ARA INCOMING PRESIDENT

A Swift T

who empowers people and gets things done. BY MICHELLE KEADLE-TAYLOR

“I can’t believe that it has been four years,” said Swift. “I will never forget talking to [ARA Past President] Randy Reitman, when Doug Reinhart had asked me to come on to the ARA Executive Committee (EC). ‘Just do it,’ he said, ‘you are going to meet a lot of great people.’ Man was he so right. I have met hundreds and hundreds of people, who have the same issues that we do in our business. I have really met some of the greatest people.”

In addition to his current role as ARA First Vice President, Swift is also currently a board member for the Iowa Automotive Recyclers (IAR) and the Chairperson for Government Affairs in Iowa. He has been actively involved in both associations for years. In ARA, he has served on the Executive Committee for the last four years, was the Regional Director in 2009 and 2011, and a ARA Regional Director Chair from 2010 to 2012. He served as the

54 Automotive Recycling | September-October 2015

Mike Swift, Incoming ARA President, is a leader

ction

he old saying, “Time flies when you are having fun” certainly applies to Mike Swift, current ARA First Vice President. He will become ARA President at the ARA 72nd Annual Convention & Exposition in Charlotte, North Carolina in October. As he gets ready to take over as ARA President, he reflects on how quickly time goes.

IAR past Vice President from 2005 to 2007 and as IAR President from 2008 to 2010. His business, Swift’s Trails End Auto Recycling was the first yard in Iowa to be I-CARE certified (Iowa-Certified Automotive Recyclers Environmen- tal Program, specific to the standards and regula- tions of that state).

This experience has prepared him for his upcoming role as ARA President, but just as important are the years spent in the industry, learning the business inside and out. “I learned a lot from my dad in this business,” said Swift. “He was a very good auto recycler and very hard working. My dad was my hero for sure. I wanted to be just like him. I started full-time work- ing for my dad at Swifts Auto Salvage in May of 1979. I have been the weed puller, the fence mender, the delivery driver, the lunch ‘gitter,’ the donut ‘gitter.’ I have pulled parts in the yard, in