New FEDA Leadership Councils
“We must not rely on our legacy thinking and comfortable revenue streams and sales processes... We must evolve and embrace new ways of thinking for our own professional growth and also understand the current psyche of the operators.”
— Gary Thiakos President
Zepole Restaurant Supply
determining whether to expand their business in that direction. On the technology front, Jeff Quattlebaum, vice president at Parts Town, shared information on how the OEM parts distributor is using artificial intelligence combined with data to help dealers and service technicians search for and identify the proper parts needed for equipment repairs. Additionally, he showcased Equipment 360, a new dashboard dealers can use to make lists of frequently purchased equipment. When it comes to making the most of their own technology, dealers often start with their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. ERPs are the data veins that connect all other parts of the business, so making a wrong decision in the setup or misusing a
feature can cause breakdowns across an organization. Jeff Andrews, founder and principal of Red Dog Advisors, spoke to the EDC about the importance of getting the ERP right and the common challenges that arise when selecting and implementing a system. He also detailed good practices that dealers can follow and helped EDC members understand how they can use an ERP to better streamline their operations. Ultimately, a dealer’s success relies on sales. For the operator, cost and funding are often cited as two of the primary hurdles to closing a deal, which is why EDC members were interested to learn about alternative financing options from Sandra VanBuren, vice president – head of culinary finance, at Centra Culinary Finance. VanBuren explained how dealers can implement financing and leasing programs that use equipment as collateral to reduce the financial burden on customers and place more equipment upgrades within operators’ reach.
Join the EDC Companies interested in participating in the Emerging Dealers Council are encouraged to contact Director of Membership and Business Development Isabelle Piotrowski at
isabelle@feda.com.
“The discussions around alternative financing options and ERP systems have been particularly impactful,” McPhail said of the presentations. “Understanding various financing methods allows us to explore more flexible financial solutions that can help us manage cash flow and invest in growth opportunities. Similarly, the insights on ERP systems are crucial for improving operational efficiency and data management, which are essential for optimizing our business processes and staying competitive.”
32 FEDA News & Views
Focus for 2025 Following that strong start, the EDC
will build on its momentum with an expanded group of topics most important to members. Some of the subjects that will be covered in the next year include:
• AI use cases/applications for emerging dealers
• Warehouse optimization and effective supply chain management • Policy updates applicable to emerging dealers
• ERP integration
• Alternative financing options • Updates on the FEDA Data Portal. Within each of these areas, FEDA will
introduce contemporary ideas to the group and provide tangible resources that they can use in their businesses. Through these presentations, Thiakos said smaller dealers will learn how to create new advantages. “We must not rely on our legacy thinking and comfortable revenue streams and sales processes,” Thiakos says. “The industry and society are moving forward. We must evolve and embrace new ways of thinking for our own professional growth and also understand the current psyche of the operators.” “The support and resources offered
through the EDC are invaluable, and I encourage all small dealers to actively participate and contribute to this initiative,” McPhail says. “Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure that our businesses not only survive but thrive in today’s competitive environment.
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