FADRA 2024 Convention and Trade Show Schedule
(Schedule and speakers subject to change)
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Time Title Speaker Description
10:30 am
Noon
Recycler's Cross Dock Meeting/Brunch Bo Wroten Business meeting of Recycler's Cross Dock Members
12:30 pm
3:30 pm
FADRA Board of Directors Meeting Phil Riffel, President

All members welcome.

Sponsor: PGM of Texas

3:00 pm
4:30 pm
Registration Open   Visit the main registration desk to pick up your name badge, exhibitor packets, and other convention materials; register on-site to buy event tickets; and leave off auction items.
5:30 pm
8:30 pm
Welcome Event: Yard Tour, Barbecue, and Cat Drive Auction at Green Star Auto Recyclers  

Complimentary Yard Tour, Barbecue, live music, and Catalytic Converter Drive Auction hosted by Green Star Auto Recyclers in Orlando. Check out how Neil Harrow and his crew work their business and gather for great food, libations, and fellowship. Stay for the bidding on cats donated by FADRA members. Transportation provided to and from hotel. Buses leave hotel at 5:30.

Sponsor: RAS

Friday, July 19, 2024
Time Title Speaker Description
8:00 am
6:00 pm
Registration Open   Pick up your registration packets, name badges, etc.
8:00 am
Noon
Decorator Setup   Booth setup begins
8:00 am Continental Breakfast  

Fuel up for the day.

Sponsor: Solera|Hollander

9:00 am Convention Welcome Phil Riffel, Polk County Pick and Pay Opening comments and introduction.
9:05 am
10:05 am
Keynote: The Choices We Face
Neil Harrow, Green Star Auto Recyclers

Living Legend Neil Harrow always tells it like it is as he shares his story, from lessons learned from family in New York City to owning three salvage businesses. Neil will discuss ideas and techniques that led to success, how he adapted to changes in the industry, found ways to find good salvage at reasonable prices, and how to build loyal broker and trading networks today.

Sponsor: IAA

10:15 am
11:15 am
Sales Management from A to Z Lee Worman, AESOP Auto Parts Lee brings a global perspective to managing your sales staff and process. How do you motivate sales staff? How do you handle conflicts among them? How do you decide which products to push or not push? He will discuss these and other issues in a wide-ranging discussion.
11:20 am
12:15 pm
Driving Success: Unlocking Profitability Through Certification and Best Practices Sue Schauls, Iowa Auto Recyclers Association Obtaining CAR Certification from ARA takes some doing, but it invariably leads to better process management in the yards that follow it through. Sue, a certified CAR Trainer, will explain how you can streamline the process and bring value to your operation.
12:15 pm
1:15 pm
Lunch on Your Own    
12:15 pm
5:00 pm
Exhibitor Setup   Vendor Setup begins. Decorator Gulf Coast Expo will have a table in the back to order electricity, carpet, shipping services, anything you might need for your booth.
1:20 pm
2:05 pm
Creating a Bigger Business Network and Best Shipping Practices

Ray Coker, Team PRP     

Bo Wroten, Recycler's Cross Dock

Ray and Bo are experts in the growing trend of building business networks among auto recyclers, which magnify your selling power and extend your reach. A key to this is managing your shipping processes for the greatest efficiency and fewest returns.


2:10 pm
3:10 pm
Level Up Your eCommerce Department for the Future

Michael Misky, Buter Auto Recycling

Ready to take your eCommerce sales to the next level? Join this session to learn proven successful practices and pitfalls to avoid in running a multi-million dollar eBay auto parts store. Whether you want to start selling on eBay to complement your existing sales or want to fine tune your booming eCommerce process, this session is meant to be an interactive approach for recyclers helping recyclers.
3:10 pm Ice Cream Break  

Ice cream bars in rear of meeting room.

Sponsor: Car-Part.com

3:20 pm
4:35 pm
Safety First: Establishing and Enforcing Standards

Miranda Wroten, AESOP Auto Parts                             

Sue Schauls, Iowa Auto Recyclers Assn.

Although ARA has an extensive training platform, does your location go beyond a training video to ensure safety? How does your yard track safety incidents, and how are they followed up on? What does the safety training onboard process look like for your yard?

Sponsor: Auto Data Direct

4:40 pm
5:45 pm
Buying Panel: How Can We Acquire More Vehicles?

Mike Lambert, Buddy Automotive                         

Chris Sauls, Green Star Auto Recyclers

Russ Harris, IAA                                

Securing enough vehicles to fuel operations is an eternal concern for auto recyclers. How have policies changed in recent years that either inhibit or help in the acquisition of vehicles? What can auctions do to free up more for recyclers? Come for a lively discussion from different perspectives. 
6:00 pm
8:30 pm
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening  

The Vendor Hall is open for business! Let our vendors know what you're looking for while enjoying a cold beverage and hors d'oeuvres, plus live music.

Food Sponsor: 366 Processing Services

Bear & Wine Sponsors: EZ-Suite, URG, VINMatchPRo

8:30 pm
11:00 pm
FADRA Hospitality Poolside  

Open To All. Come out by the pool to enjoy drinks and fellowship. 

Sponsor: ACS2, LLC

Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time Title Speaker Description
7:30 am Coffee and Granola Bars  

Fuel up to start the day.                          

7:45 am
5:00 pm
Registration Open    
7:50 pm
8:50 am
General Membership Meeting

Phil Riffel, FADRA    Vince Edivan, ARA

Catch up on association business and hear from our state and national Presidents. We'll discuss the year's association highlights, present the FADRA scholarship winners, and install new officers. 

Sponsor: Wolfpack Enterprises

9:00 am
9:50 am
Maximize Your Revenues Outside of Parts Sales Lee Worman, AESOP Auto Parts What can you do to find extra income sources outside of parts sales? How can you develop a profitable warranty program? How can delivery fees, core sales, and credit card fees improve your bottom line?
10:00 am
10:50 am
Optimizing Your Auto Parts Inventory for Customer Trust and Sales Triumph

Roger Schroder, Car-Part.com                         

Make sure you have good images, proper descriptions and grades, and are brokering partners inventory on Car-PartPro. Updates to ARA Part Grading guidelines and components. The difference between brokering on Car-Part.com and Car-PartPro. Additional sales opportunities now with Car-Part Interchange Plus (CPI+) and future opportunities to promote sales with Carbon Savings from using Recycled parts. Additional sales opportunities with ARA Peer-to -eer Interchange and how you can contribute.
10:50 am
1:00 pm
Brunch with Exhibitors  

Last time to meet with the vendors in the hall, with great lunch and breakfast food to sustain you the rest of the day.

Sponsor: First Coast Core

1:00 pm
2:50 pm
Sales Session Lee Worman AESOP Auto Parts  
3:00 pm
3:50 am
Beyond the Sale: Seamless Order Fulfillment for Customer Satisfaction  Miranda Wroten AESOP Auto Parts Do sales team members understand what happens AFTER an order is created? Do shipping and fulfillment team members understand how and why sales teams make the request they make? How do you communicate across departments with ease and understanding? Ultimately, how do these processes affect the customer?
3:50 pm
4:50 pm
Self-Service Panel

Moderator: Phil Riffel, Polk County Pick & Pay

Panelists: Gary Lindros, Jr., Ace Pick-a-Part/Doug Grose, Pasco Auto Salvage                                                     

U-pull-it yards have unique issues and opportunities. Listen to and ask questions of some self-service yard owners to help you improve your operations.

4:50 pm        5:00 pm

Refreshment Break   Get refreshments in the back of the Self-Service session.
4:00 pm
5:00 pm
Ask the Experts

Moderator: Bo Wroten, Recycler's Cross Dock                                         

Panelists: Neil Harrow, Green Star Auto Recyclers; Casey Ingram, LKQ-Crystal River; Nick Fiore, Fenix Parts

Get revived at the end of a long day with a freewheeling discussion of industry trends and best business practices from leading lights of the auto recycling industry. Bring the questions you want answers to.

Sponsor: Auto Data Direct

7:00 pm
10:00 pm
FADRA Intergalactic Gala  

Themed event with full dinner and bar, music, live auction, special membership and--new this year--the Last Member Standing fun competition. 

Food Sponsors: Recycler's Cross Dock & ACS2, LLC

Entertainment & Decor Sponsor: Buddy Automotive

Sunday, July 21, 2024
Time Title Speaker Description
8:00 am
9:00 am
FADRA Prayer Breakfast Butch Thompson, Ole South Auto Salvage Closing prayer service with light breakfast.