Not a Trade Show for Sissies Grand Rapids Hosts Non-Stop Educational Event Although scheduling a trade show in Michigan with the unpredictability of April weather was a gamble, Mother Nature was extremely cooperative last month for the 20th annual Electrical Rebuilder’s Association (ERA) Trade Show. The Grand River was roiling and swollen, but the temperatures and skies were made-to-order. ae Too bad most attendees were stuck inside for a marathon three-plus days of technical and business training. “We’ve offered some very good training in years past, but nothing has topped what we just had in Michigan,” said show owner Polly Shea. “In my esti- mation, the Grand Rapids show was the best event we’ve ever offered the rebuilder. Those who attended Friday’s seminars from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. are real troop- ers — that was brutal.” Indeed, when asked what he learned outside the classroom over the weekend, Lynn Gross of Churubusco Auto Electric in Churubusco, Ind. said “everybody gets tired after three days.” Joe Davis was the first to pin on a microphone to begin the Thursday evening session of his ERA Technical Education Seminar. Davis also taught Friday for his seven-hour class on “New Starting and Charging Systems.” Rebuilder Kim Venable of Western Motor Service, Rockford, Ill., said she hoped to see more of Davis’s classes. “Tt was excellent and well worth the trip. Very infor- mational and helpful, especially in today’s market,” said Venable. Clark Gordon of Alpine Auto Electric, New Glarus, Wisc., said the class was a “nice update” from previous seminars and was helpful for a new employee he brought along. DuBois Marketing ran a shuttle from the hotel to their facility on Friday for an open house. They also offered some deep discounts to rebuilders who showed up. Ed Carda of D&E Auto Electric, Portage, Ind., said the DuBois team was “very good hosts.” “T was impressed with the number of parts,” he said. “and I gave them some business.” Crystal Roggentien of Roggentien Electric, who drove the six hours from Marengo, Iowa, said it was the first time they had met their DuBois sales rep in person. “Tt’s real nice now to have a face to go with the voice,” said Roggentien. DuBois General Manager Mark Hoogterp said more than 100 rebuilders attended the open house. “Tt was a great opportunity to show our customers what we do and give them a better idea of how their sup- pliers function,” he said. “We had some great sale items and many rebuilders told us they paid for their trip with the savings they realized.” Although some rebuilders dawdled at DuBois and missed the opportunity to hear speakers Alan Melton and Dan Marinucci, those who made it were not disap- pointed. Melton had 70 at his “Testing Late Model Units” seminar and more than one rebuilder comment- ed on their need to have Marinucci put on a on-car basics class for their customers. Sz: Se Exchange columnist and exhibitor Al Steadman’s alter- nator decoupler seminar raised some interesting questions for Jeffrey Bache, JB’s Charge-N-Start, Circleville, Ohio. “We discussed special tools required to fix units, how units work, the performance factor, and pros and cons of new versus standard units,’ said Bache. “Overall I’ve been very impressed with the information and learning that has gone on.”