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North Andover, MA – April 7, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Association to hold a webinar on the CARES Act 2020 and the Paycheck Protection Program - Learn How to Access Your Share of the $2.2 Trillion presented by Hilb Group of New England on Tuesday, April 7th at 3:00pm Eastern Time.
 
In this session, Hilb Group's benefits attorney, Suzanne D'Amato, Esq.  will provide an overview of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 (CARES Act 2020) along with further details about the Paycheck Protection Program and how you can access some of the $340 Billion in forgivable loans that are available to help you defray payroll, benefits and operating expenses.
 
Register by [Clicking Here]
 
Biography:
Suzanne D’Amato
The Hilb Group of New England -- Warwick, RI
SD MEA Webinar
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Suzanne D’Amato joined the company in 2015 as an in-house ERISA and Employee Benefits Attorney.  Suzanne assists Hilb Group clients in navigating legal and compliance issues relating to their employee benefit plans, including Affordable Care Act compliance.
 
Prior to joining Hilb Group, Suzanne served as General Counsel to a technology company in the recruitment advertising space, where she oversaw the development and administration of an OFCCP compliance solution and advised company executives on day-to-day legal matters.  Previously, Suzanne was an ERISA Associate in the Compensation and Benefits group of two New York City law firms, where her practice focused on employee benefits and qualified retirement plans, including the drafting, implementation, operation, and termination of plans; plan qualification; plan administration; and ERISA litigation involving the representation of multi-employer pension and welfare funds in benefit claim and collection actions.
 
Suzanne holds a B.S. in Health Systems Management from University of Connecticut and a J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the State and Federal courts of Connecticut.
North Andover, MA – May 5, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Association to hold a webinar Thursday, May 7th at 4:00pm Eastern Time
 
KnowledgeFest Speaker and Mobile Electronics Sales Pro of the Year, Elias Ventura of Virginia based Safe and Sound Electronics. He will present:
 

Selling with Confidence: Remembering that you are the Expert

Do you know everything there is to know about all the gear you sell, but still find yourself selling the gear the customer wants, instead of what he really needs? Lack of assertive confidence during the sales conversation often costs you the sale, or worse, creates a dissatisfied customer. Join us to learn more about how to turn your knowledge into more dollars and bigger smiles. You ARE the expert.


This is meeting is designed for store owner, managers and sales professionals.

Join Chris Cook of MEA and our special guest speaker as we provide the marketing tools you need to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis

We will take your questions and share knowledge to help everyone through this challenge.
 
Register by [Clicking Here]
 
 
 
 
North Andover, MA – April 23, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Association to hold a webinar Thursday, April 23rd at 4:00pm Eastern Tim

Learn that in every selling situation, someone is leading, and someone is following. When the buyer leads, we give away too much information and get next to nothing in return. When the seller leads, we learn what the buyer really needs, and why, and then sell them the correct solution. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to know who’s in control, and comfortably and seamlessly become the leader to achieve more of the results you want.

Learn important marketing techniques to use while your business is closed or your customer traffic is reduced.

Learn how to stay connected to your customers and your community during this time of crisis.

This is meeting is designed for store owner, managers and sales professionals.

Join Chris Cook of MEA and our special guest speaker as we provide the marketing tools you need to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis

We will take your questions and share knowledge to help everyone through this challenge.
Register by [Clicking Here]
 
 

 

North Andover, MA – April 28, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Association to hold a webinar Thursday, April 30th at 4:00pm Eastern Time
 
KnowledgeFest Speaker and noted Author, Tomas Keenan of Top Class Installations, Inc. presents:
 
No one talks about the fight to retain employees, and how they want to get out of the cycle of desperate decision making. No one talks about hemorrhaging money or the deep fears running a business can cause. Until now. Tomas Keenan eradicates confusion and the common yet secret fears every businessperson faces, using a proven and profitable method. After years of refining what works for his company, Tomas reveals the three main components of a properly structured vision and why they’re paramount to your success. This is the secret sauce that takes you from working too hard on the wrong aims to increasing your efficiency, establishing pipelines and turbo-charging your revenue. 

This is meeting is designed for store owner, managers and sales professionals.

Join Chris Cook of MEA and our special guest speaker as we provide the marketing tools you need to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis

We will take your questions and share knowledge to help everyone through this challenge.
 
Register by [Clicking Here]

Kevin Hallinan of WINNING, Inc. shared sales insights in this week’s weekly presentation with Mobile Electronics Association

April 23, 2020 -- Today, MEA’s weekly webinar focused on selling, and Kevin Hallinan presented on “The Buyer Seller Dance and How to Take the Lead.” Hallinan—a KnowledgeFest speaker—has over 30 years of sales, training, and management experience. Those who missed the presentation can view the recording by visiting Mobile Electronics Association on Facebook. Attendees also asked questions relating to how the current COVID-19 crisis has impacted how salespeople interact with clients.

Hallinan urged attendees to be willing to think differently about selling. He then discussed how to create ground rules for selling. “In selling situations, someone is leading and someone is following in the conversation,” he said. “How do we know if we are the one who is leading or following? The one who’s talking is following. The one who’s asking questions is leading. The more questions we ask, the better off we are.”

Hallinan also asked attendees to think about the three most compelling words they can think of if someone were to ask whether they should work with them or with a competitor. “The bad news is, we’re not sure what will resonate with the customer. What is that customer’s reason for doing business? Honesty, quality of workmanship, and price are our reasons. But our job is to find out their reasons.”

Stay tuned for the next weekly MEA presentation. And remember to visit www.meahelp.com for resources relating to COVID-19.

Davis Distribution, DOW Electronics, and Go Fast Solutions All Honored

Seattle, Wash., October 15, 2020 – Elite Distributor Alliance (EDA) was thrilled to see three of its members recognized by MEA and its members as the best in the business. Davis Distribution, DOW Electronics, and Go Fast Solutions were named as the finalists for this years Distributor of the Year Award to be presented at Knowledgefest LIVE in Dallas, Texas the first week of December.

EDA believes in partnering with vendors and dealers alike bringing added value, sustainability, and integrity to both.

DAVIS DISTIRBUTION

Davis Distribution adds value to the vendor and their customer in some very special ways.  For example, Davis is committed to protecting their dealers within their assigned trade areas and providing many trainings throughout the year that dealers can access on Davis’s powerful You Tube channel. On the vendor side Davis (and all EDA members) are committed to tracking serial numbers and eliminating all transshipping practices.  Vendors love doing business with Davis – the integrity of the organization instills confidence.

Davis was founded in 1998 by Kevin Taliani, and today with two generations of Taliani’ working day to day Davis serves the needs of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Southern New Jersey, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.  Davis operates two distribution centers, with one each in West Virginia and Indiana. 

DOW ELECTRONICS

DOW Electronics, founded in 1959, is currently under its third generation of family leadership and celebrating 37 years of 12-volt distribution. As a four-time Mobile Electronics Distributor of the Year winner, (2014, 2015, 2018 & 2019), Dow continues to stay true to their mantra ‘Customer Focused, Technology Driven’. Creating and expanding on industry leading, dealer centric programs like SmartServices, SmartShip and SmartCourier as well as a fun and informative You Tube channel. These value added services are helping DOW grow a very loyal customer base. Six fully stocked Distribution warehouses provide 1-2 day product delivery across 21 US states and Puerto Rico, while DOW’s 100 + employees ensure that customer satisfaction, product availability and vendor support are at the highest possible levels. Additionally, Dow supports many Industry events, shows and organizations to help maintain, drive and grow a healthy business market for dealers.

GO FAST SOLUTIONS

GoFast was founded in 2016 and entered the 12V arena in August 2019. True to their name, Go Fast has rapidly made a very positive name for themselves in New England.   Now with over twenty employees, Go Fast’s mission is to provide the highest level of sales and service at competitive prices – and their customers love it.

Dave Prinz, president of Go Fast Solutions says, “Being recognized by the 2020 Mobile Electronics Industry Awards as one of the Top 3 Distributors is no small accomplishment for any company, but the thing that makes this recognition special for GoFast Solutions is that this is their first year in the industry.”

While Go Fast is a new name in the industry, its staff brings a wealth of industry experience. The company’s twenty plus emplyees not only are industry professionals, they’re also enthusiasts. Note: Jon Mercado, a sales professional on the Go Fast team is also being recognized as one of the Top Five Sales Reps!

Go Fast operates through a state of the art 30,000 square foot facility in Middletown, Connecticu

ELITE DISTRIBUTOR ALLIANCE

EDA is pleased to see the industry recognize these EDA members. Jim Warren EDA’s Executive Director said, “For Distribution to succeed it’s imperative that you build relationships with your customer by adding value. EDA members are very good at this – helping dealers have product in the right place at the right time, helping them become experts, and providing needed profitability to their business. It’s really inspiring to see these three distributors being recognized for their hard work.”

EDA is a member owned alliance of like-minded distributors committed to the highest standards and serving the 12 volt industry. Find out more at www.elitedistributoralliance.com

Mobile Electronics Alert - North Andover, MA – March 30, 2020:

The Mobile Electronics Association announces the launch of www.MEAhelp.com as a resource for the Mobile Electronics Industry.

This resource will be updated frequenlty with infomation about: Vital Resources for Retailers, COVID-19 Health Information, Federal & State Resources and Education & Training Events.

Mobile Electronics Alert - North Andover, MA – April 7, 2020: The Mobile Electronics Association is providing a list of online training opportunities at www.MEAhelp.com as a centralized resource for the Mobile Electronics Industry. Got to MEAhelp.com for more information.
 
The best of the best of the Mobile Electronics Industry were honored for their accomplishments
 
Las Vegas, Nevada – February 20, 2022 – The Mobile Electronics® Association (MEA) announced the winners of the 2022 Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. The awards were presented Sunday evening at the conclusion of a successful KnowledgeFest Las Vegas event. The awards recognize and honor professionals in the mobile electronics industry that exhibit outstanding service, business ethics, professionalism, and expertise in their field.
 
Chris Cook, President of MEA, hosted the event which was attended in person and viewed online by thousands of industry professionals, including family and friends, from the United States and around the globe. Top honors for Installer of the Year went to Marty Adamschek of Andres Electronics – Courtenay, BC. Retailer of the Year was awarded to Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN. Sales Pro of the Year went to Robert Kowatch – Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security – Anchorage, AK. and Trusted Tech of the Year went to Adam Devine - Devine Concepts - Naples, FL. Vendor of the Year went to HKI USA and Distributor of the Year went to DOW Electronics.
 
“Congratulations to all the nominees, finalist, award winners”, stated Chris Cook, MEA President. “Their accomplishments set a high standard for the Mobile Electronics Industry.” Going forward, MEA will continue to hold the Industry Awards at KnowledgeFest Las Vegas.
 
Installer of the Year
Marty Adamschek – Andres Electronics – Courtenay, BC
 
Retailer of the Year
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Sales Pro Award Winner
Robert Kowatch – Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security – Anchorage, AK
 
Trusted Tech Award Winner
Adam Devine – Devine Concepts - Naples, FL
 
Rookie of the Year
Jacob Mallette – Car-Tunes, Inc. – Greensville, MS
 
Most Improved Store or Chain
Sudbury Car Audio – Sudbury, ON
 
Best Online Presence
NVS Audio – Roselle, NJ
 
Best Customer Retention Program
SoundsGood – Coquitlam, BC
 
Best Customer Experience
SoundsGood – Coquitlam, BC
 
Best Store Culture
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Customer Choice Award
Sound Evolution – Houston, TX
 
Expeditor of the Year
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Distributor of the Year
DOW Technologies
 
Rep Firm of the Year
12-Volt Specialists
 
Rep of the Year
Johnathan Mercado – GoFast Solutions
 
Vendor Support Tech of the Year
Jason Ewing – Firstech
 
Vendor of the Year
HKI USA
 
Top Vendor: Autosound & Processing
Sony
 
Top Vendor: Security, Safety and Driver Assistance
Firstech
 
Top Vendor: Accessories and Materials
Metra Electronics
 
Top Vendor: Infotainment & Multimedia
Sony
 
Top Vendor: Powersports & Marine
JL Audio
 
Top Vendor: OEM Integration
AAMP - PAC
 
Top Vendor: Lighting
Metra – Heise Lighting
 
About the Mobile Electronics Association
Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.
 
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Media Contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(978) 645-6434
 
The best of the best of the Mobile Electronics Industry were honored for their accomplishments
 
Las Vegas, Nevada – February 10, 2023 – The Mobile Electronics® Association (MEA) announced the winners of the 2023 Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. The awards were presented Sunday evening, February 5 at the conclusion of a successful KnowledgeFest Las Vegas event. The awards recognize and honor professionals in the mobile electronics industry that exhibit outstanding service, business ethics, professionalism, and expertise in their field.
 
Chris Cook, President of MEA, hosted the event which was attended in person and viewed online by thousands of industry professionals, including family and friends, from the United States and around the globe. Top honors for Installer of the Year went to Brian Mitchell – Liquid Trends Modesto – Modesto, CA. Retailer of the Year – Single-store was awarded to Sound Evolution – Houston, TX and multi-store to Freeman’s Car Stereo – Cornelius, NC. Dan Bowman – Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN and Trusted Tech of the Year went to Dean Beyett – Five Star Car Stereo – Clearwater, FL. Vendor of the Year went to Alps Alpine and Distributor of the Year went to DOW Electronics.
 
For 2023 the Mobile Electronics Association recognized three individuals for their Career Achievements. These were Jason Ewing of Firstech, LLC, Cabe Sipes of Custom Audio Reimagined – Lafayette, IN, and Michael “Mad Mike” Martin of Galpin Auto Sports – Van Nuys, CA. The three were best known for their time on the TV Show “Pimp my Ride”. They were awarded the “Career Achievement Award for their long-time and continued contribution to the Mobile Electronics Industry. The three also presented at the event revealing some of the behind-the-scenes antics of Pimp my Ride providing attendees with details of the many now famous vehicle-builds from the show.
 
“Congratulations to all the nominees, finalist, award winners”, stated Chris Cook, MEA President. “Their accomplishments set a high standard for the Mobile Electronics Industry.” MEA will continue to hold the Industry Awards at KnowledgeFest Las Vegas with next year’s event at the Paris Hotel February 4, 2024.
 
Installer of the Year
Brian Mitchell – Liquid Trends Modesto – Modesto, CA
 
Retailer of the Year – Single-store
Sound Evolution – Houston, TX
 
Retailer of the Year – Multi-Store
Freeman’s Car Stereo – Cornelius, NC
 
Sales Pro Award Winner
Dan Bowman – Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Trusted Tech Award Winner
Dean Beyett – Five Star Car Stereo - Clearwater, FL
 
Rookie of the Year
Jeremy ‘Taco’ Patterson – Speakerbox – Huntsville, AL
 
Most Improved Store or Chain
Sound Evolution – Houston, TX
 
Best Online Presence
Freeman’s Car Stereo – Cornelius, NC
 
Best Customer Retention Program
Freeman’s Car Stereo – Cornelius, NC
 
Best Customer Experience
Freeman’s Car Stereo – Cornelius, NC
 
Best Store Culture
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Customer Choice Award - Technician
Terry Dawson – Cartronics – Madison, TN
 
Customer Choice Award - Sales
Jason Stearns – Andres Car Audio – Tulsa, OK
 
Customer Choice Award - Retailer
Next Level Inc – Orlando, FL
 
Expeditor of the Year
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN
 
Distributor of the Year
DOW Technologies
 
Rep Firm of the Year
12-Volt Specialists
 
Rep of the Year
Johnathan Mercado – GoFast Solutions
 
Vendor Support of the Year
Jeff Smith – AAMP Global - Clearwater, FL
 
Vendor of the Year
Alps Alpine
 
Top Vendor: Autosound & Processing
SONY
 
Top Vendor: Accessories and Materials
Metra Electronics
 
Top Vendor: Infotainment & Multimedia
SONY
 
Top Vendor: Security, Safety and Driver Assistance
Firstech - Compustar
 
Top Vendor: Marine
Rockford Fosgate
 
Top Vendor: Motorcycle & Powersports
Kicker
 
Top Vendor: OEM Integration
AAMP Global - PAC
 
Top Vendor: Lighting
Metra – Heise Lighting
 
About the Mobile Electronics Association
Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.
 
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Media Contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(978) 645-6434
 
 
 

Mobile Electronics Association Reports KnowledgeFest® Long Beach a Success

Year-Over-Year Growth Continues

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – March 2, 2018 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) reported the launch of its weekend KnowledgeFest® event in Long Beach, California was a success. Long Beach is now the third event in its KnowledgeFest series. The other two 2018 events are in Indianapolis (March 16-18) and Dallas (August 17-19).

This first-time event held in the Long Beach Convention Center attracted more than 1,100 attendees, including more than 760 dealers from California, the surrounding states, and Canada, as well as attendees from five other countries. Forty-five exhibitors covered more than 45,000 square feet of sold-out exhibit space.

KnowledgeFest Long Beach featured more than 30 hours of educational programming for retailers covering installation, management and sales topics. Manufacturer trainings totaled 60 hours. Programming was packed and, for several sessions, standing room only.

“MEA was pleased and excited to bring KnowledgeFest to dealers not only in Southern California, but the entire west coast,” said Chris Cook, MEA president. “In making this decision to bring our unique KnowledgeFest programming to the region, we got buy-in from the major manufacturers headquartered in SoCal and we carefully evaluated locations and venues. We are grateful to all the manufacturers in the specialist channel who supported the event by exhibiting and to the dealers who turned out to experience our unique offering. We’ll be back in the Long Beach Convention Center’s Hall C next year on February 22-24.”

KnowledgeFest is three regional events covering the eastern, central and western US and Canada. KnowledgeFest combines a tradeshow floor with educational programming and training for dealers. KnowledgeFests are the only industry events dedicated to the mobile specialist, the installing dealer. For more information go to www.knowledgefest.org.

2018/19 KnowledgeFest Dates:

  • Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 16-18, 2018
  • Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, August 17-19, 2018
  • Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, February 22-24, 2019

About the Mobile Electronics Association

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest®, events in Long Beach, Indianapolis and Dallas that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers.

 
North Andover, MA – March 26, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Association will hold a Retail Owner & Manager Roundtable on Thursday, March 26th at 4:00pm Eastern Time.

The moderator (Chris Cook of MEA) will provide updates on the impact of COVID-19 on the Mobile Electronics industry.

Some of the top KnowledgeFest instuctors will take your questions and share their knowledge to help everyone through this challenge.
 
Panelists for the webinar are Tomas Keenan -Top Class Installations, Jason Kranitz - Kingpin University, Bryan Schmitt - Mobile Solutions, Andy Wehmeyer - Audiofrog U

This is meeting is designed for store owner and managers and will discuss issues and opportunities regarding business operations.
 
If you are a retail store owner or manager [Click Here] to register.
 
North Andover, MA – March 13, 2024 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is thrilled to announce an innovative addition to this year's KnowledgeFest in Nashville — the highly anticipated Truck Expo. This dynamic event will spotlight a variety of truck and off-road categories, featuring top-notch products such as truck bed covers, step and nerf bars, weather protection, and much more.
 
RealTruck, the premier global manufacturer and digital destination of accessories for trucks, Jeep, and Bronco, will be a highlight at the Truck Expo, showcasing leading brands including AMP, Go Rhino, Retrax, AVS, Husky, and more. In addition to RealTruck, numerous other truck accessory exhibitors will be on display, providing attendees with an extensive range of products and innovations, and Meyer Distributing will be hosting several truck accessories partners to exhibit and demonstrate their products.
 
The Truck Expo will offer a main stage on the exhibit floor, hosting key industry speakers, product demonstrations, and hands-on demos. Chris Cook, President of MEA, emphasized the significance of the truck accessories category, stating, "The truck accessories category is a great way for our member companies to enhance their business. We welcome dealers/jobbers to explore traditional mobile electronics products as well."
 
KnowledgeFest, already renowned for its comprehensive educational workshops, will feature over 150 hours of sessions covering key topics for owners and managers, sales and marketing, as well as technicians and fabricators. The Truck Expo aligns with MEA's commitment to provide diverse opportunities for growth within the industry. Attendees can look forward to engaging seminars, insightful workshops, interactive demonstrations, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
 
Truck accessories retailers, even those not currently MEA members, will receive special invite codes from exhibiting manufacturers and distributors, enabling them to register for free and explore the exciting offerings at KnowledgeFest. MEA anticipates about 250 additional attendees.
 
As an added incentive, retailers registering and attending KnowledgeFest will have the chance to win a Ford F-150, loaded with products from participating exhibitors.
 
MEA invites mobile electronics retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and industry enthusiasts to mark their calendars for all the KnowledgeFest 2024/25 events and be part of this exceptional opportunity to revolutionize the mobile electronics landscape.
 
 
Upcoming KnowledgeFest events:
  • April 19-21, 2024 – Nashville, TN
  • June 7-9, 2024 – Atlantic City, NJ
  • August 23-25, 2024 – Dallas, TX
  • January 31 to February 2, 2025 – Las Vegas, NV
 
About the Mobile Electronics Association
Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.
 
 
Media Contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
978-645-6434

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5-3-2017 -- The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards 2017 are officially underway with nominations now open. The awards celebrate companies and individuals that best exemplify the highest standards of quality and service excellence. Winners represent the industry at-large to consumers and act as ideal examples to better their peers within the industry.

To begin the nomination process, click the following link and follow the steps: CLICK HERE. 

This awards process begins with the selection of nominees through industry voting. The two main categories of retailers and installers are narrowed down to the "Top 50," then through peer and consumer voting, the list is narrowed to the “Top 12” retailers and installers, and these finalists submit materials to be judged by Mobile Electronics magazine’s editors and select industry judges. The winners are chosen and announced at a special awards ceremony during the Mobile Electronics Group KnowledgeFest event in August.

In addition to those categories, other industry professionals are recognized for their outstanding service. Those categories include Most Improved Retail Chain, Best Customer Retention Program, Expeditor of the Year and new to this year's awards, Salesperson of the Year. 

"It’s been a while coming, but as of this year, the Industry Awards will recognize the in-store individuals who are most responsible for bringing in the revenue and filling up the bay," according to a statement on the official website, meindustryawards.com. "Sales professionals can submit their nomination videos and let indusrty peers and their customers vote for them." 

Additional awards are given for vendors and sales representatives. Vendors and representatives nominate themselves to be included in the industry voting and submit videos and other materials to encourage industry professionals to vote for them. Then the three top vote-getters in each category are considered finalists, with the winner announced at KnowledgeFest.

To learn more about the Industry Awards, visit meindustryawards.com

North Andover, MA – July 21, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards for 2020 are officially underway with nominations closing today, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. The awards celebrate companies and individuals that best exemplify the highest standards of quality and service excellence. Winners represent the industry at-large to consumers and act as ideal examples to better their peers within the industry.

To sumbit your nomination, click the following link and follow the steps: CLICK HERE. 

This awards process begins with the selection of nominees through industry voting. The three main categories of retailers, sales professionals and installers are narrowed down to the "Top 50 (Top 20 for Sales Pros)," then through peer and consumer voting, the list is narrowed to the “Top 12” retailers, sales professionals and installers, and these finalists submit materials to be judged by a select and trusted panel of industry judges. The winners are chosen and announced at a special awards ceremony during the Mobile Electronics Association's KnowledgeFest event in September.

In addition to those categories, other industry professionals are recognized for their outstanding service. Those categories can be reviewed at https://meindustryawards.com/

"It’s been a while coming, but as of this year, the Industry Awards will recognize the in-store individuals who are most responsible for bringing in the revenue and filling up the bay," according to a statement on the official website, meindustryawards.com. "Sales professionals can submit their nomination videos and let indusrty peers and their customers vote for them." 

Additional awards are given for vendors and sales representatives. Vendors and representatives nominate themselves to be included in the industry voting and submit videos and other materials to encourage industry professionals to vote for them. Then the three top vote-getters in each category are considered finalists, with the winner announced at KnowledgeFest.

To learn more about the Industry Awards, visit https://meindustryawards.com/

‘Mobile Electronics Association’ to provide strong branding, kick off membership campaign

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – July 6, 2016 – Mobile Electronics® has approved a new name to represent the membership component of its industry offerings. Mobile Electronics Association™ (MEA) and its new logo will stand alongside KnowledgeFest®, the educational element, and the trade publication Mobile Electronics® magazine. In addition, a new website, join-mea.com, will provide retailers and vendors with information on the benefits of membership.
The Mobile Electronics Association is a vertically-integrated association with over 1,100 dealers, installers and manufacturers as its members. MEA provides a forum and voice for the mobile specialist channel and manages shared business resources and solutions for its retail members. In addition, through integration with Mobile Electronics magazine and KnowledgeFest, MEA promotes education and peer networking to advance the professionalism and profitability of the industry.
“In 2014 we officially retired the MERA (Mobile Electronics Retailers Association) brand and consolidated our three entities under the Mobile Electronics corporate brand,” said Chris Cook, president. “And while Mobile Electronics magazine and KnowledgeFest retained strong recognition, the identity of the membership was lost in the shuffle. MEA is a strong identity that also represents a broadened approach to membership.”
MEA will work to include all parts of the mobile electronics industry, welcoming vendors, retailers and service providers as members, while leaving the door open for other service and technology providers that significantly impact the market. The goal of the association is to increase participation and provide a better platform for networking and sharing of information through a diverse membership environment.
The new logo will be presented at the upcoming KnowledgeFest trade show and conference, August 20-22, in Dallas. The association will also launch a new campaign aimed at increasing membership and communicating the benefits of MEA to the mobile electronics industry. For more information, please visit www.join-mea.com.

Industry trends and strategies for growth considered.

North Andover, MA – May 23, 2019 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) hosted a leadership conference last week in Orlando to discuss its newest KnowledgeFest event planned for May 15-17, 2020 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Companies represented included MEA Partners: Alpine, Cerwin Vega, DS18, InstallerNet, JL Audio, JVC, Kenwood, Focal, Rostra, Sony, VAIS Technology, VOXX, all of which will be exhibiting at the Orlando event. Seventy-five percent of the exhibit space is pre-sold. Leadership discussed growth trends and opportunities for KnowledgeFest, met with Visit Orlando and received tours of the host hotel, the Rosen Centre, and the convention center exhibit hall.

The group acknowledged that KnowledgeFest plays an important role in educating retailers and provides value for all their employees through its workshops and manufacturer-sponsored training. Now with the new KnowledgeFest Orlando event drawing attendance from the east coast, exhibiting manufacturers can support training for retailers nationwide.

KnowledgeFest is the only industry event devoted exclusively to the mobile specialist, the installing dealer. The addition of a fourth event in Orlando brings KnowledgeFest to a coast-to-coast nationwide audience. Combining an exhibit floor with dealer education and manufacturer training, KnowledgeFest delivers a tremendous value for the entire industry.

Other topics that were discussed at the conference included strategies to grow MEA’s retailer membership, mobile industry trends and challenges facing today’s mobile electronics specialists. "We had many of the top leaders from our industry in the room,” said MEA President, Chris Cook. “We appreciate the many actionable ideas they contributed to help us grow membership and improve the quality of service delivered to consumers.”

Upcoming KnowledgeFest events:

  • August 9-11, 2019 - Dallas, TX
  • February 7-9, 2020 - Long Beach, CA
  • March 27-29, 2020 - Indianapolis, IN
  • May 15-17, 2020 - Orlando, FL

 

About the Mobile Electronics Association

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.

Strategy & Tactics: Business Planning Basics
 
Facing pitfalls? Here are 5 ways retailers can learn to be more prepared for unexpected twists and turns in both life and business.
 
Words by Rosa Sophia
 
When preparing for the future, retailers agree it’s best to have a plan—and a backup plan in case the first option doesn’t work out. James P. Smith of A.C.T. Audio in Vernon, Conn. said it’s best not to look at pitfalls in life as failures. “Look at it as a lesson,” he said, noting that it’s important to sit down and extract knowledge from the experience. “Then it becomes more of a success because you know what not to do in the future. You can analyze your mistakes and see how you need to change your mindset or your behavior—whatever the situation is—to keep moving forward.” Smith said when he makes a mistake, he uses it as an opportunity to learn, to keep something similar from happening in the future.
 
The debut KnowledgeFest Orlando took place June 25-27, and on Sunday, Smith taught his first class, called “Getting Out of Your Own Way: From Technician to CEO.” In it, he covered understanding core values, creating standard operating procedures and how best to delegate tasks. Smith detailed how he went from partnering in a business in 2011 to purchasing A.C.T. Audio in 2019, and what he learned along the way. He asked attendees to consider whether... read the rest by [Clicking Here]
 
Read the latest issue of Mobile Electronics magazine [Click Here]
 
 

Auburn Hills, Mich. (Feb. 8, 2023) – Mobile Electronics recognized Alps Alpine North America, Inc. as the 2023 Vendor of the Year during the Annual Industry Awards ceremony at the Paris Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 5th. This is the first time Alps Alpine has received the award.

“We are honored to accept the 2023 Vendor of the Year Award and appreciate the opportunity to be recognized by our fellow industry members,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “We strive to provide the highest level of products and service to our retailers and will continue to support the industry with the same level of dedication in the years to come.”

The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards recognize the top retailers, installers, and sales professionals, as well as the top suppliers, rep and rep firms, distributors, expeditors, and vendors, that best exemplify the highest standards of professionalism, business ethics, service, and expertise in the mobile electronics industry.

Alps Alpine Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of electronic components and automotive infotainment systems, has brought the world numerous “First 1” and “Number 1” products since its founding in 1948. The Alps Alpine Group currently operates 110 bases in 26 countries and regions, supplying roughly 40,000 different products and solutions to around 2,000 companies worldwide. Those offerings include devices such as switches, sensors, data communication modules, touch input panels, actuators and power inductors; electronic shifters, remote keyless entry systems and other automotive units; consumer electronics like car navigation and audio-visual systems; and systems and services such as digital keys based on smartphone app and blockchain technology, and remote monitoring.

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest™, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.

CONTACTS:

Alps Alpine North America Media Contact  

Allison Saunders   

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(586) 719-8966

Finalists to submit materials for judging to determine final winners

North Andover, Mass., – December 28, 2021 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) announced the finalists for the 2022 Industry Awards earlier today, live on its Facebook page. MEA President, Chris Cook held the Finalists Presentation, in which The Top 12 Retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians and new Top 5 Sales Professionals and other awards were announced. Also noted were the "Top 3" and "Top 5" awards for finalists in the vendor, vendor tech support, expeditor, sales rep, rep firm and distributor categories, as well as the top 5 Technicians denoting the finalists for the coveted Trusted Tech award. Each "Top" award recipient will receive a signed wall certificate. 

While the final stage of the Industry Awards will be held in Las Vegas during KnowledgeFest, Cook noted that the announcement produced its own set of winners.

"It's important to recognize that making it to the Top 12, Top 5 and Top 3 categories signals a major achievement in this industry," he explained. "It means that these individuals, stores, brands and companies are part of a unique group that represents the best of our industry. We're overdue in recognizing the significance of their efforts, and I am proud to create a special event for that purpose. 

Some of the award categories are decided solely on industry votes. For these, the top vote-getter will be announced at KnowledgeFest as the ultimate winner of the category. For the Top 12 retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians, Top 5 Rookies, and Top 5 Sales Professionals, each recipient will need to submit additional materials for judging to determine the winner in each category. 

The finalists lists can be viewed at meindustryawards.com by clicking on the Winners tab and selecting '2022' winners. To view the 2022 Industry Awards Finalists Presentation, visit the Mobile Electronics magazine page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MobileElectronics. The final awards will be announced at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards celebration during the KnowledgeFest trade show and conference in Las Vegas, February 20, 2022. For more information, visit www.meindustryawards.com.

About the Mobile Electronics Association
Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.
Media Contact:
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(978) 645-6434

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