By Shannon Nordstrom • ARA President
Thank you to the members of ARA for your commitment to supporting our team’s efforts to protect, promote, and lead the industry on your behalf, the professional automotive recyclers. We have members at all stages of their business and personal journeys. My goal is to ensure that all members can use ARA’s work and tools to grow and maintain their business stature.
My personal business story is packed with impact from being part of ARA, from growing our dairy farm into a repairable business to where we are today. I have learned the importance of association and the relationships our company has made with fellow members and vendors. I am far enough down the trail now to look back at the many significant connections and opportunities that guided our way, the certification program being paramount.
I have also learned from many seminars and interactions at conventions how important it is that I lead our team positively, and I will do my best to do the same in my opportunity as the president of ARA for the next year and a half. This is a little more time than I initially planned for, but because of the great team I have at home for my family and our business, it is possible for me to take on the added responsibility for an extra year, which was recently reported in an ARA press release.
My first year is moving briskly, and it seems like the Birmingham convention was just a few weeks ago. I am realizing how important it is to dig in immediately and get after it, to have the impact you hope to have. Our executive committee is digging in with the great staff at ARA to ensure the ARA business is taken care of, and we are focusing on important issues that affect all of our members, big or small. We are constantly monitoring what is happening across the country and the world, and how it affects, or could affect, current business and future precedents.
Emil Nusbaum has been working with members, other government and non-government organizations, lawmakers, and groups to make sure that the best interests of our association’s core business, selling Recycled Original Equipment (ROE) used auto parts, are promoted and protected.
My latest travels took me to Reno, Nevada, for the first-ever Western Auto Recyclers Alliance “Synergy West” showcase, nicely put together by Sandy Blalock and Kim Glasscock. It was great to meet up with many from the western part of the country that I have not seen for a while. It is important that our entire industry join, and this showcase, while new, did not disappoint in those objectives.
I was afforded the opportunity to speak about our experiences dismantling the EV vehicles we have and dealing with the challenges that come with it. I met many new people who were invited to “link up” with ARA, as we want to represent all auto recyclers from all parts of the country; that is for sure. We all have different regional challenges that can be significant, but in the end, we are all in the same business, regardless of our business model, of selling used auto parts, which is recycling at its purest, being good stewards of the environment.
Next up, my wife Tamie and I joined past president Eric Wilbert and his wonderful family in Hawaii to be part of a tradition we have been part of before: the outgoing ARA President’s Trip. The outgoing president works with others to plan a trip, often a study trip, to a location of their choice. Others are invited to join them, and we can have many industry friends having fun and learning together. Everyone pays their own way, but it is usually quite memorable and well worth it. Tamie and I have made some wonderful friendships on these journeys, and I look forward to planning mine when my term comes to an end. This year we traveled to Oahu and Maui, and everything was quite nice, and new relationships were forged for sure! We would love to have you join us on our trip. We hope to get the announcement out so people have time to plan to join in!
Vince Edivan and I next made the journey to Markham, Ontario, for the Ontario Auto Recyclers Convention and Expo. (OARA) This was a wonderful event, well-run by Steve Fletcher, Wally Dingman, and their teams. We had a first-rate facility tour at Carcone’s Auto Recycling in Aurora, Ontario, and saw the great, efficient facility their family and team have assembled, including a firsthand look at the very successful wheel refinishing business that they have built within the business.
Once again, the learning and teaching within our industry is second to none. Vince and I found many things we expected: passionate auto recyclers interacting with vendors, teachers, and each other to sharpen their skills to grow and succeed. The challenges north of the border in Canada are similar, and they also have unique ones. There was much discussion about the evolving world of electronic parts procurement and the ideas that could position ROE parts for maximum value in the marketplace.
While there, Vince had the opportunity to set aside some time to interview Chris Daglis and me for future episodes of the “ARA Unscripted” podcast. If you have not checked out any of the episodes yet, I encourage you to do so; they have been tremendous! I have been delighted with each of them for different reasons; please find the time to be entertained and learn a bunch!
Next, members of the Executive Committee and I attended the joint URG/PRP conference in Denver, with some also joining local facility tours before the event. This was followed by the all-important “Hill Days” in Washington, DC.
Things are definitely busy, but I cannot be prouder to represent our industry in person and with numerous e-meetings and phone calls. Please get involved and encourage industry friends to do the same. Support ARA with your dues and, most importantly, your participation. It takes all of us to take care of all of us!
