Each year at Elevate, we strive to deliver impactful speaker sessions and stirring group discussions that prepare you and your business for the year ahead.
The only retail automotive human capital summit is just around the corner, and here are some highlights and testimonials from years past about why Elevate is a can’t-miss event. And if you’ve yet to register for this year’s summit, do so here — for free!
2017 — Elevate’s First Year
We kicked off Elevate for the first time in 2017 because we realized no company or organization was focused on people operations at a time when retail automotive was struggling to revamp its image to attract a new kind of professional. Improving the people’s side of the automotive industry has always been Hireology’s driving force, and the birth of Elevate provided a platform for key players in the automotive space to connect and share experiences that would have a profound impact on the value of hiring and retaining the best employees.
One of our 2017 attendees gave some great feedback:
“I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks for the invite and how impressed I was with the presentations. I’m confident having more of our dealers exposed to that information would [result in] greater conference participation.” -Jerry O’Sullivan, Regional Parts & Service Manager at KIA Central Region
So amplifying the exposure of why hiring is so important was our aim for 2018.
2018 — Reflection and Adjustments
Our second year of Elevate was guided by attendee feedback. We doubled in size, increased the number of speakers, hosted a vendor showcase, and had a much larger and more diverse group of sponsors.
2018’s Elevate was also only one day, which allowed for us to get a lot of information packed in without requiring attendees to take too much time away from their business. We had more great customer feedback, including a message from Lesia Orders, Talent Acquisition Specialist at The Suburban Collection, that said her most valuable takeaway from the conference was understanding that her dealership isn’t the only one dealing with certain pesky issues.
Chelsea Walker, Recruiter at The Suburban Collection, also shared the following: “Almost every obstacle discussed we are currently facing. I’ll come back next year for sure.”
2019 — Found Our Grove
We saw great success in 2019. We partnered with Automotive News to host our third annual Elevate conference in conjunction with their Retail Forum/Best Dealerships to Work For.
We focused on empowering attendees to formally develop hiring plans to help them have future success. We highlighted how employer branding is as important as the consumer brand and discussed ways dealerships can change the perception of working in retail automotive. Lastly, we released exclusive research from Hireology and NADA that summarized the hiring activities across 4,000+ retail automotive dealerships representing all major brands and markets.
And once again, the feedback made it all worth it:
“Hireology literally hosts my favorite conference year after year. I have been impressed with the quality of staff who work on the Hireology team! I am happy to be a part of the team which was proven by my disposable nameplate! Thank you for the continued support and advancement in technology.” -P.J. Olsen, Director of Human Resources at Lou Fusz Automotive Inc.
“Thank you for the opportunity to bring this information back to our team!” – Trina Hunter, Executive Administrator of Woody Anderson Ford
2020 — Adapting to Change
The automotive industry was greatly affected by the pandemic, and due to federal mandates, we hosted Elevate virtually. We partnered with NADA and Automotive News to talk about the importance of a digitally focused dealership, why every role is absolutely essential to your bottom line and the importance of understanding your applicants in order to attract great talent.
Admission was free and the content was spread over a three-week period. Retail automotive professionals tuned in nationwide to hear from industry experts like Peter Fong, Chief Revenue Officer at Orbee Auto, Inder Dosanjh, President of California Automotive Retailing Group Inc., and Michelle Harrow, the Head of Recruiting for Twitter.
Randy Harman, the Corporate Sales Trainer at Lou Fusz Automotive Inc., had this to say about the event: “Great information – high energy. Lots of subject matter experts. Love the analytical data, gives numbers to common issues.”
2021 — Virtual Once More
We were hopeful that we’d be back in person with you all this year, but in order to keep our staff, speakers, and attendees safe, we’ll once again be hosting Elevate virtually.
The good news is you and your team get to experience Elevate from the comfort of your own home or office for a second year, free of charge. We know cost is always a consideration, so we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to keep your business running while still getting the impactful information you’ve come to expect from the summit.
With two weeks until Elevate kicks off, you’ve got time to block your calendars and tell your friends and coworkers. Registration is open now and free to attend!
