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Thank YOU to all of the EDGE 2020 Sponsors, Exhibitors, Speakers and Attendees that helped make last week’s 77th Annual ARA Convention & Exposition a huge success! Close to 500 ARA members participated in the industry’s largest virtual event of the year, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! “On day two, I was so excited I asked key staff members to sit with me to view the seminars targeting their area of responsibility.” “The seminars were very informative! It was hard to pick between which one to attend. I felt the fire of motivation re-ignite again. It stirred my mind on what we need to be focusing on in the long run-outside the world of COVID." Couldn’t join us last week? You can now register to receive on demand access to all recorded Educational Sessions, Tech Talks, Keynote Sessions, as well as enjoy the Awards Gala video, all for $199 per person! Access to all uploaded content – videos, flyers, product demos – from our Exhibitors is still available in the virtual Expo Hall. Hear from industry experts, learn from your peers about what's working and what's not working for their businesses, access new training, and finish the year off strong. Content will be available ON DEMAND until November 30th - engage from the comfort of your home or office, regardless of time zone! REGISTER FOR ON DEMAND ACCESS: https://s3.goeshow.com/ara/edge/2020/registration_form.cfm 
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“In light of the most challenging year in history, why wouldn’t you take advantage of ALL your options?”  The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced today that a growing number of professional automotive recyclers and recycling industry suppliers have registered for the upcoming 77th Annual ARA Convention & Exposition, one of the industry’s only live training and trade show experiences of 2020. Originally scheduled to take place at the Peppermill Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada, the event transitioned into an all virtual experience and Association leaders are excited about the new opportunities associated with an online platform.
Attendees can register at https://s3.goeshow.com/ara/edge/2020/registration_form.cfm. “For the first time, we have the capability to help and engage with more auto recyclers than ever through the top-notch virtual platform, and bring the ARA Annual Convention right to their office and to their teams,” said Scott Robertson, Jr., ARA President, and owner of Robertson Auto Salvage, in Wareham, MA. “In light of the most challenging year in history, why wouldn’t you take advantage of ALL your options?” adds ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “ARA has assembled an expert line-up of speakers and peer-leader panels who will share strategies for growth, efficiency, productivity, and recovery from the most challenging year in modern history.” Below is a sampling of scheduled educational sessions: The Future of Auto Recycling Turn the clock forward a few years and imagine the automotive recycling industry of the future. How will we cope with advancements in vehicle design, advanced ADAS technology, artificial intelligent estimating applications, and more? Join four industry veterans as they discuss the possibilities and implications for the recycled parts market. Sales for Self-Service – Thinking Outside the Box Move beyond the social media and data-driven techniques of yesterday and into the future! Learn how rapidly growing concepts such as geofencing and behavioral targeting can drive business your way. 2020 Managing Today’s Virtual Workforce Between the COVID-19 pandemic, health concerns, technological and economic issues facing automotive recyclers across the world, it may be a good time to rethink how you engage with your customers. What does “virtual” mean to you and your business? How do you implement it and measure success? Expectations of Body Shops This session will explore and explain the struggles of day-to-day body shop operations regarding Recycled Original Equipment (ROE) parts. Better understanding these struggles can help you capitalize on the dollars often un-noticed and demonstrate how quality ROE parts can help your body shop customers make more of a profit – for them and for you! Getting the Most from Social Media Learn the importance to your overall business strategy to be present on social media and how and when to leverage various platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, etc). Recyclers Roundtable The popular Recyclers Roundtable is back and in a virtual format! Join three up-and-coming leaders from the global auto recycling community as they moderate a discussion of the most pressing issues facing today’s recycler parts market. The Annual Convention online platform will also feature:
Automotive recyclers can directly connect specific team members, who use the products and services every day, with multiple suppliers at one time to gain information and data to improve their skills or help make critical production decisions. “For 76 years, the ARA Annual Convention and Exposition has been the gathering place for the professional automotive recycling industry and an incredible place to network, learn and conduct business,” adds Robertson. “ARA is the voice of the professional automotive recycling industry and it is our duty to provide information, education and opportunity to automotive recyclers from around the world. If ever there was a year to assist all of the industry, this is it. We hope recyclers of all kinds from all around the globe take advantage of the possibilities within EDGE 2020.” For more information and to register, please visit the ARA website at www.a-r-a.org.  "With the safety of all attendees at the forefront, we have decided to re-direct all of our efforts into transitioning the 77th Annual ARA Convention and Exposition into a virtual conference. We were hopeful that this year’s Convention could remain a live event, but the current state-of-affairs simply presents too much uncertainty and risk at this time.”  The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced today that the upcoming 77th Annual Convention & Exposition will be a 100 percent virtual event. Originally scheduled to take place in person at the Peppermill Resort & Cason in Reno, Nevada, Association leaders decided last week to transition into an all virtual event due to ongoing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ultimately, the health and safety of the membership and staff is our top priority,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “After many discussions, serious consideration, and with the safety of all attendees at the forefront, we have decided to re-direct all of our efforts into transitioning the 77th Annual ARA Convention and Exposition into a virtual conference. We were hopeful that this year’s Convention could remain a live event, but the current state-of-affairs simply presents too much uncertainty and risk at this time.” The dates of the Annual Convention will remain unchanged and ARA is in the process of adapting the full schedule of educational programming, Exposition hours and networking events into a program that will showcase automotive recycling at its best. More details will be released in the coming weeks. “For 76 years, the ARA Annual Convention and Exposition has been the gathering place for the professional automotive recycling industry and an incredible place to network, learn and conduct business,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson. “ARA is the voice of the professional automotive recycling industry and it is our duty to provide information, education and opportunity to automotive recyclers from around the world – even in the midst of a global pandemic. Yes, it will look different, but it will still be the extraordinary experience that our attendees have come to expect year after year.”  Now Accepting Nominations for At-Large Director Seat Representing Canada
The ARA Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the At-Large Board of Directors position representing Canada. Current Board member Dalbert Livingstone’s term will conclude at the upcoming Annual Convention in November and ARA greatly thanks Dalbert for his leadership for the past four years. The Director must be an automotive recycler and ARA member in good standing. To recommend someone, please email staff@a-r-a.org. Congress COVID-19 Relief Legislation: Congress is no closer to reaching an agreement on a new COVID-19 relief bill as negotiators from both parties have been unable to agree upon how much federal unemployment supplementation should be provided to those drawing state unemployment benefits. House Democrats have drawn a line in the sand saying that anything short of $600 per-week is unacceptable. Under the CARES Act passed in March, the federal government supplemented state unemployment benefits by $600 per-week until its expiration at the end of July. Democrats are arguing that Republican efforts to reduce the amount of federal supplementation of unemployment benefits will further damage the economy due to reduced consumer spending and that state unemployment systems cannot quickly adapt to a change in unemployment benefits. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) stated that he would be open to extending the $600 per-week benefit so long as the White House and House Speaker Pelosi agreed. This is a major development considering Senate Republicans have previously been hesitant to extend the benefits due to some workers making more money on unemployment than at work. Additionally, as part of Senate Republicans’ proposed relief bill, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 4321. The proposed bill would allow for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to be distributed to businesses that can show their gross receipts have been reduced by 50% due to COVID-19 – a provision that is being heavily contested by businesses. While the second round of PPP loans is the hot topic of conversation, the bill also permits prior PPP loan recipients who received $150,000 or less to have their loans forgiven if they submit an attestation to their lender that they made a good faith effort to comply with PPP loan requirements (businesses will also need to maintain records relevant to compliance for three years). ARA: Last week, ARA joined a group of more than 480 trade groups representing a broad range of industries to urge Congress to support the business liability protections contained in the SAFE TO WORK Act (S. 4317). ARA has been working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s COVID Liability Coalition to educate Congress on the need for business liability protections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For a link to the letter sent to Congress click here. Automotive: Last Wednesday, General Motors announced that it had lost roughly $800 million in the second quarter. According to CNBC, the loss reflected a 34% decrease in vehicle sales that can be attributed to a decrease in demand and tight dealer inventories. Ford Motor Company posted a net income of $1.1 billion due to a $3.5 billion gain on an investment in self-driving software Argo AI. However, the automaker took a $1.9 billion hit to its pre-tax earnings during the second quarter independent of its investment in self-driving technology. If you have an article or piece of news that you think is important to automotive recyclers send an email to Emil@a-r-a.org. FOR MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION, VISIT ARA's COVID-19 DASHBOARD   Registration Now Open for ARA’s 77th Annual Convention and Exposition ARA announced today the opening of registration for the 77th Annual Convention and Exposition taking place in Reno, Nevada on November 11-14. The registration launch follows the Association’s announcement last week that retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman will provide the meeting’s Keynote Address. “We fully realize that this year’s Annual Convention will not look like our previous annual gatherings,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “But we are committed to providing the critical, industry specific educational content that our membership needs while at the same time, working diligently behind the scenes to ensure a safe and positive experience for all attendees.” The 77th Annual Convention will take place at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino. "ARA is coordinating with staff at the Peppermill to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to address concerns related to COVID-19. This includes temperature checks, physical distancing, face coverings, and hand sanitizing stations,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson. “This will be a safe, high quality educational experience that will empower automotive recyclers with the skills and mindsets to succeed during these challenging times.” For more details on the Convention agenda or to register, please visit www.a-r-a.org.  ARA COVID-19 Relief Fund Continues Distribution of Grants As we reported last month, the goal of the fund is to distribute seventy-five $1,000 grants to ARA Direct and Affiliate Direct members. A recipient of a grant has the flexibility to use grant funds either to help their business or employees. ARA is continuing the process of reviewing applications and distributing grants to ARA direct applicants. Payment of funds is based on availability to pay. ARA appreciates those who have donated to the COVID-19 Relief Fund and who have made this program possible. ARA would like to thank Car-Part.com, Rebuilders Automotive Supply, AB CatTech, Robertson’s Auto Salvage, Northlake Auto Recyclers, Reitman Auto Parts, We Buy Key Fobs, and VET Environmental Engineering for their generous contributions. Apply for a grant from the fund HERE. Please know, information on the application that would identify the applicant is removed before it is sent to reviewers for approval.  ARA Congratulates SpaceX on Successful Commercial Space Launch; Applauds Commitment to Reutilization ARA congratulated SpaceX last week on its historic May 30th mission that successfully launched two NASA astronauts into space. The launch was the first time a private company has sent astronauts into orbit. “This is a proud moment for the American people,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson, “as well as for the professional automotive recycling industry. I commend SpaceX in the reutilization of rocket boosters for interplanetary transit and on the development of reusable rocket systems – a focus on recyclability that is proven to dramatically reduce costs and enable the United States to compete in space exploration.” Since 2017 the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company has launched multiple attempts into space using recycled, gently used rockets. “Our profession is built upon that same focus of recycling genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive parts to bring cost savings to consumers and keep vehicles on the road.” ARA believes that vehicle manufacturers should emulate Space X in promoting the reutilization of their product to reduce costs by supporting the reutilization of recycled parts in vehicle repairs. Single-use manufacturing is self-serving, intentionally forcing consumers to overspend on repairs to their vehicle. Presently OEM position statements and procedures only allow for new OEM manufactured parts in vehicle repairs. “If we can reuse parts to launch man into space, we can surely reuse parts to repair our vehicles,” emphasized Robertson. “For decades, our members and their employees have efficiently removed and reutilized genuine OEM automotive parts,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “The value that safe, reliable, recycled OEM parts have in today’s automotive marketplace has never truly been recognized – in large part due to misinformation campaigns by the automobile manufacturers. Recycled original equipment automotive parts are manufactured by the OEMs and built to meet their requirements for fit, finish, durability, reliability, and safety. To see the investment that SpaceX has made in recycling their aerospace products and how proud the company is to tout the cost-savings and other advantages of using recycled products is to be applauded.” Ford Motor Company’s Termination of Lighting and Bumper Core Program Highlights Lack of Commitment to Recycling Ford Motor Company terminated its lighting and bumper fascia core recovery program on June 1st, a move that ARA responded to last week and characterized as a lack of commitment to recycling. Ford stated that it was ending the core recovery program, which has been in place for several years, due to the administrative burden it created for dealers and collision repairers. “ARA is concerned about the environmental impact that the termination of this core program will have, however, we are confident that the replacement parts market will find a solution to appropriately recovering and recycling these components,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock in a press release. “ARA is concerned about the environmental impact that the termination of this core program will have, however, we are confident that the replacement parts market will find a solution to appropriately recovering and recycling these components,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock in a press release. A 2012 statement attributed to Ford Recycling and Remanufacturing Manager, Kim Goering, promoted that the program demonstrated the automaker’s commitment to doing “whatever we can to extend the life of these components. Even more important, however, is that Ford strongly believes it’s just the right thing to do from an environmental perspective.” That same statement acknowledged a desire by the automaker to cut into the remanufacturing sector of the aftermarket, a motive that ARA maintains is just one example of the company’s efforts to stifle competition and raise the cost of repairs. “It’s clear that over the past several years, Ford and other auto manufacturers have taken aggressive steps to push the automotive recycling as well as remanufacturing and aftermarket industries out of the market,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson. “I find it highly suspect how in 2012, Ford can publicly acknowledge that their original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts still have a lot of life left, yet they’ve taken every position to the contrary when it comes to the recycled, genuine OEM parts sold by our members. The professional automotive recycling industry is the true champion of recycling here, and I think Ford’s termination of this program shows that.”  Kinderhook Acquires Original One Parts Original One Parts, a leading provider of certified original equipment manufacture (OEM) auto parts used by collision and repair shops and dealership service centers among others, has been acquired by Kinderhook Industries LLC. Their primary proprietary VINtegrity™ Certification Process uses a six-step inspection and certification process to ensure that recycled and refinished parts meet the exact fit, form and function as a new part, thus giving repairers the solution for meeting OEM repair procedures with cost-effective refinished replacement parts. It was this process and attention to detail that drew Kinderhook into the partnership. One Parts will be led by industry veteran Wade Hilburn, as CEO and Jerry Sullivan, as Executive Chairman, who together have more than 60 years of experience encompassing manufacturing, reconditioning and insurance claims. Hilburn noted that, “This partnership will provide One Parts with the access to capital and the resources required to offer an even broader range of high-quality recycled parts to the automotive repair market in the U.S.” Kinderhook Industries, LLC is an American private equity firm based in New York City and a licensed Small Business Investment Company. Since 2003, the firm has raised over $2 billion under management and has made in excess of 170 investments, and has extensive experience with the automotive aftermarket business, which appealed to One Parts in that is will “provide and consistently deliver quality certified reconditioned OEM parts with a convenient electronic buying experience at an incredible value”, stated Wade Hilburn, co-founder of One Parts. ARA Announces Retired Navy SEAL |
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In case you missed our announcement of June 3, ARA is proud to announce that it is partnering with Jason Redman, retired Navy SEAL and Business & Motivational Speaker, to be “ARA’s 2020 INDUSTRY COACH”. Redman was well-received last year as the 2019 ARA Annual Convention & Expo Keynote Speaker and will headline the ARA 2020 Convention taking place in Reno, Nevada on November 11-14.
“We are excited to partner again with Jason in order to empower automotive recyclers with the skills and mindsets to succeed despite the adversity this year has brought to the marketplace,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson. Redman will present a series of four live events for the ARA membership to present his dynamic and actionable strategies that are used by America’s Toughest Warriors to bring success to the battlefield. The first session will take place on June 10, 2020. “
Jason really struck a chord with our members last year,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “I cannot tell you how many automotive recyclers I spoke with that were personally inspired by his story and all that he has accomplished. We are proud to bring his perspective to work for our industry. Automotive recyclers will be provided what they need to GET OFF THE X OF ADVERSITY- including the impact that COVID-19 has had on their businesses - and move swiftly in the direction of their 2020 goals.”
Jason Redman is a retired Navy Lieutenant who spent eleven years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and almost ten years as a SEAL officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons and the US Army Ranger Tab.
After being severely wounded in Iraq in 2007, Redman returned to active duty before retiring in 2013. In 2013 he launched SOF Spoken LLC, a speaking and consulting company which focuses on inspirational presentations on leadership, teamwork and the “Overcome Mindset” helping individuals, companies and teams to “GET OFF THE X” ™ from “Life Ambushes”. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Trident, along with his new book Overcome which released in Dec 2019. He lives with his family in Virginia.
“We are excited to partner again with Jason in order to empower automotive recyclers with the skills and mindsets to succeed despite the adversity this year has brought to the marketplace,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson. Redman will present a series of four live events for the ARA membership to present his dynamic and actionable strategies that are used by America’s Toughest Warriors to bring success to the battlefield. The first session will take place on June 10, 2020. “
Jason really struck a chord with our members last year,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “I cannot tell you how many automotive recyclers I spoke with that were personally inspired by his story and all that he has accomplished. We are proud to bring his perspective to work for our industry. Automotive recyclers will be provided what they need to GET OFF THE X OF ADVERSITY- including the impact that COVID-19 has had on their businesses - and move swiftly in the direction of their 2020 goals.”
Jason Redman is a retired Navy Lieutenant who spent eleven years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and almost ten years as a SEAL officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons and the US Army Ranger Tab.
After being severely wounded in Iraq in 2007, Redman returned to active duty before retiring in 2013. In 2013 he launched SOF Spoken LLC, a speaking and consulting company which focuses on inspirational presentations on leadership, teamwork and the “Overcome Mindset” helping individuals, companies and teams to “GET OFF THE X” ™ from “Life Ambushes”. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Trident, along with his new book Overcome which released in Dec 2019. He lives with his family in Virginia.
Automotive Recyclers Association Submits Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on Stormwater Permitting
On June 1, 2020, the ARA submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their draft general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity. The stormwater permitting program began in 1992 and requires automotive recyclers to have a stormwater permit that will be renewed every five years. After each five-year period, the EPA will reauthorize and review the permitting guidelines and propose a new rule that incorporates any changes. This year, the EPA has taken unprecedented steps to strengthen the permitting requirements. For the past 30 years, the EPA has only made incremental changes to the permitting requirements. However, the EPA was recently sued for not properly exercising their statutory authority, which caused the EPA to take dramatic action in strengthening the existing permit requirements.
After reviewing the EPA’s proposed stormwater permit, ARA identified two main issues: (1) that the proposed stormwater permit displayed a clear lack of understanding for the automotive recycling industry; and (2) that the EPA had appeared to overstep its authority by addressing issues not relevant to stormwater runoff and pollutants. Automotive recyclers in every state should be aware (in the likelihood that the final EPA stormwater permit requirements will be stricter than they have in years past) that they will likely be impacted by the new permit changes. Recyclers in every state will most likely be impacted because each state will have to use the new EPA rules as a baseline for compliance.
To address the concerns of the automotive recycling industry as they pertain to the EPA’s stormwater permit, ARA joined the Federal Water Quality Coalition – a group of industrial companies and trade associations directly affected by regulatory requirements imposed under the Clean Water Act. While working with this group, ARA was able to represent the interests of the automotive recycling community. The Federal Water Quality Coalition, on behalf of its members, submitted comments addressing issues with the proposed EPA stormwater permit requirements.
Independent of working with the Federal Water Quality Coalition on this issue, ARA also worked with groups such as the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. and the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program. While ARA worked with several groups and industries, ARA submitted comments independently on behalf of its membership and the automotive recycling industry.
After reviewing the EPA’s proposed stormwater permit, ARA identified two main issues: (1) that the proposed stormwater permit displayed a clear lack of understanding for the automotive recycling industry; and (2) that the EPA had appeared to overstep its authority by addressing issues not relevant to stormwater runoff and pollutants. Automotive recyclers in every state should be aware (in the likelihood that the final EPA stormwater permit requirements will be stricter than they have in years past) that they will likely be impacted by the new permit changes. Recyclers in every state will most likely be impacted because each state will have to use the new EPA rules as a baseline for compliance.
To address the concerns of the automotive recycling industry as they pertain to the EPA’s stormwater permit, ARA joined the Federal Water Quality Coalition – a group of industrial companies and trade associations directly affected by regulatory requirements imposed under the Clean Water Act. While working with this group, ARA was able to represent the interests of the automotive recycling community. The Federal Water Quality Coalition, on behalf of its members, submitted comments addressing issues with the proposed EPA stormwater permit requirements.
Independent of working with the Federal Water Quality Coalition on this issue, ARA also worked with groups such as the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. and the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program. While ARA worked with several groups and industries, ARA submitted comments independently on behalf of its membership and the automotive recycling industry.
New Members
Welcome to the following new ARA members! Please give them a warm welcome to the ARA family - send an e-mail or call, introduce yourself and help familiarize them with all the great benefits of membership.
Welcome to the following new ARA members! Please give them a warm welcome to the ARA family - send an e-mail or call, introduce yourself and help familiarize them with all the great benefits of membership.
| Select Auto Parts & Sales, Inc. Natasha Broxton 2500 West Cornell St. Milwaukee, WI 53209-6217 (414) 763-3474 (414) 763-2917 Fax info@selectautopartsmilwaukee.com www.selectautopartsmilwaukee.com WBI Midway Automotive LLC Todd Whitehurst 6600 Canyon Dr. Amarillo, TX 79109-7001 (806) 376-5583 todd@wbimidwayauto.com | Yes Unlimited LLC DBA-Nissan Unlimited/ DBA-OEM Unlimited Edwin (Joe) Luna 2900 De Soto St. Houston, TX 77091-3834 (832) 467-4400 (832) 467-4402 Fax nissanunlimited@gmail.com www.nissanunlimited.com |
In an interview with Automotive Recycling magazine, January-February 2020, retired Navy Seal Jason Redman reveals more on his journey to overcome life’s ambushes and how others can do the same.
ARA 76th Annual Convention & Expo Keynote speaker Jason Redman is a retired Navy Lieutenant who spent eleven years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and almost ten years as a SEAL officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons and the U.S. Army Ranger Tab. In 2007, he encountered an enemy ambush in Iraq that left him with critical injuries fighting for his life and questioning if he had what it takes to go on.
"The interesting thing about failure – you don’t have to work hard to achieve it."
Excerpt from Automotive Recycling Magazine // January-February 2020
Interview by Caryn Smith, Editor
Interview by Caryn Smith, Editor
To read the full Jason Redman's soldier story, check out the January-February 2020 issue of Automotive Recycling magazine.
Editor's Note: When this story ran in the first issue of 2020, it was right after the ARA 76th Annual Convention and Expo. The industry was experiencing some good wind in its sails. Some automotive recyclers even were reporting that they were on track for their best year ever. Little did we know at this time that the COVID-19 virus would shut down the world, and put the industry on an X. The timing of Redman's speech to ARA convention attendees, and this interview, was right to help people move forward from this adversity. Enjoy the interview ... and GET OFF THE X! ~Caryn Smith
Automotive Recycling: What led you from wounded Navy SEAL to author and speaker?
Jason Redman: It definitely wasn’t a planned path, and don’t get me wrong, I have always liked to write, but never once thought it was on my bucket list that I would like to write two books. In some ways my first book wrote itself, because when I was injured, I had a tracheotomy for seven months and two days, so in the beginning I was unable to talk. The only way I could communicate was by writing.
Everyone wanted to know what happened, so it got to the point I finally just wrote out step by step the events of the firefight. As people would ask questions, I would hand that to them. I then started reflecting on some of the other missions and began writing about those. Recovering over several years and 40 surgeries gave me a lot of time to write.
I was still active duty military at the time. I went to my commander, showed him my writing, and said some people thought there might be something to my story.
He really liked the humble nature and felt like it was a good leadership story and he gave me the go ahead to pursue. I brought in a cowriter who gave the story some structure. From there I started speaking to groups, like the wounded warriors and trauma victims. I enjoy speaking as it has a cathartic side to tell my story and to help others overcome.
AR: What does your basic message of “overcoming” mean to you?
JR: Everyone will encounter life storms. Most people average 5 major life ambushes. Most people waste a lot of time focusing on the past and what they have lost, the pain, what caused it, who they can blame, instead of moving forward out of it.
For me, it was my trident leadership failure, the enemy ambush on the battlefield in Iraq, and later, after I had left the military, the ambush came through a frivolous business lawsuit against a former business I owned. My levels of anxiety and stress, feeling overwhelmed, constant anxiety, I understand what you’re dealing with and the major life disruption it causes. I applied the principles I’ve described in the book Overcome where I teach people a step-by-step process – something I call the REACT Methodology. With my system, someone can immediately start looking forward and start focusing on how they get out of that storm.
The REACT Methodology for success is:
R – Recognize your reality: you are in a crisis. Admit it. This is the most important and hardest part.
E – Evaluate your assets. Education or technology are examples of assets. Look at what you have and gain the knowledge you need and do it quickly. Don’t hesitate.
A – Access possible assets. If I use my assets, how will it unfold. Don’t take the easy route. Plan for the long-term.
C – Choose direction and communication. Most of the time you are not the only one on the X. Who else is being affected? Communicate the plan and bring them along with you on the way.
T – Take action and execute. Make a decision and do it.
I believe we need to be proactive for future life ambushes; whereas most people are reactive. We all procrastinate or flat out ignore immediate needs to take care of ourselves or to create a balance in family life. When a crisis-point comes, you’d better be prepared.
The first thing in the REACT Method is that you've got to recognize you’re in a crisis. This is probably the one thing that most people delay the longest. No one wants to admit it. As a matter of fact, as human beings we have this natural desire to just kind of wish it'll go away on its own.
Many in the automotive recycling industry are in real firefights. Recyclers should be embracing technology and staying current on trends and techniques. If they don’t know how, then seek out a mentor who can help. Yet, people hunker down and just stick their head in the sand hoping that, you know, with a little bit of time this crisis will just go away on its own. Well, that virtually never happens. Too often, it actually grows and gets worse and people live in denial. As humans looking to avoid the pain, we also have a tendency to self-medicate, with alcohol being one of the biggest problems, and some go even further into drugs and other risky behavior. The reality is they never address the real problem in the beginning.
Business owners tend to avoid acknowledging that there is a problem or bring their teams in to say, “Hey guys, we are in crisis mode, let’s work together to figure it out.” So, the most critical thing is getting people to recognize that they are in a crisis to get moving forward. The other steps are vitally important, but I would definitely say the ability to quickly recognize the crisis has the greatest impact to get off the X.
AR: What does it mean to “Get Off the X?”
JR: Getting off the X is a military term; the “X” is the point of attack, where you are receiving gunfire and explosions. An “X” in life is the point of an incident – divorce, sickness, lawsuit, accident, trauma, bankruptcy – you are on the X in that moment.
To survive, you have to move. In the military, we call it “immediate action principles:” I am going to do option B to counteract bad thing A. Develop the mindset that you need to get off X immediately and start moving forward as quickly as possible, even if it is painful. We have a saying in the military that “those individuals who get off the X the fastest not only survive, they thrive,” and even achieve elite status.
AR: The automotive recycling industry is in a bit of chaos right now, and some business owners feel stuck, don’t know what to do, or are really feeling alone. What is your advice?
JR: Build yourself up in key areas, what I call the “Pentagon of Peak Performance,” to be ready for any ambush or life challenge: Emotional, Spiritual, Mental, Physical, Social. There are no excuses. Refuse to have the pity party, and be the victor not the victim. These 5 key areas can help to find that balance in the middle of chaos.
It’s much better to be proactive and balanced for the ambushes that come; yet, understand and recognize when you are in a crisis it is not the time to be working on these key areas.
The Pentagon includes leadership in the following areas:
AR: Tell us about a pivotal time in your career, other than what we’ve already discussed, that awoke you from flawed thinking and made you change directions.
JR: After my military career, I started a business and found myself in a lawsuit. I wished it would go away, and it didn’t and only got worse. As I dealt with the stress and anxiety, I sat on the X for a little while, looked for others to blame. I wasn’t making healthy choices.
During this time, I went to the doctor and he said I needed to make some major health changes, or I would die of a heart attack. I have a family history of heart disease. It was a real wake up call for me. So, I acknowledged I was on the X. I knew I needed to take care of my health.
I worked my way forward. The lawsuit was frivolous, it was dismissed, but I look back and see there were
mistakes I made and things I procrastinated on and ignored that resulted in the suit. Eighty percent of life ambushes we find ourselves in, we participated in.
We procrastinated; we didn’t deal with something.
The anomalies, of course, are unexpected illness or injury, sexual trauma or loss of life. On all the other levels, there is something we could have done. And that is hard to admit.
Ultimately, I knew I needed to apply the principles I am talking about. Interestingly, I hadn’t quite fully developed all this when this happened, and I was able to document it in the Overcome book.
AR: How does someone identify their weaknesses that hinder professional or personal success?
JR: Go ask other people, ask your friends. Find out in my business, am I a hot head? Am I micromanaging?
Ask people their opinions. Come to grips with who you are and then amplify your strengths. My Overcome book helps people with this. It is human nature that no one wants to acknowledge we have a flaw. Yet, it is our failures that makes who we are, not our successes.
AR: How do you shift from a perceived “my life is over” mentality to a “new beginning” mentality?
JR: Do something differently. Make some changes. Find new things.
For automotive recyclers, technology is driving things in the industry. Embrace technology, collaboration, leverage resources together. It is incredibly difficult to “overcome” all by yourself. I could not have survived the enemy ambush by myself. Tom Brady cannot win a Super Bowl by himself. Leverage technology, leverage people and leverage strategies.
If you focus beyond the storm, you’ll see that there is a way out. It may not be the end state that you thought it would be, and that is where it gets hard, but what is supposed to be will unfold out of the darkness.
AR: During your injury, you posted a proclamation of positivity on the door of your hospital room that went viral on the internet. Do you think it is helpful for people to have some kind of symbolic statement?
JR: I think it is; it is a proclamation of where you are going to go. Those who say, “I am going to be out of business in 5 years,” you will be. You are driving people away saying or thinking that. I personally want to hang out with those guys who are driven to go down fighting. We will do research, figure new ways to do business and create new paths. I call it a “mission statement.” It gives you something to rely on and to focus staying on track on a forward path.
AR: Do you have any final thoughts?
JR: The interesting thing about failure – you don’t have to work hard to achieve it.
Caryn Smith is the editor of Automotive Recycling magazine, and covering the industry for over 20 years.
Editor's Note: When this story ran in the first issue of 2020, it was right after the ARA 76th Annual Convention and Expo. The industry was experiencing some good wind in its sails. Some automotive recyclers even were reporting that they were on track for their best year ever. Little did we know at this time that the COVID-19 virus would shut down the world, and put the industry on an X. The timing of Redman's speech to ARA convention attendees, and this interview, was right to help people move forward from this adversity. Enjoy the interview ... and GET OFF THE X! ~Caryn Smith
Automotive Recycling: What led you from wounded Navy SEAL to author and speaker?
Jason Redman: It definitely wasn’t a planned path, and don’t get me wrong, I have always liked to write, but never once thought it was on my bucket list that I would like to write two books. In some ways my first book wrote itself, because when I was injured, I had a tracheotomy for seven months and two days, so in the beginning I was unable to talk. The only way I could communicate was by writing.
Everyone wanted to know what happened, so it got to the point I finally just wrote out step by step the events of the firefight. As people would ask questions, I would hand that to them. I then started reflecting on some of the other missions and began writing about those. Recovering over several years and 40 surgeries gave me a lot of time to write.
I was still active duty military at the time. I went to my commander, showed him my writing, and said some people thought there might be something to my story.
He really liked the humble nature and felt like it was a good leadership story and he gave me the go ahead to pursue. I brought in a cowriter who gave the story some structure. From there I started speaking to groups, like the wounded warriors and trauma victims. I enjoy speaking as it has a cathartic side to tell my story and to help others overcome.
AR: What does your basic message of “overcoming” mean to you?
JR: Everyone will encounter life storms. Most people average 5 major life ambushes. Most people waste a lot of time focusing on the past and what they have lost, the pain, what caused it, who they can blame, instead of moving forward out of it.
For me, it was my trident leadership failure, the enemy ambush on the battlefield in Iraq, and later, after I had left the military, the ambush came through a frivolous business lawsuit against a former business I owned. My levels of anxiety and stress, feeling overwhelmed, constant anxiety, I understand what you’re dealing with and the major life disruption it causes. I applied the principles I’ve described in the book Overcome where I teach people a step-by-step process – something I call the REACT Methodology. With my system, someone can immediately start looking forward and start focusing on how they get out of that storm.
The REACT Methodology for success is:
R – Recognize your reality: you are in a crisis. Admit it. This is the most important and hardest part.
E – Evaluate your assets. Education or technology are examples of assets. Look at what you have and gain the knowledge you need and do it quickly. Don’t hesitate.
A – Access possible assets. If I use my assets, how will it unfold. Don’t take the easy route. Plan for the long-term.
C – Choose direction and communication. Most of the time you are not the only one on the X. Who else is being affected? Communicate the plan and bring them along with you on the way.
T – Take action and execute. Make a decision and do it.
I believe we need to be proactive for future life ambushes; whereas most people are reactive. We all procrastinate or flat out ignore immediate needs to take care of ourselves or to create a balance in family life. When a crisis-point comes, you’d better be prepared.
The first thing in the REACT Method is that you've got to recognize you’re in a crisis. This is probably the one thing that most people delay the longest. No one wants to admit it. As a matter of fact, as human beings we have this natural desire to just kind of wish it'll go away on its own.
Many in the automotive recycling industry are in real firefights. Recyclers should be embracing technology and staying current on trends and techniques. If they don’t know how, then seek out a mentor who can help. Yet, people hunker down and just stick their head in the sand hoping that, you know, with a little bit of time this crisis will just go away on its own. Well, that virtually never happens. Too often, it actually grows and gets worse and people live in denial. As humans looking to avoid the pain, we also have a tendency to self-medicate, with alcohol being one of the biggest problems, and some go even further into drugs and other risky behavior. The reality is they never address the real problem in the beginning.
Business owners tend to avoid acknowledging that there is a problem or bring their teams in to say, “Hey guys, we are in crisis mode, let’s work together to figure it out.” So, the most critical thing is getting people to recognize that they are in a crisis to get moving forward. The other steps are vitally important, but I would definitely say the ability to quickly recognize the crisis has the greatest impact to get off the X.
AR: What does it mean to “Get Off the X?”
JR: Getting off the X is a military term; the “X” is the point of attack, where you are receiving gunfire and explosions. An “X” in life is the point of an incident – divorce, sickness, lawsuit, accident, trauma, bankruptcy – you are on the X in that moment.
To survive, you have to move. In the military, we call it “immediate action principles:” I am going to do option B to counteract bad thing A. Develop the mindset that you need to get off X immediately and start moving forward as quickly as possible, even if it is painful. We have a saying in the military that “those individuals who get off the X the fastest not only survive, they thrive,” and even achieve elite status.
AR: The automotive recycling industry is in a bit of chaos right now, and some business owners feel stuck, don’t know what to do, or are really feeling alone. What is your advice?
JR: Build yourself up in key areas, what I call the “Pentagon of Peak Performance,” to be ready for any ambush or life challenge: Emotional, Spiritual, Mental, Physical, Social. There are no excuses. Refuse to have the pity party, and be the victor not the victim. These 5 key areas can help to find that balance in the middle of chaos.
It’s much better to be proactive and balanced for the ambushes that come; yet, understand and recognize when you are in a crisis it is not the time to be working on these key areas.
The Pentagon includes leadership in the following areas:
- Physical – get in shape, get good sleep, watch what you eat and drink. This is always a good thing.
- Mental – educating ourselves, pushing outside of our comfort zone, finding a good mentor, looking for positivity in the face of negativity.
- Social – who do we surround ourselves with? The goal is to build our social circle and teams before the crisis to seek guidance in the crisis … but it is never too late. No man is an island, and you are not unique. Many times, people isolate because they think their crisis is unique. The reality is that many people you know have experienced the same thing.
- Emotional – clean up your emotional garbage. Don’t let past disappointments hold you back. Let them go so you can move forward.
- Spiritual – focus on something that is outside of you. A faith, a charity. Many people have bigger problems than you. Helping them makes you feel better.
AR: Tell us about a pivotal time in your career, other than what we’ve already discussed, that awoke you from flawed thinking and made you change directions.
JR: After my military career, I started a business and found myself in a lawsuit. I wished it would go away, and it didn’t and only got worse. As I dealt with the stress and anxiety, I sat on the X for a little while, looked for others to blame. I wasn’t making healthy choices.
During this time, I went to the doctor and he said I needed to make some major health changes, or I would die of a heart attack. I have a family history of heart disease. It was a real wake up call for me. So, I acknowledged I was on the X. I knew I needed to take care of my health.
I worked my way forward. The lawsuit was frivolous, it was dismissed, but I look back and see there were
mistakes I made and things I procrastinated on and ignored that resulted in the suit. Eighty percent of life ambushes we find ourselves in, we participated in.
We procrastinated; we didn’t deal with something.
The anomalies, of course, are unexpected illness or injury, sexual trauma or loss of life. On all the other levels, there is something we could have done. And that is hard to admit.
Ultimately, I knew I needed to apply the principles I am talking about. Interestingly, I hadn’t quite fully developed all this when this happened, and I was able to document it in the Overcome book.
AR: How does someone identify their weaknesses that hinder professional or personal success?
JR: Go ask other people, ask your friends. Find out in my business, am I a hot head? Am I micromanaging?
Ask people their opinions. Come to grips with who you are and then amplify your strengths. My Overcome book helps people with this. It is human nature that no one wants to acknowledge we have a flaw. Yet, it is our failures that makes who we are, not our successes.
AR: How do you shift from a perceived “my life is over” mentality to a “new beginning” mentality?
JR: Do something differently. Make some changes. Find new things.
For automotive recyclers, technology is driving things in the industry. Embrace technology, collaboration, leverage resources together. It is incredibly difficult to “overcome” all by yourself. I could not have survived the enemy ambush by myself. Tom Brady cannot win a Super Bowl by himself. Leverage technology, leverage people and leverage strategies.
If you focus beyond the storm, you’ll see that there is a way out. It may not be the end state that you thought it would be, and that is where it gets hard, but what is supposed to be will unfold out of the darkness.
AR: During your injury, you posted a proclamation of positivity on the door of your hospital room that went viral on the internet. Do you think it is helpful for people to have some kind of symbolic statement?
JR: I think it is; it is a proclamation of where you are going to go. Those who say, “I am going to be out of business in 5 years,” you will be. You are driving people away saying or thinking that. I personally want to hang out with those guys who are driven to go down fighting. We will do research, figure new ways to do business and create new paths. I call it a “mission statement.” It gives you something to rely on and to focus staying on track on a forward path.
AR: Do you have any final thoughts?
JR: The interesting thing about failure – you don’t have to work hard to achieve it.
Caryn Smith is the editor of Automotive Recycling magazine, and covering the industry for over 20 years.
Who is Jason Redman?
Jason Redman is a retired Navy Lieutenant who spent eleven years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and almost ten years as a SEAL officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons and the U.S. Army Ranger Tab.
Yet, these prestigious medals came with high price tags.
In 2005, he made a bad leadership decision – one he confesses was based on his large ego – that almost cost his team their lives. He found himself facing demotion as an officer with possibility of being expelled from the SEALs altogether. He had a choice to endure the hardest physical and ego-busting training in the military … or go home. He chose the training and it changed his career.
Then in 2007, he encountered an enemy ambush in Iraq that left him with critical injuries fighting for his life and questioning if he had what it takes to go on.
And yet, after being severely wounded, Redman returned to active duty before retiring in 2013, launching SOF Spoken LLC, a speaking and consulting company which uses his extreme experiences to focus on leadership, teamwork and the “Overcome Mindset” to help individuals, companies and teams to “GET OFF THE X™” from “Life Ambushes” through his unique training and Overcome Army™ group coaching programs.
He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Trident, along with his new book Overcome which released in December 2019.
Jason Redman is a retired Navy Lieutenant who spent eleven years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and almost ten years as a SEAL officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons and the U.S. Army Ranger Tab.
Yet, these prestigious medals came with high price tags.
In 2005, he made a bad leadership decision – one he confesses was based on his large ego – that almost cost his team their lives. He found himself facing demotion as an officer with possibility of being expelled from the SEALs altogether. He had a choice to endure the hardest physical and ego-busting training in the military … or go home. He chose the training and it changed his career.
Then in 2007, he encountered an enemy ambush in Iraq that left him with critical injuries fighting for his life and questioning if he had what it takes to go on.
And yet, after being severely wounded, Redman returned to active duty before retiring in 2013, launching SOF Spoken LLC, a speaking and consulting company which uses his extreme experiences to focus on leadership, teamwork and the “Overcome Mindset” to help individuals, companies and teams to “GET OFF THE X™” from “Life Ambushes” through his unique training and Overcome Army™ group coaching programs.
He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Trident, along with his new book Overcome which released in December 2019.
©2020 Automotive Recyclers Association and Automotive Recycling Magazine –January-February 2020. Please feel free to share on social media in full! Reprint or Reuse in any other format is not permitted without written permission from ARA. Email ARAEditor@comcast.net for reprint permissions.
Greg Condon, left, is a third generation automotive recycler and founder of the Professional Salvage Yard Information Forum on Facebook. His father Jerry Condon, right, is owner for 40 years of Condon’s Auto Parts in Westminster, MD.
Featured in Automotive Recycling Magazine // January-February 2020
Interview by Caryn Smith, Editor
Interview by Caryn Smith, Editor
Greg Condon of Condon’s Auto Parts (Westminster, Maryland) was proactive to inspire automotive recyclers to communicate with each other for everyone’s benefit in the “Professional Salvage Yard Information Forum” setting. He is an inspirational figure in automotive recycling, with a knack to bring people together. Automotive Recycling Magazine interviewed Greg to find out more about him and his idea to bring auto recyclers together through Facebook.
Our story is much like many other salvage yard families. My grandfather, Ralph Condon, started the business in 1954 as an auto repair facility that slowly accumulated cars and started selling parts off those cars. My father, Jerry Condon bought the facility in 1978 with three employees.
In 2005, I graduated college and started selling parts on the front counter the next day. I have worked every position in the company other than vehicle dismantler. Honestly, I am not that great of a mechanic and would probably do more harm than good tearing cars apart! When I moved into general manager role in 2010, we had 18 employees. We currently have 38.
I was always interested in expanding the business, just as my father had done after purchasing from his father. In 2017, we joined PRP-NE in an effort to have better access to quality recycled parts to feed the need of our growing customer base. Through the partnership with fellow recyclers and Team PRP, we have been able to expand rapidly in the past two years. Ten of those 38 employees have been added in the last 24 months.
Automotive Recycling: How did you get into the industry?
Greg Condon: In high school, I took a few AutoCAD and drafting classes. I have always and still do have a huge interest in housing, construction and real estate. I was thinking of becoming an architect, but after visiting and being accepted to several colleges I decided that a business track was better suited for me. In 2005, I graduated on Sunday and was selling parts on Monday. I haven’t turned back since.
AR: What attracted you to the business?
GC: I have pride in our family business and everything it has provided for our family and the families of all our great employees. While I have been told many times over by the “old-timers” that this business is not as easy or good as it used to be, I see some real potential for small- and medium-sized family businesses to succeed for years to come.
AR: Who are your “heroes” in the business who directly or indirectly mentor you or whom you follow? And why?
GC: The obvious answer here would be my father and grandfather. Both of those men have and had work ethics that rival anyone I know. They positioned the company perfectly for me as the third generation to get it to the next level. But both my mother and grandmother were a huge part of their strength in the business. The fact that they were there to keep the family together and going in the right direction is a huge part of why my father and his father were successful.
I would be remiss not to mention my wife along with the rest of my family. She is a fantastic wife and mother to my two amazing daughters. Her help allows me to work some crazy hours and vent about the pressures that my work life puts on me sometimes.
There are dozens of people in the industry that I look to with great respect. It would be impossible to name them all in one article. I have learned so much from some of the smartest minds in the business. Many of them are technically my competitors, but still they openly share thoughts and ideas that help us all grow. That is really one of the biggest reasons that the Facebook page has been so successful. Just scan through the posts in the group and take a look at how competitors will openly give away secrets they have learned over the years to help others.
As far as mentors are concerned, I have almost too many to list whom I know I can call with questions and problems. I have gained most of these connections from attending industry conventions like ARA and URG.
Also, participating in consulting peer groups has given me insights that I could have never stumbled on by myself. The members of those groups are competitors, but they understand that a rising tide raises all ships. If we work together, we are all better for it.
Outside of the industry, I have a group of guys in my hometown that I regularly meet with as part of an accountability group. We are not all business owners, but are all highly motivated to make ourselves better men, husbands, fathers and people. I highly suggest finding or creating a group like this for yourself. Make it diverse. Reach outside of your comfort level when creating the group. Do not make it with just your friends, but all of you will end being great friends.
The last heroes who do not get enough credit are the people that keep the business running every day. Our employees are heroes as well. Without a good team; none of our companies would be able to do what we do. Owners and managers need to be there to steer the ship, but there would be no ship without the team. I struggle on a daily basis to give enough recognition to those around me that help me accomplish most of the crazy ideas that pop out of my brain.
AR: What things have you learned recently that have helped your business
GC: Business is simpler than most of us understand. In today’s world there is an app for everything, and that makes us spend too much time learning and not enough time doing. I am constantly seeking out learning opportunities. But I also have learned to stop, take some time to digest what I have learned, and figure out how to put it into use in my company. There is no benefit to learning anything new if you can’t find practical application for that knowledge.
At one time or another everyone has heard of KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid). If we are constantly finding solutions to all the fires that we put out every day instead of finding the source of the flames, we will end up with an intricate maze of systems developed to fix the symptoms and not the source of the issues.
AR: Why did you start the Professional Salvage Yard Information Forum on Facebook?
GC: During and after college, I participated in numerous online forum websites related to my hobbies and ATV racing. There were 100’s of posts every day and I actually got to meet and become friends with many of the members of those forums. The wealth of knowledge and willingness to help was amazing to me. I thought that maybe I could bring some of that to our industry. Not everyone is able to attend meetings and conferences.
When I started the Facebook group, my intention was to create a similar environment, but without spending the money to start a new website. I also knew that with the short attention spans of people today, getting them to go to another website every day was probably going to be hard. Most people already have a Facebook profile for themselves or work, so they would already be logging into Facebook each day.
AR: How do you think it helps others?
GC: I started the page with the intention of only the best of the best being allowed to join the page at first.
I wanted to keep the content strong and truly only contain ideas that is what the best really should be doing. This was short-sighted and probably limited its growth in the first year. After the page got some traction, I allowed all sorts of facilities to contribute what they thought was positive, and let the masses sort out the quality information.
What happened was, members of the Forum have held each other accountable. When someone posts something of questionable character, or a “junkyard” mentality, many of the members are quick to question them and raise counter points as to why they believe that information to be less effective or less positive. This has opened the eyes of many members as to what a truly professional recycling facility really should be and how one really should be operating.
Just today, a conversation about ECM’s and return policies was questioned. Some good points were brought up on both sides and not everyone will always agree. But if we want our industry to progress, doing it as we always did probably isn’t the quickest way forward. I also wanted to spread information to make all
recycled original equipment auto parts businesses better.
This included some that might not be considered “professional” or up-to-standard of where the industry is currently headed. But without a place to gather some education about how the best in the industry are doing what they do, how can we help those operations improve?
I have been told many times by some operators from “junkyards” that they want to get better, but didn’t know how to take the first few steps. It’s not like many local community colleges offer degree programs in Salvage Yard Management. I hope the page can continue to be a good resource to learn from those who were in that junkyard mentality and now operate first-class recycling facilities.
AR: Has the Forum lived up to your expectations?
GC: It has far exceeded my expectations. In today’s world of 6-second click-through rates on YouTube videos, the fact that so many people keep coming back every day is impressive. I have had many people tell me that the only reason they still have a Facebook account or come to Facebook every day is to check in on the Forum. There have been requests to branch the Forum out in several different ways. I and other members have started other pages, some with more success than others. But it goes back to my simplicity comment from before. It’s impossible to be good at every great idea.
AR: What other thoughts do you have to share with your fellow automotive recyclers?
GC: I will wrap up with a few quick comments. We are all in this fight together. While we are competitors, we also need to be allies. As with all businesses, there are constant struggles that we will face, and as a united front we will be much stronger. The more professional we all operate, the better our image will be with the consumer. Stop delivering parts not as they were described in our Yard Management Systems. Stop delivering dirty greasy motors and not standing behind our warranties when we do have a failure. The better everyone does the better we all do.
With the complexity of today’s vehicles, getting the right part to the consumer the first time is paramount in our industry doing well in the next evolution of our businesses. Help ARA fight for VIN-level build data on cars to match the proper part to the order the first time every time. This helps the insurance company save time and money, and the weekend repair warrior not getting frustrated when the “junkyard” sent him another wrong part and then orders a new aftermarket part instead.
We are all in this fight together. There is a lot of good still to be had in this industry. I’m going to steal a line I saw on Facebook from Mike Kunkel the other day. “Let’s make these the days the ones that the next generation looks at in 20 years and calls the ‘good-ole-days.’” Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you in the Forum.
Our story is much like many other salvage yard families. My grandfather, Ralph Condon, started the business in 1954 as an auto repair facility that slowly accumulated cars and started selling parts off those cars. My father, Jerry Condon bought the facility in 1978 with three employees.
In 2005, I graduated college and started selling parts on the front counter the next day. I have worked every position in the company other than vehicle dismantler. Honestly, I am not that great of a mechanic and would probably do more harm than good tearing cars apart! When I moved into general manager role in 2010, we had 18 employees. We currently have 38.
I was always interested in expanding the business, just as my father had done after purchasing from his father. In 2017, we joined PRP-NE in an effort to have better access to quality recycled parts to feed the need of our growing customer base. Through the partnership with fellow recyclers and Team PRP, we have been able to expand rapidly in the past two years. Ten of those 38 employees have been added in the last 24 months.
Automotive Recycling: How did you get into the industry?
Greg Condon: In high school, I took a few AutoCAD and drafting classes. I have always and still do have a huge interest in housing, construction and real estate. I was thinking of becoming an architect, but after visiting and being accepted to several colleges I decided that a business track was better suited for me. In 2005, I graduated on Sunday and was selling parts on Monday. I haven’t turned back since.
AR: What attracted you to the business?
GC: I have pride in our family business and everything it has provided for our family and the families of all our great employees. While I have been told many times over by the “old-timers” that this business is not as easy or good as it used to be, I see some real potential for small- and medium-sized family businesses to succeed for years to come.
AR: Who are your “heroes” in the business who directly or indirectly mentor you or whom you follow? And why?
GC: The obvious answer here would be my father and grandfather. Both of those men have and had work ethics that rival anyone I know. They positioned the company perfectly for me as the third generation to get it to the next level. But both my mother and grandmother were a huge part of their strength in the business. The fact that they were there to keep the family together and going in the right direction is a huge part of why my father and his father were successful.
I would be remiss not to mention my wife along with the rest of my family. She is a fantastic wife and mother to my two amazing daughters. Her help allows me to work some crazy hours and vent about the pressures that my work life puts on me sometimes.
There are dozens of people in the industry that I look to with great respect. It would be impossible to name them all in one article. I have learned so much from some of the smartest minds in the business. Many of them are technically my competitors, but still they openly share thoughts and ideas that help us all grow. That is really one of the biggest reasons that the Facebook page has been so successful. Just scan through the posts in the group and take a look at how competitors will openly give away secrets they have learned over the years to help others.
As far as mentors are concerned, I have almost too many to list whom I know I can call with questions and problems. I have gained most of these connections from attending industry conventions like ARA and URG.
Also, participating in consulting peer groups has given me insights that I could have never stumbled on by myself. The members of those groups are competitors, but they understand that a rising tide raises all ships. If we work together, we are all better for it.
Outside of the industry, I have a group of guys in my hometown that I regularly meet with as part of an accountability group. We are not all business owners, but are all highly motivated to make ourselves better men, husbands, fathers and people. I highly suggest finding or creating a group like this for yourself. Make it diverse. Reach outside of your comfort level when creating the group. Do not make it with just your friends, but all of you will end being great friends.
The last heroes who do not get enough credit are the people that keep the business running every day. Our employees are heroes as well. Without a good team; none of our companies would be able to do what we do. Owners and managers need to be there to steer the ship, but there would be no ship without the team. I struggle on a daily basis to give enough recognition to those around me that help me accomplish most of the crazy ideas that pop out of my brain.
AR: What things have you learned recently that have helped your business
GC: Business is simpler than most of us understand. In today’s world there is an app for everything, and that makes us spend too much time learning and not enough time doing. I am constantly seeking out learning opportunities. But I also have learned to stop, take some time to digest what I have learned, and figure out how to put it into use in my company. There is no benefit to learning anything new if you can’t find practical application for that knowledge.
At one time or another everyone has heard of KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid). If we are constantly finding solutions to all the fires that we put out every day instead of finding the source of the flames, we will end up with an intricate maze of systems developed to fix the symptoms and not the source of the issues.
AR: Why did you start the Professional Salvage Yard Information Forum on Facebook?
GC: During and after college, I participated in numerous online forum websites related to my hobbies and ATV racing. There were 100’s of posts every day and I actually got to meet and become friends with many of the members of those forums. The wealth of knowledge and willingness to help was amazing to me. I thought that maybe I could bring some of that to our industry. Not everyone is able to attend meetings and conferences.
When I started the Facebook group, my intention was to create a similar environment, but without spending the money to start a new website. I also knew that with the short attention spans of people today, getting them to go to another website every day was probably going to be hard. Most people already have a Facebook profile for themselves or work, so they would already be logging into Facebook each day.
AR: How do you think it helps others?
GC: I started the page with the intention of only the best of the best being allowed to join the page at first.
I wanted to keep the content strong and truly only contain ideas that is what the best really should be doing. This was short-sighted and probably limited its growth in the first year. After the page got some traction, I allowed all sorts of facilities to contribute what they thought was positive, and let the masses sort out the quality information.
What happened was, members of the Forum have held each other accountable. When someone posts something of questionable character, or a “junkyard” mentality, many of the members are quick to question them and raise counter points as to why they believe that information to be less effective or less positive. This has opened the eyes of many members as to what a truly professional recycling facility really should be and how one really should be operating.
Just today, a conversation about ECM’s and return policies was questioned. Some good points were brought up on both sides and not everyone will always agree. But if we want our industry to progress, doing it as we always did probably isn’t the quickest way forward. I also wanted to spread information to make all
recycled original equipment auto parts businesses better.
This included some that might not be considered “professional” or up-to-standard of where the industry is currently headed. But without a place to gather some education about how the best in the industry are doing what they do, how can we help those operations improve?
I have been told many times by some operators from “junkyards” that they want to get better, but didn’t know how to take the first few steps. It’s not like many local community colleges offer degree programs in Salvage Yard Management. I hope the page can continue to be a good resource to learn from those who were in that junkyard mentality and now operate first-class recycling facilities.
AR: Has the Forum lived up to your expectations?
GC: It has far exceeded my expectations. In today’s world of 6-second click-through rates on YouTube videos, the fact that so many people keep coming back every day is impressive. I have had many people tell me that the only reason they still have a Facebook account or come to Facebook every day is to check in on the Forum. There have been requests to branch the Forum out in several different ways. I and other members have started other pages, some with more success than others. But it goes back to my simplicity comment from before. It’s impossible to be good at every great idea.
AR: What other thoughts do you have to share with your fellow automotive recyclers?
GC: I will wrap up with a few quick comments. We are all in this fight together. While we are competitors, we also need to be allies. As with all businesses, there are constant struggles that we will face, and as a united front we will be much stronger. The more professional we all operate, the better our image will be with the consumer. Stop delivering parts not as they were described in our Yard Management Systems. Stop delivering dirty greasy motors and not standing behind our warranties when we do have a failure. The better everyone does the better we all do.
With the complexity of today’s vehicles, getting the right part to the consumer the first time is paramount in our industry doing well in the next evolution of our businesses. Help ARA fight for VIN-level build data on cars to match the proper part to the order the first time every time. This helps the insurance company save time and money, and the weekend repair warrior not getting frustrated when the “junkyard” sent him another wrong part and then orders a new aftermarket part instead.
We are all in this fight together. There is a lot of good still to be had in this industry. I’m going to steal a line I saw on Facebook from Mike Kunkel the other day. “Let’s make these the days the ones that the next generation looks at in 20 years and calls the ‘good-ole-days.’” Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you in the Forum.
©2020 Automotive Recyclers Association and Automotive Recycling Magazine –January-February 2020. Please feel free to share on social media in full! Reprint or Reuse in any other format is not permitted without written permission from ARA. Email ARAEditor@comcast.net for reprint permissions.
ARA received a letter from a teacher, Ruby, and her 8-10 year old students, praising our coverage of the COVID-19. Her letter included a request from one student named Lucy.
Lucy, if you are reading this, look below. We are glad to have your suggestions! Let us know if you have more!
Here is the letter:
To: ARA
From: Ruby
Subject: A thank you and a suggestion from Ms. Cortes' class!
Hello Automotive Recyclers Association,
My name is Ruby and I volunteer at a crafts program for 8-10 year old children. Earlier this month before the closure of schools due to Coronavirus pandemic, I was helping the kids to research car models and we have been having a lot of fun learning about all types of vehicles! While looking up information about each of the models, we came across your page https://www.a-r-a.org/covid-19-links.html.
I encouraged the kids to search for more information online while at home. One of my girls, Lucy, found this page that she sent for me to see about the history of Mini-Cooper. I was proud of her going above and beyond to find it - https://www.carcovers.com/resources/history-of-the-mini-cooper/.
I suggested that she share the article because I told her that I'd bet that you'd be interested! I also want to impress upon all the kids that by reaching out and simply asking others, like yourself, things can be accomplished that they might not otherwise think can.
Would you please add the link to that resource for them to your webpage? They would be so proud to see that you included it. I also don't think it hurt that I promised the group a pizza day when we resume classes if you did! Please let me know if you’d be willing so I can share the exciting news with them!
Thank you very much in advance and stay safe!
Ruby
--
Ruby Cortes
Teacher l Advisor
Lucy, if you are reading this, look below. We are glad to have your suggestions! Let us know if you have more!
Here is the letter:
To: ARA
From: Ruby
Subject: A thank you and a suggestion from Ms. Cortes' class!
Hello Automotive Recyclers Association,
My name is Ruby and I volunteer at a crafts program for 8-10 year old children. Earlier this month before the closure of schools due to Coronavirus pandemic, I was helping the kids to research car models and we have been having a lot of fun learning about all types of vehicles! While looking up information about each of the models, we came across your page https://www.a-r-a.org/covid-19-links.html.
I encouraged the kids to search for more information online while at home. One of my girls, Lucy, found this page that she sent for me to see about the history of Mini-Cooper. I was proud of her going above and beyond to find it - https://www.carcovers.com/resources/history-of-the-mini-cooper/.
I suggested that she share the article because I told her that I'd bet that you'd be interested! I also want to impress upon all the kids that by reaching out and simply asking others, like yourself, things can be accomplished that they might not otherwise think can.
Would you please add the link to that resource for them to your webpage? They would be so proud to see that you included it. I also don't think it hurt that I promised the group a pizza day when we resume classes if you did! Please let me know if you’d be willing so I can share the exciting news with them!
Thank you very much in advance and stay safe!
Ruby
--
Ruby Cortes
Teacher l Advisor
Here is the information Lucy suggested we post for our automotive recyclers! For all you who recycle the Mini-Cooper, you will love this!
History of the Mini Cooper
Written By: John Linden
History of the Mini Cooper
Written By: John Linden
The original 1959 model Sixty years after its launch, the Mini Cooper is still a polarizing little car: most people either really love it or somehow hate it. Many Americans were unfamiliar with MINI until its American launch by BMW in 2002 even though the car had been a pop culture icon in England since the 60’s. Whether you love or loathe it, whether you are a long-time MINI fan or just getting acquainted with its pint-sized charms, keep reading to learn how this cult classic came to be.
Mini Before the “Cooper”The original Mini was a result of a design challenge in from Sir Leonard Lord, owner of the Morris Company, to his top engineer, a man named Alec Issigonis, in 1957. After World War II, the English motor industry was facing a dilemma that may sound familiar to Americans today: cars had gotten large and fuel prices had gone way up. Issigonis worked with a small team of engineers to develop a solution. The MINI answered a call to create a fuel efficient car that was affordable for the masses.
The MINI was launched in 1959 (the Cooper surname would come about later) with innovations that have had a lasting effect on automobile design to this day. In order to make more passenger room, the wheels were moved to the extreme corners of the frame. Also, the engine was rotated 90 degrees (called a transverse engine) which distributed the weight more evenly above the wheels and increased stability. The combination of these practical design changes had the added benefit of improving handling which has led to the Mini’s reputation as an exceptionally nimble car. ... READ MORE
TO SEE THE ARTICLE WITH IMAGES, CLICK HERE: https://www.carcovers.com/resources/history-of-the-mini-cooper/
Mini Before the “Cooper”The original Mini was a result of a design challenge in from Sir Leonard Lord, owner of the Morris Company, to his top engineer, a man named Alec Issigonis, in 1957. After World War II, the English motor industry was facing a dilemma that may sound familiar to Americans today: cars had gotten large and fuel prices had gone way up. Issigonis worked with a small team of engineers to develop a solution. The MINI answered a call to create a fuel efficient car that was affordable for the masses.
The MINI was launched in 1959 (the Cooper surname would come about later) with innovations that have had a lasting effect on automobile design to this day. In order to make more passenger room, the wheels were moved to the extreme corners of the frame. Also, the engine was rotated 90 degrees (called a transverse engine) which distributed the weight more evenly above the wheels and increased stability. The combination of these practical design changes had the added benefit of improving handling which has led to the Mini’s reputation as an exceptionally nimble car. ... READ MORE
TO SEE THE ARTICLE WITH IMAGES, CLICK HERE: https://www.carcovers.com/resources/history-of-the-mini-cooper/
ARA REVIEWING 2020 STORM WATER PERMIT
There are new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the 2020 Storm Water permit.
Members of the ARA executive committee are currently reviewing them with the help of an environmental engineering company, and consulting with ISRI.
At this time, we are considering requesting an extension to the comment period (current deadline 5/01/2020) while we consider how to address the changes.
Here are the specific document links. The Fact Sheet listed first shares information on requested comments.Shares Info on Requested Comments
There are new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the 2020 Storm Water permit.
Members of the ARA executive committee are currently reviewing them with the help of an environmental engineering company, and consulting with ISRI.
At this time, we are considering requesting an extension to the comment period (current deadline 5/01/2020) while we consider how to address the changes.
Here are the specific document links. The Fact Sheet listed first shares information on requested comments.Shares Info on Requested Comments
ARA
Keeping you informed and updated is our top priority!
If you have news to share and are an ARA Member, make sure to send to staff@a-r-a.org, and
ARAEditor@comcast.net.
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