The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) will be hosting its second virtual conference on March 18, 2021, providing a digital platform that will grant attendees access to educational sessions, a virtual exposition and networking opportunities.

Registration is available here.

Highlighting the day will be an economic outlook presentation titled “2021 Key Trends & Outlook” by Tom Kontos, chief economist at KAR Auction Services, Inc., and Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, and will be moderated by Steve Greenfield, CEO and founder at Automotive Ventures. This presentation will offer perspectives ranging from the pandemic and vaccines to the strength of the used-vehicle market, the IARA said.  

Five educational sessions will also be presented during the virtual conference, the first of which will be titled “Adapting to a Socially Distanced World,” which will feature  discussion with leaders from ADESA Manheim and the independents to hear about the current state of the auction industry and how they are dealing with the new selling restrictions and requirements. 

The session will feature feedback from Alan Lang, VP, local and mobile division, Manheim; Jason Ferreri, EVP - commercial customer solutions at KAR Global; Laura Taylor, general manager of Charleston Auto Auction; and Charles Nichols, president of BSC America. It will be moderated by Doug Campbell, VP, remarketing, for the Americas for Avis Budget Group. 

Following is a presentation discussing the evolution and state of condition reports titled “Is Your Condition Report Making the Grade?” and will feature Matt Arias, assistant VP, America's Auto Auction and Doug Turner, director of service operations, Byrider.

The next session will focus on Dealer Insights, as dealers across the country share their “new” online and in-lane buying and selling experiences and what we, as an industry, need to improve. It will feature Stan Norton, VP at City Auto Sales; Dan Reels, owner of Reels Auto; and Shawn Stafford, general sales manager, Donovan Auto Center. It will be moderated by Robert Voltmann, CEO of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA).

Following will be a presentation on how transport and logistics companies are innovating and collaborating to serve industry demand. It will feature Adam Laura, VP of business development, Acertus; Erik Rosenow, sr. manager, supply chain planning, Vroom; Ray Moran, director of operations at United Road Services; and Joe Kichler, VP of Manheim Logistics. It will be moderated by Jay Wertzberger, founder of Auto Transport Intel.

The final panel discussion is titled “Consignors Rising to Change feature,” and will feature leading consignors representing various segments on how they are rising to changes and demands in the wholesale markets. Panelists include Larry Knapp, director of remarketing for Donlen; Steven Kapusta, senior VP of remarketing services, Ally; Mark Lindenmuth, asset manager at Caprock Auto Remarketing; and Mona Spoon, remarketing sales manager, Emkay. It will be moderated by Tammy Swofford, national sales and marketing director of America’s Auto Auction.

The day will begin with a morning welcome from IARA President Paul Seger, who will also close out with an afternoon wrap-up. 

Participants will have the ability to ask questions during sessions, post comments and/or respond to surveys. Attendees will also have in-depth access to exhibitors and sponsor information, schedule an appointment or live chat with other registrants via online chat and/or live chat.