CONVENTION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES 2024 EVENT SPEAKERS

Now more than ever is a great time to interact and engage with your fellow dealers and industry professionals to learn best practices for your business. Mindful of the very practical benefit of convening once a year, the NYSADA Convention Committee has fashioned an educational program designed with the intent of imparting important information that will make attending the convention a sound investment in your business.

At this time NYSADA is pleased to announce the following dynamic and high-profile speakers will be joining us for our 101st Annual Convention and Business Meeting Celebration at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. Join us this November in Orlando for what will prove to be an educational yet exhilarating experience for the whole family!

Stephen Rowley
(President of Cox Automotive)

Stephen Rowley is President of Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and software company whose vision is to transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars. Rowley is responsible for a family of brands that together make car dealers more successful and car buyers more satisfied, including auto industry leaders such as Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto and Xtime.

Rowley previously served as the Executive Vice President of Cox Business. In this role, he was responsible for the strategic direction of the high-growth division that delivered more than $2 billion in annual revenue. He oversaw all sales, operations, product development and marketing for business customers, including wholesale services for telecom carriers. Prior to leading Cox Business, Rowley was the Vice President of sales and field operations for Cox Business’ western U.S. markets where he served as the chief liaison between corporate headquarters and the western markets with oversight on local strategic planning, sales performance, marketing, back office, customer installations and capital investment.

Prior to joining Cox Business, Rowley was Vice President of Alliances and Partners at Sprint, where he managed relationships with more than 500 partners, generating $250 million in annual revenue. In addition, Rowley was responsible for the strategic direction of the Telemetry group where he negotiated and managed contracts with Dell, Sony, HP and others. In his 11 years with Sprint, Rowley held key senior leadership roles in the sales organizations as Vice President of Enterprise, Vice President of General Business and Vice President of Sales for Sprint’s Broadband Division.

In addition to extensive telecommunications experience, Rowley spent 12 years as a key executive at People’s Choice TV, having held positions such as Vice President General Manager of Chicago, Tucson and Phoenix and later, the Vice President of Sales and Operations for the company.

Kurt McNeil
(Vice President, U.S. Sales Operations & Retail Innovation General Motors)

Kurt J. McNeil was appointed Vice President of U.S. Sales Operations in 2012. He is responsible for GM’s Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick-GMC dealer network, as well as retail sales and marketing support, retail innovation initiatives, and North America forecasting. He was named an Automotive All Star in 2018 by Automotive News.

McNeil was previously U.S. Vice President of Sales and Aftersales for Cadillac starting in 2010. In August 2008, he was named General Sales Manager for Chevrolet Motor Division. Before that, in 2006, McNeil was the Regional General Manager for the South-Central Region responsible for all General Motors brands.

A native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, McNeil began his career with General Motors nearly 40 years ago. McNeil received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

 

Gary Gilchrist (2024 NADA Chairman, Industry Relations Chevrolet Liaison)

Gary Gilchrist is president of Gilchrist Chevrolet Buick GMC, Inc. in Tacoma, Wash. He started in the automotive business in 1977 selling cars in Tacoma after graduating from college. Gilchrist is 2023 vice chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and represents Washington's franchised new-car dealers on the board of directors. (Term: January 2017-February 2026)

His dedicated industry service includes: Washington State Auto Dealers Executive Committee, present; Chairperson, Seattle International Auto Show, 2015-2016; Board member, Chevrolet LMA, present; President, Washington State Auto Dealers Association, 2014-2015; Chairperson, Washington State Auto Dealer Insurance Trust, 2003-2007; Secretary/Treasurer, Buick GMA LMA, 2010-2012.

Mr. Gilchrist has been awarded the University Place School District Community Leadership Award, 2010, was a TIME Dealer of the Year Award winner, Washington state, 2007 and was a Washington State Auto Dealers Association Dealer of the Year Award Winner in 2016.

 

Gary Brown
(Super Bowl Champion & Author)

Super Bowl Champion and Author Gary Lee Brown will walk you through his incredible life journey from Brentwood, New York, to winning a football championship on the world’s greatest stage. However, his greatest battles would not end on the football field. Locking horns with paralysis and depression after his career helped lead him down a path that not only saved his life, but the lives of all those around him whom he serves now on a daily basis. During his talk you will learn about how he navigated through these deadly waters so that you can help yourself and others overcome any of life’s many challenges.

 

Returning is Our Ever-Popular Industry Expert Discussion on Timely Legal, Legislative, Accounting & Dealer HR Issues Featuring...

LEONARD BELLAVIA, ESQ.
Bellavia Blatt, PC

LISA MARRELLO, ESQ. & JOHN JAY BOVE, ESQ.
Park Strategies, LLC

LOUIS YOUNG CVA,
Withum

STEVAN LABONTE, ESQ.
LaBonte Law Group, PLLC

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS

DAY 1
Monday, November 11th

9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Board of Directors Meeting

1:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Registration Desk Open

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm One of a Kind Private Welcome Party at Universal Islands of Adventure Theme Park


DAY 2
Tuesday, November 12th

7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Hospitality and Vendor Hall Open

7:45 am - 8:15 am
GIT Annual Meeting & Breakfast

8:15 am - 8:30 am
Annual Business Meeting

8:30 am - 11:30 am
Business Meetings and Speakers

Afternoon Free to Enjoy the Resort and Parks


DAY 3
Wednesday, November 13th

7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Hospitality and Vendor Hall Open

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Safety Group 430 Annual Breakfast Meeting

9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Business Meetings and Speakers

12:30 pm - 5 pm
Annual Golf Tournament

12:30 pm - 5 pm
Alternate Group Activity

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Chairman’s Cocktail Party

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Chairman’s Annual Banquet


DAY 4
Thursday, November 14th

7:30 am - 11:30 am
Hospitality Open

8:00 am - 10:00 am
Group Breakfast Meeting and Business Presentations

11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Afternoon Free to Enjoy the Resort and the Parks

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sponsor Recognition and Group Farewell Cocktail Party
 


DAY 5
Friday, November 15th

Hotel Checkout, Group Departs