By Mike Davey
Markham, Ontario — March 9, 2016 — There’s barely a week to go before Canada’s largest automotive recycling event opens its doors. Presented by the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA), the 2016 OARA Convention & Trade Show takes place March 17 to 20 at Markham Suites Conference Centre in Markham, Ontario.
The first day of the event is devoted to a meeting for OARA Board Members. It’s March 18 when things really start to swing into high gear. Presentations and seminars fill the morning session. Confirmed speakers include Glen Murray, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Amber Kendrick (nee Elenbaas).
For nearly a decade, Kendrick has grown recycling facilities while focusing on efficiency and team building. She did this as the General Manager of Pete’s Auto Parts, American Auto Parts and the Loveland, Colorado branch of H&H Auto Parts. In 2015, Elenbaas served as a field rep for Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS) and helped recyclers sell their cores for more. She plans to return to Michigan in 2016 to buy the salvage yard her grandfather started in the fifties. Kendrick will also host a special Sunday Sales School event taking place on March 20.
In addition to Murray and Kendrick, the seminar session promises an update on national projects promoting auto recycling, presentations from Team PRP and Hollander and a special presentation by Robert Counts of Counts Business Consulting, “Survival in a Down Market.”
The Trade Show portion of the event opens at 12:30 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m., followed by a silent auction and charity casino. Proceeds from the auction and casino go to benefit the OARA Employee Scholarship Program.
The Saturday, March 19 session kicks off with the Industry Recognition Breakfast, with OARA recognizing automotive recyclers and partners who went above and beyond in the last year. Presentations start again at 9 a.m. Just a sampling of topics show that this year’s event will bring much needed information to professional recyclers, including presentations on alternate revenue streams, an update on workplace safety legislation and how recycling facilities can realize more for their cores with a managed core program.
Presentations break for lunch, followed by two split sessions in the afternoon. One session is the OARA Annual General Meeting & Elections, which is open to Direct Members and invited guests only. The second session, taking place concurrently, is dedicated to employee training.
The session on Sunday, March 20 is dedicated to Kendrick’s Sunday Sales School. This is a special session that requires additional registration. For more information, please see oara.com/wp-content/files/OARA2016-Sunday-Reg-9.23.pdf.
For more information on the 2016 OARA Convention & Trade Show, please visit oara.com/events/2016-oara-convention-trade-show.
