The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) has finalized the speaker lineup for ToolTech 2014, April 28 to May 1 in Sonoma, Calif.
ToolTech 2014 explores the "connected shop" and how dealers and the aftermarket will interact with the connected vehicle, with a lineup of panel discussions and speakers – from OE and aftermarket companies participating in the “connected” environments – so that the automotive service network is equipped to take advantage of these new technologies to provide the services our customers expect.
Suse Barnes, president and digital marketing consultant at Susby Internet Solutions, will give the keynote address on Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
An OEM panel will be held Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Panelists include: Bob Stewart, aftermarket service support and brand protection manager at General Motors; Wes Arnold, assistant manager, special tools and tool and equipment Program, Honda; Tom Wall, technical information and diagnostics manager, Toyota; Jim VonEhr, anager, technical information and serviceability, Nissan; Nathan Knight, regulatory affairs engineer, Porsche; Kurt Immekus, service publications and regulatory specialist, Volkswagen; and Dennis Blough, director of marine and auto service and division head, Suzuki.
A shop owner and technician panel will be held Tuesday from 10:45 a.m. to Noon. The panelists include: Richard Kahn, owner, Earth In Upheaval; Harry Dhaliwal, wwner, Drive Rite Automotive; Scott Andrews, owner, Pacific Rim Automotive; Ray Paoletti, owner, Personalized Auto Care; Jason Smith, technician, Dana Point Auto Service; and Aaron Christaldi, technician, Paul’s Japanese Auto Repair.
A connected vehicle session including data and information will be held on Wednesday from 9 a.m. Noon. Presenters includce: Stephen Finnegan, manager, government and community affairs, Automobile Club of Southern California, and Greg Brannon, director, automotive engineering and industry relations, AAA national office.
A session on safe and secure access to vehicle data, the vehicle station gateway, will be presented by Greg Potter, gobal director of business development and product management, DG Technologies.
A session on access to vehicle manufacturer training materials will be presented by Mark Warren, trainer, WorldPac Technical Training Program, and Rob Morrell, director, WorldPac Training Institute.
A question and answer session on technology integration and national accounts will be held on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Panelists include: George Hoffman, manager, automotive assets, Sears Automotive and Martin Corbett, director, property management purchasing and service equipment, the PepBoys.
A panel discussion on collision service procedures will be held Thursday from 10:45 a.m. to Noon. Panelists include: Kelly Logan, project Manager, body repair program, Tesla Motors; Dan Risley, president, Automotive Service Association; and Steve Marks, industry technical support manager, I-CAR.
