IARA Summer Roundtable Goes to Nashville, Adds Tabletop Exhibits This Year

The IARA Summer Roundtable goes to Music City for the first time on Aug. 16-18 at the Hilton Downtown Nashville.

Brand new to the roundtable this year is the addition of tabletop exhibits. There will be 24 tabletop exhibit spaces available and approximately 3.5 hours built into the event’s schedule for exhibitors. Each exhibit space will cost $1,500 for interested parties, while members and sponsors will receive a $500 reduction in price.

The roundtable will feature great speakers and interactive sessions, including an entertaining business workshop where attendees will participate in improv activities with one of Nashville’s most popular improv comedy troupes.

On Wednesday, the morning kicks off with IARA Committee meetings (attendees are invited to listen in and watch IARA behind the scenes). That afternoon, the event officially opens.

This year’s Summer Roundtable is featuring three keynote speakers: Coach Phil Fulmer, David Andrews, and Shane O’ Dell.

Fulmer, a College Football Hall of Famer most notably known as the University of Tennessee’s head football coach from 1992-2008, will kick off the lineup of keynote speakers. Andrews, CEO of Dealers Auto Auctions and the new president of the National Independent Auto Dealers Association (NIADA), will immediately follow Fulmer on the first day of the Summer Roundtable. The Independent Auction Group will host that evening’s dinner and event for everyone at the famed Wildhorse Saloon.

On day two, O’Dell, president, Financial Solutions Group for Cox Automotive, will provide useful industry insight as the event’s closing keynote. That second day is packed with educational and entertaining sessions, concluded with the passing of the presidential gavel, followed by Thursday evening’s presidential reception.

CAR Certification testing will be available Friday morning as some attendees make their departures and as some extend their weekend to take in the sounds and sights of Music City. Nashville has been cited as a prime location to view the total solar eclipse that takes place on the following Monday.

The full agenda lineup for the roundtable has been completed and can be found here.

The Conference Management / Education Committee, chaired by Scott Kolb and Jessica Strack, guides the content for IARA’s two annual meetings and the logistics of the Summer Roundtable. IARA’s conferences are designed to foster the educational goals of the committee and they provide the primary revenue stream for the Alliance. A first-time location for 2018 will be unveiled in Nashville. Brent Garrett, general manager of Business Development for CARLOTZ Inc., is the third co-chair, he will be filling in for Scott when he steps down as committee chair, he will continue with the board but he will be pursuing interests in other areas.