The National Automotive

Finance Association welcomed 45 participants to its Regional Workshop

for Lenders and Dealers in Dallas in mid-November. "We're all in the

same business," said Steve Hall, president of the Association's board

of directors. "This workshop and other association programs help us

understand the best ways to work with each other to serve our

customers."

In his presentation, "Ten Ways for Car Dealers and Consumer Finance

Executives to End Up in Hot Water," Thomas B. Hudson, Esq., partner,

Hudson Cook LLP reviewed important legal issues affecting the industry.

Both that presentation and the closing session, a dealer panel of

Kevin P. Westfall, AutoNation, Keith M. Wiesman, Payless Car Sales

and Denny O'Brien, Benton Automotive Group LLC, generated positive

lender-dealer interaction, according to NAFA. "At a workshop like this," according to

Wiesman, "where you come face-to-face with lenders and other dealers,

you can accomplish in a day what would take months over the phone."

Another dealer/lender workshop is planned for March 2003. Contact the

NAF Association at 800-463-8955 or jtracey@nafassociation.com for

information.