AutoCon 2012 Announces TrueCar Sponsored Full Ride Scholarship Program

Automotive Media Partners, LLC and First Class Educators are proud to announce the creation of a scholarship program sponsored by TrueCar of Santa Monica, California. TrueCar’s pioneering sponsorship of this program provides the funds to cover the costs of transportation to and from Las Vegas, local transfers, lodging at the Aria Resort and full AutoCon conference registration. One of the most surprising aspects of TrueCar’s sponsorship is that the company has fully funded twelve (12) AutoCon Full Ride Scholarships. A dozen automotive professionals will receive the educational, networking, inspiration and innovation benefits from attending the AutoConnections Conference and Exposition at no out of pocket expense for travel, meals or conference fees to themselves or their dealerships.

The TrueCar AutoCon Scholarship Program is further evidence of the remarkable transformation that has taken place at TrueCar since the beginning of 2012. After receiving a remarkable level of criticism within the auto industry during the second half of 2011, TrueCar has evolved and revised their automotive purchasing programs for consumers and affiliated corporations to be far more dealer friendly. TrueCar’s objectives supported by these changes have included raising dealer profit margins to levels that provide more room for dealers to cover facility costs and the staffing levels needed to properly service new vehicle buyers sent to them by TrueCar.

TrueCar understands and recognizes the need for ongoing training and thought leadership within the ranks of the retail automotive industry. Their management team has decided that one of the best ways to demonstrate this commitment to betterment of the industry is to commit the funds necessary to support independent dealer focused educational events such as AutoCon 2012. TrueCar executives Bernie Brenner and Mike Timmons approached the founders of the Automotive Digital Marketing and dealerElite professional communities, Ralph Paglia, Chris Saraceno and Mike Myers because these online networks have served as “Ground Zero” for some of the industry’s harshest criticism of TrueCar in the recent past. Surprising for a company as large as TrueCar is, their management team has reviewed the criticism published by members of the ADM and DealerELITE networks and taken corrective actions, changed their business models and worked with State dealer associations to create vehicle purchase programs that make sense for participating dealers.

How will the TrueCar AutoCon Scholarships be Awarded?

TrueCar has asked that the AutoConnections Conference Management Team take full control and responsibility for ensuring that the 12 Full Ride Scholarships be awarded based on merit and need. Criteria will include a wide geographic representation by selecting automotive professionals from every region in North America. Another consideration will be to award scholarships to professionals who represent a diverse range of vehicle brands and positions within the dealerships they serve. The application process will be a simple online application that includes all the expected contact information, a description of the applicant’s role in the dealership where they work and space for them to describe in their own words why they should be awarded a TrueCar AutoCon Scholarship to attend the AutoConnections Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas from September 5^th to the 8^th. The AutoCon Scholarship Selection Committee is comprised of Ralph Paglia, Chris Saraceno, Mike Myers, Carrie Hemphill and Brian Pasch. As applicants are being considered they will be contacted by a committee member and interviewed via phone and email. Final selections will be made by committee vote and the awardees notified by email and phone.

Applications for TrueCar AutoCon Scholarships will be accepted starting Monday July 16 and award selections will begin Monday August 6, 2012.

With 12 TrueCar AutoCon Scholarships being awarded, the odds of being selected are probably better than any other similar program in the auto industry… So, do not hesitate to apply and encourage other automotive professionals to do so! All of us who are stakeholders in the AutoCon event are thrilled with the investment being made by TrueCar to support what we believe is the best event in the auto industry. The TrueCar sponsorship of AutoCon 2012 and the Full Ride Scholarship Program is appreciated and respected. TrueCar is a company that has received an enormous amount of criticism, much of which has been emotionally charged and at times, crossed the boundaries of decency and professional behavior. Many other companies faced with similar criticism and public ridicule would have released a barrage of legal actions to defend themselves. TrueCar has consistently taken the high road and responded to their critics with program changes and sending their senior executives to major auto industry events and meetings. The TrueCar sponsorship of AutoCon is further proof that this company is led by professionals who want to be valuable contributors to the overall success of the auto industry.

On behalf of the AutoCon team and the 12 auto industry professionals who will receive the benefit of these scholarship awards, a sincere thank you to TrueCar is extended.

• Ralph Paglia
• Chris Saraceno
• Mike Myers
• Carrie Hemphill
• Brian Pasch

Apply for a TrueCar AutoCon Scholarship online at http://AutoCon2012.com

Join the ADM Professional Community at http://AutomotiveDigitalMarketing.com and the DealerELITE network at http://www.dealerELITE.net