Many hardworking people planned, managed Auto Show

Many hardworking people planned, managed Auto Show

An undertaking as vast as The Washington Auto Show (WAS) has a lot of moving parts. It requires the considerable work of many whose efforts are often unsung and even more so when more than two feet of snow are dumped on the Washington area right at the start of the show, as happened this year.

As the producer of The Washington Auto Show, WANADA appreciates the hard work and leadership of its 2016 Auto Show Committee chaired by Geoff Pohanka, Pohanka Automotive. Other members are: George Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln; Daniel Jobe, Capitol Cadillac; John Ourisman, Ourisman Automotive; Kevin Reilly, Alexandria Hyundai; Charlie Stringfellow, Malloy Automotive, and Mark Zetlin, Mercedes-Benz of Arlington.

WANADA also greatly appreciates special event leaders, notably Robert Hisaoka, RRR Automotive, who organized the second annual Exotic Car and Luxury Lifestyle Event resulting in the participation of any number of exotic, high end new vehicle OEMs and dealers in the WAS. And special thanks to Chef Eric Ziebold of Kinship for all his contributions to the second annual Exotic Car & Lifestyle Event. In addition, Mark Gessler of the Historic Vehicle Association, for the HVA display and Ron Cogan of the Green Car Journal and the Green Car Awards; Intelligent Transportation Society of America who partnered with The Washington Auto Show on MobilityTalks on Capitol Hill and the Connected Car convoy; and the Auto Alliance sponsorship of The Intelligent Transportation SuperHighway.

WANADA Auto Show producer staff and consultant organizers pivotal to the showês success were John OêDonnell, president & CEO; Barbara Pomerance, WAS director of communications & promotions; Bob Yoffe, WAS manager; Isabel Garcia, CFO; Bob Storin, event management, advertising sales and sponsorship; Joe Koch, COO; Curtis Wowk, IT coordinator; Gerard Murphy, general counsel; Allen Jones, regulatory counsel.

WANADA is additionally grateful to its WAS publications team consisting of Kathy Teich, Trish Frisbee, Joan Mooney, and Katy Orme; Bonnie Mor_t, promotions and media room; Les Jackson, editor of the WAS Program; Warren Brown author of The New Mobility; and Joe McCary and the Photo Response team.

Advertising for the WAS was ably handled by August, Lang, and Husak with support from Mike Mosko of Voice Media and Angelica Boiteux and Exit 10 for social media. The Hill, The Washington Post and Roll Call are also recognized for their media partnerships with the show.

Appreciated, too, are the VIP Auto Show Tour Guides: John Davis, Motor Week; Les Jackson, Cruise Control; and Alvin Jones, Planet Vehicle.

Additional contributors and sponsors were the Mascot Organization along with PBS and WHUT; Hargrove, the official decorator of the Auto Show; Autotrader/Kelley Blue Book; Toyota for its exterior displays outside the Walter E. Convention Center; Audi for Military Day; Jeep for their sponsorship of the Refueling Station and Charging Lounges; Samuel Adams Beer for their contributions to the Refueling Station; and Autobahn Indoor Speedway for their sponsorship of the Celebrity Stage. Comcast Spotlight and Manheim of Pennsylvania are appreciated for sponsoring the WANADA Member Reception; IMPA and WAPA for the Media Day Breakfast; Hyundai for press day luncheon and Hands-On Contest; the General Services Administration and the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition; Mazda for sponsoring American hero Alek Skarlatos; and Automotive Rhythms for curating the Art-of-Motion exhibit.

The Auto Show would also like to recognize its industry stakeholders for their direction, leadership and sponsorship of the Sneak Peek Reception to include the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, Global Automakers, and NADA. WANADA, similarly, appreciates the industry partnerships with SAE International, AIADA, NAMAD and MEMA.