The Nashville Recap...NTPDA23

What a great time we had at our Annual Conference and Trade Show in Nashville!  We've just looked at our post event survey and you seem to agree that it was the best event we've had in years.  For those of you who didn't make it...we hope you'll consider joining us for our Summer Event later this year. But, in the meantime, let's recap what happened just a few days ago. You can click on the images to enlarge them.  More photos will be in our March Bulletin.

Thursday

For the Members who came in early they took advantage of doing a networking and team building exercise at the Escape Room. We had lunch at the famous Merchants Restaurant (which caught fire early in the morning on Saturday...yikes!). Then if was on to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the RCA Studio B Tour...so much history there 

Then we kicked things off on Thursday evening with music and fun.  Our entertainment was singer/songwriter Hayley Payne with food and drinks at the Renaissance Hotel Bridge Area. If you want to hear the interview with Hayley here is that link. 

We were honored by the fact some NTPDA icons were able to make the event. The Schaefer Family came by and we spend the rest of the week with Dick, Gene and Jerry who had a great time and it was wonderful to catch up with them. Then many of our members headed downtown to take in Broadway and the dozens of music venues up and down the strip.  If you can believe it bands start playing at 9AM and the last cord is struck around 4AM the next day.  Whew!  Some folks decided to skip downtown and instead head to our Hospitality Room sponsored by Freight Partners Group.  Thank you!

Friday

Friday morning many of our members loaded onto a bus to take in the tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery, have lunch and motor back to the hotel for the opening of our Trade Show/Happy Hour and Silent Auction.  Meanwhile teams took to the Cornhole Tournament sponsored by All States Ag Parts competing for the grand prize of $1,000.  At 8:00PM it was off to Broadway or to the Hospitality Room. Needless to say, it was a very busy day!

Saturday

The morning started with a Build Your Own Bloody Mary competition at 7:00AM! Then it was off to breakfast in the Trade Show area with Coffee & Conversation as members mingled with our displayers and each other...some call it networking. The Cornhole Tournament continued, lunch was served and we raised thousands for St. Jude with our silent auction. Early in the afternoon the displayers held their meeting to talk about the event and to elect an Associate Member to the Board.  We welcomed back Steve Haas from Freight Partners Group as our newest Board Member.  The General Session was held and we elected two new Board Members:  Welcome to Tom Roelofsen with Abilene Machine and Cody Levan from Schaefer Enterprises. Great to have you both join us. 

Our Board Meeting took about an hour, thank you President Trey for keeping us on track!  Then it was on to the dinner giving out awards, Lifetime Memberships to Jerry and Dick Schaefer as well as a Lifetime Membership to Jeff Griggs from All States Ag Parts.

Then all eyes turned toward the finals of the Cornhole Tournament the victors were Jim Hopp from Sparex, Inc. and our own Mike Hanson from NTPDA. Each awarded $500 for the win and they then donated $500 back for St. Jude.  The final action on Saturday was the "Chuck Challenge" where we raised another $2,000 for St. Jude.  

It was a great adventure and we're looking forward to heading to Pennsylvania this summer.

Thank you all for being Members of NTPDA...we are truly family! 

Getting Closer to Nashville 2023 - NTPDA

On the off chance that you need a nudge to head to Nashville for #NTPDA23 here you go.  We've had a large number of members telling us that the revised schedule focusing more on the social aspect of our group is a big draw.  From the Jack Daniels Tour to the "Cornhole Tournament" to the great Trade Show and a host of things to see and do in "Music City" this is quite the adventure. Wanna see what we're going to be doing and be able to register? Sure you do and here is the agenda and the registration link and yes, you can still save money if you register before the 31st.

Plus, NTPDA will be "buying down" your room cost by $150 a night for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That too should be a draw! 

One other thing to tease you about.  Our Early Arrival Party will take place on Thursday starting at 5:00PM and here is our entertainment for that evening.  Meet Hayley Payne!

 

We are soooooo looking forward to seeing you in Nashville for #NTPDA23!!

Renewing NTPDA Members - YES!

What do you do when you have so many NTPDA members renewing that it would take DAYS to list them all on Facebook and Twitter? How about calling each one out in a blog post? Yeah...

A big thank you to Anderson Tractor Supply out of Bluffton, Ohio with acres of agricultural machinery, seems like the perfect place to find a part or some used equipment. Go ahead and check them out.

Then there is Central Fuel Injection Service based in Estherville, Iowa. They have a host of diesel parts and service abilities to keep your equipment running. Give them a shout for fast and dependable diesel fuel injection services. 

Thank you Heartland Clutch out of Machesney Park, IL for renewing your NTPDA Membership. These are the folks who know about high quality and prove it everyday. Besides they have a pretty neat website. 

How about MaxiForce from Doral, FL? They have been at it since 1994 and specialize in diesel engine parts for John Deere, Perkins, Caterpillar, Yanmar, Cummins, Kubota, Mitsubishi, Shibaura, Komatsu, International Harvester/Navistar, and Thermo King. 

Next up is Sturgeon's Corner from Meno, OK. They have been in  business since 1962 keeping farmers and ranchers in parts and equipment. Now heading the company is the founders son Lon. Check out his amazing inventory.  

A big THANK YOU to Diesel Specialties of Sioux City, Iowa! Our friends have been members for a very long time...and in business for over 40 years. Once again an impressive website.  

Finally there is Westlock Tractor Parts of Westlock, Alberta, Canada. You want to see a massive parts "bone-yard" check out the home page image on their website.  WOW!

So yes, we really appreciate you and proud to call you not only members but also friends! Hope to see you in Nashville for our Annual Conference and Trade show which is very, very different this year! 

 

Bulletin Deadline Coming Up!

Hello Members!  A reminder that the deadline for our Conference and Trade Show Bulletin is the 16th of November.  This is a great opportunity for you to
reach every member in our association with your message/advertisement prior to going to Nashville.  We're on a really tight turnaround this time because we want to get the Bulletin to you well before the middle of December. 

So, if you've got business news or if you are advertising with new copy we're going to need that before the 16th.  If you are in the holiday mood you can also send holiday greetings to your members with a small ad. You can send your ad and presser to [email protected].  Please be aware of the deadline...it really matters with this edition.  So you have ad information here is a LINK to the ad sizes and rates.

One more thing Kim and I just finished our weekly phone meeting and I can share with you we've received lots of registrations for our Nashville event in January. This looks to be a fantastic conference and trade show.  To get registered you can follow this LINK.

Thank you for being a member!

Michael & Kim

Three Important Things!

Look, we know you are busy so we won't take up much time...however, there are THREE important things to share with you right here, right now.  

Early Registration for Nashville

It's already shaping up to be a popular Conference & Trade Show and what is really neat is that you'll not have to pay the hotel nightly rate of $270.00 plus tax. The NTPDA Board has authorized a "buy-down" of your hotel rate for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of $150 per night. That means your nightly rate for those three nights comes in at $120.00 plus tax. That, friends is a significant savings.  So, that is "Thing One" about registration. "Thing Two" is that if you register, using THIS LINK you'll also save money. Registration is $300 per person until the end of October and then it jumps to $375 per person for November/December.  We've already had a number of people register and we encourage you to do it now.

The Whova App

This is also some really big news. We're using an application that will be on your smartphone. The Whova App is a great way to connect with other NTPDA Members and Guests.  When you register you'll be getting a link to download the app that features photos, contact information and a way for you to connect with our trade show displayers.  Plus you'll be able to ask us questions and more.  This is a total game changer.  That is "Thing One" about Whova. "Thing Two" is an advertising opportunity for your company to be placed on the app so that you can promote products and services to attendees. The cost for that is just $500 and Whova stays live for weeks following our event in January. For more about this opportunity contact Kim or Michael for details. We think you're going to love it. Want to LEARN MORE?  Check out this VIDEO! 

The December Bulletin

And, finally the deadline for entry into the 2022 Conference and Trade Show Bulletin is November 16.  We're on a really tight schedule because we want to get it into your hands well before the holidays.  So...if you have news about your business or if you want to take this opportunity to highlight your presence at our Conference and Trade Show...let's get this done.  You can send your news and your ad directly to Michael via email: [email protected] 

CORNHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I lied...there is a fourth thing.  We're seeking sponsors to help us with the two prizes we're doing for our brand new Cornhole Tournament. First Prize is a cool $1,000 and second place walks away with $500. If you would like to sponsor this event (and it's already starting to fill up) let's do it.  You can contact Kim or Michael to reserve your place.  [email protected] or [email protected] 

OK, that's it and under 500 words!

All States Ag Parts Acquires Arrow

We're pleased to share with our members some new news from All States Ag Parts (ASAP). The company continues to grow and has just acquired Arrow Material Handling which will allow ASAP to expand into new areas. Arrow specializes in forks and attachments for a wide range of equipment including forklifts, skid steers, loaders, telehandlers, excavators, tractors and backhoes from mini and compact equipment to large equipment. These products are available for most makes and models of equipment. Arrow is headquartered in Lenexa, KS and has distribution facilities in Lenexa, KS; Houston, TX; Norfolk, VA and Corona, CA.

With the addition of Arrow, All States now operates 42 locations in North America including ag and construction equipment salvage yards, distribution centers, remanufacturing plants and customer service call centers. All States employs over 800 employees in the US and Canada and will offer employment to all current Arrow employees under the new company.

From the press release:

“The acquisition of Arrow will further strengthen our ability to serve the ag and construction parts industry and greatly enhances our ability to provide products to the material handling industry,” said Bill Davidson, President of All States Ag Parts.

Terry Melvin, CEO at Arrow said, “I am excited for our company to be part of All State Ag Parts. With All States we will be able to continue our focus on superior product availability and customer service. The sales and distribution resources we are able to add through All States will be a huge contributor to our continued sales growth.”

Arrow has engineering and design teams, machining centers and welding teams to accommodate and build custom attachments for common and unique applications. Using Solid Works 3D CAD software and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) the Arrow Team can collaborate in and accommodate a variety of formats.

Arrow can be reached at 800-821-7563 or online at ArrowMHP.com

All States Ag Parts can be reached at 877-530-4430 or on-line at TractorPartsASAP.com

 

It's Going To Be Awesome!

Very soon we're going to be sending out a link, by email, to those of you who have registered for our Annual Conference and Trade Show scheduled for January 19 - 21 in Nashville. The link will take you to the Whova Event & Conference App which will give you the power to communicate with other conference attendees, post photos, make appointments, check the agenda, gather contact data at the trade show booth, experience some great contests and more. This also means that we'll be going mostly paperless in January.

Over the summer Kim has been working on making sure this will be a positive experience and we're almost at launch. When you get your notice via email you can start to build your profile in the app. That would include your photo, details about your company, contact information, etc. 

One more thing. The Whova App also allows you to market your company to attendees. Yes, there is advertising space that scrolls from page to page. The Board has recommended that  advertising space be sold to our membership at $500 per advertiser and we already have two spots taken!  You can advertise your website, special deals and more. It's a new and exciting way to market your company to our membership. And, the app stays live for weeks after the event. If you would like to claim an advertising spot connect with Kim by email, [email protected] or me at [email protected] and we'll get you hooked up.

Also a reminder that you can register for our Annual Conference and Trade Show now and save.  Here is that link, and check out how fancy this looks...also another big change. 

We hope you'll engage with this new technology because it will truly enhance your experience. So, you know, I've used the Whova App at several national events and it's really slick.  Be watching for your email invite and thank you for being a member!

Michael & Kim

Brand New: The NTPDA Job Board

It’s something NEW and something we hope will be a great benefit for our NTPDA Members. During the Summer Board Meeting the NTPDA Board of Directors gave approval for the staff to create a Job Board to assist in helping our membership post open positions. This benefit is for both Regular and Associate Members.

How does it work? All you have to do is send us a job posting (Position, Location, Hours, General Requirements, Contact and How to Apply) and we will create the post and place it in our Job Board section on our website.  Visitors can then search by state to find available jobs.  We will also link directly to your website so the perspective candidates can know more about your business.

We know how tough it is to find and retain good help and we hope this free benefit will enable you to expand your search beyond your local area.

We expect there may be some early issues as we’ve never done this before however, we think this should work smoothly once we (and you) get the hang of it.

The Job Posting should be in a Word or PDF document and sent to [email protected]. Kim will be creating the post for the website. Let us know if you have questions.  Thank you for being an NTPDA Member!

Michael & Kim

All States Ag Parts Acquires Romac Industrial Parts

Legacy Member All States Ag Parts has announced it has acquired Romac Industrial Parts bringing the total sites in North America up to 42.  Romac specializes in replacement ground engaging tools including bucket teeth for excavators as well as blades for graders, bulldozers and other construction equipment. These products are available for most makes and models of equipment. Romac is headquartered in Woodstock, GA. 

“The acquisition of Romac will further strengthen our ability to serve the construction parts industry with the addition of ground engaging parts that are not currently in our product mix,” said Bill Davidson, President of All States Ag Parts.

Dave Rose, former owner of Romac said, “I am excited for our company to be part of All State Ag Parts. We are looking forward to have additional markets and distribution points in the US. to grow both the track business and the bucket tooth businesses."

Romac Industrial Parts can be found online and by calling 877-727-6622.

All States Ag Parts can be found online and by calling 877-530-4430. 

Our congratulations to both companies as you continue to grow in additional areas of business.

 

 

The Russell Tractor Parts Story with Pat Russell

Recently the NTPDA Board traveled to Scottsboro, Alabama for our Summer Board Meeting. Hosting us was Russell's Tractor Parts with NTPDA President Trey
Russell and former President Pat Russell.  It was a resounding success and our Board really enjoyed the time in Scottsboro. It also gave us a chance to sit down with Pat to learn more about the company, who they serve and the many changes he's seen. Pat has been pushing iron for years and now, in partnership with Trey, he took us back to the beginning. We talk about the growth of the company, how family plays into the success and so much more. Here then is the story of Russell's Tractor Parts  Enjoy...we sure did!  To listen just click our player. 

This is one of a continuing series of stories about our NTPDA Members.  As always, should you have some news for us let us know.  We're always open to learning more and sharing your stories. You can connect with us by sending an email to [email protected]  And, thanks for being a member...it does matter!