COLUMBUS, OHIO – A nationally known industry economist and author frequently quoted by the media will be a featured speaker May 24, 2007 at 1 p.m. at the 51st Year Ohio Vehicle Leasing Association (OVLA) Convention at the Midwest Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus.

Used-Vehicle Market Conditions and Outlook will be the topic for Tom Kontos, vice president, Industry Relations & Analytical Services for ADESA, Inc. In this position, Kontos interfaces with members of the media, Wall Street, and automotive analysts, dealers, and key ADESA clients to provide information and insight on economic trends in the vehicle remarketing industry.

Kontos was quoted in a recent online newsletter as saying he sees mixed market conditions with late-model used vehicles and fleet/lease auctions.

“But you can get first-hand information by attending and asking questions,” said OVLA President William Brough, also president of Burhill Leasing Corp. in Dayton, Ohio.

ADESA has two auctions in Ohio – Cincinnati-Dayton and Cleveland – both of which are OVLA members. Kontos also provides analytical services to internal and external ADESA audiences in the form of annual market reports, periodic reports on used-vehicle price trends, Web-based information products (www.adesainc.com/analytoverview.do), dealer surveys, and other strategic studies.

He supplies monthly used-vehicle price data to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) as part of BEA’s efforts to estimate various components of gross domestic product.

Kontos is the author of Global Vehicle Remarketing (GVR) and Pulse, which provide comprehensive analysis of strategic trends and issues relating to North America’s 46-million-unit used-vehicle market and the $87 billion vehicle remarketing industry. Both publications were honored with the APEX and Keystone awards for excellence in investment and financial materials.

Prior to joining ADESA, Kontos was the principal author of and helped launch the ADT Automotive Used Car Market Report, which he saw through five editions.

He has more than 20 years of experience in market research, financial analysis, and strategic planning. In addition to his automotive industry experience, he has conducted economic analysis of the mining, agricultural, and construction sectors through his experience with W.R. Grace & Co., Vulcan Materials Co., and Rogers Group, Inc.

Kontos is a native of Washington, D.C., and has B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Pennsylvania State University. He has taught at Birmingham-Southern College and Trevecca University and is enrolled in the Master of Liberal Arts and Science program at Vanderbilt University.

He resides with his wife Rhonda and two children, Alyssa and Theo, on their small horse farm in Noblesville, Ind.

OVLA Convention registration materials can be obtained by contacting the OVLA office at (800) 369-5633 or e-mail:

ovla@uautolease.com.