As usual, Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week will have something for everyone at the 2019 edition, set for Jan. 28-31 at the Mirage in Las Vegas.
Sam Schmidt, former IndyCar racer and founder of both Conquer Paralysis Nowand Schmidt Peterson Motorsports will take the stage during the HDAW opening general session to discuss how the application of innovative motor vehicle technologies led him to overcome incredible odds after an IndyCar crash in 2000.
Immediately following Daniel Burrus’s keynote presentation to the HDAW audience on how to become a successful anticipatory organization, Schmidt and Burrus will engage in a one-on-one discussion with Schmidt sharing how his passion to innovate using technology allows him to race again and why HDAW attendees should embrace technology to benefit their businesses.
Also on the HDAW ’19 schedule are:
- Gerry Mead, executive director of innovation for Phillips Industries will present “Impact of Better Products and Changing Industries”. Mead will highlight how IoT and high-tech transportation will transform the future of the heavy-duty aftermarket with an accompanying technology adaption roadmap to ensure businesses are keeping up with the tools, training, and materials they will need for the future.
- Ram ChandraSekar, founder and CEO of PhaseZero, will present “Defining the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Experience”, a workshop discussing how digitalization for an HD independent distributor is not just about having an online sales capability. Distributors will learn what technology they need to add or upgrade in their businesses with a roadmap to address the future growing digital needs of their customers.
- Sandeep Kar, chief strategy officer of Fleet Complete, will present a workshop entitled “Megatrends Driving Digitization in the North American Aftermarket”. Kar’s presentation outlines the impact of digitization on the HD aftermarket. He will offer solutions and strategies for distributors to leverage telematics and utilize it to turbocharge their businesses in the digital era.
- Homer Hogg, director of technical service for TA/Petro will help distributors with ideas to prevent turnover, recruit the best people, and keep their customers coming back during a workshop session entitled “Growing and Keeping Your Best Assets: People”. Homer will deliver a list of tangible action items and new resources to the workshop attendees that they can tailor to implement in their own businesses.
HDAW is the largest North American gathering of the independent heavy-duty aftermarket industry. More than 2,500 executives from the U.S., Canada and six other countries – including distributors, suppliers, service providers and industry media – attended in 2018.
For more information, go to www.hdaw.org.