Auto Rental Summit Fleet Workshop Finalized

The roundtable topics, speakers and panelists have been finalized for the three-hour “Fleet Jam Session,” which will open the 2014 Auto Rental Summit. This intensive, three-hour workshop devoted specifically to fleet issues in car rental will take place on Monday Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The workshop will kick off with an overview of the used car market from Ricky Beggs, editor and executive vice president of Black Book. Beggs will share his insights into sales, residual values and make and model performance specific to auto rental.

Beggs will then lead a blue-ribbon panel discussion on the latest trends in fleet, from funding and sales to business planning and remarketing. The panelists are Mark Bohannon, regional sales director, NextGear Capital; Craig Goodman, VRCG, Inc.; Michael Muehlenfeld, president of Mile Fleet LLC; and Charlie Mullen, senior vice president, ACE Rent A Car Reservations Inc.

The panel discussion will be followed by fleet roundtables, in which a team of subject matter experts will deliver analyses of attendees’ specific fleet issues in small-group discussions.

Here are the roundtable facilitators and topics:

Larry Soleta, director commercial services, Walser Automotive Group:
“Seize the opportunity: Sourcing fleet (new and used) from your local market.”

Joe Lyons, remarketing and fleet sales manager, Marple Fleet Leasing:
“Beyond the auction: Remarketing through brokers, dealers and your own rental lot.”

Wayne Webb, president, Peer Group Resources Inc.:
“Right car, right rate: What priced vehicle can my market profitably support?”

Mark Bohannon, regional sales director, Nextgear:
“How to maximize your fleet floor plan.”

Jim Tennant, principal, The Tennant Group:
“Fleet costs: How to make sure your biggest single expense is where it needs to be.”

Jim Anderson, president, Jim Anderson Fleet Sales:
“Good fleet planning starts with good fleet financing.”

“We’re excited to introduce our ‘fleet rock stars’ from various aspects of fleet to Auto Rental Summit attendees,” said Chris Brown executive editor of Auto Rental News. “Our Fleet Jam Session will be one-stop shopping for car rental operators to share fleet issues and get answers.”

An RSVP to the Fleet Jam Session is required during registration. With a limited number of seats, this session expects to sell out.

Now in its third year, Auto Rental Summit is designed to improve customer service and enhance revenue of car rental operations. ARS is a two-day training and education conference featuring seminars, a vendor exhibit hall, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities.

Car rental managers, executives and employees from corporate, franchised and independent companies across the U.S. and overseas are invited to attend the 2014 Auto Rental Summit. Last year, more than 200 registrants converged on the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

To register for Auto Rental Summit, visit www.autorentalsummit.com.