Manheim's DRIVE Center in Atlanta.

Donald Foy, executive director of Manheim DRIVE, discusses the benefits of detailed and expertly repaired vehicles.

ATLANTA – The first-ever National Auto Remarketing Conference for credit unions was well received by attendees and organizers alike, as credit union representatives from across the nation participated in the three-day event.

Held March 15-17 at Manheim’s DRIVE Center in Atlanta, the conference offered presentations by remarketing industry experts and intensive, hands-on sessions, where credit union attendees experienced an environment that mirrors real-world remarketing. The event was a joint effort between Credit Union Direct Corporation (CUDL), the national leader in point-of-sale and indirect lending for the credit union industry, and Manheim.

Ideal for finance and collections staff, approximately 70 people representing more than 35 credit unions attended the event. The conference provided a broad but detailed look at the remarketing industry, providing insight to how credit unions could best leverage their remarketing program.

“By partnering with Manheim in presenting the Auto Remarketing Conference, we’ve been able to offer a program that helps credit unions enhance and refine their remarketing knowledge, which in turn will assist them in increasing their vehicle values, adding to their bottom lines,” said Evan Etheridge, national sales director of CUDL.

The agenda featured a wide range of educational opportunities aimed at helping credit unions maximize vehicle value. Credit unions attending the conference benefited from:

• Learning the essentials of increasing vehicle value.
  

  
  

• Exploring the many sales channels available to remarketers.
  

  
  

• Learning trends in the used-vehicle market.
  

  
  

• Viewing a live auction in progress.
  

  
  

• Discovering the value of the CUDL network and remarketing exclusivity to the credit union industry.
  

  
  

• Discussing benchmarking and analytics and their roles in evaluating returns.

  Presentations were given by a number of industry experts, including:

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Tom Webb, chief economist, Manheim.
  

  
  

• Paul Seger, vice president of asset remarketing, GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services.
  

  
  

• Hal Logan, senior vice president, strategic planning, Manheim.
  

  
  

• Steve Greenfield and Amy Mills, marketing and analytics, Manheim.
  

  
  

• Jon Schrock, director of national accounts, Manheim.
  

  
  

• Mark Coleman, president, TitleAuctions.

  Tom Webb’s presentation, State of the Used Vehicle Market, helped attendees understand how the used-vehicle industry touches so many parts of the U.S. economy. Presentations from Hal Logan, Steve Greenfield, and Amy Mills described how technologies like Simulcast, Online Vehicle Exchange, and Manheim Market Report can help remarketers make better decisions faster from anywhere in the world.

  
  

  
  

  Jon Schrock and Mark Coleman discussed in detail how third-party vendors could effectively serve as “one-stop shops” for credit unions, handling everything from title work and inspections to the quick remarketing of vehicles.

  
  

  
  

  GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services’ Paul Seger, considered an expert on the remarketing industry and in charge of one of the largest fleets of used vehicles in the world, presented information on the company’s successful remarketing efforts and how the auction is the center of those efforts. He also provided insight on effective marketing, Internet integration, vendors, and sales management to complete a comprehensive remarketing program.

  
  

  
  

  Beyond participating in the variety of presentations and sessions, credit union representatives also had the opportunity to tour Manheim’s Atlanta Auto Auction and experience a live auction sale, where hundreds of vehicles were bought and sold as they rolled through the lanes. Attendees also viewed the auction’s reconditioning and inspection operations, learned how electronic condition reports were created, and experienced Manheim’s photo booth, which quickly took digital photos of vehicles from 360 degrees.

  
  

  
  

  The event’s facility, Manheim DRIVE (Development, Research, Innovation, Vision, Excellence), is a 145,000-square-foot research and development facility that serves as a test and concept center for new technologies and processes, and as a forum to inspire collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking in the automotive industry.