TORRANCE, Calif. — Get compliance certified, hear from the F&I industry’s leading product providers, experience the latest digital retailing solutions, and learn from the industry’s top F&I trainers. That will be the scene this October at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Fla., where dealers, F&I professionals, agents, and the F&I industry at large will converge for Industry Summit 2018.

Connecting the three-day event will be keynote addresses from two experts in the F&I field, including the special finance guru Greg Goebel. The event’s tagline, “Protect the Future of F&I,” makes clear that the industry’s drive toward a more digitized car-buying experience will be a top-of-mind topic at Industry Summit 2018.

“There are plenty of events out there addressing digital sales and marketing, but none have truly addressed the potential impact digital retailing will have on the future of F&I,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of Auto Dealer Today and F&I and Showroom magazines. “Industry Summit fills that void for dealers and their F&I teams, while also offering them the opportunity to earn compliance certification and learn from the who’s who in compliance and F&I training.”

Opening with a welcome reception on Sunday, Oct. 7, Industry Summit’s educational program kicks off on Monday, Oct. 8, with a full day of compliance education led by a roster of compliance experts, including Gil Van Over, president of gvo3 & Associates and executive director of Automotive Compliance Education (ACE). The day will end with “Is It Compliant,” a Jeopardy-styled game that will have a panel of compliance experts offering their take on audience responses to common objections. 

Van Over, who also pens a monthly column in F&I and Showroom, then opens Day Two with his ACE review and testing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9. To earn ACE certification, Industry Summit attendees must be present for the comprehensive review session and earn a grade of 80% or better on the exam that follows. Those who succeed will receive a framed diploma and opportunities to renew their certification annually.

The second half of Day Two will feature Industry Summit’s new Tech Shootout. Designed to allow dealers to learn about the latest in digital sales and F&I technology, the challenge will feature 10-minute presentations from 10 of the leading technology providers. Audience members will then cast their vote on their favorite presentation and solution, with the winner announced the following day.

Also kicking off at 1 p.m. is a program geared toward F&I product providers and administrators. However, the sessions offer dealers an opportunity to get an insider’s view on the challenges, trends and advancements in the F&I product side of the business. The day ends with the IAS-sponsored ‘Ask Frenchy’ session. Part training workshop, part keynote, the session features F&I veteran and IAS executive Eric “Frenchy” Mélon. He will tackle objections and F&I-related questions submitted by attendees.

The industry’s top F&I trainers will take to the stage on Day Three for more than four hours of F&I training on the latest F&I sales techniques and process tweaks. The day will also feature Day Two of Industry Summit’s product providers and administrators program.

“We are heading to Florida with a more unified program, one that will allow dealers to learn about the real issues and opportunities facing the F&I industry while their F&I teams get compliance certified and trained by the best in the business,” Gesualdo said. “We’re also mixing in a little fun into our education program with our Tech Shootout, ‘Ask Frenchy’ session, and ‘Is It Compliant’ objection-handling game. Mixed in will be a host of networking opportunities and an exhibit hall designed to allow dealers to explore the latest in F&I products and technology.”