Sold16 will commence Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 with Bob Greenwood discussing the need for mid-management. His presentation will focus on determining if there is a need; if so, how to develop a plan of duties; find, retain, compensate; and how to develop an incentive plan. This will be a five-hour program.
SOLD16 will reconvene Monday, Jan. 25, at 8:00 AM with a presentation by Trish Serratore, President of NATEF/Ayes. NATEF is the organization that provides colleges, universities and vocational schools with accreditation for their programs regarding automotive and diesel truck courses. Serratore will explain how the courses are developed and what the schools need to do to become accredited.
Trish’s presentation will be followed by a real-world example of where partnership between industry and academia is paying dividends. Betts Company will share how its central California community has developed strong connection between several high school districts and community colleges, specifically Reedley College (Reedley, Calif.), to broaden its agriculture diesel program to include an NATEF-accredited heavy truck program. Leaders of these institutions will share how their new proposed diesel heavy truck repair program will become an ideal feeder program into the Reedley College Heavy Duty Program in a panel forum.
With this foundation, SOLD16 will bring together leaders of the heavy duty independent service channel and their valued supplier partners to tackle the challenge of building the next generation of service shop managers and technicians. Mark Willis of HDA Truck Pride will moderate this esteemed panel to answer questions and share ideas on what must change to fill the void of identifying and hiring next generation mechanics.
SOLD16 will conclude with the presentation of the most valuable tool or equipment purchase of the past year. A website survey will be conducted and will close on Dec. 15. This year, the Tool & Equipment exhibition hall will be open from 11:00 AM until 1:30 PM to allow for the winning manufacturers to offer hands-on demonstrations of their product.
