Toronto, Ontario -- Auto recyclers from across North America are gathering in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 82nd Annual Automotive Recyclers Association Convention and Exposition, taking place October 16 to 18 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
The event will bring together operators, suppliers and technology providers for three days of meetings, training and networking. Canadian recyclers are being encouraged to attend to explore cross-border partnerships, assess new technologies and share strategies on safety, regulation and sustainability.
The convention opens October 16 with a series of committee meetings as well as sessions on certification, government affairs and industry awareness. Attendees will also be able to tour Knox Auto Parts of Birmingham, an ARA member facility, before workplace culture strategist Lisa Ryan of Grategy delivers the opening keynote, “Revving Up Retention.”
October 17 will feature advocacy updates from Emil Nusbaum, ARA’s vice-president of government and regulatory affairs, and Slater Shroyer, director of member services. John and Holly Cahill of Cahill Auto Parts in Massachusetts will deliver the recycler keynote “Built Together: The Power of Partnership in Business and Life.” Educational sessions throughout the day will address artificial intelligence in yard operations, EV battery safety, bookkeeping best practices and data-driven sales models. The evening will include the annual Ladies of the Automotive Recyclers Association reception and the awards dinner.
The final day, October 18, begins with a breakfast on the expo floor followed by the Recyclers Roundtable moderated by Scott Robertson of Robertson’s Auto Salvage and Jonathan Morrow of M&M Auto Parts. Later sessions will focus on compliance, facility management and AI-based vehicle valuation tools.
A highlight for Canadian attendees will be the “Ransom & Recovery” panel featuring Wally Dingman, executive director of both the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) and the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA); Pat Huesers, chief operating officer of Nordstrom’s Automotive in South Dakota; and Todd Ensworth, vice-president of operations at Car-Part.com. The panel will examine cybersecurity preparedness, outlining how recyclers can protect data integrity and recover quickly from system breaches.
Other late-day presentations include a discussion on data protection, technology for self-service operations and an introduction to ARA’s new industry quality assurance program led by Huesers and Shannon Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom’s Automotive. The convention will conclude with a member advocacy session and a tailgate networking event.
