The Virginia Automotive Association hosted its annual Convention and Trade Expo the weekend of April 24-26 at historic Colonial Williamsburg, celebrating its 50th anniversary with an “all star” cast of speakers and a record attendance.
“We could not have had a better weekend,” said Bobby Cutchins, VAA President. “From the truly outstanding speakers to a fantastic celebration and recognition of our 50-year heritage, it was a special weekend for all who attended.”
Featured speakers included Dave Crawford, CEO of The Hybrid Shop; Chris “Chubby” Frederick, CEO of Automotive Training Institute; Norm Gaither, CEO of Dealer Strategic Planning; Matt Winslow, director of speakers & content, Automotive Training Institute; Eric Van Dyck, training development manager for Michelin; and Meagan Johnson, of the Johnson Training Group.
At the Saturday evening banquet, VAA celebrated its 50th anniversary of “Connecting Virginia’s Automotive Professionals” with recollections of VAA’s past by L.C. Miller III, whose Dad helped to start the original Virginia Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association, and was its first President in 1965. Terry Westhafer, of Central Tire in Verona, who has served on the VAA Board of Directors for 39 years and was President in 1978, also shared memories, in addition to Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, who has worked closely with VAA over the years at the national level. The celebration concluded with a recognition of VAA’s past presidents and an introduction of the 19 who were present, and a special guest appearance by Thomas Jefferson, who stole the show with his humorous recognition of the VAA Past Presidents and his tales of transportation in the 1700s.
The Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corp then escorted the banquet attendees to the Trade Expo, which was the association’s largest attended. For 2016, VAA returns to the Allegheny Mountains and the Homestead Resort the weekend of April 15-17. For more information, contact Steve Akridge at [email protected].
