Hotlines, Inc. Of course, obstacles ensued, such as three months into business, their communication sat- ellite fell out of orbit that took down service. Their 500 company network were out of connection. But pulling up her boot straps, as her mother did, she managed to find another satellite.

The real lesson she learned from Betty was that no matter what obstacle you face, “You don’t quit. You only loose when you quit,” she says. Paying it forward is her next step. “Ultimately, 20 years into Hotlines, my goal is to work with women in their own businesses, to mentor and help them, just like my mother empowered me.”

Orlando Expo Magic

All in all, the largest annual gathering of vendors to the auto recycling industry was a success. For ARA members, there is still nothing like that face-to-face contact with vendors who offer innovative products and services to meet their ongoing business needs. From applications to equipment to shipping to af- termarket, and everything in between, the gamut of services were available to see, touch and test. Exhib- itors visited with current customers and made new connections. “It was good traffic, with good feedback,” says Jake Janowski, ETE Reman, commenting that ex- posing auto recyclers to aftermarket automatic trans- mission remanufacturing gives them an opportunity to say “yes” to their customer. Kelly Furtado, ARS General Manager, says, “We’ve had new contacts and face to face with existing clients. ARA’s show helps us build our relationships.” The ESD Water booth noted that they have “been busier than we’ve ever been, good show with lots of good feedback.”

Dan Fernandez of APU Solutions summed it all up, saying, “Anytime there is 1,000 people in attendance, it’s a good thing. It is a great time to catch up with cli- ents, give new people some information, and we really enjoyed the host property and our booth space.”

Accelerate in Charlotte

In 2019, auto recyclers will once again take the lead in Charlotte, NC, October 10-12 for the 76th Annual Convention & Expo. “This year, we responded to ARA members who’ve requested changes to our format. Working with the event team, committee volunteers and the Executive Committee, I believe we met that challenge, which will only continue into the 2019 Convention,” says Sandy Blalock. “This year, we went deeper into applicable in- formation that can help an auto recycler’s bottom line, held peer-to-peer panels, and even matched businesses with mentors to work throughout the year together. Change is here, and ARA will do its best to respond to member requests.”

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“The overall feedback on the exposition was tre- mendous,” says Kim Glasscock, ARA Events Director. “Many of our exhibitors, both old and new, said they experienced great traffic at their booths and interest in their product(s). Attendees said they felt it was a great show with relevant products and services. “We look forward to even greater participation in Charlotte,” says Glasscock, “as we plan for more pro- gram improvements, and with a majority of our exhib- itors already expressing interest in returning.” “Even with the challenges,” says Blalock, “the indus- try is uniting. It is an exciting time to be part of ARA.”

Caryn Smith is the editor of Automotive Recycling magazine and has been covering the industry for over 20 years.