Latest news with #MikeWaterman
Los Angeles Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
NAMM extends harmonious partnership with Anaheim to 2030
A 50-year partnership between the National Assn. of Music Merchants and the city of Anaheim was celebrated Tuesday during a special gathering at the Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza, where it was announced the nonprofit will continue to hold its annual trade shows in the city until at least 2030. Each year the NAMM trade show brings music, sound and entertainment technology professionals from more than 120 countries to Anaheim, stimulating the local economy. The announcement that its local run has been extended came as music to the ears of local business owners, community leaders and the student musicians who benefit from the association's shows. 'When NAMM comes to town, our city comes alive,' said Mayor Ashleigh Aitken. 'NAMM fills our hotels, supports our restaurants and most importantly it fuels our small businesses,' she continued, echoing remarks made by Mike Waterman, president and chief executive of Visit Anaheim. Founded in 1901, the association is dedicated to 'promoting the pleasures and benefits of making music.' It produces a number of trade shows throughout the year and offers members access to resources and professional development. 'NAMM was founded by a group of piano dealers in New York who wanted to make sure the trade of the musical instrument at the time was strong,' said John Mlynczak, president of the organization. 'Throughout history, through depressions, world wars, the pandemic and even more threatening things to our industry like the internet or the 800 number, all the things that changed commerce, NAMM continues to evolve.' In addition to the commerce the NAMM show brings to Anaheim, the organization also has a harmonious relationship with Anaheim Elementary School District's music education programs through instrument donations and support for student musicians. 'We are not just a trade show,' Mlynczak said. 'Music is about community and one of the things NAMM has learned over 125 years is you have to build community. It is not just the products that are launched here, it is the artists, the musicians, the influencers, the students and the educators.' In 2014, the Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education made a commitment to provide music instruction for its students. By 2018, all 24 schools employed full-time general music teachers, thanks in part to NAMM. 'One of our main core missions from our school board is that every student from pre-K through sixth grade has music education as part of their general education,' said Anaheim Elementary School District Supt. Jesus Chavarria, who was a guest speaker during Tuesday's celebration. 'NAMM's partnership has helped us thrive.' Chavarria spoke about the multiple music education programs Anaheim Elementary School District now offers, including a showcase band, drumline and a Mariachi All-Stars group with plans for All-Star choir currently in the works. For the last 10 years, Anaheim schools have also served as hosts for the NAMM Foundation's Day of Service, which brings industry professionals into the classroom to give students the opportunity to hear from working musicians. To demonstrate the impact NAMM has made by providing support of the district's music initiatives, the Sarah Grandpré Studio Singers performed following the speakers' remarks. Clad in white blazers, the group performed two numbers for the audience. Mlynczak said NAMM is looking forward to five more years of making an impact on Anaheim, or 'NAMMaheim,' as he jokingly referred to the city. 'The power of music is what makes our event so special and the power of community is what makes Anaheim so special,' he said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ACV's Latest Digital Roundtable to Explore Smarter Strategies for Sourcing Vehicles from Consumers
Sessions help dealers learn how to acquire more vehicles, including consumer-sourced inventory, and accelerate vehicle turn times to drive profit BUFFALO, N.Y., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACV (NYSE: ACVA), the leading digital automotive marketplace and data services partner for dealers and commercial clients, has launched a free, digital roundtable series to help dealers source inventory smartly and sell quickly. This engaging, informative series was created in direct response to what ACV has been hearing from dealers: a growing demand for expert guidance, actionable data to source vehicles more efficiently, and resources to help price inventory for acquisition. 'Dealers are feeling the challenges of inventory constraints,' said Mike Waterman, chief sales officer of ACV. 'We have invested significant resources to help our dealer partners acquire more vehicles, with real data-backed solutions that are powered by AI. And now, with our exciting new Digital Roundtable series, we're sharing our expert insights in an online format that's easy for our dealer partners to access and most importantly - use in their store immediately.' The next Session, is on Thursday, May 15, at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EST: Led by ACV's Andrew Sweet, vice president of Integrated Solutions, and Khary Bizzell, manager of Integrated Solutions, the duo will unpack the consumer acquisition challenge that dealers face. The session will help dealers rethink their acquisition strategy and uncover new pipelines for inventory. Attendees will learn how to streamline internal processes, overcome common roadblocks, and implement high-converting trade-in programs that deliver results fast. From high-level strategies to operational solutions such as financing options through ACV Capital to help dealers scale their consumer vehicle buying, Sweet and Bizzell have insights and ideas for dealers to immediately implement and build a stronger buying center within their dealership. 'Dealers are hungry for new ideas and healthy discussions that tackle what's happening in today's market. This session is about giving them actionable steps they can use immediately to level up their sourcing game,' said Sweet. Whether a dealer is starting from scratch or looking to optimize an existing strategy, this roundtable will provide the tools to source more cars directly from consumers with real examples, proven tactics, and an easy-to-implement roadmap for success. Reserve your spot at ACV's series kicked off in February with the initial session: . On-demand access to the first session can be found here: George Chamoun, CEO, moderated a session with ACV's technology & product leaders to demonstrate how high fidelity, structured data paired with artificial intelligence can enhance dealership performance and boost profits. The first session included Dr. Phil Schneider, vice president, Research & Development; Dr. John Coles, vice president, Data Science & Analytics; Greg Borowski, Vice President, Product Solutions; and Ryan Walker, vice president, Product, who tackled a range of topics including: Pricing intelligence breakthroughs Merchandising solutions that move inventory quickly Effectively acquire cars from consumers Appraisal standardization A look at what's on the horizon: On-demand recommendations, using AI for developing rationales for inventory decisions like pricing, disposition and merchandising decisions Reservations for Session 2 are still available at About ACVACV is on a mission to transform the automotive industry by building the most trusted and efficient digital marketplaces and data solutions for sourcing, selling and managing used vehicles with transparency and comprehensive insights that were once unimaginable. ACV offerings include ACV Auctions, ACV Transportation, ACV Capital, ACV MAX, True360, and ClearCar. For more information about ACV, visit Media Contact:Maura Dugganmaura@ in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
ACV's Latest Digital Roundtable to Explore Smarter Strategies for Sourcing Vehicles from Consumers
BUFFALO, N.Y., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACV (NYSE: ACVA), the leading digital automotive marketplace and data services partner for dealers and commercial clients, has launched a free, digital roundtable series to help dealers source inventory smartly and sell quickly. This engaging, informative series was created in direct response to what ACV has been hearing from dealers: a growing demand for expert guidance, actionable data to source vehicles more efficiently, and resources to help price inventory for acquisition. 'Dealers are feeling the challenges of inventory constraints,' said Mike Waterman, chief sales officer of ACV. 'We have invested significant resources to help our dealer partners acquire more vehicles, with real data-backed solutions that are powered by AI. And now, with our exciting new Digital Roundtable series, we're sharing our expert insights in an online format that's easy for our dealer partners to access and most importantly - use in their store immediately.' The next Session, How to Effectively Acquire More Cars from Consumers, is on Thursday, May 15, at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EST: Led by ACV's Andrew Sweet, vice president of Integrated Solutions, and Khary Bizzell, manager of Integrated Solutions, the duo will unpack the consumer acquisition challenge that dealers face. The session will help dealers rethink their acquisition strategy and uncover new pipelines for inventory. Attendees will learn how to streamline internal processes, overcome common roadblocks, and implement high-converting trade-in programs that deliver results fast. From high-level strategies to operational solutions such as financing options through ACV Capital to help dealers scale their consumer vehicle buying, Sweet and Bizzell have insights and ideas for dealers to immediately implement and build a stronger buying center within their dealership. 'Dealers are hungry for new ideas and healthy discussions that tackle what's happening in today's market. This session is about giving them actionable steps they can use immediately to level up their sourcing game,' said Sweet. Whether a dealer is starting from scratch or looking to optimize an existing strategy, this roundtable will provide the tools to source more cars directly from consumers with real examples, proven tactics, and an easy-to-implement roadmap for success. Reserve your spot at ACV's series kicked off in February with the initial session: Next Gen Technology For Next Gen Dealers. On-demand access to the first session can be found here: George Chamoun, CEO, moderated a session with ACV's technology & product leaders to demonstrate how high fidelity, structured data paired with artificial intelligence can enhance dealership performance and boost profits. The first session included Dr. Phil Schneider, vice president, Research & Development; Dr. John Coles, vice president, Data Science & Analytics; Greg Borowski, Vice President, Product Solutions; and Ryan Walker, vice president, Product, who tackled a range of topics including: Reservations for Session 2 are still available at About ACV ACV is on a mission to transform the automotive industry by building the most trusted and efficient digital marketplaces and data solutions for sourcing, selling and managing used vehicles with transparency and comprehensive insights that were once unimaginable. ACV offerings include ACV Auctions, ACV Transportation, ACV Capital, ACV MAX, True360, and ClearCar. For more information about ACV, visit Media Contact: Maura Duggan [email protected]
