CONVENTION PREVIEW

African savanna with real wildlife, the rainforest, Pan- dora – the mythical land of Avatar – or coaster down Mount Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The ul- timate Disney experience combines a visit to more than one park. More about each park can be found at www.disneyworld.com or the multitude of travel “insider” websites that give you all you need to know.

Peer Support is the Magic Ingredient This year more than ever before, the ARA 75th An-

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort offers five swimming pools, whirlpools, and kiddie pools. As if that weren’t enough, it features a white sand beach, two sand volleyball courts, a basketball court and four lighted tennis courts. Guests can also tee off at sev- eral Walt Disney World golf courses. Those looking to stay fit can jog down Disney’s BoardWalk, around Crescent Lake, and take in stunning views of Epcot. Alternatively, they can avail of a state-of-the-art health club equipped to please even the most demanding fitness devotee or just relax at the Mandara Spa. There is much more to say about this world-class property, but you’ll have to go to www.swandolphin. com for more about the hotel’s additional features. Being in a Disney property, and bringing, say, a thousand or so people to the area affords ARA guests deep discounts to the parks. Information on ticket sales is located at www.araexpo.org on the home page (look for the brown Disney brochure). We have to warn you that the choices are tough when it comes to which parks to visit. Discounted tickets must be purchased by Oct. 29.

Magic Kingdom offers your best chance at a prin- cess sighting, especially near the castle. Epcot is the land of yesterday and tomorrow, with rides that ex- plore nations and worlds. Hollywood Studios puts your favorite movies, like “Toy Story” and “Star Wars,” center stage, with the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith as an editor’s pick! And finally, explore an

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nual Convention & Expo is directed at a more per- sonal experience. Peer-to-peer sessions and the ARA Executive Committee(EC)-hosted business mentor- ing sessions are designed to help auto recyclers with the real day-to-day issues they are facing that are in- hibiting success or growth. The peer-to-peer sessions will focus on different areas of business, where like-sized yards can share in- formation. There are seven sessions scheduled, four for full-service and three for self-service facilities. Also for more individualized support, the EC is host- ing two first-ever business mentoring sessions geared toward helping auto recyclers that want perspective with issues that are bogging down operations. “Having so many of the finest automotive recy- clers from around the globe under one roof for a few days, learning and growing together, is an event I look forward to year after year,” says Shan McMil- lon, President, Cocoa Auto Salvage, Inc., a regular attendee to industry events, serving on the Florida Auto Dismantlers & Recyclers Association as its cur- rent president. “We want recyclers leaving the 75th Annual Con- vention with tangible takeaways that will help their businesses run more efficiently while moving money down to the bottom line,” says Jonathan Morrow, the incoming ARA President and inventory manager of his family’s business, M & M Auto Parts, Inc. “The desired outcome is to help strengthen our business leaders by creating helpful strategies and developing deep relationships, with the goal of positioning our industry for the future.” Morrow, who is hopeful this initiative will spur on and increase industry communication, credits his mentoring to his father and uncle, as well as Benny Cunningham.

“The most current data that we have shows that au- tomotive recyclers are failing at a rate of 6 percent per year. We must do everything that we can to slow, stop, or reverse this trend,” says Chad Counselman, owner of Counselman Automotive Recycling, and ARA’s current 2nd Vice President/Treasurer. As a self-professed numbers guy, he is very in tune with running an operation based on a tight P&L and be- ing flexible to change processes to streamline pro-

July-August 2018 • AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING