Yudu - July 2015

President’s Farewell Message

s my year as President comes to an end and the gavel is passed to my friend, Mike Swift, I am humbled by the trust you placed in me during this last year. I am proud of my year as President, and I am even more proud of the people our Association serves!

I would like to personally thank all ARA members for your continued involvement in the Association. It is only through your support that ARA can continue to succeed in its efforts to promote professional automotive recyclers and the vital role that recy- cled OEM parts play in the marketplace. As you well know, however, there are decades of old barriers that we must confront with targeted resources and a passionate voice. ARA has answered the call to help inform and shape the national dialogue on emerging issues related to vehicle safety, including advanced vehicle technologies, the life cycle of automotive parts, and the safety of our nation’s drivers. ARA stands ready to work with other interested groups to improve recall completion rates to provide for the safety of the driving public. We are very pleased that National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Mark Rosekind has agreed to be a keynote speaker during our upcoming 72nd Annual Convention & Expo in Charlotte. Administrator Rosekind’s outreach to automotive safety stakeholders is ground-breaking and his acknowledgement that ARA has much to contribute to the national dialogue on recall remedies is refreshing. I hope folks are looking forward to a return trip to Charlotte. ARA’s 72nd Annual Convention & Expo has an

impressive array of vendors, speakers and members to make this year’s event one of our best. Being held in my home state of North Carolina, I encourage you to attend along with your industry colleagues. Lastly, I would like to state my view that the single most important thing to keep in mind is that ARA is, first and foremost, an automotive recycling advocacy group – this is our primary function as an Association. I am confident that our Executive Committee, the Board, and our great staff will continue to guide our Automotive Recyclers Association to the future it deserves.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller Thanks to all the people who have helped make this year so special for me! Sincerely,

Ricky Young ARA President 2014-2015

ARA Officers

Comments By Ricky Young, ARA President

Young’s Auto Center & Salvage/Car Crushers Benson, NC

PRESIDENT Ricky Young

ricky@youngsautocenter.com

Swift’s Trails End Auto Recycling Des Moines, IA

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Mike Swift

mike@trailsendauto.com

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER RD Hopper

Sonny’s Auto Salvage Jacksonville, AR rd@sasparts.com

david@standardautowreckers.com