Conference season is picking back up and I’m excited to head out on the road to reconnect with industry friends.

With a bustling household filled with sports practices, games, appointments and more, it takes some serious scheduling to make it happen, but I know it’s going to be worth the extra effort to meet up with and hear from our industry’s finest.

Each year, I continue to be impressed by the lineups that the conference planners coordinate. Not only are the speakers top-notch, but the workshops and networking events are continually improved to keep attendees engaged and motivated to participate and keep learning. Kudos to those who are often unsung heroes working behind the scenes at these events making everything happen for attendees.

After the welcome breakfasts and the keynote speakers, many industry conferences conduct breakout sessions or workshops with smaller groups to discuss a specific issue or segment of the business. I would highly advise our dealer audience to attend these sessions. I’ve sat in on many of them, and know from experience that when dealers sit down together, they truly learn from each other. They find the solutions they need to overcome their own challenges and take home great information to their dealerships.

I’d also advise that if dealers are attending with managers or other team members, to divide and conquer. By attending different seminars or sessions, you’ll be able to take advantage of more opportunities to learn and connect with more people. Then, at the end of the day or conference, you can meet up and discuss what you’ve each learned. Also, when you run into your new contacts at the event’s cocktail hours or dinners, be sure to introduce your colleagues to them. People are often intimidated by the word “networking,” but it truly can be as simple as making a single introduction, which may just lead to your company’s next big breakthrough.

Attending an industry conference offers numerous benefits, from access to expert speakers and educational seminars to networking opportunities and personal growth. The knowledge gained and connections made at these events can have a lasting impact on both individual careers and the industry as a whole.

If you see me at one of the upcoming conferences, please introduce yourself — I love to meet our readers — and let me know what part of the conference has been most beneficial to you.

And when you can’t get away for an in-person conference, webinars are a great way to stay abreast of the hottest industry topics. AutoSuccess conducts webinars throughout the month, featuring experts from across the automotive industry. Topics have included How to Master the Art of Dealership Content Marketing, Unleashing the Power of Service Lane Technology, How to Identify and Target High-Intention Customers With a Customer Data Platform and much more.

As the host of most of our webinars, I’ve been fortunate to listen in and learn from many of our industry’s authorities. From the animated Q&A sessions with our dealer audience, I’m confident you all will find the topics beneficial as well.

One of the great features of our webinars is they’re always available on our website. So, if you don’t have time to participate in a webinar live, you can catch it at your convenience. You can find information about upcoming webinars and the archive of all of our past webinars at AutoSuccessOnline.com/webinars.