SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -

There’s a story our publisher-emeritus Ron Smith tells that really pinpoints the importance of networking at industry events.

After one of the company’s automotive conferences a few years ago, an attendee approached Ron to tell him how much he had enjoyed the event.

Ron was certainly thankful to hear this news, but said he was a bit puzzled because he hadn’t seen the attendee at any of the workshops.

The reason, the attendee said, was because he had spent the entire time in meetings with folks he didn’t usually get to see.

Point is, the attendee was taking advantage of the opportunity to have face-to-face time with clients or colleagues that may be on a different coast or a couple flights away.

And that’s part of what coming to conferences like Used Car Week is all about: networking.

That’s also why we have loaded up this fall's Used Car Week agenda with handfuls of networking breaks, four receptions, and our annual Signature Event (more on that later).

To get a better picture, you can check out this handy mega-agenda to stay organized and plot out some meeting times. Or just kick back and enjoy some down time with your colleagues during these networking opportunities. 

That (and these lettuce wraps) is why we have these breaks. And we’ve built in time and space for that networking to happen.

Now, we aren’t suggesting that the general sessions, workshops, awards presentations and other Used Car Week festivities aren’t equally as important as the networking opportunities; in fact, they’re just as important.

Each of those agenda items are part of the whole Used Car Week experience that you can enjoy Nov. 16-20 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz.  But to really maximize your trip, it’s important to take full advantage of all the opportunities, including the chance to network with your peers.

I’ll give you another example.

I get to travel to at least a half-dozen or so industry events and conferences each year as part of my job as editor of Auto Remarketing.

And the workshops, presentations and panel discussions (just like the ones at Used Car Week) typically generate a full notebook’s worth of material for me to use in our editorial coverage.

But the one-on-one interviews during breaks and chatting about the business over a cup of coffee are vital to me getting the most out of a conference.

Actually, some of our stronger editorial projects been ideas spun from shooting the breeze with our friends at industry events.

I imagine the same could be said for business opportunities with your company.

So, take advantage of all the chances to network at Used Car Week. Like bacon-wrapped shrimp on an hors d'oeuvres tray, they’ll be gone before you know it.