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KAIA is keeping the pedal to the metal in promoting the Commonwealth’s automotive industry and bringing value to our members.
After a board lunch with Gov. Bevin and the announcement of the state’s first automotive legislative caucus earlier this year, we immediately turned our attention to SPARK. You can read more below about this supplier conference, which included a speed networking component. We’d like to thank our sponsors, speakers, procurement reps and attendees for making SPARK a success.
But we’re not done yet. We’ve got big plans for our annual conference and a new magazine. We’re planning our second annual AutoVision for Sept. 12-13 in Lexington, KY. Make sure you save the date – and sign up for e-mail updates as we add speakers and firm up the agenda. Sponsorships and exhibit spaces are already available for those of you who’d like to get your company in front of a select, targeted group of auto manufacturing leaders.
And coming later this summer is AutoVision magazine, a quarterly publication to share news and updates about KAIA, our members and our industry. You can sign up for a free subscription here. If you have an idea for a story or photos, e-mail us at [email protected]. For advertising information, contact Innovative Publishing at 844-423-7272. The ad deadline for the first magazine is June 24.
We look forward to seeing everybody in September!
Kindling relationships at SPARK
SPARK, a conference focused on building supplier relationships, drew about 150 people from 10 states and Japan to Louisville in May.
A unique feature was a series of matchmaking sessions between smaller suppliers and procurement representatives from Kentucky automakers and larger suppliers. The conference also featured presentations and panel discussions covering topics such as how to spark a supplier relationship, top trends in supply chains, and an economic outlook for the auto industry.
“One question we kept getting from our auto suppliers in Kentucky was, “How do we get connected to the OEMs and Tier 1 companies?” said Dave Tatman, executive director of KAIA. “We really wanted to focus on answering that question. We created an intimate event that brought together suppliers with the people who buy their products.”
To see a photo gallery, click here.
