VIRGINIA AUTOMOTIVE

ASSOCIATION

VAA 2019 CONVENTION

& TRADE EXPO

April 12-14, 2019

Hilton Norfolk The Main

Norfolk, VA “Connecting Virginia’s

Automotive Professionals”

Friday Morning VAA Open

Golf Tournament

Friday Night Reception Cruise

on the Spirit of Norfolk

Saturday Morning Leading Industry

Speakers and Topics

Saturday Afternoon Trade Show

Saturday Evening Reception

and Awards Banquet

Saturday Evening Entertainment with

Jeff Allen

Saturday Evening Networking Reception

Next Generation Automotive Professionals

Sunday Morning Closing Breakfast and

Keynote Speaker, Steve Gilliland

VAA Convention Registration: Go to www.vaauto.org, click 2019 Convention button on the home page. Click Convention Registration button.

You can download a Registration Form to fax, mail, scan/email, or register online from this site.

List all names attending in the appropriate places on the Registration Form. This is how your name badge will

appear. Once registered, we will email you back full details for the weekend.

Hilton The Main Room Reservations: Reserve early– past shows have sold out; deadline is March 18

We have a special rate of $159 per night plus tax and parking.

1. Online: https://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/O/ORFWAHH-VAI-20190410/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG 2. Call 757-763-6200 and reference the Virginia Automotive Association Convention.

Directions: http://www.themainnorfolk.com/location.aspx

Address: 100 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

Hotel Reservations are not included with the VAA Convention Registration.

Questions? Call Steve Akridge at VAA, 804-739-1400 Email: sakridge@vaauto.org www.vaauto.org

Register and Reserve your sleeping room early. Final Deadline is March 18

Connecting Virginia’s Automotive Professionals It’s not just a catch phrase- This is serious Networking! What better place to get

together and share ideas. Join fellow shop owners from across the state along with our

supplier vendors for a weekend of relationship building. Bring your key employees and

give them education, fellowship and a weekend they will always remember.

Registration is open to everyone- shop owners, spouses, key managers, key employees,

supplier vendors and their spouses.

The Full Registration Fee of $159 per person, gets you all the events on the schedule

except golf, which is a separate fee. Note: to attend these scheduled events, you must

get a Full Registration. We do not sell partial registrations or separate tickets to the

individual events– this one Full Registration Fee gets you everything including the

receptions, meal events, and includes our Saturday evening entertainment with

Jeff Allen, and our closing Keynote presentation by Steve Gilliland.

Each of these events offers a great opportunity to connect and network with one

another. Renew old friendships, and make some new ones.

Check out more pictures and info of Hilton Norfolk The Main on page 4 and at:

http://www.themainnorfolk.com/ . This upscale property has some real pizzazz and is

within walking distance to Nauticus, the USS Wisconsin, Waterside and the Granby

street chef-owned restaurants.

Big Saturday afternoon Trade Show This will be the largest trade show VAA has hosted in 8 years. Visit with our industry

vendors– check out show specials- see and touch all the latest in equipment & product

Schedule of Events

10:00 am-3:00 pm The VAA Open - Golf Tournament at Cypress Point Country Club Plan to join us for one of our most popular events, The VAA Open. Shotgun start promptly at 10:00

am. Cost: $125 per player, includes green fee, range balls, cart, box lunch and 2 beer/drink tickets

at the post reception. For all levels of play, don’t miss this chance to have some fun while network-

ing with dealers and suppliers. If you are interested in putting together your own team for the tour-

nament, note that and all names on the Registration Form. Immediately following play we will host

our Golf Reception at Grain on the 5th floor of The Main, where we will recognize and award our

top 3 teams, the long drive, 2 closest to the pins and the last place team. Don’t miss this fun event!

Friday, April 12:

6:00 pm– 7:30 pm Welcome Reception– Cruise on The Spirit of Norfolk Join your fellow dealers and suppliers for our opening gala reception, as we take a cruise down the Elizabeth River on the Spirit of

Norfolk. We will have open bars and light hors d’oeuvres for your enjoyment. Dinner after the cruise is on your own.

Saturday, April 13:

7:00 am– 9:00 am Breakfast Buffet It’s included in your full registration fee.

8:00 am– 8:45 am Annual Meeting, and Opening Keynote Address by Roy Littlefield

After our Annual Meeting, Dr. Roy Littlefield, CEO of the Tire Industry Association will give an update from

Washington. In his talk, Roy will discuss the unpredictable, and difficult to understand, Washington Federal

political scene. How will VAA and TIA members fare in a divided government? How are the negotiations

progressing with TIA, USTMA, and a task force representing domestic tire manufacturers on a new tire

registration and recall system? As TIA approaches its 100th anniversary in 2020, Roy will also highlight the

history of local dealer efforts and associations that led to current organizations like VAA and TIA.

Open to Everyone: Owners, managers, counter sales, service managers, vendors.

9:00 am-10:00 am Special Session for Owners/Key Managers with Patti Hoying

“The Future of the Independent Tire Dealer”

Change is the new constant in the tire and auto service industry. With consolidation, mergers and increasing

competition in the retail tire and auto space, many dealers are left wondering about how to plan and what

to do next. Industry thought leader Patti Hoying, editor of Tire Review, will step through the trends, news and

analysis on how the replacement tire landscape is expected to change significantly. As the marketplace

splinters into three distinct business models, learn how your business fits into that future so you can prepare

for what’s next.

9:00 am-10:00 am Special Session for Counter Sales & Service Managers with Matt Winslow

“Super charge your front counter skills by becoming a Customer Relationship Manager”

Discover how to build rapport instantly. Learn how to overcome the 5 most common price objections.

Turn 1st time customers into long term service clients. Create sales, service advisor and customer

confidence by creating a consistent courtesy check process.

This 1-hour class will give you critical skills to become a world class sales and service advisor in today’s

demanding market. Don’t miss this energetic session with Matt Winslow, Senior Instructor with Automotive

Training Institute.

10:15 am - 11:45 pm Peer to Peer Roundtable moderated by Patti Hoying

In one of the most valuable sessions at the event, join Patti Hoying, editor of Tire Review, as she moderates an active

conversation and discussion on topics of concern to tire and auto service business owners, managers and key

employees. Learn from one another on topics ranging from employee recruitment and training, to clean bathrooms

and exit strategies. What keeps you up at night? We’ll explore many of those top concerns. Walk away with a long

list of best practices and ideas to help strengthen and grow your business. Open to Owners, Key Managers, Sales

and Service Advisor personnel.

11:45 am-1:00 pm Lunch is on your own

Saturday Schedule continued to next page

Saturday, April 13 (continued)

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Trade Expo

Enjoy this unique opportunity to talk with the many vendors from our industry. See the very latest in equipment, products, services

and technology in a relaxed yet exciting setting away from your busy shop. And throughout the show, we will be giving away

cash prizes totaling $1500. Don’t miss this enjoyable afternoon with our industry vendors, and the opportunity to win some cash!

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Reception Our evening reception is another great opportunity to network with dealers and vendors.

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Awards Banquet Join our evening banquet buffet and the incredible cuisine of The Main, and some very special recognitions.

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm Entertainment- “The Comedy of Jeff Allen” We are very excited to have with us, Jeff Allen, comedian, actor, and author. Jeff is regarded as one of the

premiere clean comedians working today. Most of his humor centers on marriage and living with teenagers –

material to which everyone can relate. Performing comedy for over three decades, Jeff’s work has been

seen on every cable comedy show in the U.S. including Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and VH1’s Standup

Spotlight. His one-hour special, Happy Wife, Happy Life aired on the Odyssey Channel and Family Net. He’s

been featured on the Grand Ole Opry, the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the Montreal Just for

Laughs International Comedy Festival – the most world’s most prestigious comedy venues. He was also

featured in the Warner Bros. comedy film, Thou Shalt Laugh and has appeared on The Blaze television network

with Glenn Beck. Included with your Full Registration, join us for an evening of laughs with Jeff Allen.

10:00 pm-12:30 am Next Generation Automotive Professionals Reception A big hit the past two years, we are continuing our after hours reception which is open to all dealers, supplier vendors, spouses

under 40. Come enjoy this networking time. No tickets or pre-registering. If you’re under 40, just show up!

Sunday, April 14:

8:00 am– 10:00 am Breakfast and Closing Keynote Speaker, Steve Gilliland Best selling author and Hall of Fame speaker, Steve Gilliland will present his closing keynote

"Enjoy the Ride". A blueprint for getting the most out of life, this presentation will cause you to examine

where you are both personally and professionally. Three key points in this presentation:

Check Your Passion: Love what you do; never forget why you do it

Cure Your Destination Disease: Live more for today, less for tomorrow and never about yesterday

Refocus Your Attention: Decide what’s important, and never take it for granted.

If you want to achieve true success and fulfillment, you must first discover an enthusiam for your work

and personal life. Decide where you are heading, get on the bus, choose the right seat, and

Enjoy the Ride!

10:00 am Convention Adjourned

Welcome to Hilton Norfolk The Main

Experience The Elegance Of Our Downtown Hotel in Norfolk, VA

The Main is Downtown Norfolk's newest upscale hotel, dining, and meeting destination. At Main and Granby Streets, our

luxury hotel sits along the downtown Norfolk waterfront. Embrace the downtown lifestyle and walk to cultural attractions,

the sea museum Nauticus, the battleship USS Wisconsin, trendy shopping and dining and the Elizabeth River. With its

elegance and cutting-edge technology, Hilton Norfolk The Main is a modern luxury hotel with vibrant spaces for your

business and social lifestyle.

Be part of Norfolk's eclectic foodie culture at our three chic eateries, including Saltine which serves the freshest seafood

and locally inspired cuisine. Sip a craft beer at Grain, Norfolk's only rooftop beer garden overlooking the river. Enjoy a glass

of wine and homemade pasta at Varia, our modern Italian trattoria and wine studio with a piano bar. Greet the day with a

scenic jog along Norfolk's waterfront or refresh with a dip in our sparkling indoor pool.