Pub. 1 Issue 2

4 www.glancda.org H aving spent just over six months as GLANCDA’s Executive Director, I am pleased to report that things are going well with the association. We are continually working hard to promote our industry, protect our businesses, provide philanthropic funds and services in the communities we do business in, and educate our employees. We have begun implementing some changes which we are confident will add value and more relevance to the association membership base. This is the first edition of Los Angeles Auto Dealer, a publication we are very excited about, and feel that it will improve communication of upcoming events, and provide content to the membership that is both useful and informative. Earlier this year, we highlighted the importance of working closely with our legislators and regula- tors. We focused on the need to inform the very large group of freshman assembly members about how our businesses are operated, the effect of legislation upon our industry, our responsibilities as employ- ers, and the revenue generated in tax dollars by our operations. In March, a group of GLANCDA dealers attended CNCDA’s Dealer Day to help set the agenda for the year. To date, our efforts appear to have produced some positive results. The Franchise Bill authored by Senator Alex Padilla has gained support and is moving forward through the system. Our collective energy and effort has also made an impact on the delay and/or modification of two recall bills, that if passed in their original form, had the potential to be disastrous for our industry statewide. Our continued efforts to monitor and have “our collective voice heard” by legislators continues to be at the core of what GLANCDA will remain committed to doing. The partnership that is in place with the Los Angeles Auto Show continues to develop and evolve. This show has served as a marketing force for Los Angeles County Dealerships for decades now. There are exciting new plans to drive more “showroom traffic” with cooperative advertising opportunities for the 2013 show. GLANCDA was able to reinvest over $250,000 in worthy charitable causes in this last fiscal year that have a presence in Los Angeles County. The association will continue to support these causes and many others as we are able to grow the size and services the association offers. We are working on rebuilding a dealer training curriculum that will target those positions inside the dealership that re- quire continued education (Sales, DMV Clerk, Finance Managers, Sales Managers, Human Resources, Compliance, and Controller). We will soon be announcing seminars that will help inform key person- nel that deal with Health Care Reform, Digital Marketing and Social Media, and Labor Issues and Challenges in the Work Place. Your membership, and input are key to working closely together to revitalize our association, and keep taking our industry to new levels of excellence here in Los Angeles County. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Bob Smit h Bob Smith GREATER LOS ANGELES NEW CAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION