Event Planner Kim Glasscock has been organizing ARA’s premier auto recycling events for attendees to network, learn and grow for 17 years. As she moves on to new things, she reflects on her service to the association.
By Caryn Smith
Automotive Recycling: What brought you to ARA?
Kim Glasscock: In 2007, I was referred by a former ARA vendor whom I had worked with back in my corporate days. I flew to the North Carolina state show to meet with Michael Wilson, then-ARA Executive Director, and Sandy Blalock, who was the ARA President at the time. Sandy walked me around to introduce me to all the vendors. As I was leaving for my flight, I asked Michael, ‘So Sandy was telling them I’m the new planner. Am I hired?’ He said, ‘If she likes you, chances are you’ve got the job.’ And now, it’s come full circle 17 years later.
AR: How have the events evolved?
Glasscock: When I started, the association and the convention were in flux, due to industry conditions. Prior, ARA had well-attended shows. Slowly, we restored the show attendee numbers and even improved them. We consistently have averaged around 1,000 attendees – recyclers and exhibitors combined. The exhibitor and sponsorship programs have grown, which are vital to ARA. I want to thank all those companies that trusted me with their ARA show experience. I’m happy to report that we are tracking very good this year for the 81st Annual Convention & Expo in Reno.
AR: What have you enjoyed most working with ARA?
Glasscock: The people; it’s this group that makes it special. They care about each other. It’s a family environment. You know, I work with other groups that wouldn’t share a successful idea if they had to. This group willingly shares success stories and how they did it. They want to see everybody in this industry be successful. This makes it more meaningful to connect at events, and is why I so enjoy what I do – to provide those opportunities.
AR: What are your goals for the events?
Glasscock: The first goal is to find locations that are conducive to ease of travel at the right pricing and always at minimum cost to the association. I look for maximum value to the attendees and vendors. All parties must find benefit from the experience, or they won’t return. We have worked to provide a great overall experience, a well-rounded educational opportunity, and a generous return on investment of time and money spent.
AR: How the virtual convention came about during the pandemic?
Glasscock: The virtual pivot for the ARA Convention & Expo, and that whole year, was such a learning process. We were scheduled for Reno, now rescheduled for this year. As a side note, my goal was to complete this Reno-location show before I exited ARA. This show was the last of the locations when I planned them seven years out. I wanted to see all of those shows to the finish.
ARA weighed the choices of not hosting an event to having a virtual option. It was decided to move forward virtually. We didn’t know if attendees and vendors – who love their in-person events – would even ‘buy-in.’ But they did! A lot of research on platforms, agenda formulation, online expo experience, graphics, marketing and more went into it. The staff and committees really worked very hard, and thankfully it was a success.
With that said, I would never do another virtual show again! It was good, and we had great participation from the industry, both attendees and vendors, but it was a huge effort. It’s not my preferred method of planning.
Many people thought that the convention would be virtual only from that point on. I’m glad it wasn’t. The strength of this group is togetherness, so for ARA, it would not be a good long-term solution.
AR: Who helped along the way to be successful?
Glasscock: You and the team at Driven By Design are one big component. You all keep me on my toes and point out things that maybe I hadn’t thought of. Michael Wilson helped me think outside the box. Sandy obviously has always been a proponent for women in the workplace and she’s been helpful with her vast knowledge. The ARA staff has played a part, as well as ARA Committees. It’s a team effort. I consider myself holding the master plan, and everyone has a part that is essential for a successful event.
Honestly, my faith in God gives me the strength and the courage to just keep doing it. I quit a corporate job to go out on my own years ago, and relied on my faith to do it and I have never regretted that decision.
AR: What’s the next step for you?
Glasscock: I’m will be working with Sandy and the State Affiliates. We hope to reach auto recyclers that are inactive in the industry, and get them involved. We plan to improve affiliate show attendance and engagement, and activate states lacking representation by regionalizing certain events. This will combine several states together that are smaller in numbers providing vendors with a larger cross section of recyclers and providing recyclers a broad spectrum of education and access to industry colleagues for collaboration. This will (hopefully) lessen everyone’s travel load as well.
AR: What do you want to leave ARA members with?
Glasscock: I hope that I have brought something to them that was beneficial and somehow helped along the way. I hope that it’s been worthwhile to them because I know I’ve enjoyed it.
