McLEAN, Va. -

NADA University is hosting a weeklong seminar next month that is designed to help current and aspiring dealership general managers boost profits and performance at their respective stores.

The “General Manager Power Pack” will be held Oct. 24–28 at the McLean, Va., headquarters of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

It will delve into the various aspects of dealership operations from the vantage point of the GM. The seminar is designed to show participants how they can foster improvements in each of the aspects of a dealership’s business.

GMs can learn the most ideal metrics to monitor, what questions they should be asking and what performance standards they should expect, among other lessons, officials noted.

“We’re bringing in a collection of industry giants to make this the most information-packed seminar for general managers ever offered in one place,” stated Marilynn Youngs, senior director of NADA U.

“This is an absolute ‘can’t-miss’ opportunity for any GM looking to improve dealership performance and profitability,” Youngs added. 

The NADA U partner trainers presenting in the seminar, as well as their respective topics and schedules, as listed by NADA U, include:

Jeff Sacks, president of Jeff Sacks & Associates, Oct. 24, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST)
He plans to show GMs how to set the vision, build the culture and develop the staff for customer retention and stronger financial performance, with a focus on better teamwork and results tracking.

Jeff Cowan, president of Jeff Cowan’s Pro Talk Inc., Oct. 25, 7:30 a.m. to noon
He is looking to demonstrate how to establish a selling system and winning culture in fixed operations, with a focus on presenting repair needs to the customer, improving customer satisfaction and retention and impacting overall profitability.

Jared Hamilton, founder and chief executive officer of DrivingSales.com, Oct. 25, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hamilton plans to explain how to maximize closing rates and gross profits by using the Internet and measurable social media strategies, incorporating proven tactics that are working for top-performing dealers.

Grant Cardone, CEO of Cardone Training Technologies, Oct. 26, 7:30 a.m. to noon
Cardone plans to share his five-step selling process to make it easier for the sales team to execute in today’s world of fast-moving information and technologies, leading to better closing ratios and higher customer satisfaction.

Ron Reahard, president of Reahard & Associates, Oct. 26, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Reahard is looking to show how to conduct a seamless sales and F&I process to dramatically increase ROI in F&I by adding real value to the customer experience, with a focus on evaluating the repayment risk management and vehicle protection options for both in-person or online purchases.

Alan Ram, president of ProActive Training Solutions, Oct. 27, 7:30 a.m. to noon
Ram will demonstrate how to increase both individual and dealership productivity through the use of the phone, Internet and client-based management, highlighting processes that dealerships can implement to drive traffic immediately.

Don Reed, CEO of DealerPro Training, Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
Reed plans to guide GMs on how to develop a business plan for 100-percent service absorption, focusing on improving parts and labor margins, selling more service appointments and increasing hours sold per retail repair.

The week will wrap up with a presentation from Jim Dance, a guest instructor for the NADA U Academy and president of Walter Strayer Co. Dance will share strategies for practically implementing the ideas given by the prior presenters.

This is designed to help dealers figure out which areas they need to hone in on, help dealers determine what motivates employee behavior and how to best channel it and show dealers strategies for making organizational changes that do not interrupt productivity at the store.

More information can be found at www.nadauniversity.com or by calling (800) 557-6232.