The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced a successful week at ASRW 2013 in Las Vegas. Highlights of this year’s event include the robust conference program with more than 100 hours of management education and technical training, the largest MSO Symposium to date with 17 sponsoring organizations, two concurrent opening general sessions featuring industry-specific content, and a lively welcome party on the show floor.
The expo featured more than 170 exhibitors supporting the show; the ASRW main stage, which featured a different industry speaker every hour, on the hour; scan tool demonstrations; PDR certification demonstrations; Recycled Rides gifting ceremonies and the First Responder Emergency Extrication (FREE) demonstration; and the ASA Marketplace and Business & Technology Pavilion.
As the 2013 event closes and planning begins for 2014, ASA also announced a new strategic partner, Stone Fort Group. Stone Fort Group’s experienced team will provide conference management, sales and marketing for NACE and CARS 2014, and will work closely with the association in a similar capacity to ASA’s longstanding relationship with Hanley Wood Exhibitions.
Stone Fort Group co-founders Sean Guerre and Brian Nessen have extensive trade show and conference experience. For more than 20 years they have managed, owned and consulted on events around the world, including co-located programs.
“We are excited to be a part of the changes taking place with the NACE and CARS events and feel the new direction of ASA will allow us to revitalize the show as well as be innovative in delivering an enhanced show experience for exhibitors and attendees,” said Nessen. “We look forward to contributing to the event by using our experience with numerous events that have the history and industry support that NACE and CARS brings.”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to have such a great partner as we’ve had in ASA, and for the opportunity to be a part of NACE and CARS, and the automotive service and repair industry,” said Lindsay Roberts, show director, Hanley Wood Exhibitions. “We feel completely confident Stone Fort Group’s direction of NACE and CARS in 2014 and beyond will positively impact the show, the association and the industry.”
“I can’t thank the Hanley Wood team enough for the decades of service to our industry, to ASA and our event attendees. The level of dedication they have shown to our CARS and NACE events has been unsurpassed. They have been true partners to the association, and we make this transition maintaining the utmost respect and appreciation of Hanley Wood and their leadership,” said Dan Risley, ASA executive director. “With exciting and significant changes to our trade show format in 2014, we now welcome Stone Fort Group, which will be working with Hanley Wood during the next few months to ensure a smooth hand off as we launch CARS and NACE in Detroit next July.”
“We’re honored to be involved with ASA on the NACE and CARS events. We will carry on the good work that Hanley Wood performed for many years and make the transition as seamless as possible for partners, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors,” said Guerre.
NACE and CARS 2014 will take place July 29 to Aug. 2 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Mich., and will be co-located with I-CAR, CIC and the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
To learn more about CARS and NACE, ASA’s dedication to service and repair professionals, and how to join, visit www.ASAshop.org or call (800) 272-7467, ext. 361.
