The ARA 82nd Annual Convention & Expo leveraged the Alabama’s deep roots in sports at all levels, particularly as the headquarters of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This inspired the convention theme, “Game On, Winning Together.”
Over 700 attendees, with 90+ exhibiting companies, enjoyed ARA committee meetings, two keynotes, three days of exposition hours, four social gatherings, and over 35 sessions in which auto recyclers learned about AI and customer service, employee retention, accounting, self-service insights, leadership, and more. Tech Talks from Car-Part, Hollander, Power DB/eBay, URG, Auto Value AI, EZ-Suite, VIN Match Pro, and Buddy Automotive brought next-level data to improve day-to-day operations for tech users.
Retaining Your People
After ARA’s Committee Meetings—which are open to all attendees—and prior to the President’s Reception and Exposition Ribbon Cutting, always a highlight, Keynote Lisa Ryan spoke about Revving Up Retention: Keeping Your Best People from Becoming Someone Else’s. She spent the hour emphasizing the importance of creating a positive workplace culture to retain employees. Gallup’s research shows that employees need recognition and praise every 7 days to feel valued, akin to a dopamine hit, and that this is a key factor in maintaining employee motivation and satisfaction.
Ryan advocates for ‘stay interviews’ to understand what keeps employees and suggests proactive measures to improve retention. In an average company, Gallup noted that 30% of employees are actively engaged, 20% are disengaged, and 50% are neither engaged nor disengaged. The 50% is where there is room for improvement, and stay interviews can help determine how to positively engage the 50%. She also notes:
• Employees are more likely to stay if they have a close relationship with a colleague.
• The dopamine effect is highlighted as a key factor in maintaining employee motivation and satisfaction.
• Engaging employees includes lunch-and-learns, training sessions, and interactive exhibits.
• The goal is to provide employees with the tools they need to become rock stars within the organization, and celebrate the unsung heroes of the business. The importance of listening to employees and providing opportunities for growth and development is emphasized.
The second keynote was a recycler interview with JC and Holly Cahill, who have built multiple successful automotive recycling industry businesses as a power couple, with the most recent being VIN Match Pro. Starting as automotive recyclers, they are applying their knowledge to help recyclers. In the session, they discussed Family Business strategies.
The basis of all their business dealings is a healthy perspective on decision-making: “We made decisions that were good or bad,” said JC. “You can have all the rights. You can do all the research, do all the planning, and you say, this is going to win and right and the reverse of that, and you can just make a quick decision. We never went backwards and said, ‘Boy, we really messed that one up.’ We just worked on what was needed to fix the problem.” Furthermore, he said, “We both weren’t afraid to try something different and literally change a whole department up and turned things around backwards, and I mean literally upside down and backwards. And sometimes that created some really cool things.”
Special Recognition
At the Annual Awards Dinner, with a fun sports-themed event, industry members were honored for their excellence in playing their part in industry success.
ARA President Eric Wilbert, of Wilbert’s U-Pull-It, LLC in Williamson, NY, announced Bill Tolpa as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Tolpa is the owner of Tolpa’s Auto Parts in Remsen, NY. His accomplishments are many, and include being an ARA Past President and Co-Founder of the United Recyclers Group (URG). “This year, we felt it was not only appropriate, but absolutely necessary, to recognize someone who has done more for this association and the automotive recycling industry than most could accomplish in a lifetime,” said Wilbert. “Bill Tolpa has worn many hats within ARA throughout his career, serving in advising and leading in numerous capacities over the years. His influence continues to shape our Association’s direction and inspire its leadership, even from afar. His vision, dedication, and wisdom have left an undeniable mark on all of us, many of whom have benefited directly or indirectly.”
The 2025 Presidential Award was given to Lance Thomas. This award is selected each year by the ARA president for an individual who is significant to them. “Lance is dedicated to the self-service sector and has contributed through the years to the greater automotive recycling industry. He is a trusted resource for me and many others in the self-service community, continually demonstrating his passion, leadership, and commitment to advancing this industry. Earlier this year, he joined us in Washington, DC, for Hill Days for the very first time, and truly made an impact to the event. His dedication and drive truly embody the spirit of what this award represents.”
The ARA CAR Award was presented to U-Pull-It Auto Parts, a family-owned business in the Pacific Northwest region, by incoming ARA President and CAR Committee Chairperson Shannon Nordstrom, Nordstrom’s Automotive. The CAR Winner receives the Randy Reitman Memorial traveling trophy to display in their business for one year. Owner Mark Forcum and his son, Mitchell, who is General Manager, accepted the award. “U-Pull-It Auto Parts is a family-owned business that recently opened its third location in Washington State, with locations in Pasco, Yakima, and Kennewick,” said Nordstrom. “Owner Mark Forcum has been in the salvage business for over four decades,. Mark opened the self-service business in 2013 in Yakima, in Pasco in 2016, and now in Kennewick. Mark is a member of the ARA Certification Committee and was recently appointed to the ARA Board of Directors. Mark and his son have unique operations that combine elements of full-service and self-service. Their operations are beautiful and a superb example of the best in our industry.”
ARA Member of the Year was presented to Amber Kendrick, Pete’s Auto Parts in Jenison, Michigan. “The Member of the Year is not only an active participant in ARA meetings but also someone who engages deeply with the organization — offering valuable feedback, constructive insights, and thoughtful ideas before, during, and after discussions,” Wilbert commented. “This requires significant time, energy, and heart—a true reflection of one’s passion for both the association and the broader industry we serve. Amber serves as an active member of the ARA Board of Directors and, this year, stepped into the role of Chair of the ARA Awareness Committee, elevating her work through her leadership, creativity, and unwavering commitment to collaboration and progress. Anyone who has served in any capacity with Amber knows that she comes prepared and takes the Association’s work seriously.”
Professional automotive recyclers are invited to the next ARA gathering in Atlanta, October 14-17, 2026, at the Cobb Galleria Centre, in Atlanta, GA. The theme is Driving Connections, Fueling Growth.
