The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association coined this year’s annual convention with the moniker, “Accelerate.” Troy Scheer, who is NIADA’s director of marketing and communications, explained why the association branded their largest event with this title during an episode of the Auto Remarketing Podcast.

“The whole concept and thought behind Accelerate is continuing to move forward and not sitting back and waiting,” Scheer said. “Our thought is you have to constantly accelerate what you’re doing to keep up with everything that’s going on in this crazy world. Understanding all of the things from an association standpoint and our members, it’s two-fold.

“Obviously we want our members to accelerate what they’re doing and grow their businesses. But also for us, it’s about accelerating what we do to deliver for our members. That’s what it all boils down to,” he said.

“We are dealer driven, and that’s where we have to make sure we’re accelerating what we’re doing in terms of adding value to our dealerships and members, providing the education they need and networking with them to be their voice. Our goal is to lift the industry as a whole and be together,” he continued.

NIADA and its members will be together beginning on June 19 in Las Vegas for four days of meetings, networking, panel discussions and workshops. Scheer recapped that NIADA conducted an industry survey to understand what most important to members.

“The real key is the education. We’ve got some great things going,” Scheer said. “Obviously, compliance is a big issue now on everyone’s mind, the FTC, the CFPB, the IRS and all of the various state rules and regulations.

“We want to make sure our members are educated about what’s going on. They’re busy conducting business on a daily basis. It’s our job to be out there and understand what’s going on from an industry perspective and be able to give them that education and insight. We want to make sure that’s what we’re delivering.”

NIADA also is delivering one of the best athletes ever to step in the boxing ring.

Sugar Ray Leonard will share his drive for success as the keynote speaker for NIADA’s Accelerate 2023 Convention and Expo. Leonard will speak at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on June 20 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

NIADA highlighted Leonard is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters to ever lace up the gloves, being an Olympic gold medalist and the first boxer to win championships in five weight classes.

Since leaving the ring, the sports icon has become a best-selling author, television personality and met a calling to help humanity through many philanthropic efforts.

Leonard began boxing at 14, winning three Golden Gloves, two Amateur Athletic Union and the 1975 Pan-American crown, before capturing the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal.

To help his family defray mounting medical costs due to his father’s illness, he turned professional following the Olympics.

At 20, he won his first professional fight to start his stellar career, which included winning welterweight, junior middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight titles. He fought and won legendary bouts against Wilfred Benetiz, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in his 20-year career.

After retiring from boxing, he provided expert ring commentary on NBC, ABC, FOX, HBO and ESPN, also featured as the international commentator for the record-breaking Mayweather vs. McGregor fight.

He hosted the Emmy-nominated “The Contender” and competed on “Dancing with the Stars.”

In 2011, Leonard published his autobiography, The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring. In his memoir, he describes his greatest competitor, himself, and confronts his personal battles with depression, rage, addiction and greed.

Leonard started the The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation in 2009 with his wife, Bernadette. Since its inception, the foundation has funded countless research projects and offered life-changing patient care for children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The foundation is also committed to helping children lead healthier lives through diet and exercise, equipping them with the tools to be successful in health later on.

Leonard also raises money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and other children’s charities through his annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Boxing Night.

Whether it’s in the crowd for Leonard’s presentation or during other parts of the convention, Scheer is hoping attendees soak up their time together.

“The better we show our solidarity and comradery of the industry, the more impact that has when we reach our state legislators and the federal government and regulatory bodies. There’s a real comradery among independent dealers. I think that’s why it’s important for everyone to attend to get to meet each other and develop and grow the industry. There’s so much opportunity, so much wisdom from dealers who have been around a while to help the young ones coming up. It’s a critical time amid all of the constant change,” Scheer said.

And to get the most out their time in Las Vegas, Scheer recommended that attendees use the NIADA convention app.

“That’s why the app is so great because you can build your schedule. You can see exactly what’s going on and know so you can schedule other meetings and more. That’s one thing I would highly recommend. Download that app because it’s going to make your life better from a planning standpoint and help you get more out of the convention,” Scheer said.

Complete agenda and registration details can be found at https://niada.com/convention.