Auto Mobility - By Peter Salinas

37 2019 Annual Conference - By Katie McDonald 50 For Many Small Family

Dealers it’s “Grow or Go”

- Michael Wayland

CEO’s Message - By Danny Langfield

22 Industry Advisor:

More About “One-Off”

- By Harry G. Baergen 27 Canada President’s Message

- By David Parton 44 QAP Straight Talk:

The New QAP Audit

- By Chuck Hardy

ALSO The Circuit Breaker is published quarterly by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.

3327 W. Bearss Avenue Tampa, FL 33618 For business office, advertising, and subscriptions: Tel: 813.264.2697 Toll-Free: 800.833.0427 www.nmeda.org info@nmeda.org Subscription rates for the U.S.A. and Canada: $16.50/four issues.

Back issues are available by calling the NMEDA office.

4

Board of Directors

6

Staff Directory

9

Around the Industry

10 Dealer Member Directory 52 Manufacturer Member Directory 53 Associate Member Directory 58 Dates to Remember

All rights are reserved under copyright laws © 2019.

The articles published in the Circuit Breaker reflect the opinions of their authors, not NMEDA. As such, NMEDA neither takes a position on nor assumes responsibility for the accuracy of the information or statements contained therein.

NMEDA MISSION STATEMENT Through our diverse membership, NMEDA advocates and supports excellence in providing safe, reliable vehicles and modifications to enhance accessibility for people with special needs.

Apr—Jun 2019

3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chad Blake, President

David Parton, Canadian President

Christian Quandt, Vice President

Anne Hegberg, Associate Rep.

Ability Center 4797 Ruffner Street San Diego, CA 92111 858.541.0552 phone cblake@abilitycenter.com

Advanced Wheels of Technology, Inc. 33 Bradley Park Road East Granby, CT 06026 860.653.8064 phone christian@advancedwheels.com

Bill Koeblitz, Secretary

MobilityWorks 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone bkoeblitz@mobilityworks.com

Jud DeMott, Treasurer

Access 2 Mobility, Inc. 12406 State Highway 155 South Tyler, TX 75703 877.254.5438 phone jud@access2mobility.com

Gina Lewis, Manufacturer Rep. Adapt-Solutions 145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 866.641.0419 phone ginalewis@adapt-solutions.ca

Kevin McMahon, Manufacturer Rep.

BraunAbility P.O. Box 310 Winamac, IN 46996 800.843.5438 phone kevin.mcmahon@braunability.com

Sam Cook, Past President Superior Van & Mobility 4734 Rockford Pl. Louisville, KY 40216 502.447.8267 phone scook@superiorvan.com

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NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Mobility in Motion 1710 Bishop Street N., Unit 8 Cambridge, ON N1T 1T2 519.623.9930 phone david@mobilityinmotion.net

Marianjoy Rehab Hospital 26W171 Roosevelt Road Wheaton, IL 60187 630.909.6080 phone anne.hegberg@nm.org

Dennis Charvat, Rep. at Large Total Mobility Services 4785 Penn Avenue Boswell, PA 15531 330.888.9941 phone dennis@tmservices.com

Eric Mansfield, Rep. at Large

MobilityWorks 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone eric.mansfield@mobilityworks.com

Catherine Martin, Rep. at Large

Ilderton Conversions 701 South Main Street High Point, NC 27260 336.841.6100 phone cmartin@ilderton.com

Bob Lundin Rep. at Large IMED Mobility 200 East 1st Street Tea, SD 57064 605.498.2200 phone bob@imedmobility.com

The NEXT GENERATION Electronic Left Foot Accelerator

Technology Des igned to Help

The NEXT GENERATION of left foot accelerators has arrived.

This paradigm shift in SAFETY now requires the driver to activate the left pedal prior to each use. In addition, a separate key is required to transfer function to the left accelerator pedal. There is no need to remove the device or engage a lockout system. The system always defaults to the right side accelerator pedal. This safety feature is important when other family members need to drive or when the vehicle is being moved by someone else such as a valet or service technician. Veigel has specifically designed the Electronic Left Foot Accelerator (ELFA) for safe frequent driver change with the upmost ease.

We use only OEM proven circuits and accelerator pedals to ensure the highest quality and reliability of the entire system.

If your mobility equipment dealer is concerned about installing left foot accelerators due to insurance or liability concerns, the Veigel ELFA may be the solution.

sales@veigel-na.com

(800) 488-7688

www.veigel-na.com

Exclusive Member Benefit

Past-Due VA Invoice Collection NMEDA’s Past-Due Invoice (PDI) Program—an exclusive members-only benefit—will now include a monthly collection (instead of quarterly) from our members. VA’s slow payment practices have been an issue of great concern for years, and we recently negotiated an increase in the frequency of PDI collection and submission in order to better serve our members struggling to be paid promptly by VA.

Visit www.NMEDA.com/PDIProgram for details on how to submit your past-due invoices.

NMEDA STAFF DIRECTORY Danny Langfield CEO

danny.langfield@nmeda.org

Kristen Clevidence QAP Coordinator

kristen.clevidence@nmeda.org

Doris Santiago Cruzado Membership Coordinator

doris.cruzado@nmeda.org

Andy Ghillyer

Director of Education & Training andy.ghillyer@nmeda.org

Chuck Hardy

A Note From The Editor If you quickly flipped through the Circuit Breaker you may have thought, “My, Chad Blake sure has changed!”

And upon further inspection you would have realized it’s Christian Quandt, your NMEDA Board of Director’s Vice President smiling from page 8 where you usually read the President’s Message. We’re trying something new and re-naming that feature the “Officer’s Message.” We hope this helps you get to know all of our board leaders a bit better and brings some fresh ideas and perspectives to the mix.

Check in next quarter to hear from Board Secretary, Bill Koeblitz, and then Treasurer, Jud DeMott in the fourth quarter magazine.

VP of Quality Assurance & Compliance chuck.hardy@nmeda.org

Trevor Jennings

Director of Partner Relations trevor.jennings@nmeda.org

Katie McDonald

Manager of Communications & Social katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org

Marilyn Myers

Meetings & Conferences Manager marilyn.myers@nmeda.org

Amy Schoppman

Director of Government Relations amy.schoppman@nmeda.org

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NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Notice of Correction In the Q4/Oct-Dec 2018 Circuit Breaker article “Chatting with the CEOs” VMI was incorrectly referred to as Vantage Mobility Incorporated instead of Vantage Mobility International. We apologize for this error and appreciate your understanding.

Plug N Play for Sienna and Pacifica Drive-Master Co., Inc. 37 Daniel Road West Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: (973) 808-9709 Fax: (973) 808-9713 peter@DriveMasterMobility.com DriveMasterMobility.com

Independent Driving Systems Inc. 580 TC Jester Blvd.

Houston, TX 77007 Phone: (713) 864-1460 Fax: (713) 864-1469 info@IndependentDrivingSystems.com IndependentDrivingSystems.com

Introducing the New GEN-XR and PNP-70!

GEN-XR

PNP-70

The GEN-XR is our easiest to install reduced steering system. The GEN-XR allows for 0-100%, and anywhere in between, reduction to the steering. The steering effort can easily be adjusted on the fly by the dealer and locked in. The GEN-XR is a plug n play installation on the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica only needing 3 wires to be soldered (ignition and CAN).

The Plug N Play 70 offers 70 functions for the Pacifica with a simple box that plugs into the OBD-II. The functions are controlled via a tablet. An option is available for Toyota but is not fully plug n play and thus requires tapping a few wires.

Key Features

Key Features

Plug N Play easy installation 0-100% range of reduction (and anywhere in between) Switch over to OEM steering for family members to drive Safety oriented with an advanced backup system Includes phone for adjusting effort and monitoring any errors

Plug N Play easy installation Control HVAC, Windows, Mirrors and more Small form factor

Apr—Jun 2019

7

OFFICER’S MESSAGE

Times Like These

By Christian Quandt

Not too long ago in conference history

That moment might have been a

there were sessions on how to do basic

perfect microcosm of how many FOO

F

VA billing or the mechanics of QAP

mobility dealers may be feeling as

or those of us in the

labeling changes. We’ve come a long

we begin the second quarter of 2019:

Northeast, the snow is

way.

slightly weary from operating during

melting, baseball season is

However, what was most different

a time of such rampant change, but an industry we truly love.

a respite from the region’s often-

areas of consolidation to which we are not so accustomed: manufacturer/

That is why NMEDA is just as

manufacturer and manufacturer/dealer.

important right now as it was years

These manufacturer-based

ago for the 2019 Hall of Fame (HOF)

beginning, and the warmer

temperatures which typically signal sluggish first quarter, have started to arrive.

bolstered by the expected growth of

inductees we saw honored at the

Many of us were just in Daytona,

consolidations have created a new buzz

again, for the 2019 NMEDA

in the industry, and were a very present

conference, which is a very familiar

topic at the conference, as evidenced

spot for most of us. However, our

by the moderated panel discussion

can keep up with it individually.

industry has recently gone through

of industry leaders during the closing

arguably the most rapid era of change

NMEDA is working on impactful

session.

changes to QAP to help protect

For those of you unable to attend*,

our businesses, and its partnerships

in its history, so this conference had a different feel from the start.

the panel consisted of: Staci Kroon

banquet this year. The industry is changing so quickly that none of us

with our manufacturer members are bringing a MQAP program to life

We’ve all grown more accustomed

(CEO, BraunAbility), Bill Koeblitz (CEO,

to consolidation at the dealer level,

MobilityWorks), Mark Shaughnessy

as it started many years ago and

(CEO, VMI), and Mark Oldenburg

getting the best products possible.

continues to this day. There are fewer

(Senior National Fleet Operations

family-owned-and-operated (FOO)

As evoked during the HOF

Manager of Toyota).

ceremonies, as well as many times

Discussion points which jumped out

before, it’s about the person in the

businesses in our industry all the time. Consolidation has brought extra capital to the industry, and with it more storefronts, new hires, greater marketing spending. There were many new faces at the conference, but also some well-known members who had different logos on his or her clothes as well.

The 2019 conference learning tracks focused on modern topics like cyber protection, online and social media marketing strategies, and ways to mitigate our potential liability by keeping up with motor vehicle sales compliance and best practices.

8

this year was the realization of new

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

to help ensure that end-users are

for me were: the industry is likely

chair.

to continue to grow enormously

So we all need to work together, now

over the next ten years; all types of

more than ever, no matter the label

consolidation are on the table and likely

any of us have on our clothing, or the

to continue now and in the near future;

titles we have on our cards.

vehicle technology and design changes, and digital sales enhancements will impact our industry possibly faster than we had thought previously.

Those were some heady subjects, and there was a sense that everyone in the room was particularly tuned-in to this discussion despite the usual lateafternoon lethargy that often hits us on the conference’s closing day.

Go Sox, CQ --*You can watch the Closing General Session discussion by visiting the NMEDA Facebook or YouTube pages.

AROUND THE INDUSTRY Ilderton Conversion Company Announces New Myrtle Beach, SC Location Ilderton Conversion Company is proud to announce their expansion to the Myrtle Beach, SC area. The new dealership will be located at 1987 Highway 501. It will sell and service wheelchair accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts, and adaptive driving equipment.

The new dealership with be the fifth location for Ilderton Conversion Company in the Carolinas. Ilderton Conversion of Myrtle Beach is expected to be open for business by late April 2019 and is hiring service technicians and mobility sales consultants.

Paravan GmbH Expanding Sales Activities in US Paravan has been active on the market since 2014, with its first licenses in California. The business has developed constantly since then, expanding it’s “Space Drive” steering, accelerating, and braking system to nine US states: California, Ohio, Arizona, Nevada, New York, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and most recently in Massachusetts.

Installation instructions for the system licensed for roads in the US are available for the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna and revised in detail for the Chrysler Pacifica and the Mercedes Sprinter.

United Access Receives Bronze Stevie Award for Ethics in Sales United Access was presented with a Bronze Stevie® Award in The Sales Partnerships Award for Ethics in Sales category in the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service earlier this year. United Access was the only accessible vehicle company to receive a Sales & Customer Service Stevie® award across all categories.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development, and sales professionals. The Stevie Awards organization stages seven of the world’s leading business awards programs, including the prestigious American Business Awards® and International Business Awards®.

The awards were presented to honorees Friday, February 22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV.

MGA Research Corporation

Discover the MGA Advantage

FMVSS 207/210 &SAE J2249

Seating System, Seat Belt Anchorage and Wheelchair Anchorage Testing Experts.

Test with the Best: We are proud to serve the industry for over thirty years.

| email: david.winkelbauer@mgaresearch.com | phone: (262) 763-2705 | web: mgaresearch.com | Apr—Jun 2019

9

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS UNITED STATES ____________________________

ALABAMA Griffin Mobility 213 Chestnut Street NW Hartselle, AL 35640 256-751-1365 1 Gulf States Mobility 1647 Coosa River Parkway Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-514-6590 1,2,3 MobilityWorks 3747 Pine Lane SE Bessemer, AL 35022 205-426-8261 1,3 MobilityWorks 2150 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35811 234-542-3022 1,3 Phase III Vans, Inc. 2015 Eastern Blvd Montgomery, AL 36117 334-244-1011 1 Sylacauga Handicapped, Inc. 1304 Talladega Hwy. Sylacauga, AL 35150 256-249-3717 1,2,3 Team Adaptive Medical, Inc. 1251 Bolton’s Branch Dr. Mobile, AL 36606 251-471-1088 1,3 ____________________________

ARIZONA A.D.E. Industries, Inc. 3621 S. Palo Verde Tucson, AZ 85713 520-571-7156 1

Ability Center - Tucson 4720 N. La Cholla Blvd, Ste. 150 Tucson, AZ 85705 520-293-3596 1,3

Ability Center - Long Beach 2715 Seaboard Ln. Long Beach, CA 90805 562-634-5962 1,3

United Access 1825 E. Germann Road, Suite 24 Chandler, AZ 85286 877-501-8267 1,2,3

Ability Center - Orange County 11600 Western Avenue Stanton, CA 90680 714-890-8262 1,3

United Access 14885 N 83rd Pl., Suite 105 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 877-501-8267 1

Ability Center - Sacramento 6550 Freeport Blvd. Suite A Sacramento, CA 95822 916-392-1196 1,3

VMI Mobility Center 5058 S. 40th Street Phoenix, AZ 85040 602-385-5999 1,3

Ability Center - San Diego 4797 Ruffner Street San Diego, CA 92111 858-541-0552 1,3

____________________________

Ability Center - San Luis Obispo 3548 Empleo St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-549-7996 1,3

ARKANSAS Mobility Centers of Arkansas 712 Hwy 5 N Benton, AR 72019 501-794-3100 1,3 Presidential Conversions 2887 No. College, Suite B Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-521-8433 1,3 Presidential Conversions 7323 Cock of the Walk, Suite B N. Little Rock, AR 72113 501-725-9070 1 Presidential Conversions East 2500 Commerce Drive Bldg. A, Suite B Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-7270 1 ____________________________

CALIFORNIA

Ability Center - Phoenix 23606 N. 19th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85085 623-879-0800 1,3

Ability Center - Fresno 2563 N. Fordham Avenue Fresno, CA 93727 559-291-2563 1,3

Ability Center - Phoenix West 13765 West Auto Drive, Ste. 125 Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-242-0552 1,3

Ability Center - Inland Empire 711 S. Allen St. San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-383-3883 1,3

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NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Ability Center - Santa Rosa 3285 Santa Rosa Ave, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 91942 707-575-6997 1,3 Access Options, Inc. 41545 Albrae St. Fremont, CA 94538 408-734-5438 1 Access Options, Inc. 109 Lee Road Suite D Watsonville, CA 95076 831-722-6804 1,2,3 AERO Mobility 1001 N. Weir Canyon Rd. Anaheim, CA 92807 714-973-8600 1,2,3 Driving Specialties of Sacramento 2216 Cemo Circle #A Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 916-635-2765 1 Economy Medical- Lifestyle Mobility 4025 Nelson Avenue. Ste. B Concord, CA 94520 925-671-4800 1

Gary E. Colle, Inc. dba Goldenboy of San Diego 12130 Dearborn Place Poway, CA 92064 858-748-9414 1,3 MobilityWorks 1822 Embarcadero Avenue Oakland, CA 94606 234-542-3022 1 MobilityWorks 7239 Indiana Avenue Riverside, CA 92504 951-686-3152 1,3 MobilityWorks 325 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 626-584-8181 1,3 MobilityWorks 1424 S. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90035 310-432-0700 1,3 MobilityWorks 1245 Laurelwood Road Santa Clara, CA 95054 888-473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks 8130 Parkway Drive LaMesa, CA 91942 619-474-4072 1 MobilityWorks 120 N. Diamond St. Fresno, CA 93701 559-268-9394 1,3 MobilityWorks 7720 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Van Nuys, CA 91405 888-473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks 3127 Fite Circle, Suite B Sacramento, CA 95827 800-225-7361 1 MobilityWorks 1300 Nord Avenue Chico, CA 95926 800-225-7361 1,3

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

MobilityWorks 890 Cowan Road, Suite B Burlingame, CA 94010 800-225-7361 1,3

CT Mobility/Columbia Ford, Inc. 234 Route 6 Columbia, CT 06237 860-922-7482 1

Mike Erdman Mobility 4650 US Hwy 520 Cocoa, FL 32926 321-636-8887 1

MobilityWorks 5201 NW 77th Ave., Suite 100 Miami, FL 33166 305-234-0071 1,3

Modesto Mobility Center, Inc. 1025 Lone Palm Ave. Ste 5A-B Modesto, CA 95351 209-577-1069 1,3

MobilityWorks 104 Pitkin St. E. Hartford, CT 06108 860-282-8202 1,3

Mobility America 5130 Hwy 98 N. Lakeland, FL 33809 863-816-1513 1

MobilityWorks 7265 SW 62nd Ave., Unit 1 Ocala, FL 34476 352-300-1173 1

SACVANS Mobility 5821 Florin Perkins Road Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-8267 1

Wheelchair Getaways 32 Stony Hill Road Bethel, CT 06801 203-790-9998 1

Mobility Express 4320 US Hwy 19 New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-849-0262 1

MobilityWorks 7444 Narcoossee Rd. Unit 406 Orlando, FL 32822 407-674-8778 1,3

____________________________

____________________________

COLORADO

DELAWARE

Freedom Mobility, Inc. 4750 S. Santa Fe Circle #5 Englewood, CO 80110 720-722-2680 1,3

MobilityWorks 1010 Contractors Way Bear, DE 19701 302-613-7555 1

Mobility Express 7910 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33771 727-556-2917 1

MobilityWorks 364 Destination Daytona Lane Ormond Beach, FL 32137 386-586-5495 1, 3

Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc. 1308 Riverside Ave., Suite A Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-223-8267 1

True Mobility, Inc. 773 S. DuPont Hwy. New Castle, DE 19720 302-836-4110 1

Mobility Transportation Systems 4010 E. Hillsborough Ave. Tampa, FL 33610 813-246-9116 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 1505 Capital Circle NW Tallahassee, FL 32303 850-224-4383 1

Mobility Driven 832 N. Crest Drive, Unit B Grand Junction, CO 81506 970-712-1435 1

FLORIDA

MobilityWorks 20354 U.S. Hwy 27 Clermont, FL 34715 352-322-2256 1,3

MobilityWorks 8706D East Broadway Ave Tampa, FL 33619 813-628-4255 1,3

MobilityWorks 5601 Powerline Road, Unit 104 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 954-974-7028 1

Ocean Conversions & Mobility 750 E Sample Rd, Bldg 1, Ste 3 Pompano Beach, FL 33064 954-942-6033 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 12530 Metro Pkwy Ft. Myers, FL 33966 239-275-1900 1

Ocean Conversions of Ft. Myers, Inc. 5751 Zip Drive Ft. Myers, FL 33905 239-936-6333 1,2,3

Performance Mobility 9500 W. 49th Ave. C107 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 877-501-8267 1,2,3 Performance Mobility 6285 Corporate Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919 877-501-8267 1 Performance Mobility 5910 E. County Line Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 877-501-8267 1,2,3

____________________________ Active Mobility & Design, Inc. dba Buddy’s Holiday Mobility 6144 S US Highway 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34982 772-465-9600 1,3 Advanced Driving Systems 662 Capital Cir. N.E. Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-671-2300 1,2,3 Custom Mobility 7199 Bryan Dairy Road Largo, FL 33777 727-539-8119 1

CONNECTICUT

In Motion Mobility LLC 2201 NW 102 Place, #1 Doral, FL 33172 786-534-2046 1,3

Advanced Wheels of Technology 33 Bradley Park Rd. East Granby, CT 06026 860-653-8064 1,2,3

Kempf, Inc. 225 S. 78th Street Tampa, FL 33619 813-630-0409 1,3

____________________________

MobilityWorks 2727 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S. Jacksonville, FL 32246 904-281-0111 1,3 MobilityWorks 1925 10th Ave. N. Unit 1 Lake Worth, FL 33461 561-586-1997 1,3 MobilityWorks 8203 Ulmerton Rd. Largo, FL 33771 727-521-4248 1,3

P&A Mobility Enterprises dba Mobility Express 320 Cortez Road West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-739-5596 1 Phase III Mobility 130 Industrial Pkwy Pensacola, FL 32505 850-378-8914 1 Piper Medical, Mobility & Accessibility 1885-B NE 149th Street North Miami, FL 33181 305-940-2030 1,3

Apr—Jun 2019

11

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS Team Adaptive, Inc. 1201 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850-522-0059 1 The Mobility Store LLC 915 N Florida Ave Lakeland, FL 33801 863-688-3900 1 ____________________________

GEORGIA Adaptive Driving Solutions 3027 Riverwatch Parkway Augusta, GA 30907 706-364-2688 1,2,3 Custom Mobility Van & Lift Sales & Services LLC 315 Whitehead Rd. Athens, GA 30606 706-353-1099 1,3 MobilityWorks 3700 Dekalb Technology Pkwy Atlanta, GA 30340 470-427-0696 1,3 MobilityWorks 1255 Kennestone Circle Ste. 100 Marietta, GA 30066 800-444-9100 1,3 MobilityWorks 3938 Ogeechee Rd. Savannah, GA 31405 912-233-1050 1 Quail Country Customs 731 S. Westover Blvd.

Albany, GA 31707 229-432-7258 1 Quail Country Customs, Inc. 2635 Hwy 247 Connector Byron, GA 31008 478-956-1225 1 R & R Van Lift Sales & Service 2130 Sigman Road Conyers, GA 30012 770-483-0767 1,2,3 ____________________________

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NMEDA Circuit Breaker

HAWAII Soderholm Mobility 2044 Dillingham Blvd Honolulu, HI 96819 808-834-1417 1,3 ____________________________

IDAHO Karl Tyler’s Mobility Solutions 2301 3rd Avenue North Lewiston, ID 83501 208-746-9801 1 ____________________________

ILLINOIS MobilityWorks 9207 N. Milwaukee Ave. Niles, IL 60714 847-673-4300 1,3 MobilityWorks 23855 W. Andrew Road Plainfield, IL 60585 888-473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks 155 E. North Ave. Villa Park, IL 60181 888-473-5402 1,3 Personal Mobility 7611 N. Harker Drive Peoria, IL 62702 309-966-3089 1,3 Personal Mobility 706 W. Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 217-398-1188 1,3 Personal Mobility 2924 N. Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62702 217-544-2699 1,3 Southern Bus and Mobility 12950 Koch Lane Breese, IL 62230 618-526-4131 1,3 ____________________________

INDIANA Superior Van & Mobility 3414 Interstate Drive Evansville, IN 47715 855-208-5576 1,3

Superior Van & Mobility 13095 Parkside Drive Fishers, IN 46038 317-436-6722 1,3

Kansas Truck Equipment Co. 8846 W. Monroe Circle Wichita, KS 67209 316-722-4291 1

Superior Van & Mobility 5410 S. Madison Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227 855-208-5576 1,3

United Access 7921 Bond Street Lenexa, KS 66214 877-501-8267 1,3

Superior Van & Mobility 4246 Meghan Beeler Ct., Ste 1 South Bend, IN 46628 855-208-5576 1,3

____________________________

Superior Van & Mobility 2218 Contractors Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46818 855-208-5576 1,3 ____________________________

IOWA Mobility Centers of Iowa LLC 3450 SE Miehe Drive, Suite 1 Grimes, IA 50111 515-986-3010 1,3 Siebert Mobility of Iowa, LLC 3554 Dolphin Dr. Iowa City, IA 52240 319-351-3159 1,3

KENTUCKY Superior Van & Mobility 1180 E. New Circle Rd. Lexington, KY 40505 855-208-5576 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility 1506 Lakeshore Court Louisville, KY 40223 855-208-5576 1,3 ____________________________

LOUISIANA Crescent Vans, Inc. 2424 Hickory Ave. Metairie, LA 70003 504-738-2634 1,3

KANSAS

Fastserv Medical Bossier 1329 Driftwood Drive Bossier City, LA 71111 318-741-9586 1,3

Banner Mobility Resources 231 SE 53rd St., Suite C Topeka, KS 66609 785-235-3070 1

Fastserv Medical Monroe 112 Summer Lane West Monroe, LA 71291 318-396-3366 1,3

Jay Hatfield Mobility, LLC 801 E. Crawford Avenue Salina, KS 67401 620-429-2636 1

Superior Van & Mobility 12329 Industriplex Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70809 855-208-5576 1,3

Jay Hatfield Mobility, LLC 200 S. East Avenue Columbus, KS 66725 800-545-4227 1

Superior Van & Mobility 1901 Westbank Expwy, Ste 500 Harvey, LA 70058 855-208-5576 1

Jay Hatfield Mobility, LLC 11922 East Kellogg Wichita, KS 67207 620-429-2636 1

____________________________

____________________________

MAINE Advanced Modifications, Inc. 1766 Hammond Street Hermon, ME 04401 207-848-8226 1,3

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

MobilityWorks 32 Lewiston Road, Unit 2B Gray, ME 04039 207-657-6664 1,3

MobilityWorks 57 George Levin Dr. N. Attleboro, MA 02760 508-643-0605 1,3

MobilityWorks 8175 Gratiot Road Saginaw, MI 48609 888-473-5402 1,3

Total Mobility Concepts LLC 1204 S. Gloster Street Tupelo, MS 38801 662-269-2068 1

____________________________

MobilityWorks 333 Boston Prov. Hwy., Bldg. C Norwood, MA 02062 781-278-8885 1,3

____________________________

____________________________

MINNESOTA

MISSOURI

Bert’s Truck Equipment of Moorhead, Inc. 3804 Hwy. 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-233-8681 1

D.W. Auto & Home Mobility Specialties 1208 N. Garth Ave. Columbia, MO 65203 800-568-2271 1,2,3

Cummings Mobility 2511 West Hwy 13 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-8889 1

Jay Hatfield Mobility, LLC 1115 SW Oldham Parkway Lee Summit, MO 64081 620-429-2636 1

Cummings Mobility 2490 Rice Street Little Canada, MN 55113 651-633-7887 1

Southern Bus & Mobility, Inc. 80 South Highway Dr. Valley Park, MO 63088 636-825-0700 1

Cummings Mobility Conversions & Supply Inc. 6540 Jansen Ave. NE Albertville, MN 55301 763-497-0103 1,2,3

United Access 753 S. Kings Highway Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 877-501-8267 1

MARYLAND Auto Assist, Inc 5002 Lehigh Rd. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-2238 1 BEDCO Mobility 6300 Falls Road, Unit 2 Baltimore, MD 21209 410-825-1440 1

MobilityWorks 299 Washington Street, Suite H Woburn, MA 01801 339-298-5650 1,3 ____________________________

MICHIGAN

Koons Ford of Annapolis 2540 Riva Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 410-224-2100 1,3

Access Mobility Center 7620 Eastman Avenue Midland, MI 48642 989-633-6100 1

MobilityWorks 11409 Maryland Ave. Beltsville, MD 20705 301-595-4466 1,3

Advantage Mobility Outfitters 33073 Michigan Avenue Wayne, MI 48184 734-595-4400 1,3

MobilityWorks 2601 N. Rolling Road Windsor, MD 21244 443-384-0080 1

Clock Mobility 6700 Clay Ave. Grand Rapids, MI 49548 616-698-9400 1,2,3

Oneness Mobility Services 7701 Penn Belt Dr. Forestville, MD 20747 301-568-6686 1,2,3

Clock Mobility 587 W. Blue Star Drive Traverse City, MI 49684 231-943-9890 1

The Customizers, Inc. 14133 Pennsylvania Avenue Hagerstown, MD 21742 301-797-7727 1

Clock Mobility 5540 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Ste 11 Lansing, MI 48911 517-272-4488 1

Total Mobility Services 5411 Yukon Ct., Suite B Frederick, MD 21703 240-490-7840 1,3

Creative Mobility Group 7740 Clyde Park Avenue, SW Byron Center, MI 49315 616-583-9730 1

____________________________

Creative Mobility Group 32217 Stephenson Hwy. Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-577-5430 1,3

MASSACHUSETTS Adaptive Mobility Equipment 1551 Fall River Ave. Seekonk, MA 02771 508-336-2556 1,3

MobilityWorks 1604 East 14 Mile Road Madison Heights, MI 48071 888-473-5402 1,3

IMED Mobility 1915 County Road C Roseville, MN 55113 651-635-0655 1,2,3 ____________________________

MISSISSIPPI Handicapable Vans, Inc. 5516 N. State Street Jackson, MS 39206 601-981-0042 1,2,3 J’s Mobility Unlimited, Inc. 3880 Flowood Dr. Flowood, MS 39232 601-939-2112 1,2,3 Mobility Systems, Inc. 2857 Oak Grove Road Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601-264-0609 1,2,3 Team Adaptive, Inc. 978 Tommy Munro Dr. Biloxi, MS 39532 228-388-5700 1,3

United Access 618 Jackson St. Columbia, MO 65203 877-501-8267 1,3 United Access 980 S. Highway Dr. Fenton, MO 63026 877-501-8267 1 United Access 8200 NW 97th Terrace Kansas City, MO 64153 877-501-8267 1,3 United Access 1389 N. Cedarbrook Springfield, MO 65802 877-501-8267 1,3 United Access 9389 Natural Bridge Rd St. Louis, MO 63134 877-501-8267 1,2,3 ____________________________

Apr—Jun 2019

13

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS NEBRASKA Mobility Centers of Nebraska LLC 4044 60th Street Omaha, NE 68117 402-991-2555 1,3 Mobility Motoring 7222 South 142nd Street Omaha, NE 68138 402-884-3333 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility 11147 Mockingbird Drive Omaha, NE 68137 402-934-7826 1,3 Wheelchair Vans of Kohlls 12739 Q Street Omaha, NE 68137 402-895-6812 1 ____________________________

NEVADA Ability Center - Las Vegas 6001 S. Decatur Blvd. Suite N Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-434-3030 1,3 MobilityWorks 2100 S. Decatur Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-876-9606 1,3 ____________________________

NEW HAMPSHIRE MobilityWorks 54 Wentworth Ave. Londonderry, NH 03053 603-437-4444 1,2,3 New England Motor Car Co., Inc. 13 River Road Hudson, NH 03051 603-888-1207 1,3 ____________________________

NEW JERSEY Brunswick Automotive Professionals 1490 US 1 North North Brunswick, NJ 08902 732-545-6300 1,3

14

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Drive-Master 37 Daniel Road West Fairfield, NJ 07004 973-808-9709 1,2,3

Agor Enterprises, Inc 951 Panorama Trail South Rochester, NY 14625 585-385-2556 1

United Access 72 Hinchey Road Rochester, NY 14624 877-501-8267 1

FTMobility 255 US Hwy 46 West Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 973-546-1900 1

Boulevard Van City 2708 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Wheatfield, NY 14304 716-731-4335 1,3

United Access 2211 Erie Blvd. E. Syracuse, NY 13224 877-501-8267 1

MobilityWorks 2303 Wallace Blvd.

Cinnaminson, NJ 08077 888-473-5402 1,3

Bussani Mobility 500 Central Ave. Bethpage, NY 11714 516-938-5207 1,3

____________________________

MobilityWorks 5105 New Jersey RT-33 Farmingdale, NJ 07727 888-473-5402 1,3

Bussani Mobility 501 Concord Ave. Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914-835-8267 1,3

MobilityWorks 211 Woodbridge Avenue Highland Park, NJ 08904 732-640-5350 1,3

Bussani Mobility Team - East 401 E. Middle Country Road Smithtown, NY 11787 631-240-4128 1

MobilityWorks 1549 Gateway Blvd.

Woodbury, NJ 08096 888-473-5402 1,2,3

Captain Vantastic 56 Main Street Esopus, NY 12429 845-384-6207 1

____________________________

Fenton Mobility Products Inc. 26 Center Street Randolph, NY 14772 716-484-7014 1

NEW MEXICO United Access 3825 Osuna NE, Suite 1 Albuquerque, NM 87109 877-501-8267 1,2,3

NEW YORK

Main Mobility 9580 Main Street Clarence, NY 14031 716-759-6811 1,2,3

Abilities Unlimited of NY 90 E. Jefryn Blvd.

Deer Park, NY 11729 800-664-8434 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 1892 Central Ave., Suite 25 Albany, NY 12205 888-473-5402 1,3

Advance Mobility Plus, Inc. 847 East 43rd St. Brooklyn, NY 11210 718-253-1212 1

MobilityWorks 3560 Sheridan Drive Buffalo, NY 14226 716-342-3530 1,3

Agor Enterprises, Inc 1241 Erie Blvd. W. Syracuse, NY 13204 315-510-4272 1

Tim’s Trim, Inc. 25 Bermar Park Rochester, NY 14624 585-429-6270 1,2,3

____________________________

NORTH CAROLINA Care Solutions 110 B Edney Street Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-698-9844 1 Helping Wheels Mobility & Conversions 1078 Tunnel Road Suite F Asheville, NC 28805 828-552-3900 1 Ilderton Dodge/Conversion Co. 701 S. Main St. High Point, NC 27260 336-841-2020 1,2,3 Ilderton Conversion of Asheville 35 Dogwood Road Asheville, NC 28806 828-670-1111 1,3 Ilderton Conversion of Charlotte 1424 Archdale Drive Charlotte, NC 28210 704-523-2022 1,3 MobilityWorks 4025 Queen City Dr. Charlotte, NC 28208 704-399-0900 1,3 MobilityWorks 4012 Dearborn Place NW Concord, NC 28027 704-886-0868 1 Stalls Medical dba Adaptive Vans, Inc. 7980 Chapel Hill Road, Ste 101 Cary, NC 27513 919-233-0732 1

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

Van Products 2521 Noblin Road Raleigh, NC 27604 919-878-7110 1,3 Van Products 394A Green Meadow Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 910-793-5661 1 ____________________________

OHIO Columbus Mobility Specialists 6330 Proprietors Rd., Suite C Worthington, OH 43085 614-825-8996 1,2,3 Key Mobility Services 1944 U.S. St. Rt. 68 N. Xenia, OH 45385 937-374-3226 1 M.C. Mobility Systems 214 Valley St. Dayton, OH 45404 937-222-5001 1,3 M.C. Mobility Systems 7588 Tyler Blvd Mentor, OH 44060 800-951-6238 1,3 M.C. Mobility Systems 7233 Industrial Pkwy Plain City, OH 43064 800-834-8301 1,3 M.C. Mobility Systems 10691 Reading Rd. Evendale, OH 45241 513-469-8220 1,3 Marietta Mobility 221 Pike Street Marietta, OH 45750 800-690-4950 1,2,3 MobilityWorks 810 Moe Dr. Akron, OH 44310 888-473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks 12117 Princeton Pike Cincinnati, OH 45246 888-473-5402 1,3

MobilityWorks 1020 Laskey Rd. Toledo, OH 43612 888-473-5402 1,3 ____________________________

OKLAHOMA Handicapped Vehicle Services Unlimited 7215 E. 46th St. Tulsa, OK 74145 918-622-8400 1 United Access 730 W. Hefner Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73114 877-501-8267 1,3 ____________________________

OREGON Ability Center 9740 SW Wilsonville Road Wilsonville, OR 97070 971-224-5895 1,3

Keystone Coach Works 4786 Library Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-833-1900 1,2,3 M.I.T.S. Corp.

11448 N. Main Street Ext. Glen Rock, PA 17327 800-243-6487 1 MobilityWorks 10102 Seco Road Monroeville, PA 15146 888-473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks 2200 S. 12th St., Suite 2210 Allentown, PA 18103 888-473-5402 1,2,3 MobilityWorks 925 South Trooper Road Norristown, PA 19403 888-473-5402 1,2,3

Ability Center 3574 Marcola Road Springfield, OR 97477 541-726-4001 1,3

Steffy’s Garage, Inc. dba SGI Mobility 235 W Main Street Leola, PA 17540 717-656-6065 1,3

Performance Mobility 4347 NW Yeon Avenue Portland, OR 97210 877-501-8267 1,2,3

Total Mobility Services 7917 Derry St., Suite 124 Harrisburg, PA 17111 800-558-7408 1,3

Performance Mobility 12905 NE Airport Way Portland, OR 97230 877-501-8267 1,3

Total Mobility Services, Inc. 4785 Penn Avenue Boswell, PA 15531 814-629-9935 1,2,3

R & J Mobility Services, Inc. 4938 Crater Lake Avenue Medford, OR 97504 541-245-4846 1,3

____________________________

R & J Mobility Services, Inc. 155 “E” Street Independence, OR 97351 503-838-5520 1,2,3

PUERTO RICO Equipos Pro Impedidos de P.R. Carr #1 Int R796 KM 10.4 Bo Bairoa La 25 Caguas, PR 00725 787-746-7667 1,3 ____________________________

____________________________

SOUTH CAROLINA

PENNSYLVANIA

Ilderton Conversion of Charleston LLC 8550 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29406 843-576-0414 1,3

Keller Wheelchair Lifts 197 Main Street Luzerne, PA 18709 570-288-1004 1,2,3

Mobility of Charleston dba Mobility Supercenter 932 Savannah Hwy. Charleston, SC 29407 843-225-6760 1 Mobility Supercenter 11816 Hwy 17 Bypass Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 843-651-3334 1 MobilityWorks 3624 Fernandina Road Columbia, SC 29210 803-828-5754 1 MobilityWorks 563 Woodruff Rd. Greenville, SC 29607 864-293-7171 1 ____________________________

SOUTH DAKOTA IMED Mobility (Mobility Sales & Rental) 200 East 1st Street Tea, SD 57064 605-498-2200 1 ____________________________

TENNESSEE Apple Independence Mobility 1750 Lee Seminary Rd. Cookeville, TN 38506 877-528-5788 1 MobilityWorks 1325 Mackey Branch Drive Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-308-8267 1,3 MobilityWorks 1015 S. Water Avenue Gallatin, TN 37066 651-451-7373 1 MobilityWorks 173 Industrial Drive Lavergne, TN 37086 615-280-5058 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility 10640 Braden Dickey Lane Knoxville, TN 37932 855-208-5576 1,3

Apr—Jun 2019

15

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS United Access 2165 Hillshire Circle Memphis, TN 38133 877-501-8267 1,3

MobilityWorks 239 Commercial Drive Buda, TX 78610 512-295-3800 1,3

United Access 2704 Lawing Ln., Suite 300 Rowlett, TX 75088 877-501-8267 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 232 E. Belt Blvd., #100 Richmond, VA 23224 804-233-8267 1,3

____________________________

MobilityWorks 2110 N. Beach Ft. Worth, TX 76111 866-211-8267 1,3

____________________________

PC Industries, Inc. dba Mobility Supercenter 7450 Midlothian Turnpike North Chesterfield, VA 23225 804-231-7774 1,2,3

TEXAS Access 2 Mobility, Inc. 12406 State Highway 155 South Tyler, TX 75703 903-592-6760 1,3 Adaptive Driving Access College Station 2214 N. Earl Rudder Freeway Bryan, TX 77808 979-307-7676 1,3 Adaptive Driving Access 2201 Gollihar Road Corpus Christi, TX 78415 361-852-0922 1 Adaptive Driving Access Houston 6836 N Sam Houston Pkwy W Houston, TX 77064 713-874-9100 1,2,3 Adaptive Driving Access McAllen 120 North 20th McAllen, TX 78501 956-971-0001 1 Adaptive Driving Access Pasadena 3430 E Sam Houston Pkwy S. Pasadena, TX 77505 281-487-1969 1,2,3 American Lift Aids, Inc. 2310 Calder Avenue Beaumont, TX 77702 409-832-3400 1,2,3 American Lift Aids, Inc. 2407 W. Southwest Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701 903-581-8844 1,2,3 Lift Aids, Inc. 1500 Westpark Way Euless, TX 76040 817-835-0035 1,2,3

16

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

MobilityWorks 4150 Interstate 30 Mesquite, TX 75150 972-280-7114 1,3

UTAH Performance Mobility 9082 S. 300 West Sandy, UT 84070 877-501-8267 1 ____________________________

VERMONT

MobilityWorks 6473 DeZavala Road San Antonio, TX 78249 210-697-8884 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 5C David Drive Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-878-8640 1,3

MobilityWorks 2700 Franklin Ave. Waco, TX 76710 254-754-2700 1

____________________________

MobilityWorks 16262 IH 35 North Selma, TX 78154 210-718-0055 1,3

VIRGINIA Driver Rehabilitation Center of Excellence dba. DRCE Mobility Solutions 14101 Parke Long Court, Ste. E Chantilly, VA 20151 703-345-2990 1,3

Priority Honda Hampton dba Priority Mobility 4115 West Mercury Blvd.

Hampton, VA 23666 757-838-1252 1 ____________________________

WASHINGTON Absolute Mobility Center 21704 - 87th Ave. SE Woodinville, WA 98072 425-481-6546 1,3 Goldenwest Mobility 1815 E. Francis Ave. Spokane, WA 99208 509-484-3842 1,3

Independent Lifestyles 4880 S. Amherst Hwy. Madison Heights, VA 24572 434-846-7510 1

Kersey Mobility Systems 14640 NE 91st Street, Suite A Redmond, WA 98052 425-406-8484 1

M.I.T.S. of VA 2075 W. Main St. Waynesboro, VA 22980 540-932-7300 1

Kersey Mobility Systems 6015 160th Ave. E. Sumner, WA 98390 253-863-4744 1,2,3

United Access 2109 Luna Rd. Suite 200 Carrollton, TX 75006 877-501-8267 1,3

Mobility of Norfolk dba Mobility Supercenter 3301 N. Military Hwy. Norfolk, VA 23518 757-201-7495 1

____________________________

United Access 5044 Doniphan Drive, Ste. A El Paso, TX 79932 877-501-8267 1

Mobility Plus Inc. of Virginia 763 Union Street Salem, VA 24153 540-389-3400 1,3

United Access 15301 North IH 35, Suite A Pflugerville, TX 78660 877-501-8267 1,3

MobilityWorks 5751 General Washington Drive Alexandria, VA 22312 234-542-3022 1

Open Road Mobility 6669 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79110 806-353-2747 1 Open Road Mobility 7411 - 82nd Street Lubbock, TX 79424 806-771-5873 1,2,3

MobilityWorks 6059 Virginia Beach Blvd.

Norfolk, VA 23502 757-455-9889 1,3

WISCONSIN A & J Mobility 1330 Mid Valley Drive De Pere, WI 54115 920-632-4882 1,3 A & J Mobility 2650 Prospect Drive Eau Claire, WI 54703 715-874-6630 1,3 A & J Mobility 4125 Terminal Drive McFarland, WI 53558 608-579-1500 1,3

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

A & J Mobility 333 Washington Street Valders, WI 54245 920-775-9333 1,2,3

Silver Cross Automotive 14568 - 116 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5M 3E9 844-799-5464 1

A & J Mobility 3058 Helsan Drive Richfield, WI 53076 800-517-1024 1,3

____________________________

Advantage Mobility & Services dba GT Mobility 2833 Stanley St. Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-341-2712 1 MobilityWorks N8 W22195 Johnson Dr., Ste. 130 Waukesha, WI 53186 888-473-5402 1,3 ____________________________

WYOMING Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc. 1207 E. Pershing Blvd.

Cheyenne, WY 82001 307-637-7663 1

CANADA ____________________________

ALBERTA Accessible Vehicle Solutions, Inc. 1231 36 Ave NE #14 Calgary, AB T2E 6N6 587-319-2819 ECO Medical 18303 - 107 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5S 1K4 780-483-6232 1,3 Silver Cross Automotive 101-8289 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V3N 0B9 844-799-5464 1 Silver Cross Automotive 4216 54 Avenue SE, Unit 60 Calgary, AB T2C 2E3 403-243-6300 1

BRITISH COLUMBIA Advanced Mobility Products 101-8620 Glenlyon Parkway Burnaby, BC V5J 0B6 604-293-0002 1 Alliance Mobility Solutions 1075 McCurdy Road Kelowna, BC V1X 2P9 236-420-1400 1,3 Alliance Mobility Solutions 12211 Vulcan Way, #110 Richmond, BC V6V 1J7 604-370-7004 1,3 Can Am Mobility 158 Old Vernon Rd Kelowna, BC V1X 4R2 250-491-0003 1,3 Island Mediquip Ltd. 2258 Dorman Road Nanaimo, BC V9Z 6R4 250-824-0390 1 Island Mediquip Ltd. 750 Enterprise Crescent Victoria, BC V8Z 6R4 250-634-1895 1 Medichair Northern BC 849 - 2nd Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3A6 250-562-8280 1 Sidewinder Conversions & Mobility Ltd. 44658 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 0G5 604-792-2082 1,2,3 Silver Cross Automotive 204-2657 Wilfert Road Victoria, BC V9B 5Z3 844-799-5464 1 ____________________________

MANITOBA

QUEBEC

Northland Home Healthcare Products 865 Bradford St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 0N6 204-786-6786 1

Adaptation 04 Inc. 3025, rue Girard Trois-Rivieres, QC G8Z 2M4 819-372-0102 1,3

____________________________

ONTARIO Conval-Aid/Liftability 2600 Lancaster Road Ottawa, ON K1B 4Z4 613-738-2721 1 Courtland Mobility 1355 Artisans Court, Unit B Burlington, ON L7L 5Y2 800-354-8138 1,2,3 Goldline Mobility & Conversions 762 Industrial Road London, ON N5V 3N7 519-453-0480 1,2,3 Mobility in Motion 1710 Bishop Street N, Unit 8 Cambridge, ON N1T 1T2 519-623-9930 1 Northend Mobility 301 Aqueduct St. Welland, ON L3C 1C9 905-735-5552 1,2 Silver Cross Automotive 5300 Canotek Road, Unit 42 Ottawa, ON K1J 1A4 844-799-5464 1 Silver Cross Automotive 2028 Dundas Street London, ON N5V 1R2 844-799-5464 1 Silver Cross Automotive 14 Goodmark Place Etobicoke, ON M9W 6R1 844-799-5464 1 Silver Cross Automotive 675A Davenport Road Waterloo, ON N2V 2E2 844-799-5464 1,2,3 ____________________________

Centre d’ Autonomie 399 Ave De La Friche Dolbeau-Mistassini, QC G8L 2T3 418-276-8336 1,3 Centre de L’Auto St-Lambert 145 Damase Breton St-Lambert de Lauzon, QC G0S 2W0 866-641-0419 1,3 Eureka Solutions 829 J-Ambroise-Craig Levis, QC G7A 2N2 866-562-2555 1 Eureka Solutions 2755 Montee St Hubert Longueuil, QC J3Y 4H6 866-562-2555 1,3 Eureka Solutions 5018 Industrial Blvd.

Sherbrooke, QC J1R 0P4 866-562-2555 1,3 Handi Zone Inc. 9000 Boul Industriel Chambly, QC J3L 4X3 514-291-1615 1,3 SMVR 2 Visions, Inc. 414 Blvd St. Germain Ouest Rimouski, QC G5L 3N4 418-723-9225 1,3 TVR Technologies, Inc. 595 Lanaudiere Repentigny, QC J6A 7N1 888-919-2555 1,3 Van Action 4350 Autoroute 13 Laval, QC H7R 6E9 800-668-8705 1,2,3 ____________________________

SASKATCHEWAN PrairieHeart Mobility 3033 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, SK S4T 1H5 306-584-8456 1,3

Apr—Jun 2019

17

CEO’S MESSAGE

“A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish”

By Danny Langfield

W

ell, that was fun. No,

are available online at : www.nmeda.

the Executive Board’s “Wheel of

really—that WAS

com/2019ConfSurveyResults)

Fortune” skit—although that was

genuinely fun. I refer in

Speaking of our valued exhibitors,

funny) to talk a little bit about the

these vague and general terms to the 2019 Annual Conference & Expo, a summary of which begins on page 37.

we’d like to gently remind our

state of the industry:

friends that chose to sit out the 2019

So, we know that Braun has bought

event: Past performance may not be

deep into the dealer channel; we

indicative of future results. And as Dr.

know that VMI has acquired the

The pictures and descriptions are

Thompson would say, “…that wisdom

direct seller, AMS; we know that

great, but they don’t really do justice

cuts both ways.”* Indeed, one of the

MobilityWorks continues to grow;

to the actual experience. One of the

largest improvements noted in the

and we know consolidation in

most enjoyable aspects of being in

survey results was this:

our industry, among dealers and

Daytona for the 2019 event was the

manufacturers, continues unabated.

almost palpable sensation of rising

For me, anyway, this raises some

energy, a feeling of momentum…the

existential questions: What is

sense that the conference as a whole,

a Dealer member? What is a

and the people attending, were

Manufacturer member? And where

moving together with purpose, in a

do QAP and MQAP fit into this new

common direction.

paradigm? I know there are some

Of course, that is just my anecdotal

of you out there that are probably pretty excited about these changes—

(and perhaps somewhat biased)

understandably so—and then there

opinion. Turning to a less emotional and more empirical approach, we find the following: • Dealer attendance increased 13% over 2018 • Dealer overall conference rating also increased 13% over 2018 • DRS attendance increased 20% over 2018 • The education sessions rating increased 30% over 2018 • Exhibitor overall conference rating increased 21% over 2018 (Complete survey results were shared via Short Circuit email on April 4 and

18

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

All well and good, you might be thinking, but what does this have to do with the column title?

Good question. At the opening general session at conference, I addressed the audience for a few minutes (no, I don’t mean

“

are some of you who may be a little bit afraid of what the future holds.

I’m going to tell you this from the association side: What we’re not going to do is bury our heads in the sand and pretend that none of this is happening. We are going to acknowledge the changes in this

But do you know what those board members also are? They’re elected, and they’re elected by you, to represent your interests.”

industry, and we’re going to renew

your interests. So before we do the

the full list. Then please, reach out

our commitment to adapting to

strategic planning session, it’s up to

to any of them, or to me, and let us

those changes.

you to communicate to your board

know your thoughts. We need folks

So, what does that mean, what does

members, “Hey, this is my position—I

who will speak up and be a part of the

that look like? Well, it starts with the

want my voice heard in that room.”

solution—hope we can count on you.

board of directors. Sometime in the

I’m pleased to report that our

---

next three months we’re going to be

strategic planning session has now

getting together and formulating a

been officially scheduled for June 6-7

new strategic plan.

in Tampa, Florida. We are going to be

This column’s title is from a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, writer and pioneering aviator. At least that’s what Google says…

Now, those board members certainly

tackling some tough questions as we

have their own opinions. But do you

work to develop a plan for the future

know what those board members

of this industry and this association.

also are? They’re elected, and

Wondering who your board

they’re elected by you, to represent

members are? Check out page 4 for

*Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas”

July 22–25, 2019

Hosted by MPS and Collebuilt in San Diego, CA

NMEDA MANUFACTURER SERVICE SCHOOL This NMEDA Manufacturer Service School is a convenient and costeffective way to earn multiple training certificates during just one trip.

Don’t delay! Seats are limited and fill quickly.

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON, VISIT www.nmeda.com/MSS

Apr—Jun 2019

19

PRESENTS

THE ELEME N TS OF S AFE T Y Q Ta

Kn

Ex

Ed

Training

QLK-150

Sa

Ac

Mx

Safety

Qa

Iv

Qt

Iq

St

Qp

Quality

Testing

Innovation

Standards

Br

QRT-360

Q’POD

QRT MAX

Qt

QUANTUM

Wheelchair

Dx

Sd

Ff

Rf

QRT Deluxe

Fm

Sp

Sv

Support

QRT Standard

Forward-Facing

Ft

Features

Brackets Sa Sales

Wc

Accessibility

INQLINE

Rear-Facing

Sl

Floor Mounts

In

Seamless

Qb

Dl

Fr

Dr

Q’UBE

Freedom

Br

Brackets

Rm Remote

Dealers

Drivers

Is

Oc

Occupant

Pg

Passenger

Experience

Ft

Features

Installers

Knowledge

Education

Aq

Aqademy

Co Courses

Sm

Seminars

The PeriodiQ Table of Securement!

Service

Qk

QLK-150

PERSONAL WHEELCHAIR DOCKING SYSTEM THE QLK-150 FORMULA:

FEATURES BRACKETS ADVANCED WHEELCHAIR DOCKING L EAR N MORE AT : QS TR A INT.CO M /Q L K- 1 5 0

Apr—Jun 2019

21

INDUSTRY ADVISOR

More About “One-Off”

T

his is an update to the article

covered by the exemptions. This is

published in the 2015 spring

still an option for a dealer faced with

issue of the Circuit Breaker

a one-off situation, but according

about “one-off.” Just to recap, one-

to NHTSA, these applications for

off is a never to be repeated vehicle

permission to modify a one-off

NMEDA CRP Coordinator

modification that has not been proven

have NOT been happening since

Harry Baergen was previously the

to comply with F/CMVSS, because

the introduction of the 49 CFR Part

the modification does not justify

595.7 exemptions in 2001. This may

(financially or otherwise) destructive

be because dealers consider it to be

vehicle testing to certify compliance

a remote option due to the time it

for one customer. Where a client

would take to draft a letter and due

requires a special needs modification

to the anticipated length of time it

that is not supported by an F/CMVSS

would take to get a response from

test report or is not covered by a make

NHTSA. However, NMEDA is aware

inoperative exemption under 49 CFR

that there are one-off situations out

Part 595.7, the NMEDA dealer could be

there, because NMEDA has received

faced with a one-off modification. In a

questions about one-offs from

one-off situation, or if the dealer is not

individual dealers and their clients.

sure, the dealer might just refuse to do

Based on the most recent information

the work to avoid a make inoperative

provided to NMEDA about a particular

violation under 49 U.S.C. 30122. While

one-off situation, and based on recent

this may be commendable, NMEDA is

communication between NMEDA

finding that dealers do not resort to,

and NHTSA lawyers, the following is

or are not aware of, the last option,

a sample letter drafted by NMEDA

which is to apply to NHTSA for a non-

to assist a special needs customer in

enforcement waiver.

applying for a one-off enforcement

In 2001, the 49 CFR Part 595 final

waiver on behalf of a NMEDA dealer.

Harry G. Baergen, CET

Regulation Enforcement Officer for Transport Canada. Currently, he acts as the Compliance Review Program (CRP) Coordinator for NMEDA. If you have any questions about the contents of this article, or about the NMEDA CRP, contact Harry Baergen at 778.888.2210.

“

rule provided a list of exemptions for

...according

to NHTSA, these applications for permission to modify a one-off have NOT been happening since the introduction of the 49 CFR-Part 595.7 exemptions in 2001.”

adaptive modifications. However, in Part F of the final rule is NHTSA’s decision to also retain the existing case-by-case mechanism to review individual requests by written submission for adaptations not

22

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

March 22, 2019 Mr. Jonathan Morrison, Chief Council U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration West Building, W45-336 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Attention: [contact NMEDA for name],

This sample letter has been reviewed

by NHTSA and can hopefully serve as a guideline for US dealers. The letter can be modified to apply to other types of one-off special needs situations and it can also be reworded to serve as an application by the dealer on behalf

Subject: Enforcement waiver for one-off seat modification for person with a disability

of the customer, which is likely the

I am writing on behalf of a modifier who is refusing to adapt the seat in my vehicle to accommodate my particular physical condition. One reason for the modifier’s refusal is to avoid a possible violation under 49 U.S.C. 30122 by making inoperative FMVSS 207, 210 and possibly 208.

original intent of the NHTSA waiver

I have (name of disability), which means my upper torso is short and my legs are long. Therefore, for me to be able to drive any vehicle including my (model year, make and model of vehicle) the driver’s seat must be raised approximately 4 to 6 inches. I understand that if the modifier exercises reasonable judgement and skill to preserve compliance this modification can be done. For example, if the modifier tries to stay within the seat belt geometry and strength stipulated for the upper anchorage, FMVSS 208 and 210 can be preserved and if the modifier uses a seat riser anchored in the OEM holes with the same OEM hardware top and bottom to simulate the original anchorage strength of the seat to floor, plus any additional strength to compensate for the increased moment caused by the change in seat system center of gravity, FMVSS 207 can also be preserved.

For Canadian procedure, please see

However, it seems that modifiers are accustomed to exercising the make inoperative exemptions provided in 49 CFR Part 595.7 and are unfamiliar with any procedure outside of that. They are members of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and they apparently have some knowledge of a NHTSA “permission” procedure as mentioned in the final rule to 49 CFR Part 595 in section F, but do not have the familiarity to write the letter. My dilemma is that I would prefer a qualified NMEDA shop do the modification rather than a garage that is indifferent to federal standards, but the NMEDA shops say they need “permission” from NHTSA and are reluctant to apply for it. In the “Background and overview” of section of 49 CFR Part 595 it states that businesses must apply, but from recent conversations between NMEDA and NHTSA lawyers it appears that a client can also apply.

Therefore, I ask that you please accept this as an application for waiver to install my driver’s seat riser on behalf of (name and address of business).

drafting a letter to NHTSA for a one-

provision. A dealer can also add part numbers and photographs if necessary. the 2015 article.

A viable solution may not exist for every one-off situation. However, to best serve the special needs one-off client it is recommended that the dealer seek consultation, if necessary, either for a possible solution or for off waiver. “This way, if at all possible, the NMEDA dealer can do the work rather than a facility that is not subject to NMEDA guidelines or a shop that may be indifferent to federal standards and best practices.”

---

In addition to the seat riser, I must also sit right up against the steering wheel in order to drive.

Therefore, I will also require a modifier to deactivate my driver airbag. Since I am the only person able to operate the vehicle with the seat modification I believe my airbag situation falls under the exemption provided in 49 CFR Part 595.7 (14). I also believe that in my case deactivating the airbag would be safer than an on-off switch.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter and I am attaching a letter from my occupational therapist (or doctor) to confirm my disability.

(Name & address of client)

Apr—Jun 2019

23

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT

Help Me Help You

Reflections on Member Engagement (Jerry Maguire Edition)

Amy Schoppman NMEDA Director of Government Relations

F

irst things first: if you didn’t

Maguire (magnificently portrayed by

read the above title in the

a pre-couch-jumping-lunatic-phase

voice of Jerry Maguire, you

Tom Cruise) has a post-practice

did it wrong and I ask that you please

locker room encounter with his sole

start over. Second, if you somehow

remaining client, Arizona Cardinals

haven’t seen the 1996 romantic

receiver Rod Tidwell (played by Cuba

Send your related questions

comedy/drama/sports movie Jerry

Gooding, Jr., who won an Oscar for

to Amy.Schoppman@nmeda.org

Maguire, I ask that you please do so

the role, gave the greatest acceptance

or call the NMEDA offfice at

as soon as possible. Basic knowledge

speech ever, and then promptly made

813.264.2697.

of this perpetually rewatchable—or

a series of terrible career decisions).

utterly intolerable, depending on your

Prepared to dedicate all his energy,

taste—modern classic will not only

effort, and focus to helping his client

enrich your life (or at least not make it

succeed, Jerry begs Rod to cooperate

worse), it will help you pick up on the

and to help him understand how he

multiple references made throughout

can best be of assistance.

this column. For the sake of clarity, said references will be identified with an asterisk; I realize some readers may be uninterested in familiarizing themselves with Jerry Maguire, in which case…I’m sorry to hear that.*

“Help me…help you,” Jerry pleads, accompanied by wonderfully melodramatic hand gestures and enunciation. It’s an iconic scene, and one that has taken on increased significance to me lately. While I’ve

To recap: the plot of the movie involves

never thrown a fit in a men’s locker

a high-powered sports agent who

room (a men’s locker room…), nor

has a moral epiphany, is fired for

would I describe my job as an “up-at-

expressing it in an earnest yet ill-

dawn, pride-swallowing siege,” I’ve

advised 25-page “mission statement,”

recently found myself identifying with

and finds himself struggling with

Jerry’s particular variety of frustration.

freshly-acquired idealism and one loyal

Gazing out the car window during

but uncooperative client. Sometime

the annual post-NMEDA conference

around the 70-minute mark, Jerry

drive back to Tampa, doing my best to disregard both the inane ramblings of my personal chauffeur/coworker Trevor Jennings and the soul-sucking landscape bordering I-4 West, I began to wonder: are NMEDA members even aware of the scope and importance of Government Relations (GR)? Why is it that NMEDA regularly publicizes the multiple GR-related projects currently

24

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

underway—projects that impact every category of membership—yet I rarely receive questions, comments, or interest from anyone (other than the same handful of—tremendously helpful and appreciated!—people I always hear from)? Why does our membership seem so unconcerned with my ability to influence matters that directly impact their businesses, products, and professions?

Read the Short Circuit

clicks and numbers and likes, but that

NMEDA distributes an email to

stung a little. I’m not trying to make

members—affectionately referred to as a “Short Circuit”—every Thursday.

Recent messages have included general industry news about auto tariffs, product recalls, and auto sales, as well as NMEDA-specific information such as upcoming tech training, a request for past-due VA invoice submissions (sorry, I have to: show me the money!!*),

I do not know the answers to these

the announcement of our webinar

questions, but—assuming anyone is

regarding the new QAP audit process,

even reading this, and we’ll get to that in a moment—you do. And I am out here for YOU.* So please help me help you by (1) educating yourself on, engaging your company in, or at least marginally paying attention to NMEDA’s GR projects and (2) sharing your thoughts with me. I cannot channel The Things You Think and Do Not Say.* So how might a NMEDA member become more informed and engaged in GR? Let me count the ways…

I deactivated my Facebook account

connected, I am capable, and I need you to share information with me if I’m going to maximize NMEDA’s policy impact. The AV conversation is a Very Big Deal in DC and elsewhere, and I’d like to thoroughly and accurately inform decision-making bodies of our industry’s various relevant opinions.

Help me help you.

“

Members are sometimes my best source of information—your opinion matters to me, your contribution will be valued, and I will thank you often.”

and a link to an article in a major

Join a Committee or Work Group

American daily newspaper featuring

True story: I once sent an email

a NMEDA member and the work that the automotive mobility industry does on behalf of people with disabilities and mobility challenges. Interested?

Follow NMEDA on Social Media

history here,* but I am eager, I am

Contact webmaster@nmeda.org to sign up.

to eleven NMEDA manufacturer members regarding participation in a work group dedicated to an issue that would (and still will, by the way) directly impact their businesses. Five bothered to respond to my email,

eight years ago, so I understand that

On a personal note, it was revealed

and only two ultimately participated

not everyone wishes to engage in the

during a recent communications

in the work group. I attended college

disheartening and relentless voyeuristic

meeting that my interview with

in New Orleans, so I’ve seen a lot of

interconnection that social media

Mobility Management received

weird stuff in my life, but this response

can turn out to be. But even I must

something like eight clicks (three of

rate astonished me. In comparison

admit that social media also makes

which were probably from my mom).

to other associations I’ve worked

it unbelievably easy to stay informed

Really, you guys? Only eight of you

with—associations that hold rigorous

and, for better or worse, social media is

could gather the strength to read

30-participant conference calls about

not just a phase like torn Levi’s or law

a three-page article about a topic

nothing of immediate importance

school*—it’s here to stay. A reasonable

(autonomous vehicles and smart

at 9:00 pm every other Thursday—

method for moderate NMEDA-related

cities) that will 100% impact your

NMEDA asks relatively little of its

information intake would be to follow

business, profession, and/or general

committee and work group volunteers.

us on Twitter, Facebook, and/or

existence at some point in the not-

Members are sometimes my best

LinkedIn. Give it a try.

so-distant future? I have for the most

source of information—your opinion

part successfully shielded myself from

matters to me, your contribution will

an online culture that is obsessed with

be valued, and I will thank you often—

Apr—Jun 2019

25

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT (continued) so please consider volunteering an

then send me an email about it and

interacting with a federal or state

hour of your time every one to three

maybe force me to think differently and

agency on your behalf…please, help

months. That’s how you become great,

generate new ideas. You just tell me:

me be your Ambassador of Quan.*

man.*

what can I do for you.*

I may live to regret this column. I

Read the Circuit Breaker Magazine

Contact Me

The Circuit Breaker (this magazine)

Finally, because I was socialized

is also available online (www.nmeda.

in 1990s suburban Maryland and I

com/circuitbreaker). Our policy is to

haven’t quite eliminated the neuroses

provide one hard copy to each active

associated with such an upbringing,

member, but now anyone with internet

I tend to wonder: Is it me? Am I the

access can read it. Make no mistake,

problem? I’ve been told more than

there’s some solid material right here –

once that I can come off as cold or

“QAP Straight Talk with Chuck Hardy,”

unfriendly. In part it’s true—I don’t cry

interviews with members of Congress,

at movies, I don’t gush over babies,

awkward headshots…we’ve got it all in

and I don’t buy Christmas presents five

one publication. It’s (probably) been

months early.* I actually don’t believe

said that I am the Ernest Hemingway

in Santa Claus (there, I said it). But

of automotive mobility equipment

more than a few NMEDA members can

trade association publications, so

attest that I am a not unfriendly person

why not just make it a habit to read

who has good listening skills and is

this column? Learn about something

genuinely dedicated to solving your

that might impact your business. Gain

problems (or at least pointing you in

awareness of what NMEDA is up to in

the direction of a solution). Whether it’s

Help me…help you.

Washington, DC. Develop an opinion

partner relations, passage of legislation,

about whatever I did or didn’t write,

resolution of past-due invoices, or

I’m glad we had this talk.*

may end up receiving an average of 264 phone calls a day* because this Jerry Maguire-themed article effectively inspired members to become passionate about NMEDA’s GR projects. Or, equally as likely, the NMEDA office may receive calls from members wondering why the GR lady used a 23-year-old movie as a mechanism for communicating a still-obscure message. If you fall into the latter category, let me be clear: I cannot direct a maximally impactful association GR program—a strategic enterprise designed to deliver desired results for members—if members aren’t communicating with me about what they want, need, and/or could use some help with.

---

Get Social with NMEDA

26

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

CANADA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Stronger Together

We should be the gold standard for

are often contributors to bringing about

vehicle adaptations and in concert with

these small victories. For many, it is why

our ADED friends we need to jointly

we are in this business. It is my hope we

pursue elevating the CDRS designation

can continue to partner with CARP and

in tandem with our NMEDA QAP

MODC to share and inspire others who

standards.

need help finding their own victory story.

I have previously mentioned that

In 2010, we had 48 dues-paying NMEDA

we will be attending the CCMTA

Canada members. We are around 30

conference taking place this June in

today and this number is fluctuating.

Ottawa. This conference is attended by the Ministers of Transport and senior bureaucrats from every province and region of Canada. We hope and plan to

By David Parton

respectfully present and introduce our

R

association and trust that the value will

struggle to achieve awareness and to

recently completed a joint awareness

eading over articles and

be recognized and to some degree our

listening to others who

standards will become their standards.

participate within NMEDA,

Awareness of who we are has also

I see the many years of effort and elevate standards within the vehicle mobility business.

been a priority for this board. We have campaign with CARP (formerly the Canadian Association for Retired

NMEDA in the United States has

Persons) and the Canadian March of

had a number of significant success

Dimes (MODC). It is hard to assess

stories, and ADED, likewise as our

return on an awareness campaign

sister organization, has achieved

as there is no monetized value

much in establishing the bar for those

assessment. CARP will be presenting

with a Certified Driver Rehabilitation

a report of online traffic from the

Specialist (CDRS) designation.

Here in Canada, we are behind the curve; CDRS designation is not mandated by provincial bodies.

Likewise, our NMEDA Quality Assurance Program (QAP) standards and guidelines are appreciated but mandated only in certain circles.

SAAQ in Quebec has made QAP a requirement to receive funding.

WSIB in Ontario has required it also, though the list is long of agencies and transport ministries who need what we offer.

“

campaign.

How are we to establish ourselves as the standard for Canada when the majority of this industry does not stand as members of our Canadian association?

I am seeking solutions and suggestions as to how we address this most uniquely Canadian question. The values we share need to bring greater inclusion.

We need to bring education and value if we hope to have the many who are not with us. We need to have a carrot to bring members in. We will have a stick once we further establish our standards as having real value to government bodies. But we need both the carrot and the stick, or we will just be school yard bullies.

We are the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association and we exist to

The values we share need to bring greater inclusion. We need to bring education and value if we hope to have a carrot to bring members in.”

There is also a conversation about

promote safety and quality. We are not

exploring a television experience

here to beat up anybody, we are here

through the CARP media platform.

to assist and educate.

Currently, the NMEDA “Changing Lives:

We have a great story to tell, and

The Road to Independence” program is being reviewed. The more times and more places our story is told, the more communities we serve know we are

we have a lot of potential friends in Canada who need to be or need to again be, part of our association.

We are stronger together and in the

The Canadian board has made it a

here.

priority to seek opportunities for

Everyone enjoys a story telling of

strong and resolute.

victory in the face of adversity, and we

---

showcasing and presenting our QAP standards and our collective values.

pursuit of safety, we need to remain

Apr—Jun 2019

27

5 Questions With...

CONGRESSWOMAN WALORSKI A fortuitous encounter on Capitol Hill led to one of NMEDA’s strongest and most consequential relationships with a Member of Congress. When Representative Jackie Walorski served on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, NMEDA’s Government Relations team observed her passion and commitment to ensuring that veterans receive high-quality services and care. Approaching her office for a scheduled meeting with staff, we noticed that the Congresswoman herself had emerged and was briskly headed toward the Capitol for votes. Not ones to miss an opportunity, NMEDA’s GR team approached Rep. Walorski, introduced ourselves, and were delighted when she invited us to “walk and talk” with her (which surely looked as cool as it does on The West Wing). By the time we finished our conversation outside of the House Chamber, all parties had enthusiastically agreed that Rep. Walorski would be the lead sponsor of the Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015. The rest is history. Rep. Walorski and her staff deeply understand the importance of the work that NMEDA members do to increase transportation opportunities for veterans and disabled Americans, and they are assisting us with our VMSA implementation efforts. Although she was recently reassigned to the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, the Congresswoman remains committed to addressing VA-related concerns such as patient care, building a culture of accountability, and ensuring that VA fulfills our nation’s promise to care for those who have served. Learn more about Representative Jackie Walorski in this edition of “5 Questions With…”

1. What inspired you to run for public office?

I am grateful for the opportunity

have the resources and opportunities

to serve people, fight for my fellow

they need to achieve the American

Hoosiers, and give my constituents a

Dream and help their communities

voice in Washington.

thrive.

to do good and to put that into

2. What problem or policy issue do you think deserves more attention?

3. What are your thoughts on autonomous vehicles?

action. My husband and I lived in

I think we need to concentrate on

America is always at the forefront

Romania for four years and worked

helping our veterans get back into

of innovation, and that brings

as missionaries helping impoverished

the workforce when they transition

exciting possibilities. But with new

children. When we returned home,

from active duty. Veterans are

technologies come new challenges.

I wanted to serve in a new way, so

innovative, hardworking leaders

We need to make sure new

I ran for the Indiana Statehouse.

who make excellent entrepreneurs,

technology is accessible to people of

I served three terms there before

and I will continue working with my

all abilities and new advancements

being elected to Congress in 2012.

colleagues to ensure our veterans

on our roads maintain the safety

We all have a passion for something, we all have strengths, and we all have a path before us. It’s up to each of us to believe in our power

of all drivers, passengers, and

28

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

pedestrians.

Congresswoman Walorski with former Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, at the 2015 VMSA signing.

4. What is the last thing you read for fun (not a briefing memo!)?

5. What does “mobility” mean to you?

Unbroken: A World War II Story of

take for granted. To me, mobility

Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

means independence. It means facing

by Laura Hillenbrand

challenges or obstacles with every

Mobility is something many of us

tool you have. I think people are resilient, and mobility is not a word that should hold people back. We need to provide every resource we can to give people the opportunity to live their lives how they want.

---

FAST FACTS • Republican • Represents Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District • Committees: Ways & Means, Ethics • www.Walorski.house.gov

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The Future of Auto Mobility

By Peter Salinas, Freelance Writer

T

here’s more opportunity for growth in the auto mobility industry in the next ten years than in the previous 20, but with growth comes challenges and change that will reshape the industry.

That change has already begun with

started in the industry in 1989 at a

“When it comes down to it,” Charvat

rapid consolidation of dealer outlets,

business near Cleveland that operated

said, “we represent a very small

and more is on the horizon. That was

a car rental, collision center, and

segment of their marketplace and

the general consensus of panelists

wheelchair van rental store. Charvat

while they do work with us, we’re often

discussing the future outlook of the

doesn’t see dramatic changes that will

not as high a priority.”

auto mobility industry during the

affect the way his business operates,

closing session of the NMEDA Annual

at least in the near term. He doesn’t

Conference and Expo in early March in

see autonomous vehicles affecting

Daytona Beach.

the industry, since the technology

Bill Koeblitz, CEO of MobilityWorks, a

isn’t ready for use by the general

Mark Oldenburg, senior national fleet operations manager, Toyota North America, told the audience at the NMEDA Conference that his company looks at the mobility dealership body

national chain of wheelchair accessible

population—yet.

van providers, with 77 locations across

“One of our biggest challenges is

vehicle industry went through in the

the US, said that as new technologies

that as vehicles have become more

1980s through the early 2000s.

and digital-related services like

electronically sophisticated,” Charvat

autonomous vehicles, ride share

said, “the retrofits have become more

services, electric vehicles and more

complex, time-consuming, and costlier.

come online, it will cause big changes

Simple things, like lane departure

that will require complex solutions in

warning lights become inoperative

the near and long term.

when we perform some retrofits, and

Koeblitz noted the challenges that face

instead of it being a benefit, it throws a

as undergoing now, what the new

“Back in the 1960s and ’70s dealers were predominantly independently owned franchises,” Oldenburg said during the panel discussion. “Then we saw the rise of the mega-dealerships, and then came the large dealer groups (like AutoNation, Lithia, Sonic and

the small independent mobility dealers

warning light.”

who must now compete against

For the small dealers, at least, Charvat

independents, but they have to work

chain operations who can utilize their

noted that OEMs often don’t want to

hard to succeed.”

economy of scale to deliver products

share what they consider proprietary

and services faster and, often, less

information or allow access to internal

expensively.

software and hardware systems.

One of those dealers is Total Mobility

“

Services, a three-store chain with locations in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Total Mobility has 25 employees at the three locations and also installs home stairlifts, porch lifts, and elevators in addition to vehicle mobility retrofits.

Penske). There are still thousands of

Oldenburg urged smaller independents to invest in themselves, and make sure the end-user

As consolidation continues to occur, the market must evolve or someone else will solve the problems that arise for us...”

Dennis Charvat, COO at Total Mobility,

Apr—Jun 2019

31

experience is world-class. In the

is now back full time, and overseeing

because private equity is looking

mobility industry, that means providing

the on-going consolidation of United

for investment opportunities,” May

services 24 hours a day—everyday.

Access with Performance Mobility,

said, “and our industry represents an

“As consolidation continues to occur,

which occurred in early 2017.

excellent investment.”

the market must evolve or someone

“I was supposed to retire in January

He said as long as private equity

else will solve the problems that arise

2018,” May said, “but that only lasted

money continues to move into this

for us,” Oldenburg said.

four months.”

industry, consolidation will continue.

Staci Kroon, CEO of BraunAbility, said

May is continuing to oversee the United

“We’ve always assisted those with

she sees the marketplace growing

Access acquisition of nine stores in 2017,

multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy,

significantly for the foreseeable future,

and, he said, any acquisition of that size

paraplegics, and those types of

as more Baby Boomers reach the age

has challenges. He said he’s optimistic

medical conditions,” May said, “but as

where they need mobility assistance.

about growth in the near term noting

the growth in the elderly population

“The pie is going to get bigger,” said Kroon. “Digital access will continue to play an ever-increasing role in our industry.”

She said the major players in the industry, like BraunAbility and MobilityWorks, must work toward establishing a brand in the

“

It’s a big deal. It’s these type of technological advancements that will allow our industry to grow and flourish in the years ahead. It’s imperative.”

marketplace. She told the NMEDA audience, that every dollar her

32

company spends on marketing and

his stores saw six percent growth in

continues, there will be more need for

advertising helps everyone in the

2018.

the services and products we provide.

industry.

There’s really no exact answer as to the

It’s a natural investment opportunity,

Richard May is the CEO of United

size and scope of the industry in terms

Access, a national provider of

of new vehicle conversions, May said,

financial decisions now.”

wheelchair-accessible vehicles and

but the general consensus among those

May said, in his opinion, it will be a

adaptive automotive technology. UA

in the industry is about 20,000 a year,

“while” before truly autonomous

has 25 locations in 17 states. He semi-

and all indications are that will continue

vehicles are on the road. Then, for

retired from the business in early 2018,

to grow.

those in need of mobility, it will mean

but after some leadership changes, he

“I see consolidation in our industry

autonomous vehicles with wheelchair

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

and we’re seeing the results of those

access or other assistance devices

U.S. Navy pilot. His polio and resulting

Mark Shaughnessy, president and CEO,

incorporated into them.

disabilities, led him to developing

Vantage Mobility International (VMI), a

“We serve just one to two percent

many pioneering mobility conversion

manufacturer of wheelchair accessible

of the population,” May said, “and

products.

vehicles, told the NMEDA conference

it’s difficult to efficiently design

“Our father was the first wheelchair

attendees that the industry connects

autonomous vehicles or deliver ride-

driver that we know of,” Peter Ruprecht

share services that accommodate the

said.

care.

Drive-Master Mobility products are sold

“Our industry is at the perfect

needs of such a small percentage.”

industrial manufacturing with health

intersection of both industries,” he said

May said among the challenges

all over the world through independent

facing the industry are the need for

and chain dealerships, with the

technological innovations that make

company performing conversions at

of the mobility industry.

mobility conversions faster, lighter

their Fairfield, NJ location.

All of the panelists at the NMEDA

Ruprecht said he welcomes change, and

conference agreed that the association

weight, and less costly. Improvements have been made across the board, he noted, but those in the business must be able to provide the products and services customers demand, and do so profitably.

“One of the biggest issues is affordability,” May said. “We must keep prices lower, if we are going to see growth in the marketplace. As more people are able to afford our products, the market will grow.”

Toyota’s Oldenburg said he sees tremendous opportunities in providing service after the conversion. He said while service is most definitely a “brickand-mortar” operation, it is just as important as sales, if not more so.

“Every conversion will need service, and you have to be able to provide that competitively,” Oldenburg said.

“You must be able to have coverage in rural areas, and that may mean it’s an opportunity for larger, more well-capitalized dealers. It may be a franchising opportunity.”

Peter Ruprecht is the CEO of DriveMaster, an industry pioneer that has been in business since 1952 and is

that it will be “good for the industry.”

“Business is just like life,” Ruprecht said.

“Change occurs. Consolidation will occur, and it will be good for the owners that can afford it. We all have to be on our toes, because it’s not going to stop until it’s finished.”

making the case for continued growth

will continue to play a valuable role in the industry. Its work in lobbying and governmental affairs will become even more important as the industry grows. The need for continued efforts to standardize equipment, training, and services to ensure high, consistent value for mobility consumers through

Ruprecht points to huge consolidation

initiatives like the association’s Quality

that has occurred with BraunAbility,

Assurance Program, is absolutely

MobilityWorks, and many others and

necessary.

the flow of private equity money into

“

the industry.

As there are fewer dealer-owners, there will be fewer members of the association.

There will be fewer conference attendees as the large chains send a small delegation and have them report back to the company and their teams.”

“Hey, there are more consumers in

Ruprecht noted that it’s ironic that

need of mobility equipment and those

the changes and consolidation of the

numbers will continue to grow,” he said.

industry NMEDA helped to grow, may

Ruprecht said he has been working

cause a loss of membership for the

with an engineer in Arizona, and they

association.

have figured out how to crack the code

“As there are fewer dealer-owners

for electric steering that will allow for

there will be fewer members of the

secondary products to interface with

association,” Ruprecht said. “There

OEM computers.

will definitely be fewer conference

survivor, is well-known in the industry.

“It’s a big deal,” he said. “It’s these type

attendees, as the large chains send a

Alan held an engineering degree from

of technological advancements that will

Rutgers University and was also a

allow our industry to grow and flourish

one of the oldest family owned and operated adaptive mobility equipment dealers in the United States. The history of Drive-Master and its founder Alan E. Ruprecht, an adult polio

in the years ahead. It’s imperative.”

small delegation and then have them report back to the company and their teams.”

Apr—Jun 2019

33

Ruprecht, who is on the NMEDA

find products, manufacturers, dealers

One of the major improvements for

Guidelines and Manufacturing QAP

and services with a click, rather than a

the industry in terms of technology

committees, said he’ll remain active in

visit.”

was the introduction of the CAN BUS.

Davis, said while there are far fewer

This allowed for multiple signals being

the association as long as they’ll have him.

sent over the same wiring, reducing both costs and time in installing new

Gerry Davis, owner of Personal

where consumers can go in both urban

Mobility, a three-store mobility

and rural areas. Smaller independent

systems.

dealership chain in Central Illinois,

dealers, Davis said, are handcuffed

“This was many years ago, but that

said he agrees that consolidation will

in many ways against their larger

is the type of change that I know

continue in the industry. He’s seen it

competitors. They can buy and store

will be good for our industry,” Davis

firsthand. He was an associate partner

inventory in quantities where they get

said. “Right now we have problems

in May’s United Access business for 17

price breaks. Advertising costs are

with some of the conversions we do

years .

typically more when buying in smaller

negating the electronics installed from

“We’re seeing what the automotive

volumes, and all the other fixed costs

the OEM. We must work as an industry

industry saw 15 years ago,” Davis said.

are the same.

to reduce these types of problems for

“We’re seeing Internet shoppers now.

“It is therefore imperative that you

our customers, and the dealers.”

People are using the Internet to shop

put the customer first, be able to

---

price and value online. They don’t

respond to their needs quickly and with

respect the value of the home town

personalized service,” he said. “We’re

dealer like they used to.

focused on our core principles. We are

“Our customers have very specialized

going to meticulously follow up on our

needs, and the Internet can help them

34

dealers, there are more locations

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

leads, be more aggressive with our BDC, and spend time training our employees.”

Apr—Jun 2019

35

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NMEDA Circuit Breaker

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WHERE BUSINESS GETS DONE.

By Katie McDonald NMEDA 2019, “Where Business Gets Done.” You know, some of the staff weren’t too sure about that tagline, circling it questioningly during early reviews of conference materials. I was one of those staff members. “That doesn’t sound very enticing—not much fun.” Well, as you know, the tagline stuck and it’s a good thing too. Our post-conference survey asked, “What was the most valuable aspect of your conference experience?” And out of the 95 folks that answered that question, 71 of them cited “networking.”

AKA getting business done!

Of course, there were other things

me. But this conference was also very

The opening general session kicked

happening as well. Lots of learning,

different than the others. Because the

off with a comedic game of Wheel

listening, and a healthy mix of fun. As

auto mobility world is relatively small,

of Fortune that helped share the

a first timer at the NMEDA conference,

this conference is an opportunity

details of some new and financially

it checked a lot of the boxes of other

to have nearly the entire industry in

appealing closing day giveaways,

conferences I’ve attended… Motivating

one place. This mixing together of

and keynote speaker, Krish Dhanam

keynote speaker–check. Education–

technicians, dealers, manufacturers,

inspired attendees to overcome the

check. Anxiety dreams of program

rehab specialists, and others is a chance

barriers and limits we tend to impose

typos and PowerPoint fiascos–check...

for all the players to impactfully lean in,

on ourselves. Following our keynote

oh wait, maybe that last one was just

learn, and share.

speaker, folks were literally lined up

Apr—Jun 2019

37

awaiting the opening of our expo hall.

(BraunAbility), Mark Shaughnessy (VMI),

Innovation permeated the room, and

and Senior National Fleet Operations

not just in the new products on display.

Manager, Mark Oldenburg (Toyota

A particular exhibitor whose booth

Motor North America), weighed in

materials did not arrive due to weather

on the shifting manufacturer/dealer

and shipping delays made the best of

paradigm, online sales, changing

what Daytona Beach has to offer and

delivery models, and their thoughts on

embraced a “No booth – no problem”

the future of the industry.* We also took

beach party theme complete with

the time to recognize some individuals

lounge chairs and cornhole.

who went above and beyond to support

Day two was filled with educational

the Association, with our Shining Star

sessions, many boasting standing

Awards. (See page 41 for all the details)

room only as folks were eager to

We wrapped up the conference with

learn and earn some CEUs. Product

our annual fundraising auction and

presentations starred at the expo hall, attendees dutifully following our helium balloon “bat symbol” from booth to booth to learn about the new product offerings from our members. Rounding out day two was a new “Wednesday General Session” event, with a happy hour-esque appeal, buckets of beer accompanied all the details of the new QAP Audit Process.

On the third and final day, our expo hall was bustling as our Passport and Automatic Traffic sponsorships were set to shower our attendees with $4,000 in cash giveaways. And as we all learned on day one, you Must Be Present To Win. After all of the expo excitement we gathered some of the biggest industry players to lead a panel discussion on the state of the auto mobility industry. Tackling the question, “What’s next?” CEOs Bill Koeblitz (MobilityWorks), Staci Kroon

38

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awards banquet. A huge thank you to our donors who helped to raise nearly $60,000 for the association. The final event, our awards banquet, had all the makings of an Oscar-worthy movie.

There was laughter, there were tears, and I can tell you, I left feeling inspired.

This year, we honored John Bussani, Don Clock, and Keith Howell as the latest inductees to the NMEDA Hall of Fame, and Mike Savicki and Richard May were presented with the CEO’s and President’s Awards respectively.

If you were unable to attend this year, you sure missed a good one. But have no fear—the 2020 event will be here before you know it. So, mark your calendars for March 3–5, 2020, one last time in Daytona Beach.

--*You can watch the Closing General Session panel discussion by visiting the NMEDA Facebook or YouTube pages.

NMEDA Sends a Big THANK YOU To Our Auction Donors ADA – ADED – AMF-Bruns – BraunAbility – Bruno – Clock Mobility Crescent Industries – EZ Lock – Johnson Hand Controls MPS/Guidosimplex – Power Door & Step – Q’Straint/Sure-Lok RADCO, A Twining Company – Tempe Mobility – VMI

And the Award Goes To...

Shining Star Award

Bill Belson

Chuck Hardy and Chuck Beno, accepting on Bill’s behalf

Gerry Davis

Trevorr Jurgensen

Justin Riendeau

Kevin McMahon and Justin Riendeau post-conference

Doris Santiago-Cruzado and Gerry Davis Trevor Jennings and Trevorr Jurgensen

John Bussani

Hall of Fame Inductees Don Clock

Keith Howell

What’s Next?

John Wilson and John Bussani

President’s Award Richard May

Don Clock and Jud Demott

CEO’s Award Mike Savicki

Ron Mohr and Cody Howell, accepting on behalf of his father, Keith Howell

Richard May and Chad Blake

Danny Langfield, Mike Savicki, and Amy Schoppman

2019 Sponsors & Exhibitors

THANK YOU!

A

T W I N I N G

C O M PA N Y

Driving Systems Inc. - ColleBuilt Systems - Sure Grip - Mobility Support Solutions - Brandl Mobility Finance - AOTA Ace Mobility - MGA Research - Crescent Industries - Kempf Inc. - Dealer OMG - Fortress Partners - Joysteer Veigel - Genesis Mobility - Bever Mobility Products - MPS/Guidosimplex - Dolenga & Dolenga, PLLC - PSA Insurance Adaptive Driving Alliance - TCF Inventory Finance - United Spinal Association - Paravan GmbH - DealerTeam - RESNA ADED - Altro Transflor - Automotive Credit Corporation - Johnson Hand Controls - March of Dimes Canada - NOVA

42

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By the Numbers Dealer Attendees

13%

2018

24% 2019

Education Quality*

2018

2019

Overall Experience*

13%

40%

2018

DRS Attendees

2019

2018

2019

*Based on post-conference survey results. See full survey results at www.nmeda.com/2019confsurveyresults

See You Next Year!

NMEDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO

March 3—5, 2020 Join us next year at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort & Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

QAP STRAIGHT TALK

The New QAP Audit Unless you have been living under a

an audit. I remember when I joined

rock for the last couple months (and

NMEDA a few years back and looked

it may not be a bad place to be given

at the audit process and said to

the weather in some parts) you should

myself, “Why?” Why are the auditors

know that NMEDA and the third-party

inspecting any equipment installations?

NMEDA VP of Quality Assurance and Compliance

audit firm RADCO have revised the audit

It just did not make a lot of sense to

process for dealers. We introduced the

me. How can we make a judgement

new audit process at our conference in

on the performance quality of a dealer

Want to know something about

March. We also sent out email blasts and

against our quality assurance program

QAP? Have an idea for a future

held a webinar in early April. (You can

by coming into the shop once a year

article or just have a question about

access the recorded webinar at

and looking at one or two installs? You

a form, or one of the Rules, or

www.NMEDA.com/NewQAPAudit.) But

must understand that as the quality

something you read in this article?

just in case you have not heard about

geek I am, looking at one or two installs

Send your questions or ideas to

the new audit process, it was not clear

is not a proper sample size to use and

chuck.hardy@nmeda.org and look

to you, or if you would like to hear more,

be able to form an intelligent opinion

for the answer in a future edition

allow me to present the new QAP audit

about a dealer’s quality level, at least

of QAP Straight Talk with Chuck

process.

not with any reasonable confidence.

Hardy.

Before getting into all of the fine details

If we want our audits to be able to

Chuck Hardy

of the new audit process, I think it’s appropriate to go over what will be changing from how the audit was

assess the quality level of a dealer’s installation quality (i.e., workmanship) I promise you that we can do that. But is

conducted in the past. And while there

that what our board and dealers want?

are many changes that were made, the

Let’s say they did. I can without a

biggest changes were the following:

doubt set up a quality audit program

A. Moving from a product-based audit

that will assess product installation

to a process-based audit

quality, that is not a problem, but… and

B.

Hiring new people at all levels

here is the kicker, it will mean auditing

C.

Making better use of existing

an appropriate sample of completed

technology

work from the dealer. The sample

Performing audits remotely on a

size would be based on the volume

three-year cycle

of installs performed by the dealer

Flattening and lowering the audit fee

on an annual basis, and the quality

for all members

conformance inspections would have

D. E.

Let’s talk about each one of these

to be done by random selection.

changes and why we did it.

So, what would a product-based quality audit look like? Well for starters,

A. Moving from a product-based audit to a process-based audit

44

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

there would need to be enough auditors to have them placed in near proximity to every dealer location that

This is an easy one. Historically, RADCO

exists. That is so they could be able to

has had their auditors inspect one or

inspect completed work at random.

more equipment installations during

That alone would mean employing

about one-hundred or more RADCO

to prevent defects. QAP is a quality

heat on this decision, and to be honest

auditors, and that is only if we think

assurance program. Our audits will

with you, I have already taken some of

that one auditor is able to cover

now be designed to be “process-

that heat. Many of our dealers like their

about three shops each, daily. Are you

based.” Hope this makes sense.

auditor. Many of our dealers think the

starting to get the idea how much this type of program would cost our

auditor is great. Many of our dealers Hiring new people at all levels

don’t want us to change the auditors.

dealers? Like I said, this is an easy one.

B.

Bottom line, for how our association

Have you heard this one? You can’t

the jello (I already warned you about

teach an old dog new tricks. I try not to

my analogies). So, time will tell. These

“

is currently structured, a product-

are not always easy decisions, but we

...we often are asked why NMEDA did this, or why NMEDA decided on that, and the truth is, all decisions are made by our members, through committees.”

based audit program is not practical

use analogies often because I usually

and would be cost prohibitive to our

butcher the heck out of them (you

dealers.

can ask the staff here… its true!) but

There are some other reasons too.

this one I get loud and clear because

Inspecting is an appraisal of work already completed. Let me say that again, inspecting is an appraisal of work already completed. To say it another way, inspecting is reactive.

Defects or non-compliances are already present, it’s too late to stop.

Whereas the philosophy behind a process-based audit is to prevent non-conformances. Let’s say it another way. Product-based auditing

I get that. The proof is going to be in

I have borne witness to it. Fact or not, right or wrong, good or ugly, truth or lie, the bottom line is when we negotiated with the third-party audit firm, we asked for all-new auditors.

Was that an easy decision? No. Was it the right decision? I don’t know. I do know that is what we did because we felt we needed to wipe the slate clean and start over, one-hundred and eleven

are doing what we believe will give us a stronger program in the long run.

There were some other reasons too. We wanted the auditors to be dedicated to QAP. We felt that having part-time QAP auditors was not giving us everything our dealers deserved. In this new revised audit program, we will have a very small group of all new auditors. This way the auditors will get to—as our CEO Danny would say—“marinate” in QAP and Guidelines. Honestly, I personally want the auditors to know our Rules and Guidelines better than me. Gone are the days the auditor would be doing housing inspections or selling real estate the day before coming to your shop, that nonsense is over. These are going to be our auditors, dedicated to NMEDA and to our QAP.

percent. Now, I know we will take some

is more “reactive,” whereas processbased auditing is more “pro-active” or “preventive.” I spoke at some

Process-Based

vs.

Product-Based

length at the conference about the difference between quality control and quality assurance. In a nutshell (and I am allergic to nuts FYI) quality control is something performed after work is completed and identifies non-conformances (or defects) in the existing product, whereas quality assurance aims at perfecting all of the processes that will be used to create the product (the install) with a goal

Apr—Jun 2019

45

QAP STRAIGHT TALK

(continued)

C. Making better use of existing technology What year is it? 1970? 1990? Dial phones? Pagers? Are you kidding me?

How is it that our coveted QAP is still using paper forms? I don’t know about you, but it makes me crazy. It’s about time QAP jumps in the DeLorean and dials up 2019 is it not? Well…. ok now, baby steps, not too fast Chuck, some of us like using pencils and clipboards.

Do you really? How about this, let’s at least enter the twentieth century.

Sound good?

The revitalized QAP audit program will use an array of useful available technology. We will offer a web-based scheduling tool. One that allows the dealer to have more control over when the audit will take place, especially for the remote audits. The auditors will collect information digitally and

more time to do things of importance,

we virtually eliminate all travel-

like more installs, increasing customer

related costs. But is remote auditing

satisfaction, and making more money.

acceptable to QAP? This is something we needed to take a hard look at.

that information will be teleported instantaneously to the new Audit Platform database (OK I may be stretching it a bit on the teleporting part). The database will be used to analyze the information and provide NMEDA and its dealers with a dazzling display of data. This data can be used by the dealer to make process improvements and will be used by NMEDA to identify opportunities in the QAP to make necessary adjustments.

“

It can also be used to identify new

D. Performing audits remotely on a three-year cycle I mentioned earlier about “remote” auditing, but I understand its not anything we have done before. When the board chartered us to find a way to utilize existing technology to improve the audit experience and reduce the cost, one obvious choice was performing audits remotely. When you look at the primary driver for the audit fee, it is

What that means is one year your audit will be on-site, followed by two years of remote, and then start over.”

46

training opportunities and more. And

without a doubt the travel costs. All

once QAPX is released, the entire

of the costs related to an in-person

Part I of the audit can be executed

audit, such as airfare, car rental/Uber,

without ever needing to disrupt the

hotel, and meals, add up quickly and

dealer at all. All the Part I data will

this is passed onto the dealers in the

be available to the auditor from the

form of the audit fee. By utilizing

system. This will leave the dealer with

remote technology to conduct audits,

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

What we found is that remote auditing is an acceptable methodology per the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Not that we are bound by the ISO series of standards, but it’s good to know that this international organization does recognize remote auditing as one of the acceptable methods. Now, how to we accomplish this with QAP? What will it look like? What exactly do you mean by remote auditing? I understand it all can be confusing.

Here is the way it will go. We will utilize commonly available web-based conferencing software like WebEx, Skype, or GoToMeeting. This software will need to be installed on both ends (the dealer and the auditor) and the audits will be conducted through conferencing. Any documents can be uploaded and viewed in real time and if we need a picture of something, the auditee can go grab it and post it for

the auditor to see. In some cases, we

Audit Fee is going down, big time! and

all items you can put your hands on.

can also use live cams but that brings

all of this is thanks to the changes in

In the current state (now) the auditor

in another level of complexity and I

the audit program, most significantly

will be sending the dealer a list of

don’t think that will be necessary at

the remote auditing component.

deliverables and asking the dealer

this time.

Because there will be less travel, there

to send the requested information in

I can see some of you cringing at the

is less cost to deliver the program and

to the audit firm. The best method is

as a result we are happy to announce

electronically, but we will work with

that all audits, regardless of your

you on whatever method is best for

Chuck, you mean no one is going to

dealer type, will be $995 per year.

you. In the future state (after QAPX

step foot in our shop, ever? No, I am

I am thinking I don’t need to spend a

has been implemented) the dealer

absolutely not saying that. Audits

lot of time explaining why we made

will be performed in your shop on a

that choice. We work hard to improve

three-year cycle. What that means is

the value of the QAP for our dealers

electronically from the dealer.

one year your audit will be on-site,

and we’re pleased to pass-along

Part II will be the interview part of the

followed by two years of remote, and

these savings. Don’t spend it all in one

audit and will require the dealer to

then start over. Of course, we will need

place! (Hint: bring some to the charity

be involved. In Part II, the auditor will

to stagger the audits for the kick-off

auction at our next conference).

review Part I results and then ask the

of this program so in 2019 there will be

Enough said.

dealer to walk them through the QAP

Now that I have explained to you the

process from the time the client comes

idea of remote audits and all I can say right now is, give it a chance. But

one-third of our dealers audited on-site and the other two-thirds remotely, and in 2020 half of the ones who were audited remotely will have an on-site audit and so on.

reasons for why we made all these significant changes to the audit program, you may still be asking, how does it work? What does one of the so called new audits look like? Well, I am

E.

Flattening and lowering the audit fee for all members

I saved the best for last, just like having dessert! What in this world have you seen in recent years that goes down in price? If you said your shares of Sears stock, OK you got me there, but seriously, its not often we see our bills go down. Well guess what, your bill for

FEES T I D U A er

Install

$1300

$1675

h c e High-T $1950

l ura Struct

glad you asked. Let me give you the

will not need to do anything for Part I as the auditor will be able to pull it all

in the door, to the time the modified vehicle is delivered. Part II will include interviewing dealer personnel responsible for the QAP activities and include interviewing technicians against the pertinent Guidelines

short and long answer.

sections.

The short answer is the audits will be

Now I will provide the long answer, one

separated into two parts. Part I will be a review of the discrete data. This means a review of tangible items such as the insurance certificate, calibration certificates, your QC manual, and completed customer files. Basically,

that has more detail on the specifics, keeping in mind that all audits, while following the same conceptual process flow, may take varying paths to completion. (continued on next page)

NEW LOWER PRICE FLAT FEE ALL TYPES

The Audit Process

Part I - Information Collection and Analysis •

The auditor connects with the dealer’s QAP Contact via email o The auditor confirms they have the proper QAP Contact for the dealer o The dealer is asked to use an online scheduling tool to select a time for the introductory audit call convenient for the dealer Note that the introductory call is a one-time event held with the dealer to further explain how the new audit process will work going forward.

•

• •

48

During the introductory audit call, the auditor provides an overview of the complete audit process and reviews the information being requested for Part I, answering any questions the dealer may have Requested information may include: o Insurance Certificate (showing NMEDA as holder) o Current revision of dealer’s QC Manual (note the dealer should include any updates to Appendices A thru D):

Organization chart

Facility location and layout

Equipment list

Measurement tools o Scale and Tool Calibration Certificates (for all tools used for installs) o Five customer files

Files will be determined by randomly selected QAP label numbers chosen by the audit firm from the dealer’s label log The auditor will clearly articulate how, and in what timeframe, the dealer is expected to provide the requested information (the document deliverables) The auditor will then work with the dealer to select a mutually agreeable date and time for Part II of the audit. The auditor will do their best to identify exactly what personnel will be interviewed in Part II and who are requested to be present, for what purpose, and for approximately what duration they will be needed during the upcoming audit.

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QAP STRAIGHT TALK

(continued)

Part II – Validation of QAP Dealer Process & Verification of Technician Competency NOTE: Other than the first bullet below, the process for Part II of the audit is the same for both on-site and remote audits.

•

If the auditor is physically present at the dealership, s/he will inspect the premises for compliance with: o Rules, Section C: Availability of Rules and Guidelines o Rules, Section F: Shop Facility Specifications o

•

The auditor will conduct an opening meeting and review any findings from Part I of the audit. o

•

If necessary, corrective action will be agreed upon

The auditor will interview the QAP Contact (or his/her designees) to validate the dealership’s understanding of, and adherence to, the QAP process as required by the Rules & Guidelines. The dealership will need to have appropriate personnel available to address the following areas of discussion: o Initial client assessment and documentation (Guidelines 2.1 – 2.3) o Pre-sale service practices (Guidelines 4.3) o Equipment installation/modification (Guidelines Section 3) o Pre- and post-modification weight analysis (Guidelines 5.1 – 5.4) o Final inspection (Rules V.L) o Customer file (Rules V.C.1) o Pre-delivery services (Guidelines 4.4) o Equipment operation and training (Guidelines 4.5.3) o Servicing arrangements (Guidelines 4.5.1) o F/CMVSS compliance (Rules Section 1) o

•

Rules, Section H: Equipment Requirements

Final delivery process (Guidelines 4.5.4.1 and 4.5.4.2)

The auditor will then interview selected technicians to validate each technician’s understanding of, and adherence to, the QAP Rules & Guidelines relevant to his/her responsibilities. Areas of discussion may include: o Tool calibration (Rules V.C.4) o o o

Manufacturer training certification (Rules V.C.1) General electrical specifications (Guidelines Section 6) Guidelines knowledge 

Sections relevant to the equipment the technician is certified to install or service

•

When Part II of the audit is complete, the auditor will hold a closing meeting with the dealer. In this meeting the auditor will summarize what transpired during the audit and review any findings with the dealer. This is also the time for the auditor to share positive feedback on what the dealer is doing well and ask if there are any questions or clarifications concerning the audit.

•

The auditor will enter the results of the audit in NMEDA’s association management system (AMS) where the NMEDA QAP Coordinator will: o Confirm the results have been entered correctly o

•

Follow up with the dealer on any findings or corrective actions as well as any other outstanding items

The annual audit for the dealer is now complete

In closing, I hope you learned about the new audit process, why we felt it necessary to be revised, why it will focus on the process as opposed to the product, and how it will be conducted moving forward. The intent of NMEDA’s QAP is that a good, solid, structured, and well-defined process, along with the dealer’s internal quality control (as defined by the dealer’s QCM) will yield a safe and compliant vehicle modification and an overall positive outcome for the client—the person behind the wheel. Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions as we move forward with this exciting program.

---

Apr—Jun 2019

49

For Many Small Family Dealers, it’s “Grow or Go” Many small family dealers leaving as industry transforms.

By Michael Wayland*

T

hey’re looking at an industry

ownership model, and increasing

Another factor for Kelly: He didn’t have

that’s being transformed by

capital demands.

a clear successor in place to take over

consolidation, technology,

The National Automobile Dealers

the business.

Association reports that while single-

Other owners are wrestling with

store owners represented 64.8

that issue. Erin Kerrigan, managing

Konner Chevrolet was barely a year

percent of the nation’s roughly 7,500

director of Kerrigan Advisors, a sell-

away from celebrating a century in

dealership owners at the end of 2018,

side and consulting company in Irvine,

business. The family-owned dealership,

their ranks have shrunk 35 percent

Calif., said families are having more

which opened in 1919, had its fourth

since 2008. Meanwhile, the number

conversations about whether it makes

generation working at the New Jersey

of dealers with 10 or more stores has

sense to pass along businesses to the

store, and operations were doing well.

increased 62 percent.

next generation, given all of the talk

But in October 2017, the Konners

“Never before has it been more the

of disruption in retail and questions

decided to celebrate a different

case to grow or go,” said Gordon

milestone: the sale of the store.

Wisbach Jr., a dealership broker in

hold its value over the long term.

Running the dealership felt like

New England.

“These up-and-comers see an industry

owning a local hardware store going

No regrets

that will transform significantly over

and increasing capital demands—and deciding to get out.

up against Home Depot, said Dean Konner, 64, who owned the store with brothers Al and Irving. Doable, but difficult.

dealer, said rising costs, market conditions, and factory demands made it a good time to sell his single-point

“Today, to be a family-run dealership,

Chevy store outside Philadelphia,

the industry and manufacturer, it’s not

which his father’s family bought in

so much about the people. It’s about

1988. Kelly, who started working in

the numbers,” said Konner, grandson

dealerships before he was a teenager,

of the founder. “What happened is

sold the store to another family-owned

these bigger guys would undercut

business last March and says he has no

your price. A little guy can’t survive.”

regrets.

It’s a conclusion more and more small,

“The amount of money needed to

family-owned dealerships are reaching

invest long-term didn’t make sense

as they look at an industry that’s

to me from a financial standpoint,” he

being transformed by consolidation,

said.

technology, challenges to the

50

Steve Kelly, 54, a second-generation

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

about whether a small dealership can

the next 20 years, making their careers more volatile and challenging,” Kerrigan Advisors’ third-quarter 2018 “Blue Sky Report” said. “Some are concerned that the value of their

inherited family enterprise will decline

Hult touted such acquisitions as a “win

Still, for some small dealers, the

rather than appreciate.”

for everybody” — the dealer and the

challenges represent something to

company and its shareholders. Estes

overcome, not escape.

Just 30 percent of family businesses successfully transition from first-

couldn’t be reached for comment.

Disruption always “creates huge

generation to second-generation

Jim Tino Jr. found it hard to win as

anxiety, being a family business,” said

ownership; that figure falls to 12

a small franchise facing rising costs

Rick Mohr, owner of Eau Claire Ford-

percent for transitioning to the third

and factory involvement. Tino, whose

Lincoln in Wisconsin, “but you have to

generation and only 3 percent for

family-owned Chevrolet and Subaru

strategically lay out your plan.”

the fourth, according to the Harvard

dealerships in Union, N.J., were about

Business Review, citing data from the

30 minutes from midtown Manhattan,

Family Business Institute.

said factory demands—specifically

Kerrigan Advisors estimates that at least half of the automotive retail

from General Motors—prompted him to sell his stores in 2016.

industry is made up of owners from

“I grew up in the business and always

second or subsequent generations.

felt that while we were franchisees, we

‘Active year’ Meanwhile, larger groups continue to soak up stores as they battle one

“

should be able to operate our business the way we felt...I realized we weren’t going to make a profit here unless we play the game exactly the way they

another. Asbury Automotive Group

want it to be played,” he said, referring

CEO David Hult this month said

to GM programs such as Standards

his company expects 2019 to be a

for Excellence and Essential Brand

“very active year” for mergers and

Elements.

acquisitions in the industry, though

Tino, 55, said if he had stayed, he

acquisitions Asbury is expecting.

Asbury, No. 7 on Automotive News’ list of the 150 largest U.S. dealership groups based on 2017 new-vehicle retail sales, has agreed to buy four stores in Indianapolis with eight brands from Bill Estes Automotive.

consolidate some job duties to make sure the store can stay profitable,” he said.

Mitchell Dale, owner of McRee Ford in Dickinson, Texas, said there’s bound to be some contraction and disruption in the industry, but you’ve got to “control what you can control” by staying attuned to customer and employee satisfaction.

“To just sell doesn’t interest me,” he

Just 30 percent of family businesses successfully transition from first-generation to second-generation ownership; that figure falls to 12 percent for transitioning to the third generation and only 3 percent for the fourth...”

he declined to forecast how many

“We’ll have to right-size and

said. “I want to stay around and be part of it.”

--Melissa Burden, Jackie Charniga and Michael Martinez contributed to this report.

* This article first appeared in the February 18, 2019 edition of Auto News and is reprinted with permission.

would have expanded operations and diversified the brand offerings.

But his daughters weren’t interested in running the business, and he sold the two stores as a package to Open Road Auto Group—No. 54 on the largest U.S. dealership groups list.

Apr—Jun 2019

51

NMEDA MANUFACTURER MEMBERS MANUFACTURERS ____________________________ Able Motion Mobility 2200 Executive Ave., Suite A Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 888-450-3994 Ace Mobility LLC 9850 E. 30th Street Indianapolis, IN 46229 317-241-2444 Adaptive Mobility Systems 2072 N. Bibb Drive Tucker, GA 30084 770-674-0776 Adapt-Solutions 145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 866-641-0419 AMF Bruns of America 1797 Georgetown Road Hudson, OH 44236 877-506-3770 AOI Electrical 9650 East 148th Street Noblesville, IN 46060 800-480-6680 B & D Independence 1024 Empire Street Mt.Carmel, IL 62863 618-262-7117 Bever Mobility Products 2885 Sandford Ave, SW, #41693 Grandville, MI 49418 888-959-6198 BraunAbility P.O. Box 310 Winamac, IN 46996 800-843-5438 Bruno Independent Living Aids 1780 Executive Drive Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-953-5396 Crescent Industries 191 Washington St. Auburn, ME 04210 207-777-3500 Driving Systems, Inc. 16139 Runnymede St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-782-6793

52

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

E.Z. Lock 2001 Wooddale Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-214-4620

Mercedes-Benz USA 8501 Palmetto Commerce Pkwy.

Ladson, SC 29456 843-666-4333

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 1000 Chrysler Dr. Auburn Hills, MI 48326 800-255-9877

Nor-Cal Vans, Inc. 1300 Nord Avenue, Suite 125 Chico, CA 95926 866-892-0150

Ford Motor Company 777 Woodward Avenue, Ste 500 Detroit, MI 48226 313-202-6342

Paravan GmbH Paravanstraße 5-10 72539 Pfronstetten - Aichelau Germany 844-887-0723

Freedom Motors, Inc. division of Savaria 14 Goodmark Place Etobicoke, ON M6W 6R1 905-799-5545 General Motors Corporation 100 Renaissance Ctr MC482-A20-B98 Detroit, MI 48265 313-667-8682

Pride Mobility Products Corp.

182 Susquehanna Avenue Exeter, PA 18643 570-655-5574 Q’Straint / Sure-Lok 4031 NE 12th Terrace Oakland Park, FL 33334 954-986-6665

Golden Mobility & Rehab LTD 3150A Faithfull Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7K 8H3 306-242-9060

Sure Grip Hand Controls 4850 Rt. 2 Hwy Upper Kingsclear, NB E3E 1P8 506-363-5289

Harmar Mobility 2075 47th St. Sarasota, FL 34234 800-833-0478

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. 6565 Headquarters Drive Plano, TX 75024 469-292-4649

Johnson Hand Controls LLC 3960 Locust Grove Road Columbia, PA 17512 717-449-0089

Trilift 8021 Langdon Ave. Van Nuys, CA 91404 818-778-6709

Joysteer USA, Inc. 6624 Clay Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49548 832-783-9751

Vantage Mobility International 5202 S. 28th Place.

Phoenix, AZ 85040 800-348-8267

KEMPF 1245 Lakeside Dr. #3005 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 408-773-0219 Malley Industries, Inc. 1100 Aviation Avenue Dieppe, NB E1A 9A3 506-859-8591

Veigel North America, dba Mobility Products Design 51277 Celeste Drive Shelby Twp, MI 48315 586-843-3816

Manufacturing Production Services Corp.

2222 W. Enterprise St. Escondido, CA 92029 800-243-4051

Winter 2011

52

NMEDA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ASSOCIATES

ARIZONA

____________________________

Carol Blanc, OTR L CDRS 755 E. McDowell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85006 602-521-3072

ALABAMA Brandon Adamson 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430 Chris Adkison 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430 Josh Forsman 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-870-5999 Tracey Kennedy 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-870-5999 Lou Klein 8933 Green Chase Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 941-726-2220 Craig Rogers 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430

Jillian Gubanich 1414 W. Broadway #218 Tempe, AZ 85282 480-449-3331 Katalyn Koloseike 7975 S. Autoplex Loop Tempe, AZ 85284 480-598-2383 Jennifer Nordine 1414 W. Broadway #218 Tempe, AZ 85282 480-449-3331 Jason Strowmatt 1414 W. Broadway, #218 Tempe, AZ 85282 713-446-4628 James Stueben 1500 W. Longhorn Court Chandler, AZ 85286 480-277-4931 ____________________________

ARKANSAS

Jennifer Rogers 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430

William “Grant” Camden 9601 Baptist Health Drive Little Rock, AR 72205 501-202-7598

William Scott 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430

Vito Villa 1125 North College Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-713-8630

David Shelnutt 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-870-5999

____________________________

Cedrick Wallace 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-414-8430 Milka Weiman 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-915-2299 Stephen Williams 3830 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35259 205-870-5999

CALIFORNIA Penny M. Anders 1641 Borana St. San Diego, CA 92111 858-565-2437 Lula Capuchino 3601 Marconi Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821 916-481-1300 Paul Cooper PO Box 641 Montebello, CA 90640 323-855-1502

ALASKA

Adam Grossman 2195 Larkspur Ln. #203 Redding, CA 96002 530-232-3260

Tara Burns 103 Fram Street Petersburg, AK 99833 907-209-3835

Hala Jawad 3220 E. 59th Street Long Beach, CA 90805 562-272-7231

____________________________

Tom Matson 1020 Aileen Street Lafayette, CA 94549 925-299-1039 Marcus Norton 1599 Broadway Ave. #337 Atwater, CA 95301 669-225-0063 Gregory Paquin 5140 Florence Ave., Unit C Bell, CA 90201 323-326-1383 Stanton C. Saucier 6175 Melvin Avenue Tarzana, CA 91356 818-614-6149 ____________________________

COLORADO Sarah Davidson 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 303-789-8117 Barry Doyle 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 303-789-8218 Don Green 832 North Crest Drive, Unit B Grand Junction, CO 81506 970-712-1435 Tiffany Heck 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 303-789-8237 Colleen Knoll 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 303-789-8218

FLORIDA Carlos Abella 27553 Cashford Circle, Ste. 101 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 813-631-9700 Danielle Barber 300 Hollywood Way Hollywood, FL 33021 954-265-7698 Courtney Beach 22 Iroquis Trail Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-7384 Vilma Cedoz 3191 Maguire Blvd., S233 Orlando, FL 32803 407-204-7633 Lisa Crisalli 3936 SE 20th Ave Keystone, FL 32656 352-339-2039 Juliette Delgado 300 Hollywood Way Hollywood, FL 33021 954-579-3234 Stephen A. Emerson 1384 Wainwright Way Ft. Myers, FL 33919 239-633-0180 Janet Gardner 18908 Adams Country Way Lutz, FL 33559 813-631-9700 Judi Hamelburg 1031 Ives Dairy Rd. Suite 228 N. Miami Beach, FL 33179 305-770-0747

CONNECTICUT

Robert Holcomb 32347 County Road 473, St B Leesburg, FL 34788 352-636-1801

Karen Bassett, MS, OTR/L 145 Wormwood Road Fairfield, CT 06824 203-581-4028

Todd Keanan 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd Tampa, FL 33612 813-972-2000

Torrey Morse 55 Farminton Ave, 12th Floor Hartford, CT 06105 860-424-4865

Dave Krieger 9315 Hunters Park Way Tampa, FL 33647 800-738-9967

____________________________

Ginger H. Le 27553 Cashford Circle, Ste. 101 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 813-631-9700

____________________________

DELAWARE Greg Johnson 5037 Morgans Way Laurel, DE 19956 302-381-2670 ____________________________

Vera Moffitt-Scott 2610 N. 19th Street Tampa, FL 33605 813-766-9746

____________________________

Apr—Jun 2019

53

NMEDA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Ferenc Moricz 5914 Jet Port Industrial Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33634 813-890-8809

James Kennedy 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-367-1296

Mary Ellen Keith 18 Wilson Drive Carmel, IN 46032 317-696-0405

Stacey Stevens 240 Hillsboro Avenue Lexington, KY 40511 859-351-6612

Eilif L. Olesen 12700 66th Street N., #1128 Largo, FL 33773 727-424-7485

Rajesh Pagadala 3586 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31210 478-279-1885

Carmen Palanca 1156 Ridgeview Ct. Avon, IN 46123 317-660-6506

____________________________

Marla Popkin 101 W. Hill Street Inverness, FL 34452 305-803-7644

Jacqueline Valme 747 South Eighth Street Suite D Griffin, GA 30224 770-229-6498

Jeff Perron 2430 Lingerman Way Avon, IN 46123 317-329-2115

Elizabeth Powers 7305 N. Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 561-422-5604 Susan Rentz 100 W. Gore St., Suite 104 Orlando, FL 32806 407-920-7445 Stephen Sundarrao 4202 E. Fowler Ave ENB 118 Tampa, FL 33620 813-974-5346 Rod Synovec 219 Ashley Road Mascotte, FL 34753 407-716-0465 Mike Thacker 1475 W. Cypress Creek Road Suite 300 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 954-475-5904

ILLINOIS Vince Bunetic 725 N. Belt West Swansea, IL 62226 866-366-7173 Anne Hegberg 26 W. 171 Roosevelt Road Wheaton, IL 60187 630-909-6080 Brandon Lesch 118 E. Madison Lombard, IL 60148 630-951-1714 Chris Pagliarulo 9023 W. Dralle Road Frankfort, IL 60423 815-806-8248 James Wooldridge 500C South Lewis Lane Carbondale, IL 62948 618-453-2331

Dorothee Zuleger 2905 Abbey Ct. Winter Park, FL 32792 407-237-3099

____________________________

____________________________

INDIANA

GEORGIA

Mason Campbell 9531 Valparaiso Court Indianapolis, IN 46268 317-879-8940

Matt Abisamra 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-350-7722 Brian Adkins P.O. Box 425 Grayson, GA 30017 770-676-7337 Kathleen Allgood 6135 Roosevelt Hwy. Warm Springs, GA 31830 706-655-5031 Dan Allison, MS OTR/L 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-350-7763 John Anschutz 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-350-7720

54

_________________________

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Susan Fassett, CDRS, COTA 63558 Peppermint Road North Liberty, IN 46554 574-647-2634 Mary Follman 4740 Kingsway Drive Indianapolis, IN 46205 317-466-1000 Suzanne Hardesty-Pritchard 4740 Kingsway Drive Indianapolis, IN 46205 317-721-8636 Kathy Kachanoski 1732 Timbercrest Dr. Columbus, IN 47203 800-841-4938

Russell Schimmell, OTR CDRS 3701 Bellemeade Avenue Evansville, IN 74414 812-492-0645 Eva Richardville P.O. Box 8978 Ft. Wayne, IN 46898 260-417-8399 Andrea Vrobel 4000 W. 106th St, # 125-310 Carmel, IN 46032 574-607-5995 ____________________________

IOWA Andy Nelson 301 West North Street Richland, IA 52585 641-242-0600 Perry Ressler 980 Hwy 18 East Britt, IA 50701 352-552-6674 Mark Richman 1111 West San Marnan Drive Waterloo, IA 50701 566-550-4551 Bill Siebert 56504 Gillen Avenue Glenwood, IA 51534 402-679-4058

LOUISIANA Lee Carricut 224 East Pinhook Rd. Lafayette, LA 70501 337-289-3004 Rev. Julius Lee, CBT 2910 Seine Street New Orleans, LA 70114 504-450-4014 Michael Shipp 1340 Mitcham Orchard Road Ruston, LA 71270 318-245-7361 ____________________________

MARYLAND Elin Davis 4720 Montgomery Lane Bethesda, MD 20814 800-729-2682 Patrick DeNobrega 11311 McCormick Road Hunt Valley, MD 21031 443-798-7495 ____________________________

MASSACHUSETTS Eugene Blumkin 600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02211 617-204-3721 Cabot Smith 100 Newark Street Haverville, MA 01832 978-374-4530

____________________________

Tricia/Mark Whitehouse 250 Milton St., #LL002 Dedham, MA 02026 781-329-6656

KENTUCKY

____________________________

Catherine I. Greene, OTR/L, CDRS 3800 Nicholasville Road Apt. 13231 Lexington, KY 40506 859-797-6889

MICHIGAN

MaryFrances Gross 4805 Hemlock Way Lexington, KY 40514 619-607-1142 Brian Iadarola, OTR/L, CDRS 3937 Central Avenue Louisville, KY 40218 502-893-0050

Michael Blasius 26261 Evergreen Rd, Ste 300 Southfield, MI 48076 248-351-0149 Aisha Hedwood PO Box 48561 Oak Park, MI 48237 313-719-4335 Derrick Hedwood PO Box 48561 Oak Park, MI 48237 313-719-4335 George Hicks 4345 Teal Road Petersburg, MI 48270 734-279-9345

NMEDA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Kerry Jones 26875 Church St. Edwardsburg, MI 49112 269-663-0226 Danton Lloyd P.O. Box 241 Okemos, MI 48805 517-349-7990

MONTANA Kaitlyn Radi 1876 Songbird Dr. Billings, MT 59101 406-855-2673 ____________________________

NEVADA

Kelby Lloyd P.O. Box 241 Okemos, MI 48805 517-349-7990

Warren Vinzant 9105 Hummer Drive Reno, NV 89521 510-317-1775

Robert E. Reid, Ed. S P.O. Box 241 Okemos, MI 48805 517-349-7990

____________________________

Patrick Zeiser 5005 Plainfield Ave. NE, # 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616-447-2293 ____________________________

MINNESOTA Sherri Johnson 2040 Frontage Road South Waite Park, MN 58387 877-327-3533 Jim Kopp 11100 Wayzata Blvd.

Suite 801 Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-656-7527 David Yount 559 Hwy 10 South St. Cloud, MN 56304 866-581-3922 ____________________________

MISSOURI David Adams 334 Buckington Street St. Peters, MO 63376 636-294-1762 Bruce Autry 2816 Ginger Drive West Plains, MO 65775 417-274-2778 Mike Flotken 4 Kingston Manor St Louis, MO 63124 314-873-6814 Joe Micko 233 S. Patterson Avenue Springfield, MO 65802 417-829-5866 Kimberley Weishaar 3011 Baltimore Avenue Kansas City, MO 64108 816-751-7970 ____________________________

NEW JERSEY Carrie Monagle 2381 Lawrenceville Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-896-9500 Gene Morton 1635 Marconi Road Wall Township, NJ 07719 732-539-5393 ____________________________

NEW MEXICO Phillip Holmes 2035 Corbett Dr. Las Cruces, NM 88001 575-521-1006 Andrew Schneider 5600 Valle Allegre Road NW Albuquequre, NM 87420 505-710-2861 ____________________________

NEW YORK Gail Babirad PO Box 540 Kinderhook, NY 12106 800-987-2753 Jurgen Babirad PO Box 540 Kinderhook, NY 12106 800-987-2753 Royce Burns Sr. 258 Van Keuren Avenue Pine Bush, NY 12566 845-361-1244 Linda Farrell 210 Rabie Road Averill Park, NY 12018 518-577-4447 Karen Fitzgerald 1350 Deer Park Avenue North Babylon, NY 11703 631-667-9642 Edmund Ippolito 95a Edison Ave. West Babylon, NY 11704 631-392-4050

John Lorenzetti, OTR/L, CDI, DRS 4144 High Banks Road Geneva, NY 14456 315-585-9198 Brian McLane 29 Rockefeller Blvd.

Rensselaer, NY 12144 518-426-8850 Carrie Meher 28 Eastern Ave. Watervliet, NY 12189 315-585-9198 Beth Tarduno 1000 Elmwood Avenue Door 5 Rochester, NY 14620 585-271-1894 Raanan Zidile 1642 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230 718-414-2457 ____________________________

NORTH CAROLINA Calvin Brewer 4819 Emperor Blvd., Suite 400 Durham, NC 27703 919-475-7011 Cyndee Crompton 605 Cabaret Rd. McLeansville, NC 27301 336-697-7841 Ryan Dulina 5923 Stockbridge Dr. Suite D Monroe, NC 28110 704-839-0492

____________________________

NORTH DAKOTA Lacey Maier 1116 Mustang Drive Bismark, ND 58503 612-615-3961 ____________________________

OHIO Lynne Chapman 3543 Christie Blvd.

Toledo, OH 43606 419-944-5012 Christina Duncan 455 Rushmore Drive Richmond Heights, OH 44143 601-613-1535 Greg Hart 3101 West Tech Road Miamisburg, OH 45342 937-885-6789 Douglas Morr 7001 Buffalo Parkway Columbus, OH 43229 614-888-4160 Paul Musso 111 Stow Avenue, Suite 103 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 330-928-7401 Tina Paff 367 Glenway Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211 513-251-2100 Meredith Sweeney OTR/L, CDRS 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3300 Columbus, OH 43221 614-855-5600

Mike Edwards 5501 Exec. Center Dr., Suite 101 Charlotte, NC 28212 704-568-8804

Debbie Szelestey 116 N. Jefferson St., 4th Floor Dayton, OH 45402 937-224-3033

Liz Green 200 First Avenue NW #505 Hickory, NC 28601 866-672-9466

____________________________

Mike Savicki 17615 John Connor Rd. Cornelius, NC 28031 704-905-9628

OREGON Juan Gonzalez 8750 NE Emerson Street Portland, OR 97220 503-251-3865 ____________________________

PENNSYLVANIA

Ziad K. Wakim 2505 Viceroy Drive Units N1 N2 Winston-Salem, NC 27012 336-682-8383

Lori Benner 30 Hope Drive, EC 130 Hershey, PA 17033 717-531-7444

Dexter Warren 2720 North Main Street Newton, NC 28658 828-464-9738

Brenda Bennett 4202 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509 814-833-2301

Apr—Jun 2019

55

NMEDA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Timothy P. Brant 596 Goucher Street Johnstown, PA 15905 877-395-7011

Martha Stephenson, RN 1701 W. State Line Road South Fulton, TN 38257 731-479-1568

Kenneth Brown 543 Davisville Road Willow Grove, PA 19090 215-659-2400

____________________________

Amy Lane OTR/L, CDRS 3600 Forbes Ave. at Atwood Suite 3010, Forbes Tower Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-864-3068 ____________________________

PUERTO RICO Grisselle Rivera-Ortiz Palmares de Monteverde 94 Ramal 842, Apt 30 San Juan, PR 00926 Puerto Rico 939-246-9256 ____________________________

SOUTH CAROLINA Kristen Coupland 1952 Staffwood Road Johns Island, SC 29455 203-910-7100 Bill Hayes 2011 Hampton Street Columbia, SC 29204 803-779-2011 Brigitte King, OTR/L, CDRS, CDI 701 Grove Road Greenville, SC 29605 864-455-4476 Tom Jackman 1410-C Boston Avenue West Columbia, SC 29170 803-896-6080 Ian McClure, CDI, CDRS, CSO 4040 Hwy 17 Bypass South Suite 201 Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 843-652-8252 Alan B. Simmerson CDRS 3602 Deerfield Drive Columbia, SC 29204 803-776-4000 ____________________________

TENNESSEE Amy Palmer 1235 Fuller Road Dyersburg, TN 38024 731-446-7210

TEXAS Sean Berry 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 979-845-6375

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Craig Baker 7400 Midlothian Richmond, VA 23225 804-918-9601 Mary Breister OT Dept. Box 476-1500 Fisherville, VA 22939 540-480-1103

Tim Schermetzler W. 7366 Flambeau Point Road Ladysmith, WI 54848 715-532-0327

CANADA ____________________________

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Eric Bradley 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 979-845-7492

Katie Fair 6858 Old Dominion Drive Suite 200 McLean, VA 22101 703-288-8260

Harry Baergen 1841 Swan Road Tsawwassen, BC V4M 0A8 Canada 778-888-2210

Lance Bullard 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 979-845-6153

Jennifer Lamberston 108 Dogwood Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-903-0619

Michael Courtney 5601 Montoya Drive, Suite B El Paso, TX 79932 915-584-0905

David Martinez 3570 New Market Road Henrico, VA 23231 804-921-7716

Larry Bowen PO Box 78095 Northside RPO Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 4X5 Canada 604-996-4893 cell

Lou Dienhart PO Box 2106 Pfluerville, TX 78660 512-585-5911

____________________________

James E. Glenewinkel 1116 E. Kingsbury Street Seguin, TX 78155 830-386-0446 Benjamin Mundy 5150 Broadway #604 San Antonio, TX 78205 210-347-5006 Murray Schwartz 8221 Tristar Drive Irving, TX 75063 214-615-0661 Lynne Scott Lee 124 Citation Lane Waxahachie, TX 75165 504-439-1001 Chad Strowmatt 11020 Katy Freeway. #217 Houston, TX 77043 713-858-1582 Ken Webb P.O. Box 213 Coppell, TX 75019 800-886-4926

WASHINGTON Jim Speer 16212 Bothell Everett Highway Mill Creek, WA 98120 425-922-0990 Benson Wong 3033 19th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 206-356-1068

Lisa Kristalovich 4255 Laurel Street Vancouver, BC V5Z 2G9 Canada 604-734-1313 Dean Robertson 3405 W 31st Avenue Vancouver, BC V6S 1X6 Canada 604-263-5218

____________________________

Lars Taylor #201 4710 31st Street Vernon, BC V1T 5J9 Canada 250-307-2387

WASHINGTON, D.C.

____________________________

Ann E. Smith-William 102 Irving St., NW Washington, DC 20010 202-873-5965

MANITOBA

David Goch 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20006 202-785-9500

Paul Murphy 6668 9 Hwy Selkirk, MB R1A 4G2 Canada 866-994-6559 ____________________________

NEW BRUNSWICK

David S. Lieberman 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, #1000 Washington, DC 20006 202-785-9500

Maura Dulong, OT 800 Priestman Street Frederickton, NB E3B 0C7 Canada 506-452-5876

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

WISCONSIN

UTAH

ONTARIO

Matt Erickson 10850 W. Park Place Suite 1200 Milwaukee, WI 53224 414-973-4300

Joe Allen 380 Mill Ridge Court Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C4 Canada 416-254-7237

Kevin Christensen 1595 West 500 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104 801-887-9532 ____________________________

56

VIRGINIA

André Amyot Place de Ville, Tour C 330 rue Sparks Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5 Canada 613-990-2670 Shah Baqar 20 Linsmary Court Markham, ON L6E 1L2 Canada 416-419-3031 F. Lortie 68 Bloomfield London, ON N6G 1P3 Canada 519-495-9541 Bob Nunn 6 Ridgeview Street St. George, ON N0E 1N0 Canada 519-740-4801 Tamalea Stone 1135 Lansdowne Street West Peterborough, ON K9J 7M2 Canada 705-741-7660 Karen Wolfe 368 Main Street Picton, ON K0K 2T0 Canada 613-476-1768 Janice Yeung 5373 Vail Court Mississauga, ON L5M 6G9 Canada 416-803-3811 ____________________________

QUEBEC Dana Benoit 7005 boul. De Maisonneuve W. Montreal, QC H4B 1T3 Canada 514-487-1891 Stephanie Bois 1300, boul. Cure-Labelle Blainville, QC J7C 2N8 Canada 450-437-6001 Jacques Bolduc 32 Duquet Ste-Therese, QC J7E 3B4 Canada 438-498-8448 Nathalie Maertens 7005, boul. de Maisonneuve W. Montreal, QC H4B 1T3 Canada 514-487-1891 ext. 380

Jean-Pierre Maurais 333 boul Jean-Lesage E-M-27 Quebec City, QC G1K 8J6 Canada 418-528-4281 Alyssa Merilees 7005 boul. De Maisonneuve W. Montreal , QC H4B 1T3 Canada 514-487-1891 ext. 246

GERMANY

JAPAN

Gregory Long M ED Paravan - Straße 5 - 10 72539 Pfronstetten - Aichelau Germany Toll Free: 1-844-887-0723 +49 (0) 7388 - 999 5 909

Etsuo Horikawa 5-1-1 Nabeshima Saga City, Japan 8498501 80 3377 2588

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IRELAND

Michel Morency 333 boul. Jean-Lesage C-4-21 Quebec City, QC G1K 8J6 Canada 418-528-3597

Gerry Merrick Floor 2, Block A Cookstown Ct. Cookstown Estate Road Dublin, Ireland D24WK28 +3530879894946

Kristian Thivierge 7005 boul. de Maisonneve W. Montreal, QC H4B 1T3 Canada 514-487-1891

____________________________

Minh-Thy Truong 7005 boul. de Maisonneve W. Montreal, QC H4B 1T3 Canada 514-487-1770 ext. 322 Genevieve Turgeon 100 Du Landis Street Blainville, QC J7C 5C9 Canada 450-430-7981

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ISRAEL Adi Adler, CEO 58 Ha’Khermesh Haifa Israel 31000 972-390-3903 Moshe Ofek 58 Ha’Khermesh Haifa Israel 31000 972-390-3903 ____________________________

____________________________

INTERNATIONAL ____________________________

AUSTRALIA Jeff Watters PO Box 421 Montrose, Vic 3765 Australia 03-9762-2277 ____________________________

CHINA Chu Wa Ho 130 Hip Wo Street, Kowloon Hong King, China +852 62272307 Ka Chun 130 Hip Wo Street, Kowloon Hong Kong China +852 96365171 ____________________________

For informa�on and to become a dealer, contact Randy.

RandyK@clockmobility.com 800.732.5625 Clock Conversions

clockconversions.com

Apr—Jun 2019

57

DATES TO REMEMBER This calendar of upcoming events is provided as a service to NMEDA members. The Circuit Breaker cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Please verify dates and locations with the organizations listed.

Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference April 30—May 1, 2019 Visit www.csmc.ca for more information.

Abilities Expo - NY Metro

May 3—5, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/newyork for more information.

CCMTA Conference

June 3—6, 2019 Visit www.ccmta.ca/en/events/annual-meeting for more information.

Abilities Expo - Chicago

June 21—23, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/chicago for more information.

Abilities Expo - Houston

August 2—4, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/houston for more information.

ADED Annual Conference - Lexington, KY August 9—13, 2019 Visit www.aded.net for more information.

Abilities Expo - Boston

September 13—15, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/boston for more information.

Closing the Gap Annual Conference

October 2—4, 2019 Visit www.closingthegap.com/conference for more information.

Abilities Expo - San Mateo

October 25—27, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/bayarea for more information.

Abilities Expo - Dallas

December 13—15, 2019 Visit www.abilities.com/dallas for more information.

To have your information included in Dates to Remember, please submit at least 12 weeks before the event to katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org.

58

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

where you want in life

The BraunAbility Pacifica offers the uncompromised performance you deserve, from the Most Recommended Name in Mobility*

BraunAbility.com *Based on 2016 Dealer Service Technician Study

844.382.8134