Gold medalist and the first boxer to win championships in five weight classes, Sugar Ray Leonard will share his drive for success as the keynote speaker for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s Accelerate 2023 Convention and Expo. Leonard will speak at 4:30 p.m. June 20 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Registration for the largest expo and convention for the independent auto dealer is underway at niada.com/convention. Early bird registration ends May 15.

Leonard began boxing at 14, winning three Golden Gloves, two Amateur Athletic Union and the 1975 Pan-American crown, before capturing the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal.

To help his family defray mounting medical costs due to his father’s illness, he turned professional following the Olympics.

At 20, he won his first professional fight to start his stellar career, which included winning welterweight, junior middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight titles. He fought and won legendary bouts against Wilfred Benetiz, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in his 20-year career.

Leonard started the The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation in 2009 with his wife, Bernadette. Since its inception, the foundation has funded countless research projects and offered life-changing patient care for children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The foundation is also committed to helping children lead healthier lives through diet and exercise, equipping them with the tools to be successful in health later on.

Leonard’s keynote address is part of the June 19-22 NIADA Accelerate 2023 Convention & Expo.

KAR Auction Services, Inc., an operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, announces the retirement of executive chairman Jim Hallett. Hallett retains his seat on KAR’s board of directors while stepping down from his roles as executive chairman for KAR and chairman of the board of directors. Michael Kestner, who has served as lead independent director since 2019, has been named chairman of KAR’s board effective April 1, 2023, and Peter Kelly continues to serve as KAR’s chief executive officer.

“I am so proud of what we have accomplished at KAR, and it has been a true honor to serve our company, customers and industry over the last 47 years,” said Jim Hallett. “Each day I was humbled by the passion, energy and grit of our employees, and grateful for their dedication to our customers. Together, we transformed KAR’s brick-and-mortar business into a global digital marketplace for used vehicles. I have never been more confident in KAR’s strategy and leadership, especially with Peter at the helm—aside from being a great leader, he’s the best digital mind in our industry.” 

Hallett’s tenure with the company spans more than 25 years. He was appointed executive chairman of KAR in 2021 after leading the company as CEO since 2009 and chairman of the board since 2014. Hallett joined the company in 1993 as president of ADESA Canada. He became CEO of ADESA in 1996 and led the company’s IPO in 2004. In 2007, Hallett architected the leveraged buyout of ADESA and merger with salvage auction provider Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. Hallett took the combined company public in 2009, and in 2019 led the successful spin-off of IAA which generated significant value for KAR stockholders. Under Hallett’s leadership, KAR completed the acquisition of more than 50 wholesale auctions and other businesses, expanding the company across North America and Europe.

“Jim’s bold vision and dedicated leadership positively shaped our company and our industry for more than four decades,” said Peter Kelly, CEO of KAR. “From safety to philanthropy to digital transformation, Jim challenged everyone around him to think differently and pursue bold, new ideas. At KAR, Jim catalyzed our entrepreneurial spirit and culture of innovation, and set the vision for the digital leader we have become. I am very fortunate to call Jim a friend and a mentor, and all of us at KAR wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”

Hallett is recognized for his active philanthropy and advocacy for the health, safety and wellbeing of auto auction employees and customers. He is the recipient of numerous industry, business and community awards including the 2014 National EY Entrepreneur of the Year, 2017 United Way of Central Indiana Exceptional Executive, 2018 NAAA/IARA Industry Icon Award, 2018 Indiana Chamber Dynamic Leader of the Year, and 2019 NAAA Hall of Fame Award. A lifelong hockey fan, Hallett shares his love of the sport with the central Indiana community as owner of the Indy Fuel. 

The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance presented Bob McConkey, president of McConkey Auction Group, with its Circle of Excellence Award.

“Not only is he a successful independent auction owner,” IARA President Jeff Bescher said, “but he’s been an intelligent, straightforward voice for all independent auctions, especially during his stint as NAAA President.”

IARA Chairman Paul Seger gave a brief snapshot of McConkey’s career, starting at South Seattle Auto Auction.

“From there he served as general manager of the Southern California Auto Auction, and actually doubled its size in less than three years, making it the world’s largest auto auction,” Seger said. “That was back in 1992.”

McConkey was also co-founder of DAA Northwest, and also owns DAA Seattle and DAA Las Vegas.

He co-founded Auction Pipeline, now known as Auction Edge and served as National Auto Auction President in 2009.

Seger also praised McConkey for his charity work, raising nearly $300,000 for various groups.

McConkey confessed that when IARA was first formed, he didn’t pay it much respect initially, but that changed.

“I can tell you that over the years, the IARA has been one of the most influential organizations that our industry has,” McConkey said.

He congratulated IARA’s 23-year run and the training and education it provides.

McConkey also talked about the great relationships and “deep, strong friendships” he’s made of the years in the industry.

“That’s by far the most important part of this whole ride that I’ve been on these past 40 years,” he said. “As a business, we’re well into the next generation and we’ve continued to innovate as I ride off into the sunset.

“Our organization is committed to the future and the next generation.”

He closed by thanking IARA for the award.

Manheim Pennsylvania hosted its annual Xtreme Spring Sale on March 23, bringing high energy and excitement to their lanes and raising money for the local Make-A-Wish organization. Dealers who participated in the physical and digital sale event had an opportunity to bid on nearly 700 unique vehicles, 310 of which sold, including a 2020 Huracan EVO that went for $295,000. In addition, a 2021 Jeep Gladiator with a rooftop tent and off-roading equipment was auctioned off for charity and purchased for $65,000 by Andrew and Angela DeLeo of Manheim Used Car Factory.

“We are grateful and incredibly humbled by the generosity of Manheim Pennsylvania and all of the Xtreme Spring attendees for their support of our mission to grant wishes for critically ill children in our community,” said Jennifer Davis, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. “The amazing team at Manheim are true wish heroes with huge hearts who went above and beyond to make this a truly wonderful day.”

Manheim Pennsylvania has been hosting its Xtreme Spring Sale – their largest sale – for more than 14 years.