2017 SCMA-GMOA-AMA Regional Meeting
July 29 – August 2, 2017
Sheraton Arlington
Tentative Schedule of Events
Airport Shuttle: The Sheraton Arlington provides complimentary shuttle to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport only, on a call-on-arrival basis. Return shuttle may be scheduled at the front desk the day before departure.
Saturday, July 29
1:00 – 6:00 Registration
12:30 – 2:00 SCMA Board of Directors Meeting
Note: AMA and GMOA Board Meetings to be held by conference call the week prior to the meeting. This is subject to change if either board decides they would rather meet onsite. If that occurs, we will push back the start to an earlier time to accommodate the additional board meetings.
2:30 – 4:00 TSA Presentation: Security Risk Assessment
4:15 – 5:15 FMCSA Rules and Regulations: A Panel Discussion
Moderator: Loretta Bitner
Panelists: Ken Presley
Two operators to be identified
5:30 – 6:00 Association Business Sessions
Note: sessions to be held in separate meeting rooms simultaneously.
SCMA Business Session
AMA Business Session
GMOA Business Session
7:00 Welcome Dinner
Planning Committee Suggestion: Offer motorcoach shuttle to J. Gilligans, or other local hangout, in lieu of hospitality. Would be a pay-on-your-own event.
Sunday, July 30
7:00 – 7:30 Registration
12:30 – 6:00 Registration
7:00 Board Coaches
Transportation provided by Lone Star Coaches
7:30 – 12:00 Operators and Coach Members
Breakfast, Morning Refreshments, and Lunch with the Manufacturers
7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast and visit CH Bus Sales/TEMSA
8:35 – 9:00 Travel to ABC
9:00 – 10:00 Visit ABC (light refreshments)
10:05 – 10:35 Travel to MCI
10:35 – 11:35 Visit MCI (light refreshments)
11:40 – 12:10 Travel to Prevost
12:10 – 1:45 Lunch and visit Prevost
1:45 Board Coaches for return
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch (Associate Members)
1:45 – 2:30 New Member/First Timer Orientation
Moderators: Scott Poland, SCMA Associate Director
Mike Vescio, GMOA Associate Director
Rosemary Judkins, AMA Associate Director
2:30 – 6:00 Operator Education Sessions
2:30 – 3:30 Preparing Proper Financials: A Panel Discussion
Panelists: Bob Foley, CH Bus Sales
Matt Hotchkiss, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
Michael Gay, Volvo Financial Services
(Requirements, key factors, pitfalls)
2:30 – 3:30 What is in a Background Check?
Speaker: Michael Brown, AmeriSearch Background Alliance
3:45 – 4:45 How Not to Hire Your Next Workers Comp Claim
Speakers: Michelle Wiltgen, AVP, National Marketing Manager, National Interstate Insurance Company
Dan Russo, AVP Worker’s Compensation Claims, National Interstate Insurance Company
3:45 – 4:45 Revenue Growth through Rural/Intercity Transit Opportunities
Speaker: Robin Phillips, National Rural Transit Assistance Program\
5:00 – 6:00 Best Hiring Practices
Speakers: Bob Crescenzo, Lancer Insurance Company
Michael Brown, AmeriSearch Background Alliance
5:00 – 6:00 Driver Training: Techniques of Good Driving Habits
Speaker: James Smith, Senior Vice President, Training, Smith System
Frank Powers, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Smith System
2:45 – 4:15 Associate Session
Creating A Road MAP for Success – Creative Itineraries
Panelists: Lacey Cameron, Georgia Department of Economic Development
Bob Hendrix, Dothan CVB
Rosemary Judkins, Alabama Department of Tourism
Scott Poland, Arlington CVB
Mina Thorgeson, Ridgeland Tourism Commission
Mike Vescio, Discover DeKalb
4:30 – 6:00 Meet the Operators Round Table Discussion
Moderators: Scott Poland, SCMA Associate Director
Mike Vescio, GMOA Associate Director
Rosemary Judkins, AMA Associate Director
6:45 Board Coaches
Note: Group Leaders should arrive in ample time to check into their hotel(s) and arrive at the Sheraton in advance of coach boarding time. CVB to acquire overnight accommodations for GLs (two night stay); may be divided among multiple hotels, if needed to spread out the sponsorship commitments so that no one hotel is having to shoulder it all. GLs will participate in the Association FAM tours on Monday afternoon.
7:15 Early Bird Dinner/ Arlington Museum of Art (Food stations featuring the restaurants featured on Travel Channel and Food Network)
Organized and Sponsored by Arlington CVB and its partners.
Monday, July 31
7:30 – 5:30 Registration
7:30 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 Market Place I Blue Dot
Note: Group Leaders will be seated next to their host Operator company in the market place.
8:30 – 10:00 Associate Session
Open Discussion: New Market Products and Incentives That Increase Return Business
Moderators: Scott Poland
Bob Hendrix
10:15 – 11:45 Market Place II Red Dot
10:15 – 11:45 Associate Session Repeated
Open Discussion: New Market Products and Incentives That Increase Return Business
Moderators: Mike Vescio
Mina Thorgeson
12:15 Board Coaches for Tours
Lunch provided for all tours.
1:30 – 5:30 Familiarization Tours
Organized and sponsored by Arlington CVB and its partners.
Return to hotel by 6:15 [drive time varies from tour to tour].
- Arlington – Hidden Gem Tour
- Arlington – Sports Fanatic Tour
- Dallas – The Big Things Happen Tour
- Fort Worth – Cowboys and Culture Tour
- Denton – Horse Country Tour
12:30 Board Coach for Golf
12:30 – 6:30 Golf Tournament
7:30 Ice Breaker at AT&T Stadium [home of NFL’s Dallas Cowboys]
Note: Golfers may arrive later, depending on the tournament’s conclusion time. The golf transportation sponsor will bring them to dinner as well.
Tuesday, August 1
7:45 – 8:45 Breakfast
8:00 – 5:00 Registration
9:00 – 11:30 Market Place III Red Dot
9:00 – 11:30 Associate Session
New Trends in the Market
Judy Randal (or Berkley Young)
11:45 – 12:45 Networking Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 Display Booth Visitation
2:30 – 5:00 Market Place IV Blue Dot
2:30 – 5:00 Associate Session Repeated
Note: Group Leaders will depart upon the conclusion of the Final Market Place.
6:30 – 8:00 Reception
Sponsored by the 2018 host city, Discover DeKalb
Note: The committee suggests a longer reception with live entertainment. By offering it during the reception, there would be much better attendance than if offered during dinner.
8:00 – 9:30 Awards Dinner
Planning Committee Suggestion: Offer motorcoach shuttle to Billy Bob’s after dinner, or other local hangout, in lieu of hospitality. This would be a pay-on-your-own event.
Wednesday, August 2
8:00 – 9:30 Joint Board of Directors Meeting
(Continental breakfast included)