OCTOBER 19-20,
Partnership: Growing Together
As we gather here at Caesars Atlantic City for the MidAtlantic Annual Convention & Vendor Tailgate, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who makes this event possible—our vendors, our dealers, and every member who believes in what we’re building together.
This weekend is more than just a convention. It’s a celebration of partnership—between vendors and dealers, large and small, new and experienced. Each of you plays a vital role in shaping the success of our association and the independent dealer community as a whole.
To our vendors: thank you for more than your sponsorships and displays. I appreciate your willingness to listen, to adapt, and to serve. Many of you have taken dealer feedback and turned it into real solutions—and that’s what partnership looks like. You help us move from ideas to action.
To our dealers: thank you for showing up with open minds and open hands. Whether you operate a small corner lot or a multi-location business, your passion and persistence drive this industry forward. Your voices—especially those of our newer and smaller dealers—matter. This is your platform to learn, to lead, and to be heard.
This convention is built on the belief that we grow stronger together. The relationships formed here—through tailgates, training, and time well spent—are the foundation of our shared success.
So as we enjoy football, food, and fellowship, let’s remember what truly fuels this event: partnership, purpose, and progress. When we align our e orts, listen to one another, and keep serving our customers with excellence, we all win.
Thank you for being part of the MidAtlantic family and for helping us continue to grow—together.
With gratitude, With gratitude,
Bert Straub MidAtlantic IADA President
SUNDAY OCT 19th
Registration opens for Attendees 12 pm
2 pm - 5 pm
Palladium Prefunction
Tiberius (upstairs) “Game Plan for Success ” INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP
Lineup: Greg Neylan, Terry MacCauley, Bill Neylan, Maggie Pugesek, Bret Buike, Mike Downey, & Efrat Bogoslavsky
5 pm
6 pm
President’s Meeting
MidAtlantic Independent Automobile Dealers Association
Sunday Night Football & Vendor Tailgate
Neptune (upstairs)
A & B
Enjoy the Falcons vs. 49ers game while networking with exhibitors and sponsors, and treat yourself to some game day food.
INTERACTIVE
WORKSHOP Game Plan for Success
Sunday, October 19th @ 2 pm - 5 pm Palladium C (General Session Hall)
Join us Sunday afternoon for an impactful session aimed at preparing you for success in 2026! By the end of today, you will have a comprehensive game plan to kick o the year strong, particularly in the crucial rst quarter. Our interactive workbook will guide you, and we encourage active participation from everyone. After each presentation, we’ll open the oor for discussion to share best practices and insights. Together, let’s set a powerful tone for the year ahead!
Palladium
(Vendor Hall)
C&M Coaching
Maggie Pugesek
Neylan
Efrat Bogoslavsky
Downey
Greg Neylan
8 am
9 am - 12 pm
MONDAY OCT 20th
Breakfast with Vendors
GENERAL SESSION
Opening Remarks - Bert Straub, MidAtlantic President
Remarks - NIADA
Keynote - Michael York
Palladium A & B (Vendor Hall)
Palladium C (General Session Hall)
Navigating the Future: Balancing AI and Human Relationships in a Digital World
Bob Marquardt, Matt Kelly, Maggie Pugesek, & Ken Yang
Essential Do’s and Don’ts for E ective Floorplanning
Jordan Cox, Danielle Singleton, Paul Hicks
12 pm - 1 pm
1 pm - 2 pm
1 pm - 1:45 pm
Lunch with Vendors
90 Days to A New Dealership
John Dismukes - 20 Groups Sales Manager, NIADA
BREAKOUT SESSION (GROUP 1)
LHPH vs. BHPH: A Simple Breakdown for Independent Auto Dealers
Michael Maguire - Dealer Controlled Solutions Protecting Your Dealership in This Age of Re-Regulation
Steve Levine - Ignite Consulting & Kathy Sabaski - MidAtlantic IADA
2 pm - 2:45 pm
BREAKOUT SESSION (GROUP 2)
Improve Shop E ciencies
Gene Daughtry - Auto Master Systems
When AS IS Doesn't Mean AS IS Allison Harrison - ALH Law
3 pm - 3:45 pm
4 pm - 4:45 pm
5 pm
Palladium A & B (Vendor Hall)
Palladium C (General Session Hall)
Tiberius (BHPH Sessions)
Romulus (Q & A Sessions)
Tiberius (BHPH Sessions)
Romulus (Q & A Sessions)
BREAKOUT SESSION (GROUP 3)
Shut Up and Take Their Money
Maggie Pugesek - C&M Coaching & Robyn Burkinshaw - BlytzPay
Dealer Accounting: Must Do’s and Need To Do’s
Chad Martin - Martin Bryan Accounting & Consulting
BREAKOUT SESSION (GROUP 4)
Mastering Social Media
Kendra Brown - Dream Team Media
Insurance for Today’s Auto Dealer
Lee Kirsh - Advantage Insurance
Tiberius (BHPH Sessions)
Romulus (Q & A Sessions)
Tiberius (BHPH Sessions)
Romulus (Q & A Sessions)
Monday Night Football & Vendor Tailgate
Palladium A & B (Vendor Hall)
Enjoy the Buccaneers vs. Lions game while networking with exhibitors and sponsors, and treat yourself to some game day food.
DURING GENERAL SESSION
Navigating the Future: Balancing AI and Human Relationships in a Digital World
Monday, October 20th @ 9 am - 12 pm
Palladium C (General Session Hall)
Join us for an exciting event, hosted by industry vendors and fellow dealers from a local dealership, where we’ll explore the fascinating topic of balancing AI and human relationships! This casual open discussion will allow you to explore how technology can enhance our connections rather than replace them. With insights from experienced professionals and interactive activities, you’ll gain valuable tips on fostering genuine relationships in our digital age. It's a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other in a relaxed atmosphere—don't miss out!
DURING GENERAL SESSION
Essential Do's and Don'ts for Effective Floorplanning
Monday, October 20th @ 9 am - 12 pm
Palladium C (General Session Hall)
In today's evolving automotive landscape, independent dealerships are seeking innovative solutions to enhance their inventory management and cash ow. Floorplan nancing emerges as a critical tool that not only alleviates the burden of upfront cash, but also empowers dealers to strategically expand their inventory and maximize sales. Moderated by Kathy Sabaski, our panel will delve into best practices for utilizing oorplans e ectively, exploring how tailored nancing options and disciplined credit management can transform a dealership's operations. Join us as we uncover the strategies that can drive growth and pro tability for automotive businesses in today's competitive market!
Discount Cars
Ken Yang
C&M Coaching
Maggie Pugesek
Dealer Funnel
Matt Kelly MagiLoop
Bob Marquardt
CAR Financial
Paul Hicks AFC
Danielle Singleton
NextGear Capital
Jordan Cox
2025 VENDOR HALL FLOORPLAN
L1 - L3
Palladium A
Palladium B
Palladium C
Stairs
Tiberius Romulus
Upstairs Apollo
01 02 03 04 05 07 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
BHPH BREAKOUT SESSIONS
MONDAY, OCT 20th 1 pm - 4:45 pm
Michael Maguire
Dealer Controlled Solutions
LHPH vs. BHPH: A Simple Breakdown for Independent Auto Dealers
1 pm - 1:45 pm | Tiberius
In this session, I will help dealers understand the key differences between LHPH and BHPH.
If you’re a car dealer dipping into subprime financing, you’ve probably heard the buzz around Buy-Here, Pay-Here (BHPH) and Lease-Here, Pay-Here (LHPH). Both let you finance customers in-house (no banks needed), but they work differently. BHPH is the old-school “sell the car and collect payments” model. LHPH flips it to “lease the car, keep the title, and reclaim it later.”
In plain English: BHPH hands ownership right away (higher risk if they default). LHPH keeps you as the owner until the lease ends (more control, lower upfront payments for buyers). Both shine in tough credit markets, but LHPH is gaining steam for its flexibility.
Handling
Repairs After the Sale
2 pm - 2:45 pm | Tiberius
This class focuses on identifying and addressing issues faced by Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealers regarding their shop efficiency. It explores common problems that lead to a lack of vehicle turnover, such as inadequate repairs, technician productivity, and rising parts costs. The instructor shares strategies and remedies that have been successfully implemented to enhance operational efficiency and improve vehicle output in these dealerships.
Gene Daughtry
Auto Master Systems
Maggie Pugesek
C&M Coaching
Robyn Burkinshaw
BlytzPay
Shut Up & Take Their Money: How to Streamline Collections, Maximize Efficiency, and Give Your Team the Time to Focus on What Matters
3 pm - 3:45 pm | Tiberius
Discover how leveraging text-based communication can minimize customer frustration while enabling collectors to focus more on high-priority delinquent accounts. We’ll listen to real collections calls, highlight the mistakes made and review text messages that are designed to simplify your collections process. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can implement immediately to increase operational efficiency, reduce stress on their collections teams, and drive better results for both their borrowers and their business.
Mastering Social Media: How to Use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to Keep Your Marketing Funnel Full
4 pm - 4:45 pm | Tiberius
In this session, you will see content marketing examples from dealerships on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. You will gain a general understanding of leveraging content types, including video and music, on each platform and how to measure success. You will walk away with quick, proven tips and tactics to make your social media marketing more effective for boosting your bottom line.
Dream Team Media Solution
Kendra Brown
Q&A BREAKOUT SESSIONS
MONDAY, OCT 20th 1 pm - 4:45 pm
Steve Levine
Ignite Consulting Partners
Kathy Sabaski
MidAtlantic IADA
Protecting Your Dealership in This Age of Re-Regulation
1 pm - 1:45 pm | Romulus
Car dealers are facing legal and regulatory scrutiny like never before, and one wrong move can devastate the business. In this session, Kathy Sabaski of the MidAtlantic Independent Auto Dealers Association and industry expert Steve Levine of Ignite Consulting Partners will discuss recent industry actions and what dealers can do to thrive while staying compliant. They’ll go over real world examples and share actual case studies.
When AS IS Doesn’t Mean AS IS
2 pm - 2:45 pm | Romulus
As a dealer, we hope that an AS IS sale relieves us of all liability. However, that is not always true. If there are specific representations or omissions before or during the sale, liability can attach even if the vehicle is sold AS IS!
Allison Harrison
ALH Law Group
Come learn how to protect your dealership from these issues and other common dealership risks.
Dealer Accounting: Must Do’s and Need To Do’s
3 pm - 3:45 pm | Romulus
This session will remind you of the accounting functions you must be doing every day and month, as well as provide some things you should consider doing to prepare yourself for the future, i.e. analytics, expense management and future banking needs.
Insurance for Today’s Auto Dealer
4 pm - 4:45 pm | Romulus
In my session, I’ll provide an in-depth overview of how to effectively insure your auto dealership, focusing on the essential components of Garage Insurance coverage. I’ll guide you through various coverage options, ensuring you understand which policies best suit your unique business needs. Additionally, I’ll highlight common pitfalls and coverage gaps that many dealerships face, so you can leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to protect your business, customers, and employees. This information is crucial for any auto dealer looking to enhance their risk management strategies and maintain long-term financial stability.
Martin Bryan Accounting & Consulting
Chad Martin
Advantage Insurance
Lee Kirsh
NOTES
NOTES
COACHING
Harrisburg | Lancaster