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Automotive News to Host Retail Technology Forum West in Scottsdale

13 September 1999

Automotive News to Host Retail Technology Forum West in Scottsdale

    DETROIT, Sept. 10 -- Some of the most innovative and
successful information technology executives will participate in the 1999
Automotive News Retail Technology Forum West, November 9-10, 1999 at the Hyatt
Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Keynote speakers for the event are:
Joel Kocher, Chairman and CEO, Micron Electronics, Inc.; Richard Marino,
President, CNET, Inc.; and James McQuivey, Senior Analyst, Forrester Research.
    Automotive News and 10 premier sponsors will host the two-day event which
is designed to educate dealer principals about the emerging role technology
plays across the entire enterprise.  The theme is "A Course for Change in the
New Millennium."  The forum will feature expert speakers, breakout sessions
focused on customer acquisition, customer retention, information integration
and e-commerce and camps where dealers can work with the latest technologies.
    The customer acquisition session will focus on how technology has changed
the way dealers attract customers.  Attendees will learn unique ways to
attract new customers from different segments of the marketplace.  Panelists
include Ernie Boch, Jr., Vice President & General Manager, Boch Enterprises;
Greg Mushro, eBusiness Director, TheNetLab!; and Karen Piurowski, Managing
Director, Loyalty Group, Polk.
    As part of the customer retention session, dealers will learn how to use
technology to keep customers by increasing their satisfaction level.
Panelists include Lee Sage, Global Leader of Automotive Industry Services,
Ernst & Young; Dave Thomas, General Manager, Thomas Motors, Inc. and Don
Warriner, President & CEO, Data National Corporation.
    The information integration session will offer tips on how to mine and
warehouse data, resulting in greater profitability across all aspects of the
operation.  Panelists include Paul MacDonald, Automotive Consultant; Mike
McFall, Vice President of Internet Marketing, AutoNation; and Jim Miller,
Chief Technologist, EDS North America Vehicle Sales, Service & Marketing.
    As part of the e-commerce session, dealers will focus on how transactions
on the Internet will impact car retailing in the future.  Panelists include
Chris Denove, Director, Consulting Operations, J.D. Power & Associates; Greg
Robey, Managing Director, Global Integrated Solutions, Federal Express; and
Mark Roman, Dealer Process Manager, Ford Motor Company.
    Cost for attending the conference is $1,300.
    Premier sponsors for the event are ADP, cars.com, CarsDirect.com, Cyber
Car, Cobalt, EDS, Mannheim/AutoTrader.com, Microsoft, Oracle and Reynolds &
Reynolds.  For more information on the 1999 Automotive News Retail Technology
Forum West, please call toll free 877-446-7799, or see the website at
http://www.retailtechforum.com .