10th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition

10th Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition

April 19 - 21, 2011
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, FL

9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition a Resounding Success

The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition posted record-breaking attendance numbers
and overall enthusiastic response from conference attendees. More than 850 dealership managers attended the Conference from 48 states, along with Canada and Brazil, clearly surpassing previous Digital Dealer Conferences attendee numbers. Total Conference attendance topped 1800 people. The 9th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition was October 12-14, 2010, at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

Conference attendees could choose from more than 70 sessions. They reported that they received seven new ideas on average for each session they attended, delivering on the Conference theme New Ideas, New Revenues, New Efficiencies, Greater Profits.

Sessions covered topics important to dealers in the digital age including chat, mobile, social media, running a BDC, industry trends, best practices from leading dealership managers, and more. More than 400 dealership managers participated in the Peer Networking Roundtables
that started the event. Attendees also met and talked with exhibitors in more than 80 exhibit booths featuring the latest tools and technologies available to dealers.

The spring Conference – the 10th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition, April 19 – 21 at the
Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida – will continue to build on the knowledge gained and networking shared at the fall Conference. Watch www.DigitalDealerConference.com for details.

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Comment

Comment by Ralph Paglia on February 15, 2011 at 12:15pm

“Good to see what has evolved and what was just a fad. Looking for technology that enhances and matches our process.”
Mark Futa
Director of eCommerce
Gurley Leep Automotive
Mishawaka, IN

“As a ‘beginner’ to the world of digital marketing, I gained valuable knowledge of how to best reach new customers via digital marketing.”
Kathy Arndorfer
Marketing Director
Kemna Auto Group
Algona, IA

“I love to see the growth and awareness of the importance of technology and market shift this conference exhibited.”
Bryan Armstrong
e-Commerce Director
Menlove Toyota Scion
Bountiful, UT

“I place the information at a very high value level as this conference pertains solely to my area of our business. It is so easy to get stuck in the same old rut at your store. So this is a great way to open your eyes to everything that is possible. Thanks!!!”
Ron McLain
Internet Director
Williamson Honda
Lincoln, NE

“I was a Digital Marketing Consultant for 6 years and left the business for a year and wanted to get caught back up on the latest processes and technology that works. The conference afforded me the opportunity to be exposed to the latest and greatest ideas and technology from people and companies that are actually in the field. It gave me many new directions to pursue and implement in our day to day operations.”
Lynn Theibert
Internet Sales Director
J C Lewis Ford
Savannah, GA

“It confirmed many of my perspectives, debunked a couple and taught me a few things. It was a good conference. I wish there were 3 of me so I could attend more presentations!!!”
Island Don
Marketing Director
Bob Baker VW/Subaru Carlsbad
Carlsbad, CA

“It was my first conference and I couldn't have enjoyed it any more than I did. I couldn't believe how many ideas I had gotten and said to myself...’why didn't I think of that??!!’”
Marissa Lynn Giovenco
Internet Sales Manager
Warnock Ford
Morristown, NJ

Comment by Ralph Paglia on February 15, 2011 at 12:14pm

“Fantastic. I was able to get my GM involved and confirmed my ideas, wants and wishes by having him get with others from across the nation to reaffirm my strategies for our dealership as a whole!”
Mike Elmore
Internet Sales Director
Knudtsen Chevrolet
Post Falls, ID “Confirmed the things we are doing right and gave valuable ideas as what directions to go into the future.”
Roger D Perry Jr.
BDC Manager
Valenti Auto Mall
Mystic, Ct

“Excellent.”
Brock Kassing
Internet Manager
Nate Wade Subaru
Salt Lake City, UT

“Extremely valuable to see everything that's ‘out there’ and to learn from the best in our field.”
Josh Damm
Marketing Director
Lichtsinn Motors
Forest City, IA

“For checking where we stood technologically in the industry, and giving an idea of where things are headed and how we need to proceed to get there, the conference held huge value.”
Matthew King
Manager
Mr. Bill Motor Co.
Arlington, TX

“Good resource for gauging where we are at.”
DeWayne Barker
IT Director
Ralph Schomp
Littleton, CO

“Had a great time, well organized and on schedule.”
Kelly R. O'Brien
Internet Director
Dahl Ford
Davenport, IA

“I am in the process of redefining and redeveloping our internet processes. The state-of-the-art products that I researched and relationships that I built at the conference are the cornerstone of our new business plan.”
Kathleen Ryan
Internet Director
Tilton Automotive/Schumacher Chevrolet
Little Falls, NJ

“I believe this was the best Digital Dealer so far. Walked away with many great ideas.”
John Taylor
Internet Director
Findlay Automotive Group
Henderson, NV

Comment by Ralph Paglia on February 15, 2011 at 12:13pm

“The conference was terrific. We came here thinking we would get a few ideas. My mind is just reeling with good ideas. I like to think we do it well and now I realized we are just at the start.”
John 'Big Dog' Anderson
President
Anderson Honda
Palo Alto, CA

“I learned new things and found out how to do things that I already do better.”
Douglas Anderson
GM
Driver's Way
Pelham, AL

“Bringing different managers allowed me to start implementing ideas while still in Vegas and get immediate buy-in for action items upon return. Sending a single representative without the power to unilaterally implement them is an exercise in futility.”
Jeff Simonton
Marketing Director
McDonald Auto Group
Saginaw, MI

“This conference was a tremendous experience packed with a lot of value. The ROI is always tremendous on the immediate impact of ideas gained from this conference.”
Greg Coleman
Director Business Development
Oxmoor Auto Group
Lexington, KY

“This was an excellent conference to gauge where your dealership currently is and where it should be in today's marketplace.”
Billie Nimnicht
President
Nimnicht Family of Dealerships
Jacksonville, FL

“As always, I attend with the intention to learn and to gather as many ideas to improve not only my personal performance but that of the different departments within the store. Add having the opportunity to talk about day-to-day challenges and finding solutions from my peers that work, this conference is SO valuable...wouldn't miss it!”
Diane Anderson
BDC Manager
O'Brien Automotive Family
Indianapolis, IN

“Awesome.”
John Ervin
Business Development Director
World Jeep Subaru Volkswagen
Neptune, NJ

“Confirmed that we are going in the right direction.”
James W. Carter
Internet Director
Napa Ford
Napa, CA

Comment by Ralph Paglia on February 15, 2011 at 12:12pm

“We took very good notes, and transcribed them into a 22-page Word document. We have formed a continuous improvement team to study the ideas we brought back with us and to implement changes. I am the general manager, and attended with our ISM. We both found the information presented to be invaluable. We plan to attend the next conference.”
Jim Myers
Vice President/General Manager
Stoops Buick-GMC
Plainfield, IN

“The conference definitely exceeded my expectations, and I plan on bringing more associates from our dealership to the next one. There were just too many great seminars for only one person to attend.”
Andrew DiFeo
General Manager - Partner
Coastal Hyundai Mitsubishi, Hyundai of St. Augustine
St. Augustine, FL

“I am always very edified and encouraged by attending the Digital Dealer conferences. Of all the automotive conferences I have attended in my short time in the automotive world, this one always proves to be the most substantial in content. The reason for that, I believe, can be found in it's attempt (and success) to be relevant to the every day life of the owner and employees of the dealership.”
Randy Cole
eMarketing Coordinator
Kuni Automotive
Vancouver, WA

“Great conference! Really exceeded my expectations. I went expecting to hear about 50% of the sessions to be vendor "pitch" session, but actually experienced very little of that.”
David Nowling
General Sales Manager
Gerald Jones VW Audi
Martinez, GA

“The conference re-enforced best practices being used, allowed me to compare my BDC results to others and measure the effectiveness of my team. Got some very informative ideas and processes. Saw the new technology that is being offered by vendors. Spoke to peers and shared problems and solutions to the problems.”
Frank Tortolano
BDC Manager
Autotorium Group
Merrimack, NH

Comment by Ralph Paglia on February 15, 2011 at 12:11pm

Quotes From Past Attendees:

“I found DD9 to be condensed, engaging and comprehensive.”
Richard Fisler
V.P. of Marketing and E-Commerce
Conant Automotive Retailers
Cerritos, CA

“I learned a long time ago that ‘all the things that are important in life are the things I learned after I knew it all.’ The Digital Dealer conference never fails to deliver on this promise. The hardest thing about the conference is to choose the best practices to put in place. It is, of course, impossible to implement all the things you see and learn, so narrowing it down is the hardest part because there is so much good stuff. Odds are you will not find the ‘magic bullet,’ but you will learn how to implement a strategy that will improve your businesses position. Just a note to the dealer principals out there: don't just send your ‘internet guy.’ Go with him. You will be glad you did.”
AJ Maida
Director Digital Marketing
Papa's Dodge Chrysler Jeep
New Britain, CT

“This is a must-go for any dealer group or dealership that wants to stay ahead of the curve in the automotive marketplace. This is a great place for ideas and to meet peers that can take you to the next level.”
Jeremy Beaver
e-Commerce Director
Del Grande Dealer Group
San Jose, CA

“It opened my eyes to the rapidly changing marketplace and how to best reach those customers. I took away too many things to list that are in place in our dealership right now.”
Garry Shirley
General Sales Manager
Gentry Ford Subaru
Ontario, OR

“Who should attend? Any and all managers, decision makers, and personnel that are involved in improving the dealership's business should attend. There is still so much skepticism and lack of involvement from the decision-makers about the Internet and how it can be used more effectively to improve opportunities for each department and reduce expenses. This event is a real eye-opener! Attendance by the department heads, dealer principals and decision makers would help them ‘get it’ and allow for business growth in all departments.”
Diane Anderson
BDC/e-Commerce Manager
Hubler Automotive Group
Indianapolis, IN

“Only the best in the business attend this conference. If you are just looking to get through the next year, please don't come. Leave the best to us.”
Russell Blackstone
Internet Manager
Hewlett VW
Austin, TX

“Priceless! I thought I knew something, however, found out I didn't. We are completely changing the way we have been doing things.”
Tom Casto, General Manager
Premier Pontiac GMC
Rittman, OH

Comment by Gary May on October 14, 2010 at 4:43pm

There might be a poker tournament....

Comment by Ralph Paglia on October 14, 2010 at 3:09pm

Quotes From Past Digital Dealer Conference Attendees:

I've always had some interest in what the conference could do for my store. Now having finally gotten the opportunity to attend, I look forward to attending the Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition for years to come.
Mike Jansen
Dealer
Jansen Chevrolet
Germantown, IL

I came with our owner, GM and service director, so it was good for them to get a better sense of the impact of our evolving business. It is nice to have the "experts" explain the digital world to them.
Jason Davenport
Internet Director
D'Arcy Buick Pontiac GMC Volkswagen Hyundai
Joliet, IL

The speakers and the information at the conference were so relevant to everyday business at the dealership. There is so much presented that an individual can't possibly take it all in. You can only absorb so much at each conference. I attended my first conference in April and everything was so new I know that I missed a lot. I went back this fall to build on what I had already learned. I was amazed that not only did I build on the foundation I had learned before, but so many things had changed that I was learning the new trends of the last six months. Wow!
Hollyann M. Brown
Internet coordinator
Brown Motors
Petoskey, MI

This conference was one of the best learning experiences I had in many years. The sessions were great and I was able to pick up a lot of best practices. I could not wait to get back to the store and start using some the techniques that I had learned.
Brian Nieves
Internet Manager
Tri State Nissan
Winchester, VA

Exceptional. Learned more in two days than in two years. I appreciate the gathering of true professionals in this field of automotive retail. Can't say enough about the sheer power of this conference.
Trevor Paxton
Internet Manager
Draper Chevrolet Toyota
Saginaw, MI

I really appreciated looking into the future. Each session looked ahead into 2010 and gave tremendous tips, advice, and realistic ideas. My business, once I implement all the new ideas that I have brought back to the store, will be leap years ahead of my competition...now and in the future. I gained tremendous insight on practical ideas to grow my store...not just the Internet department. The conference is 100 percent worth my time and money. I will attend again!
Casey Jenkins Combs
Internet Manager
Jenkins & Wynne Inc.,
Clarksville, TN