B e h i n d t h e W h e e l

behind the wheel

TIADA – LIVE from the Kalahari

by Jeff Martin

TIADA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

It has been a full year since Texans were first introduced to COVID-19 and started living with the Coronavirus. Every industry in the state has been affected, some certainly more than others. The independent automobile industry is no exception. We have had our challenges, but as I always say, independent auto dealers are one resilient group. I always knew our dealers would survive if not thrive in the face of adversity. Like everyone else, TIADA had to work through some new norms and we heard many new questions from our members. Below you will find a list of the top ten questions we have received over the last twelve months:

10. What do we do if our tax office is closed? 9. Are used car dealers an essential business and how do I know which order I should be following, the city, county, or state? 8. Do you know if I qualify for the Paycheck Protection

Program and do you know where I can apply? 7. Have the laws changed related to repossessions and can our collectors work from home? 6. What are other dealers doing when an employee tests positive for COVID? 5. If an employee tests positive for COVID and they have been at work around other employees what is the dealership’s liability? 4. Any idea when the wholesale prices are going to come down and where are other dealers finding inventory? 3. Can I have a customer sign everything electronically and can I deliver vehicles to my customer’s home? 2. Insert any question related to a Zoom call here: How do I turn on my camera? How do I turn on my microphone?

Can you hear me now? Can you see me now? etc. 1. Will this year’s TIADA Conference and Expo be live or virtual?

Thanks to the help from state agencies, tax assessors, mayors, judges, legal scholars, experienced dealers, and IT professionals, we addressed each of these questions as they surfaced and evolved. That is, all but question number one, “Will this year’s TIADA Conference and Expo be live or virtual?”

Let me answer that question by telling you we have an all-new conference logo for 2021, we completely redesigned our conference website, we are already selling conference sponsorships, we secured the return of our all-time most popular keynote speaker — Roy Spence, and we signed a contract with the brand-new Kalahari Resort and Hotel to host our event on July 25–27, 2021.

Next month we will open conference registration and we will continue to make special announcements about education speakers, the expo, legislators who will attend, networking opportunities, and much more. I do not know what “normal” is, but having a live conference in 2021 feels pretty normal to me. See you in July!

L i k e e v e r y o n e e l s e , T I A D A h a d t o w o r k t h r o u g h s o m e n e w n o r m s a n d w e h e a r d m a n y n e w q u e s t i o n s f r o m o u r m e m b e r s .