Education Fair Highlights

EDUCATION FAIR HIGHLIGHTS: EAST Welcome back!

The WSIADA was pleased when the announcement of the Pandemic restrictions for group gatherings was being lifted officially in June 2021 to allow us to provide the Education Fair in-person again. The previous year, we were unable to meet and had to provide a Zoom-format version of the fair over a two-day period.

Immediately after the announcement by the State of Washington, we began the planning process for the Spokane and Seattle fairs that our staff generally has a year to prepare for.

Several dealership staff members had reached out to our office as the planning process began in the hopes of seeing the Education Fair in-person again. They were more than excited when news of the event was released.

Many of our speakers attended both East and West locations including Department of Revenue, Shepard & Shepard Business Insurance, Washington Retail Association, 321 Ignition, and Office of the Washington State Attorney General.

Registered attendees at check-in at both events received a WSIADA backpack with a mini-portfolio inside (see below)!

As a token of WSIADA’s appreciation, Education Fair attendees received some great complimentary gear this year!

EAST: AUGUST 17

Doubletree Hilton Convention Center in Spokane was ready to return to some normalcy as we returned to the location. The Grand ballroom and Salon IV rooms were adjusted for the COVID-19 requirements for personal spacing to ensure our attendees were not too close to one another.

WSIADA Executive Director Brian Dansel began the day with two local political speakers: Josh Kerns, Spokane County Commissioner, and Michael Cathcart, Spokane City Councilman. They spoke individually first to give the attendees their backgrounds in local politics and then together for the Q&A portion of their presentation.

Marc Worthy of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office presented via Zoom, as he was not able to be in Spokane

in person. In previous years, Marc was not available to attend the Education Fair Spokane due to scheduling.

Washington Retail Association’s Terry Hopsecger finished the morning presentation on the benefits of the RETRO program for members of the WSIADA regarding Workers Compensation and related Labor & Industries training.

For lunch, the hotel provided a Mexican fiesta for everyone with chicken, beef, an optional salad, and a Cinnamon puff dessert while dealers visited the few Vendors available for the Vendor’s Fair. Unfortunately, several of the scheduled Vendors could not attend at the last minute.

In the afternoon, we had the bulk of our speakers with Todd Shepard (Shepard & Shepard), Ken Krous (Department of Revenue) and Lyamen Savy (321 Ignition). Rick Olson, from WSIADA, presented on behalf of the Department of Licensing, who was not able to send a representative this year due to COVID-19.

Brian finished the event with a rousing speech, thanking our Spokane area dealers for attending, before offering the reception to anyone who was not leaving right away. This year we had 47 attendees in total for this event. Previously in 2019 we had 41 total in attendance.

WEST: SEPT. 23

In the past, the West event was scheduled at the LeMay’s Car Museum in Tacoma WA. This year, with the short notice, the Association chose to have the event at the Doubletree Hilton in Sea-tac. The benefit was bringing the Vendor’s Fair and lunch inside instead of using an outdoor tent that was used at LeMay’s Car Museum.

With a larger venue, the Association was able to accommodate over 115 individuals to attend with spacing available for COVID-19 requirements. A Continental breakfast was available while individuals checked into the event.

Brian Dansel opened the event with introductions of himself and the current WSIADA Board of Directors before yielding the floor to Washington State Senator, Doug Ericksen. Senator Ericksen spoke on topics of the 2021 Legislature, COVID-19 restrictions and fielded several questions and answers from individuals.

321 Ignition’s Lyamen Savy presented the subject of mobile device marketing for dealerships in the 21st century, as she had for the East Fair a month earlier.

Dave Blake from MAG Auctions Seattle spoke about the changes in the auction world, the adjustments from 2020 and COVID-19 but also answered several questions from dealers on topics regarding transportation and services by MAG Auctions.

During the lunch break, the attendees enjoyed the catered hot lunch that was available before walking through the Vendor’s Fair with the 12 vendor booths, including WSIADA’s own booth, to answer questions and make connections for their businesses.

“It went really well, I thought. We talked with a lot of people, and they seemed really excited about our new Lot Vision and that they can do retail recon at our facility. We had at minimum two dealers attend the sale the week after the fair that had been previously absent.” - Cindy Scothorne, Manheim Seattle.

Continued on next page

Fair West Raffle Winners

Seahawks Helmet (Mag Auctions) Integrity Auto Sales LLC

Yeti Cooler with Drinks and Snacks (Kinetic Advantage) Verdant Auto Sales LLC

Google Nest (AutoZone) Erickson Tank & Pump

Manheim Prizes Quality Auto Center LLC and Car Chasers LLC

ACV Cards ($950 value each) Verdant Auto Sales LLC and Rock Auto Sales LLC

Case of Odometer Disclosure Forms (WSIADA) - Auto Outlet of Tacoma Home of The Car Guys

LED Hi-Res Sign (WSIADA) Walker Motor Works

Continued from previous page

After the Vendor’s fair, the first speaker of the afternoon was Todd Shepard, Shepard & Shepard Insurance, on the topic of Cyber Liability Insurance and the fall out of not being prepared in case of ransomware attacks on a dealership, which can be very costly to recover from if not prepared. Throughout the afternoon, Brian Dansel and Mila Froman provided some comedy with raffle items donated by many of the vendors. Bradly Brown of Integrity Auto Sales LLC won a Seattle Seahawks signed Kam Chancellor helmet from MAG Auctions as the last item of the raffles. of Revenue, Washington Attorney General’s office and Department of Licensing with presentations from the East Fair.

At the end of the event, Brian Dansel thanked all who attended, attendee and vendor alike, and offered a reception with appetizers and drinks for attendees wanting to relax from the event before heading out. n