Events Calendar
In This Section
County manager charged in Cuyahoga County corruption probe
Bleeding woman arrested for Akron burglary
Charges in Medina mail box theft
White House: Don't post more secret war papers
Florida deputy shoots himself in leg during training
Police: Ohio driver in chase stopped at red lights
Recession was deeper than gov't previously thought
Recovery loses speed as consumers turn cautious
Most Read Stories
Akron man interrupts armed burglar
Fan in LeBron's Heat jersey draws ire in Cleveland
Father Sam revelations are painful
Police: Ohio baby who died had adult bite marks
Store apologizes for treatment of Ohio nursing mom
Police in Ohio find woman and 2 kids out naked
Drivers give Fairlawn roundabout thumbs-up
1st U.S. execution of woman since 2005 set for Sept.
Three Kenmore Blvd. buildings get energy-wise renovation
Barmaid robbed, patrons beaten inside Akron tavern
Construction worker killed along I-271 by motorist
Letters to the editor - July 29
Blogs:
The330:
Akron Zoo’s $500,000 Conservation Carousel opens to public Saturday
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Orphans in Fondwa
First Bell - On Education:
Busing, sports fees and class size on table if Copley-Fairlawn schools levy fails
Pets:
Paws & Pitches at Canal Park
The Heldenfiles:
"So You Think You Can Dance" Notes
Akron Zips:
Poll: What season are you anticipating most?
Tribe Matters:
Thursday’s Indians lineup
Cleveland Browns:
Links to Browns coverage: July 30, 2010
Kent State Sports:
Key MAC Games Of 2010 Season
Cleveland Cavaliers:
LeBron still has at least one fan in Cleveland
Buckeye Blogging:
10 Hurdles Standing Between Ohio State and Another National Championship
Varsity Letters:
Important Dates for Upcoming High School Football Season
All Da King's Men:
Arizona Immigration Law Blocked, Drug Cartels Rejoice
Blog of Mass Destruction:
"Muslims Hate Jews, Christians &…Dogs"
Akron Law Café:
Is BP Cornering the Market on Oil Spill Research?
Car Chase:
Sunday – or Anyday Drives
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Brangelina to Buy in Santorini?
Sound Check:
Ohio alt-rock stars weigh in on Lebron….John Mayer too..
HRLite House:
From the White House – New Federal Approach to Hiring
By Jim Mackinnon
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 07:00 p.m. EST, Jan 07, 2010
After more than 80 years of life, the Akron Area Automobile Dealers' Association is no more.
In its place is the renamed Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers' Association.
Dramatic auto industry changes in recent years and the growing mission of the association into other parts of Northeast Ohio led to the change, said Terry Metcalf, executive vice president of the newly renamed group.
''We had been talking about it for a while,'' Metcalf said today. The association's board approved the name change back in October.
''It is going to position us better,'' Metcalf said.
The Northeast Ohio dealers group has 42 regular members — basically, new vehicle dealers — plus an additional 15 associate members who are used vehicle dealers. There are also 30 to 40 affiliated dealerships in the region that the association does business with on a regular basis, Metcalf said.
Headquarters will remain in Akron, where its roots go back 82 years. It incorporated as a for-profit business in mid-December 1927, then transformed into a nonprofit organization in November 1945. Over those decades, the Akron-based group brought in members from outside Summit County, Metcalf said. Association offices will remain where they've been since 1972, in a license bureau building at 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway.
The group's board feels it is in a better position to deal with ongoing industry changes, Metcalf said. Those changes include what had been a long-term consolidation trend of dealerships that greatly accelerated in the recent economic downturn, Metcalf said.
With the association's geographic footprint enlarging from Summit and into Medina, Portage, Stark, Wayne and seven other counties, the Akron name became a hindrance to the group's marketing efforts, Metcalf said. There is also a new Web site address for the group, http://www.neoada.com.
Another prominent regional dealers association also announced a major change this week.
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association, based in Brecksville, announced that its president for the previous 23 years, Gary Adams, was succeeded effective Jan. 1 by 14-year association executive Louis A. Vitantonio. Adams will be president of the association's Cleveland Auto Show for the next five years.
Metcalf said he does not see the two groups in direct competition with each other.
''We have a lot of members who are in both,'' he said. ''We're both trade associations. We each have our own niches.''
The Northeast Ohio Auto Dealers' expanded services include offering the Autoview On-Line vehicle-sales database to all Ohio dealers, a document shredding program to dealers in 21 counties, background checks, fingerprinting, passport photos, an energy cost-savings program and credit card processing. Other services include operating the Akron license bureau and offering runners and title services.
The Northeast Ohio dealers group also provides Autoview services to the Auto Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio and to the Greater Stark County Area Dealers Association, Metcalf said.
As part of its rebranding, the Northeast Ohio group is seeking to expand its membership and services, Metcalf said.
Pat Primm, co-owner of Cascade Auto Group in Cuyahoga Falls and the 2008 president of the Akron-based group, said broadening the reach of the association should benefit both dealer members as well as the community at large.
A bigger group means a larger voice in industry issues, Primm said. It also means more financial clout and help to bargain better discounts on services offered by the association to its members, he said.
In addition, a better-funded Northeast Ohio Auto Dealers' Association this year intends to expand a scholarship program that offers teens in area high schools specialized training at driving school DriveTeam Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Primm said. ''The community benefits from the stronger association,'' he said.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
After more than 80 years of life, the Akron Area Automobile Dealers' Association is no more.
In its place is the renamed Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers' Association.
Dramatic auto industry changes in recent years and the growing mission of the association into other parts of Northeast Ohio led to the change, said Terry Metcalf, executive vice president of the newly renamed group.
''We had been talking about it for a while,'' Metcalf said today. The association's board approved the name change back in October.
''It is going to position us better,'' Metcalf said.
The Northeast Ohio dealers group has 42 regular members — basically, new vehicle dealers — plus an additional 15 associate members who are used vehicle dealers. There are also 30 to 40 affiliated dealerships in the region that the association does business with on a regular basis, Metcalf said.
Headquarters will remain in Akron, where its roots go back 82 years. It incorporated as a for-profit business in mid-December 1927, then transformed into a nonprofit organization in November 1945. Over those decades, the Akron-based group brought in members from outside Summit County, Metcalf said. Association offices will remain where they've been since 1972, in a license bureau building at 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway.
The group's board feels it is in a better position to deal with ongoing industry changes, Metcalf said. Those changes include what had been a long-term consolidation trend of dealerships that greatly accelerated in the recent economic downturn, Metcalf said.
With the association's geographic footprint enlarging from Summit and into Medina, Portage, Stark, Wayne and seven other counties, the Akron name became a hindrance to the group's marketing efforts, Metcalf said. There is also a new Web site address for the group, http://www.neoada.com.
Another prominent regional dealers association also announced a major change this week.
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association, based in Brecksville, announced that its president for the previous 23 years, Gary Adams, was succeeded effective Jan. 1 by 14-year association executive Louis A. Vitantonio. Adams will be president of the association's Cleveland Auto Show for the next five years.
Metcalf said he does not see the two groups in direct competition with each other.
''We have a lot of members who are in both,'' he said. ''We're both trade associations. We each have our own niches.''
The Northeast Ohio Auto Dealers' expanded services include offering the Autoview On-Line vehicle-sales database to all Ohio dealers, a document shredding program to dealers in 21 counties, background checks, fingerprinting, passport photos, an energy cost-savings program and credit card processing. Other services include operating the Akron license bureau and offering runners and title services.
The Northeast Ohio dealers group also provides Autoview services to the Auto Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio and to the Greater Stark County Area Dealers Association, Metcalf said.
As part of its rebranding, the Northeast Ohio group is seeking to expand its membership and services, Metcalf said.
Pat Primm, co-owner of Cascade Auto Group in Cuyahoga Falls and the 2008 president of the Akron-based group, said broadening the reach of the association should benefit both dealer members as well as the community at large.
A bigger group means a larger voice in industry issues, Primm said. It also means more financial clout and help to bargain better discounts on services offered by the association to its members, he said.
In addition, a better-funded Northeast Ohio Auto Dealers' Association this year intends to expand a scholarship program that offers teens in area high schools specialized training at driving school DriveTeam Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Primm said. ''The community benefits from the stronger association,'' he said.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Most Commented Stories
- 137
- 54
- 53
- 47
- 45
- 45
- 37
- 25
- 24
- 17
- 15
- 13
- 13
- 12
- 11
