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Return from Nashville: Pick up the beat!

PFW Password - Spring 2003 With representatives from dealerships all over North America attending four days of business sessions and activities, the 2003 PFW Dealership Management Conference in Nashville, Tennessee was action and information- packed from the beginning.

Held under the glass-domed grandeur of Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Conference provided attendees with the opportunity to learn from, and network with, PFW staff and representatives from other dealerships while enjoying the Music City's renowned Southern hospitality. The Conference also marked the official launch of PFW IntelliDealer and some very significant updates to existing products: software designed, developed, and delivered so that dealers can "pick up the beat" of business.

Thursday, March 13
The first day of sessions began with motivational speaker Billy Riggs discussing "The Magic of Attitude" and how to deliver "magical customer service" experiences to customers at the dealership. By mixing humor with inspiring stories of exceptional customer service, and magic tricks that had people scratching their heads in wonder, Billy left everyone laughing as the morning session concluded.

The much-anticipated afternoon sessions marked the launch of PFW IntelliDealer and focussed on the two applications PFW is releasing as part of R6V01 this spring: Financial Management and Customer Care. After an exciting and question-filled introductory session led by John Andersen, PFW's VP of Sales, attendees broke into smaller groups for a closer look at the individual applications and had the chance to direct more in-depth questions to Dave Fulton, Manager of Product Support; Frank DeDecker, VP of Client Services and Installation; and Ross Atkinson, VP of System Architecture.

Friday, March 14
Sessions given by two of PFW's customers started off the day and gave attendees the opportunity to learn about each dealership's application of and experience with two of PFW's key software products, eServices and Management Central. Discussions between presenter and their audience during and after the sessions ensured a continuous flow of ideas, successes and solutions, and left many with a new perspective and plans for implementing change in their dealership upon their return home.

A key objective of the PFW Dealership Management Conference is this sharing of information and experience between dealerships in the form of dealer presentations which were, by all accounts, a success - and something attendees said needs to continue at future PFW conferences and workshops. With this in mind, PFW would like to offer a special thanks to David McHugh of Ontrac Equipment Services, located in Ontario, and to Harold Maxwell of Booth Machinery, Inc., located in Arizona, for participating in the Conference as presenters this year.

The PFW IntelliDealer Product Support application (scheduled for release in Summer, 2003) was the target of a morning session, where many attendees took the opportunity to view the up-and-coming software specifications firsthand, and to discuss future direction.

Concurrent sessions throughout the remainder of the morning and afternoon provided attendees with the opportunity to select the sessions that interested them the most. Initial feedback on the new "Track Session" format indicates this was also a positive alteration to the Conference schedule from previous years (interestingly, what was heard was, "BOTH sessions are great, how do I choose?"). From enhancement highlights for eServices and Management Central, to an interactive session on "Ten Underutilized, Timesaving and Moneymaking System Features," to a session presented by two of Gaylord Entertainment's IT staff members: Brian Smith and Sondra Fitzwater, on the company's use of the IBM iSeries to manage hotels in Texas, Florida, Nashville and Washington, D.C., as well as several large entertainment venues and media interests throughout Tennessee, there was something for everyone.

Fun and Networking, too
From the opening reception at the Crystal Gazebo in the Garden Conservatory atrium and finally to the closing BBQ banquet at Nashville's famous Wildhorse Saloon, attendees and PFW representatives had lots of fun mingling with old acquaintances and making new contacts. And while discussions about business and dealership operations were often overheard between sessions and during the scheduled events (and maybe even on the dance floor at the Wildhorse Saloon!), there was still opportunity for some sightseeing around Nashville, shopping at the Opry Mills shopping center, or to take in a show at the nearby Grand Ole Opry. Some attendees even extended their stay beyond the Conference dates to make sure they could take in all the sights and sounds of Nashville and the surrounding area before their return home.

Based on the comments received, the 2003 PFW Dealership Management Conference was enjoyed by all and attendees left Nashville with the tools, ideas, and inspiration needed to help "Pick Up the Beat" of business at their dealerships. To those who attended - and especially to those who didn't - don't miss the next PFW Dealership Management Conference in 2005.