The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) announced that the next IARA Roundtable event, designed to address the needs and priorities of vehicle remarketers, will be held July 21-23 at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago. On Thursday, July 22 at 1:45 p.m., Dick Dennis will lead the IARA Endorsing an Industry Standard Vehicle Grading Scale Roundtable event that will discuss whether an IARA endorsement on a standard scale is possible to help the industry standardize. “One of the missions of IARA is to foster the improvement of the remarketing process. Standardization, wherever possible, is a worthwhile goal,” says Matt Marks, IARA executive director. The panel will discuss which scales are in use and the pros and cons of adopting the use of one common vehicle grading scale. Attendance for the IARA Roundtable Series is recommended to auction managers, banks, fleet lease managers, leasing companies, manufacturing organizations, remarketing service providers, remarketing technology providers, rental-car companies, vehicle inspection companies, vehicle value organizations, and used-car sales managers. Events Schedule

Fairmont Hotel

Wed. July 21
3 p.m.: Board of Director's Meeting
5-7 p.m.: Reception

Thurs. July 22
7 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m.: Annual Meeting
9:45 a.m.: Presentation of IARA Online Remarketing Modules.
12 a.m.: Luncheon
Speaker: Remarketing Industry Spokesman

IARA Achievement Award

1:45 p.m.: Roundtable sessions commence.
1. Endorsing an Industry Standard Vehicle Grading Scale. Moderator: Dick Dennis.
2. Managing Revenue Opportunities Within Your Lease Portfolio. Presenter: David Walsh, Marketwise.
6 p.m.: Evening Dinner Cruise (optional)

Fri. July 23
7 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m.: IARA Online Remarketing Module Curriculum.
Allen Pankopf, associate professor, Northwood University.
10 a.m.: Chicago-Area Dealer Panel Discussion: Why I Buy Your Cars. Moderators: Layne Weber, Donlen, and Stephen Houston, WFS Financial.
11:30 a.m.: Closing Remarks

Conference rates are $195 for members and $345 for nonmembers. Hotel rates are $189 per night. Rates are valid until June 21, 2004; thereafter, rooms are available on a first come, first served basis at a higher rate. For more information or to register, call IARA at (800) 441-1414 or (312) 565-6698, or visit www.iaraonline.org.