LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dealers looking for ways to improve efficiency and profitability will find new, customizable learning opportunities at the 2017 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) on Oct. 18-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Many of the sessions are free to dealers with the $15 tradeshow admission.

This year's GIE+EXPO will include the first-ever People, Process, Profit Boot Camp and free 30-Minute Dealer Workshops at The Dealer Resource Center presented by experts from the Bob Clements team, Equipment Dealers Assn. and United Equipment Dealers Assn. In addition, Power-Up Morning sessions with Bob Clements are available on Thursday and Friday, and UTV University will be back for its second year. They will feature proven powersports dealer training specialists and have a roundtable discussion about the state of the UTV industry for free. Tech training will also be offered on Wednesday by the Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC).

Wednesday:

Tech Training & Certification:

7:30 a.m. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. – 2-Hour Tech Training Sessions - $30 each

Courses offered include: OPE Electrical Systems Training, Saw Chain Grinding Best Practices, Float Bowl Carburetors and Propane Gas Fuel Systems

8 a.m. & Noon – 3-Hour Tech Training Sessions - $45 each

Courses offered include: Electrical Troubleshooting, Hydrostatic Transmissions, Diaphragm Carburetors and Electronic Fuel Injection Systems

UTV University Discussions:

9 a.m. – Street Smart Dealership Management with Book Smart Backup with Mark Mooney

10 a.m. – How to Guide Customers Through Their UTV Buying Decision with Steve Shankin

11 a.m. – Sales Coaching is not a Trend, but an Adventure for UTV Dealers with Ty Bello

Noon – Roundtable Discussion with UTV Industry experts hosted by John Kmitta, Dave McMahon and other industry experts will discuss and analyze UTV market retail sales trends, UTV dealer data and more.

9 a.m. – LatinoLink Dealer Day Breakfast: The Secrets to Gaining More Hispanic Business

Pre-registration is required. $25, includes breakfast. This panel presentation will feature Hispanic contractors sharing their dealer experiences. 

People, Process, Profit: Dealer Boot Camp:

9 a.m. – Dealing with Conflicting Personalities-Employees Customers and More: Dealership guru Bob Clements Sara Hey of Bob Clements International will discuss strategies for how to deal with employees or customers who are upset.

10 a.m. – Processes – the Basics for Your Service and Parts Departments: Bob Clements will walk through basic processes for your service and parts department you can implement to your dealership.

11 a.m. – Understanding your Numbers in Service, Parts and Sales: Bob Clements will teach mangagers the "vital signs" of your dealership and how to improve the overall effectiveness of your business.

Noon – Dealer & UTV Retailer Box Lunch Special: Employee Compensation: Pre-registration is required. $25, includes lunch. Bob Clements will share what dealerships across the country are doing and how to implement a compensation program that motivates and rewards employees for performance. 

Free Dealer Day Kick-Off Keynote:

1:30 p.m. – Alan Beaulieu from ITR Economics will provide a timely snapshot of the economy today, where it is headed over the next three years and what it means to your business.

Free 30-Minute Workshops:

2 p.m. – Dealership Expense Control Ideas and Strategies: Rex Collins from HBK CPAs & Consultants will explore ways that successful dealers have used to reduce the expense structure to help ensure that they remain profitable or increase existing profits. 

4 p.m. – How Profitable Dealers Establish Their Labor Rates: Rex Collins will discuss the steps that you should go through in setting your labor rate.  

Thursday:

Power-Up Session:

8 a.m. – Coaching and Management Basics: Bob Clements will walk through the basics of how to coach your team and the management skills you and your employees will need to succeed.

Free 30-Minute Workshops:

10 a.m. – Dealership Year End Tax Planning Opportunities: Rex Collins from HBK CPAs & Consultants will discuss the latest changes in tax laws, various tax provisions that impact dealers and their dealerships so you can take full advantage of these provisions prior to the end of the year. 

11 a.m.  – So, Your Kids Want to Join Your Business: Sara Hey from Bob Clements International will share the 3 most common mistakes that business parents make when bringing their children into their business and answer questions on how to solve family problems in business that already exist. 

1 p.m. – Understanding the Customer Journey to Online Purchase: Tim Whitley, CEO of Team SI, will explain what your potential customers are doing before they even step into your storefront.

2 p.m. – Positioning Your Dealership to Sell: Bob Clements will share the key indicators and answer questions on the best way to position your dealership to sell. 

Friday:

Power-Up Session:

8 a.m. – Establishing a Culture and Casting a Vision for your Dealership: Sara Hey from Bob Clements International will help dealers understand what an effective culture and vision look like, how to get your team on board and how it will set your dealership apart.

Free 30-Minute Workshops:

10 a.m. – Is it Time to Add a Second Location? Bob Clements will share his insight on the best way to move toward a second location and answer questions from dealers who are considering taking the chance. 

11 a.m. – Charting Your Digital Marketing Game Plan: Bill Wagner, ARI's digital marketing expert, will provide you with the tools you need to conduct a digital marketing self-audit, align your marketing strategies with your dealership goals and create an easy-to-execute plan of action. 

1 p.m. – Visual Merchandising - the Most Essential of Retail Elements: National Retail Specialist & Visual Merchandising Coordinator Jennifer Robison will address the four essential retail elements and how visual merchandising is a neglected element in most independent stores. 

2 p.m. – Is Your Attitude Killing Your Store's Vibe & Sales? National Retail Specialist & Visual Merchandising Coordinator Jennifer Robison will reveal how you and your staff might be giving the wrong impression/experience without realizing it. 

The annual event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (OPEI), Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) and National Assn. of Landscape Professionals (NALP). For information and online registration for the tradeshow: www.gie-expo.com.