The schedule has been released for the third annual Service Opportunities Learning Days (SOLD), set for Jan. 25-26, 2015 at the Mirage in Las Vegas preceding Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2015.
SOLD has grown rapidly since its introduction in 2013. After pulling in more than 300 attendees at its first two events, SOLD has expanded into a two-day event geared specifically around helping independent heavy-duty service providers grow their businesses, organizers say.
The event will kick off at noon on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 with heavy-duty workshop business management session led by Bob Greenwood.
SOLD organizers says the session will educate attendees on the following:
- The direction the industry is going: Elevating Your Mechanics to Professional Technicians.
- The five building blocks required to assure change in a heavy-duty shop environment: vision, ability, motivation, resources, and an action plan.
- Business procedures and formulas that focus on net income development.
- Competitive pricing for profit: the most important formula for success that you’ve never heard of.
- Heavy Duty Shop Site Efficiency: What is it? How is it calculated? What does this specific number mean to our TEAM?
- Cost to the business: wage perception vs. wage reality.
- Technician wages vs. profits generated. This number will surprise you!
- Two non-negotiable staff attributes required to build the right shop culture that are never discussed.
- How to establish internal service accountability, which leads to total client satisfaction.
- Key attributes for a successful shop from management to building long-term success.
- Setting the right objectives to build a client-structured heavy-duty shop business.
The management program will be followed by a cocktail hour for attendees where they will be able to meet Greenwood and the following day’s speakers.
SOLD will continue at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26 with a presentation by Leo Thomason, co-founder and executive director of NGVi (Natural Gas Vehicle Institute).
Organizers says topics addressed in Thomason’s presentation will include:
- Properties of natural gas and how it differs from liquid fuels.
- Safe working practices for technicians.
- NGV fuel system operation.
- Industry best practices for known safety issues.
- Vehicle facility requirements for safely maintaining and repairing natural gas vehicles.
Following Thomason there will be an OEM vs. aftermarket panel discussion with eight top industry executives. SOLD says the OEM providers will be represented by executives from Hendrickson International, Hutch Industries, Reyco/Granning, and SAF Holland/Neway. The aftermarket providers will be represented by executives from ATRO, Automann, Dayton, and Triangle. The discussion will be moderated by Tom Smego, SKF Industries director of Canadian and U.S. aftermarket sales.
“This will be a very interesting panel discussion regarding design alterations, distribution channels, and many more topics,” SOLD organizers say. “Asurvey will be sent to all members of ACOFAS, Fleet Pride, HAD Truck Pride, SSA, TARA, and VIPAR Heavy Duty asking for relevant questions. We welcome questions from the attendees provided they have been previously submitted for relativity.”
Following the panel discussion, Tony Molla, vice president of communications for ASE, will lead a program showcasing the top five tools from 2014. The tools showcased in the program will be selected via a survey sent out to HDA Truck Pride, SSA, TARA and VIPAR Heavy Duty members, as well as readers of several Truck Parts & Service and other heavy-duty service magazines.
For more information on SOLD, check out www.sold15.info.
