July—September 2022 by NMEDA

July—September 2022 | Volume 29 Issue 3

Life Moving Forward Updated VA 1394 Procedures Recruiting, Retention & Recognition Welcome New Leadership: VMI ...and so much more!

THE NMEDA MAGAZINE

IT STARTS WITH US Special Conference Preview starts on page 30

NMEDA.org

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Discover more about how DOCUTRACK can help your dealership:

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NMEDA CIRCUIT BREAKER

JUL—SEP 2022

THE NMEDA MAGAZINE

President

CEO

Layout, Editor & Creative Director Katie McDonald

Contributing Writers Harry Baergen Joe Clementi Jay Goninen Chuck Hardy Danny Langfield Catherine Martin Russ Newton Mike Savicki Amy Schoppman

CONTENTS

FEATURES

COLUMNS

Officer’s Message - By Catherine Martin

Recruiting, Retention & Recognition - By Joe Clementi & Jay Gonien

CEO’s Message - By Danny Langfield

Canada President’s Message - By Russ Newton

40 Industry Advisor - By Harry Baergen

Christian Quandt

Danny Langfield

VOLUME 29, ISSUE 3

Government Relations Report: Updated VA 1394 Procedures - By Amy Schoppman

Member Notice: Welcome VMI Leadership - By Katie McDonald 30

On the Cover 2022 NMEDA Annual Conference

Mobility MY Way - By Mike Savicki

QAP Straight Talk - By Chuck Hardy

ALSO

Board of Directors

The Circuit Breaker is published quarterly by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.

Staff Directory

Dealer Member Directory

3327 W. Bearss Avenue Tampa, FL 33618

Around the Industry

QAP Dashboard

Industry Member Directory

Allied Health Professional Member Directory

Edu/Government/Non-Profit Member Directory

Dates to Remember

For business office, advertising, and subscriptions: Tel: 813.264.2697 Toll-Free: 800.833.0427 www.nmeda.org info@nmeda.org Subscription rates for the USA and Canada: $16.50/four issues. Back issues are available by calling the NMEDA office. All rights are reserved under copyright laws © 2022. The articles published in the Circuit Breaker reflect the opinions of their authors, not NMEDA. As such, NMEDA neither takes a position on nor assumes responsibility for the accuracy of the information or statements contained therein.

MISSION The mission of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association is to advocate and exemplify excellence in providing safe, reliable transportation solutions to enhance accessibility.

Jul-Sep 2022

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christian Quandt, President

Russ Newton, Canadian President

Advanced Wheels 33 Bradley Park Road East Granby, CT 06026 860.653.8064 phone christian@advancedwheels.com

Sure Grip 4850 Route 102 Upper Kingsclear, NB E3E 1P8 800.506.6666 phone russ@suregrip-hvl.com

Sam Cook, Vice President

Eva Richardville, Allied Health Professional Rep.

Superior Van & Mobility 1506 Lakeshore Court Louisville, KY 40223 502.447.8267 phone scook@superiorvan.com

Eric Mansfield, Secretary MobilityWorks 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone eric.mansfield@mobilityworks.com

Catherine Martin, Treasurer Ilderton Conversions 701 South Main Street High Point, NC 27260 336.841.6100 phone cmartin@ilderton.com

Gina Lewis, Manufacturer Rep.

Trevorr Jurgensen, Rep. at Large 1 MobilityWorks 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone trevorr.jurgensen@mobilityworks.com

Dennis Charvat, Rep. at Large 2 Total Mobility Services 4785 Penn Avenue Boswell, PA 15531 330.888.9941 phone dennis@tmservices.com

Corey Kupsh Rep. at Large 3

Adapt-Solutions 145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 866.641.0419 phone ginalewis@adapt-solutions.ca

A & J Mobility 333 Washington Street Valders, WI 54245 920.775.4104 phone coreyk@aandjvans.com

Todd Navarrete, Manufacturer Rep.

Dan Walsh, Rep. at Large 4

VMI 5205 S. 28th Place Phoenix, AZ 85040 800.348.8267 phone toddn@vantagemobility.com

Chad Blake, Past President Ability Center 4797 Ruffner Street San Diego, CA 92111 858.541.0552 phone cblake@abilitycenter.com

Therapeutic Mobility Services, Inc. 311 N. Airport Office Park Fort Wayne, IN 46285 260.417.8399 phone eva@theramobility.net

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Bussani Mobility 500 Central Avenue Bethpage, NY 11714 516.938.5207 phone dwalsh@wegetyouthere.com

MOBILITY

INNOVATIONS

800 488 7688

www.mobilityinnovators.com

The Jimmy by Veigel is a seat belt assist device designed to aid drivers and passengers with buckling and unbuckling the seat belt buckle in an automobile. The Jimmy’s ergonomic design is light weight and easy to use. Buckling: The ergonomic joystick grip gives you more control to easily engage the buckle. Un-Buckling: Simply pull back on The Jimmy lever while pressing the release button to effortlessly disengage the buckle. Safety: Pulling back on the lever alone will not disengage the buckle. The release button has been designed to prevent unintended disengagement of the buckle.

Light weight ergonomic design for maximum comfort Safety release button prevents unintended disengagement of the buckle Vehicle specific mounting brackets ensure a safe fit and no damage to your automobile safety belt buckle Specific applications available to fit most vehicles Installation is quick and easy

within minutes

Simply clamp the vehicle specific side brackets to the male side of the buckle Can be removed without damage to the factory belt buckle

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA STAFF DIRECTORY Danny Langfield CEO danny.langfield@nmeda.org

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR So, I finally did it. I found a way to get my “alligator picture” into a printed

Kristen Clevidence

publication. You may think that being

Quality Program Manager

the editor I can put anything I like on

kristen.clevidence@nmeda.org

these pages...but there is no “Unrelated But Interesting” feature here (yet), so all content must have a logical tie to our

Mikala Ballard

industry. So, what is the logical tie-in of a

Membership & Administration Coordinator

legally caught alligator as part of Florida’s

mikala.ballard@nmeda.org

strictly executed gator population control initiative?

Chuck Hardy Director of Quality & Compliance chuck.hardy@nmeda.org

Just flip to page 36 and get to know my friend, and alligator hunting captain, Dennis Knox who let me join the hunting trip that landed this beast, and who is featured in this quarter’s “Mobility My Way.”

Trevor Jennings Director of Partner Relations trevor.jennings@nmeda.org

Amy Lane

Director of Education, Training & Conference amy.lane@nmeda.org

Katie McDonald Director of Communications & Social katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org

Marilyn Myers Senior Bookkeeper marilyn.myers@nmeda.org

Amy Schoppman Director of Government Relations & Public Policy amy.schoppman@nmeda.org

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Katie: 5’4” Gator: 10’8”

MGA Research Corporation

Discover the MGA Advantage

FMVSS 207/210 &SAE J2249

Seating System, Seat Belt Anchorage and Wheelchair Anchorage Testing Experts.

Test with the Best: We are proud to serve the industry for over thirty years.

| email: david.winkelbauer@mgaresearch.com | phone: (262) 763-2705 | web: mgaresearch.com |

For informa�on and to become a dealer, contact Randy. RandyK@clockmobility.com 800.732.5625 Clock Conversions

clockconversions.com

Jul-Sep 2022

OFFICER’S MESSAGE

Take it From a North Carolinian By Catherine Martin, Ilderton Conversions TREASURER, NMEDA

ow time flies when you’re

Committee. This year’s Conference is

about the mobility industry with

having fun! I can’t believe

expected to be the best one yet for so

8-12 people per table). Last but not

we are half way through this

many reasons:

least: Don’t forget our TECHNICIAN

year already. The summer selling season is upon us, and it seems like there is some relief with inventory finally flowing onto dealers’ lots across the country. Unfortunately, dealers are still plagued with staffing shortages including technicians. Both of these items were major topics discussed at the NMEDA Strategic Planning Session in April. The Board of Directors met with NMEDA Staff and moderator Bob Harris to develop a vision for NMEDA for the next three years. The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is being developed to not only tackle current difficulties the mobility industry is facing like the afore mentioned technician shortage, but to

Location Flying to Charlotte is easy with direct flights from 137 cities within the US. The Charlotte Convention Center is

TRAINING! BraunAbility & VMI will be hosting trainings as well as the Manufacturer Service School and Turny EVO Seat Training.

located in Uptown Charlotte (not

Auction Fundraiser

Downtown) and has many bars,

The Conference Committee & Staff have

restaurants and the NASCAR Hall of

been working to find ways to grow the

Fame within walking distance. If you

auction and capitalize on the success

can, plan to arrive a little early to see

we had in January. (If you hadn’t heard,

the sights of Charlotte before the

the auction brought in just under $80K!)

conference begins. Uptown Charlotte

To assist with donation solicitation, we

is also home to The Carolina Panthers

have developed a “menu” of items to

who will host the Arizona Cardinals

help those folks who want to donate but

Sunday Oct 2nd @ 4pm. Area

struggle with what to donate. And we’re

hotels including our host hotel, The

investigating how to bring the auction

Westin, will fill quickly so make your

online, so that people who cannot

reservations as soon as possible.

attend the conference, or cannot stay through day three can have the chance

also create new tools and programs

Weather

that add value to our members. Be

No snow boots needed this time! The

on the lookout for more information

average temperature in Charlotte

about the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan

in early October is a sunny 75-80

soon!

degrees so it should be beautiful. It’s

Being a part of NMEDA, first on a

also the perfect time of year to visit

committee, then as a Rep at Large on

with the leaves beginning to change

the Board and now on the Executive

colors.

Committee has been one of the most

It seems like yesterday we were all in Columbus, and now in just three short months we will be back together in Charlotte for the 2022 NMEDA Annual Conference. When Danny Langfield

Programming The Conference Committee & NMEDA

asked me to write the officer’s

Staff has been hard at work planning

message for this Circuit Breaker issue

some ALL NEW for 2022 programs

(affectionately called the “Conference

including a Sales Learning Track by

Issue”), he thought I was uniquely

Paul Webb (seats are limited so if

qualified as a North Carolinian who

you’re interested in this track—sign

lived in Charlotte for over 10 year

up today!) and Industry Roundtable

and a member of the Conference

Discussions (moderated discussions

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

to win some of the amazing items donated by our NMEDA Exhibitors and Partners. Stay tuned for more details.

rewarding experiences in my mobility career. I am so glad so many new faces have raised their hands to be on committees this year, and I hope some of you will consider running for Board Positions next year. If you didn’t get a chance to volunteer for this year, don’t worry Danny will be reaching out again soon for volunteers for 2023. ---

AROUND THE INDUSTRY Strategic Planning 2022 Nostalgic for the pre-COVID planning days of yesteryear (2019), the NMEDA Board of Directors convened in Tampa, FL on April 13 & 14 to hash out an all new threeyear strategic plan for the association. At the end of the planning session, board members and the entire NMEDA staff had developed five organizational goals with 15 supporting strategies. Staff recently sat down and outlined action plans to complete each strategy and pending board approval will begin to tackle these plans immediately. Check the website soon for the 2022–2025 Strategic Plan.

Another Successful Manufacturer Service School You might identify St. Louis by its rich history of blues and jazz, or even its famous Gateway Arch, but in May it was known as the site for NMEDA’s Manufacturer Service School. United Access in St. Louis was the host location for the four-day training event. Technicians had the opportunity to obtain certification from the following manufacturers: BraunAbility, ColleBuilt, Sure Grip, MPS, Adapt Solutions, Q’STRAINT, AMF Bruns, and Mobility Innovations. Attendees appreciated the advantage of having hands-on learning experiences and the opportunity to talk directly to the manufacturer trainers. If you missed out on this session, don’t worry—a mini service school is being offered at conference with another service school potentially in the works for later this fall! MSS Attendees - St. Louis, MO

NMEDA Signs Official Partnership with RESNA NMEDA recently signed an official partnership with long-time friend and unofficial partner, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). “We couldn’t be happier to sign an official partnership with RESNA,” said NMEDA CEO, Danny Langfield. “The goals of our organizations align themselves extremely well and we are excited to take our work with RESNA to the next level and help them continue to accomplish their mission of promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions.” NMEDA was proud to kick off this partnership as a sponsor of the RESNA 2022 Virtual Conference, where our very own Amy Schoppman, Director of Government Relations, moderated a “Master Class” panel discussion on the current state of accessible autonomous vehicle research.

New Executive Director at Wheelchair Getaways Wheelchair Getaways recently announced the appointment of Joe Hurst, as Executive Director, effective June 1, 2022. According to the release, Joe is an experienced business leader who has worked in senior leadership roles across several industries, including retailing and asset disposition. NMEDA welcomes Joe to the auto mobility industry and looks forward to our continued work with Wheelchair Getaways.

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS UNITED STATES ____________________________

ALABAMA Gulf States Mobility 1647 Coosa River Parkway Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 514-6590 1, 2, 3 High Tech Mobility LLC 3351 Warrior River Rd Hueytown, AL 35023-1304 (205) 491-2109 1, 3 MobilityWorks Birmingham 3747 Pine Lane SE Bessemer, AL 35022 (205) 426-8261 1,3 MobilityWorks - Huntsville 2150 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35811 (234) 542-3022 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility Montgomery 2015 Eastern Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 244-1011 1, 3 Sylacauga Handicapped Inc 40811 US Hwy 280 Sylacauga, AL 35150 (256) 249-3717 1, 2, 3 Team Adaptive Medical Inc 1251 Boltons Branch Drive Mobile, AL 36606 (251) 471-1088 1, 3

____________________________

ARIZONA A.D.E. Industries, Inc. 3621 S Palo Verde Tucson, AZ 85713 (520) 571-7156 1 Ability Center - Goodyear 13765 W. Auto Drive Ste. 125 Goodyear, AZ 85338 (623) 242-0552 1, 3 Ability Center - Phoenix 23606 N 19th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85085 (623) 879-0800 1, 3

Ability Center - Tucson 4720 N La Cholla Blvd Suite 150 Tucson, AZ 85705 (520) 293-3596 1, 3

Ability Center Sacramento 6550 Freeport Blvd Suite A Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 392-1196 1, 3

United Access - Phoenix 1825 E Germann Road Suite 24 Chandler, AZ 85286 (480) 999-5939 1, 2, 3

Ability Center - San Diego 4797 Ruffner Street San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 541-0552 1, 3

United Access - Scottsdale 14885 N 83rd Pl., Ste 105 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (480) 941-4800 1

____________________________

ARKANSAS MobilityWorks - Bryant 3418 Main St Suite 400 Bryant, AR 72022 (501) 794-3100 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Fayetteville 2887 N College Ave Suite B Fayetteville, AR 72703 (479) 521-8433 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Jonesboro 2421 Sunny Meadow Drive, Ste D Jonesboro, AR 72401 (870) 933-7270 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility North Little Rock 7323 Cock of the Walk St Suite B North Little Rock, AR 72113 (501) 725-9070 1, 3

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CALIFORNIA Ability Center - Inland Empire 711 S Allen St San Bernardino, CA 92408 (909) 383-3883 1, 3 Ability Center - Long Beach 2715 Seaboard Ln Long Beach, CA 90805 (562) 634-5962 1, 3 Ability Center - Orange Co 11600 Western Avenue Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 890-8262 1, 3

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Ability Center - Santa Rosa 3285 Santa Rosa Avenue Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95707 (707) 575-6997 1, 3 Access Options, Inc. Fremont 41545 Albrae St Fremont, CA 94538 (408) 734-5438 1 Access Options, Inc. Watsonville 109 Lee Road Suite D Watsonville, CA 95076 (831) 722-6804 1, 2, 3 AERO Mobility 1001 N Weir Canyon Road Anaheim, CA 92807 (714) 973-8600 1, 2, 3 Economy Medical Lifestyle Mobility 2355 Whitman Rd Ste F Concord, CA 94518-2542 (925) 671-4800 1 Gary E. Colle, Inc./dba Goldenboy of San Diego 12130 Dearborn Place Poway, CA 92064 (858) 748-9414 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Chico 7 Three Sevens Lane Chico, CA 95973 (800) 225-7361 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Fresno 120 North Diamond Street Fresno, CA 93701 (559) 268-9394 1,3 MobilityWorks - Hawthorne 3403 Jack Northrop Ave Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 432-0700 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Oakland 1822 Embarcadero Avenue Oakland, CA 94606 (510) 927-2860 1 MobilityWorks - Pasadena 325 North Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 584-8181 1,3 MobilityWorks - Riverside 7239 Indiana Avenue Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 686-3152 1,3 MobilityWorks Sacramento 3127 Fite Circle Suite B Sacramento, CA 95827 (800) 225-7361 1, 3 MobilityWorks - San Diego 8130 Parkway Drive LaMesa, CA 91942 (619) 474-4072 1 MobilityWorks - San Francisco 890 Cowan Road Suite B Burlingame, CA 94010 (800) 225-7361 1,3 MobilityWorks - Santa Clara 1245 Laurelwood Rd Santa Clara, CA 95054 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Van Nuys 7720 North Sepulveda Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91405 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 SACVANS Mobility 5821 Florin Perkins Rd Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 381-8267 1

____________________________

COLORADO Colorado Fleet & Mobility, dba Mobility of Denver 2311 S Platte River Drive Denver, CO 80223 (844) 289-2635 1, 3 Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc. - Fort Collins 819 E. Mulberry St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 223-8267 1

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

Mobility Driven 832 Nth Crest Unit B Grand Junction, CO 81506 (970) 712-1435 1 MobilityWorks - Aurora 1640 S Abilene St Aurora, CO 80012 (720) 640-9989 1, 3 United Access - Denver (South) 5910 E County Line Rd Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 (877) 501-8267 1, 2, 3

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CONNECTICUT Advanced Wheels - East Granby 33 Bradley Park Road East Granby, CT 06026 (860) 653-8064 1, 2, 3 Advanced Wheels - East Haven 650 Coe Avenue Suite 2 East Haven, CT 06512 (203) 800-8064 1 MobilityWorks - East Hartford 104 Pitkin Street E. Hartford, CT 06108 (860) 282-8202 1, 3

____________________________

DELAWARE MobilityWorks - Bear 1010 Contractors Way Bear, DE 19701 (302) 613-7555 1, 3 NuMotion/Spinlife 773 South DuPont Hwy New Castle, DE 19720 (302) 836-4110 1

____________________________

FLORIDA Ability Center - Sarasota 5611 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34231-4140 (941) 706-4687 1 Active Mobility and Design, Inc. dba Buddy’s Holiday Mobility 6144 S US Highway 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34982 (772) 465-9600 1, 3

Advanced Driving Systems, Inc. 662 Capital Cir NE Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 671-2300 1, 2, 3 Auto Express South 4852 Palm Beach Blvd Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 693-4000 1, 4 Custom Mobility 7199 Bryan Dairy Road Largo, FL 33777 (727) 539-8119 1, 3 In Motion Mobility LLC 2299 NW 108th Avenue Sweetwater, FL 33172 (786) 534-2046 1, 3 Kempf Inc 5532 56th Commerce Park Blvd. Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 630-0409 1, 3 Mike Erdman Mobility 4650 US Highway 520 Cocoa, FL 32926 (321) 636-8887 1 Mobility Express Inc Largo 7910 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33771 (727) 556-2917 1 Mobility Express Inc - New Port Richey 4320 US Highway 19 New Port Richey, FL 34652 (727) 849-0262 1 Mobility Transportation Systems 4010 East Hillsborough Ave Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 246-9116 1, 2, 3 MobilityWorks - Clermont 20354 US Hwy 27 Clermont, FL 34715 (352) 322-2256 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Daytona 364 Destination Daytona Ln Ormond Beach, FL 32137 (386) 586-5495 1,3

MobilityWorks - Fort Lauderdale 5601 Powerline Road Suite 104 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 (954) 974-7028 1

Ocean Conversions of Fort Myers Inc 5751 Zip Drive Ft. Myers, FL 33905 (239) 936-6333 1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks - Fort Myers 12530 Metro Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 275-1900 1

Piper Medical Mobility & Accessibility 1885-B NE 149th Street North Miami, FL 33181 (305) 940-2030 1, 3

MobilityWorks Jacksonville 2727 St Johns Bluff Road S Jacksonville, FL 32246 (904) 281-0111 1,3

Superior Van & Mobility Pensacola 6260 Technology Dr. Suite B Pensacola, FL 32505 (850) 378-8914 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Lake Worth 1925 10th Ave N Unit 1 Lake Worth, FL 33461 (561) 586-1997 1, 3

Team Adaptive 3618 N Pace Blvd Pensacola, FL 32505 (850) 332-1688 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Largo 8203 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33771 (727) 521-4248 1, 3

Team Adaptive Inc - Panama City 1201 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 522-0059 1

MobilityWorks - Miami 5201 NW 77th Ave Suite 100 Miami, FL 33166 (305) 234-0071 1,3

World Of Independence Inc 1804 South Division Ave Orlando, FL 32805 (407) 422-1069 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Ocala 7265 SW 62nd Ave Unit 1 Ocala, FL 34476 (352) 300-1173 1

GEORGIA

MobilityWorks - Orlando 7260 Narcoossee Road Orlando, FL 32822 (407) 674-8778 1, 3 MobilityWorks Tallahassee 1505 Capital Circle NW Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 224-4383 1 MobilityWorks - Tampa 8706D East Broadway Ave Tampa, FL 33619 (813) 628-4255 1,3 Ocean Conversions & Mobility 750 East Sample Road Bldg 1 Suite 3 Pompano Beach, FL 33064 (954) 942-6033 1, 2, 3

___________________________

Adaptive Driving Solutions 3585 Riverwatch Parkway Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-2688 1, 2, 3 Custom Mobility Van & Lift Sales & Svcs. LLC 315 Whitehead Rd Athens, GA 30606 (706) 353-1099 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Atlanta 3700 Dekalb Technology Pkwy Doraville, GA 30340 (470) 427-0696 1,3 MobilityWorks - Marietta 1255 Kennestone Circle Suite 100 Marietta, GA 30066 (800) 444-9100 1,3

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS MobilityWorks - Savannah 3938 Ogeechee Road Savannah, GA 31405 (912) 233-1050 1 R & R Van Lift Sales & Service - Athens 164 Commerce Blvd Athens, GA 30606 (470) 276-6282 1 R & R Van Lift Sales & Service - Conyers 2130 Sigman Road Conyers, GA 30012 (770) 483-0767 1,2,3

____________________________

HAWAII Soderholm Mobility 2044 Dillingham Blvd Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 834-1417 1, 3

____________________________

ILLINOIS MobilityWorks - Niles 9207 N Milwaukee Ave Niles, IL 60714 (847) 673-4300 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Plainfield 23855 W Andrew Road Plainfield, IL 60585 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Villa Park 155 East North Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 Personal Mobility Champaign 1109 Parkland Ct Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 398-1188 1, 3 Personal Mobility - Peoria 7611 N Harker Drive Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 966-3089 1, 3 Personal Mobility Springfield 2924 N Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62702 (217) 544-2699 1, 3

Southern Bus and Mobility - Breese 12950 Koch Lane Breese, IL 62230 (618) 526-4131 1, 3

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INDIANA McCrocklin Mobility 810 West Mill St Middletown, IN 47356 (765) 354-2261 1 MobilityWorks - Merrillville 1710 W 81st Avenue Merrillville, IN 46410 (234) 200-1339 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility Evansville 3414 Interstate Drive Evansville, IN 47715 (812) 402-8267 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Fishers 13095 Parkside Drive Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 436-6722 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Fort Wayne 2218 Contractors Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46818 (260) 497-8267 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Indianapolis 5410 South Madison Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227 (317) 781-6900 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility South Bend 4246 Meghan Beeler Ct. Suite 1 South Bend, IN 46628 (574) 271-1175 1, 3

____________________________

IOWA Siebert Mobility of Iowa LLC 3554 Dolphin Drive Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 351-3159 1,3

____________________________

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

KANSAS

MAINE

Banner Mobility Resources Inc. 231 SE 53rd St Ste C Topeka, KS 66609 (785) 235-3070 1

MobilityWorks - Gray 32 Lewiston Road Unit 2B Gray, ME 04039 (207) 657-6664 1,3

Kansas Truck Mobility 8846 West Monroe Circle Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 722-4291 1

MARYLAND

United Access - Lenexa 7921 Bond St Lenexa, KS 66214 (877) 501-8267 1, 3

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KENTUCKY Superior Van & Mobility Lexington 761 East New Circle Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 253-1832 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Louisville 1506 Lakeshore Court Louisville, KY 40223 (502) 447-8267 1, 3

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Auto Assist Inc 5002 Lehigh Road College Park, MD 20740 (301) 699-2238 1 BEDCO Mobility 6300 Falls Rd Unit 2 Baltimore, MD 21209 (410) 825-1440 1 Jerry’s Mobility 8001 Belair Rd Baltimore, MD 21236-3709 (410) 661-5700 1 Koons Ford of Annapolis 2540 Riva Road Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 224-2100 1, 3

LOUISIANA

MobilityWorks - Baltimore 2601 N Rolling Road Windsor, MD 21244 (443) 384-0080 1

FastServ Medical - Bossier 1329 Driftwood Drive Bossier City, LA 71111 (318) 741-9586 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Beltsville 11409 Maryland Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 (727) 521-4248 1, 3

FastServ Medical - Monroe 112 Summer Lane West Monroe, LA 71291 (318) 396-3366 1, 3

Oneness Mobility Service LLC 7701 Penn Belt Drive Forestville, MD 20747 (301) 568-6686 1, 2, 3

Superior Van & Mobility Baton Rouge 12329 Industriplex Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 663-8830 1, 3

The Customizers, Inc. 14133 Pennsylvania Ave Hagerstown, MD 21742 (301) 797-7727 1

____________________________

Superior Van & Mobility New Orleans 1901 Westbank Expressway Suite 500 Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 684-2100 1

____________________________

Total Mobility Services Inc - Frederick 5411 Yukon Court Suite B Frederick, MD 21703 (240) 490-7840 1, 3

____________________________

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

MASSACHUSETTS Adaptive Mobility Equipment, Inc. 1551 Fall River Ave Seekonk, MA 02771 (508) 336-2556 1, 3 Advanced Wheels - North Oxford 6 Boulder Pkwy North Oxford, MA 015371225 (508) 731-0073 1 MobilityWorks - North Attleboro 57 George Levin Drive N. Attleboro, MA 02760 (508) 643-0605 1,3 MobilityWorks - Norwood 560 Boston Providence Highway Norwood, MA 02062 (781) 278-8885 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Woburn 299 Washington Street Suite H Woburn, MA 01801 (339) 298-5650 1,3

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MICHIGAN Access Mobility Center 7620 Eastman Avenue Midland, MI 48642 (989) 633-6100 1 Clock Mobility - Grand Rapids 6700 Clay Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548 (616) 698-9400 1, 2, 3 Clock Mobility - Lansing 603 N Waverly Rd Lansing, MI 48917-2800 (517) 272-4488 1 Clock Mobility - Traverse City 587 W Blue Star Drive Traverse City, MI 49684 (231) 943-9890 1 Creative Mobility Group Byron Center 7740 Clyde Park Avenue SW Byron Center, MI 49315 (616) 583-9730 1

Creative Mobility Group Madison Heights 32217 Stephenson Hwy Madison Heights, MI 48071 (248) 577-5430 1, 3 Creative Mobility Group, Inc. - Wayne 33073 Michigan Avenue Wayne, MI 48184 (734) 595-4400 1, 3

MISSISSIPPI Js Mobility Unlimited Inc 3880 Flowood Drive Flowood, MS 39232 (601) 939-2112 1, 2, 3 Mobility Systems Inc 2857 Oak Grove Road Hattiesburg, MS 39402 (601) 264-0609 1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks - Detroit 1604 East 14 Mile Road Madison Heights, MI 48071 (888) 473-5402 1, 3

Team Adaptive Inc - Biloxi 978 Tommy Munro Drive Biloxi, MS 39532 (228) 388-5700 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Saginaw 8175 Gratiot Road Saginaw, MI 48609 (888) 473-5402 1, 3

Total Mobility Concepts LLC 2074 Cliff Gookin Blvd Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 269-2068 1

____________________________

MINNESOTA Bert’s Truck Equipment of Moorhead, Inc. 3804 Hwy 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 (218) 233-8681 1 Cummings Mobility Albertville 6540 Jansen Ave NE Albertville, MN 55301 (763) 497-0103 1, 2, 3 Cummings Mobility Burnsville 2511 West Hwy 13 Burnsville, MN 55337 (952) 435-8889 1 Cummings Mobility - Little Canada 2940 Rice St. Little Canada, MN 55113 (651) 633-7887 1 MobilityWorks - Roseville 1915 County Rd C West Roseville, MN 55113 (234) 312-2000 1, 3 MobilityWorks - St. Cloud 1425 Division St Waite Park, MN 56387 (320) 497-7500 1, 3

____________________________

MISSOURI DW Auto & Home Mobility Specialties 1208 N Garth Ave Columbia, MO 65203 (800) 568-2271 1, 2, 3 MobilityWorks - Kansas City 1115 SW Oldham Pkwy Lees Summit, MO 640812477 (816) 600-5124 1 Southern Bus & Mobility Inc - Valley Park 80 South Highway Drive Valley Park, MO 63088 (636) 825-0700 1 United Access - Cape Girardeau 753 S Kingshighway St Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 (877) 501-8267 1 United Access - Columbia 618 Jackson St Columbia, MO 65203 (877) 501-8267 1,3 United Access - Kansas City 8200 NW 97th Ter Kansas City, MO 64153 (877) 501-8267 1, 3

United Access - Springfield MO 1389 N Cedarbrook Ave Springfield, MO 65802 (877) 501-8267 1, 3 United Access - St. Louis (North) 9389 Natural Bridge Rd St Louis, MO 63134 (877) 501-8267 1, 2, 3 United Access - St. Louis (South) 980 S Highway Dr Fenton, MO 63026 (877) 501-8267 1

____________________________

NEBRASKA Mobility Motoring 7222 South 142nd Street Omaha, NE 68138 (402) 884-3333 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Omaha 4044 South 60th St Omaha, NE 68117 (402) 991-2555 1, 3 Superior Van & Mobility Omaha 11147 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha, NE 68137 (402) 934-7826 1, 3

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NEVADA Ability Center - Las Vegas 6001 S Decatur Blvd Ste N Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 434-3030 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Las Vegas 3575 W Cheyenne Ave Suite #108 North Las Vegas, NV 89032-8257 (702) 876-9606 1, 3

____________________________

NEW HAMPSHIRE MobilityWorks Londonderry 54 Wentworth Avenue Londonderry, NH 03053 (603) 437-4444 1, 2, 3

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS New England Motor Car Co Inc 13 River Road Hudson, NH 03051 (603) 888-1207 1, 3

____________________________

NEW JERSEY Drive-Master Systems & Controls 37 Daniel Road West Fairfield, NJ 07004 (973) 808-9709 1, 2, 3 FTMobility 255 US Highway 46 West Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 (973) 546-1900 1 MobilityWorks Cinnaminson 2303 Wallace Blvd Cinnaminson, NJ 08077 (888) 473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks Farmingdale 5105 State Route 33 Wall Township, NJ 07727 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Highland Park 211 Woodbridge Ave Highland Park, NJ 08904 (732) 640-5350 1,3 MobilityWorks - Woodbury 1549 Gateway Blvd Woodbury, NJ 08096 (888) 473-5402 1,2,3 ____________________________

NEW MEXICO United Access Albuquerque 3825 Osuna Rd NE Ste 1 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (877) 501-8267 1,2,3

____________________________

NEW YORK Bussani Mobility Bethpage 500 Central Ave Bethpage, NY 11714 (516) 938-5207 1, 3

Bussani Mobility Mamaroneck 501 Concord Avenue Mamaroneck, NY 10543 (914) 835-8267 1, 3 Bussani Mobility Team East, LLC 401 E Middle Country Road Smithtown, NY 11787 (631) 240-4128 1 MobilityWorks - Albany 1892 Central Avenue Suite 25 Albany, NY 12205 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Buffalo 3560 Sheridan Drive Amherst, NY 14226 (716) 342-3530 1,3 Tim’s Trim, Inc. 25 Bermar Park Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 429-6270 1, 2, 3 United Access - Rochester 3760 West Henrietta Rd Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 427-7220 1 United Access - Syracuse 2211 Erie Blvd E Syracuse, NY 13224 (877) 501-8267 1

____________________________

NORTH CAROLINA Care Solutions 110 B Edney Street Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 698-9844 1 Ilderton Conversion Company 501 S Hamilton St High Point, NC 27260-7655 (336) 841-2020 1, 2, 3 Ilderton Conversion of Asheville 735 Dogwood Road Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 670-1111 1, 3 Ilderton Conversion of Charlotte 1424 Archdale Drive Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 523-2022 1, 3

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

MobilityWorks - Charlotte 4025 Queen City Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 (704) 399-0900 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Dayton 214 Valley Street Dayton, OH 45404 (937) 963-0733 1,3

MobilityWorks - Concord 4012 Dearborn Place NW Concord, NC 28027 (704) 886-0868 1

MobilityWorks - Sharonville 11755 Mosteller Rd Sharonville, OH 45241 (513) 791-4000 1,3

Stalls Medical Inc dba Adaptive Vans Inc 7980 Chapel Hill Road Suite 101 Cary, NC 27513 (919) 233-0732 1

MobilityWorks - Toledo 1020 Laskey Road Toledo, OH 43612 (888) 473-5402 1, 3

Van Products - Raleigh 2521 Noblin Road Raleigh, NC 27604 (919) 878-7110 1, 3 Van Products - Wilmington 394 N Green Meadow Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 793-5661 1

____________________________

OKLAHOMA Handicapped Vehicle Services Unlimited 7434 East 46th Street Tulsa, OK 74145 (918) 622-8400 1

OHIO

Mobility One Transportation 14720 East Admiral Place Suite AB Tulsa, OK 74116 (918) 437-4488 1

Columbus Mobility Specialists, LLC 6330 Proprietors Rd Suite C Worthington, OH 43085 (614) 825-8996 1, 2, 3

United Access - Oklahoma City 730 W Hefner Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73114 (877) 501-8267 1, 3

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Key Mobility Services 1944 US State Route 68 North Xenia, OH 45385 (937) 374-3226 1 Marietta Mobility Steves Vans & Accessories Unl 221 Pike Street Marietta, OH 45750 (800) 690-4950 1, 2, 3 MobilityWorks - Akron 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 (888) 473-5402 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Bedford Heights 5040 Richmond Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (800) 951-6238 1,3 MobilityWorks - Columbus 7233 Industrial Parkway Plain City, OH 43064 (614) 873-1580 1

____________________________

OREGON Ability Center - Eugene 3574 Marcola Road Springfield, OR 97477 (541) 726-4001 1, 3 Ability Center - Portland 9740 SW Wilsonville Road Suite 250 Wilsonville, OR 97070 (971) 224-5895 1, 3 United Access - Portland (East) 12905 NE Airport Way Portland, OR 97230 (877) 501-8267 1, 3 United Access - Portland (West) 5170 NE Five Oaks Dr Hillsboro, OR 97124-5608 (877) 501-8267 1, 2, 3

____________________________

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

PENNSYLVANIA

PUERTO RICO

TENNESSEE

Keller Wheelchair Lifts 197 Main Street Luzerne, PA 18709 (570) 288-1004 1, 2, 3

All Mobility Puerto Rico, Inc. HC 3 Box 9057 Guaynabo, PR 00971 (787) 398-3444 1

Keystone Coach Works 4786 Library Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 (412) 833-1900 1,2,3

Equipos Pro Impedidos De P.R., Inc. Carr #1 Int R796 Km 10.4 Bo. Bairoa La 25 Caguas, PR 00725 (787) 746-7667 1,3

Apple Independence Mobility 1750 Lee Seminary Road Cookeville, TN 38506 (877) 528-5788 1

Adaptive Driving Access Pasadena 3430 E Sam Houston Parkway S Pasadena, TX 77505 (281) 487-1969 1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks Chattanooga 3614 Elwood Ln Chattanooga, TN 37416 (423) 308-8267 1, 3

American Lift Aids Beaumont 2310 Calder Ave Beaumont, TX 77702 (409) 832-3400 1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks - Gallatin 1015 S Water Avenue Gallatin, TN 37066 (651) 451-7373 1

American Lift Aids, Inc. Tyler 2407 W Southwest Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 581-8844 1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks - Allentown 2200 South 12th St Suite 2210 Allentown, PA 18103 (888) 473-5402 1,2,3 MobilityWorks Philadelphia 925 South Trooper Road Norristown, PA 19403 (888) 473-5402 1,2,3 MobilityWorks - Pittsburgh 1012 Seco Road Monroeville, PA 15146 (888) 473-5402 1,3 MobilityWorks - Robinson Township 5460 Campbells Run Rd Suite 100 Robinson Twp, PA 15205 (412) 799-6929 1, 3 Palmiero Mobility 16165 Conneaut Lake Road Meadville, PA 16335 (814) 336-1061 1 Steffy’s Garage Inc dba SGI Mobility 235 W Main Street Leola, PA 17540 (717) 656-6065 1, 3 Total Mobility Services Inc - Boswell 4785 Penn Avenue Boswell, PA 15531 (814) 629-9935 1, 2, 3 Total Mobility Services Inc - Harrisburg 7917 Derry Street Suite 124 Harrisburg, PA 17111 (800) 558-7408 1, 3

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SOUTH CAROLINA lderton Conversion of Charleston LLC 8550 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 576-0414 1, 3 Ilderton Conversion of Myrtle Beach 1987 Highway 501 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (843) 945-9451 1 MobilityWorks - Charleston 932 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407 (843) 501-2275 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Columbia 3624 Fernandina Road Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 828-5754 1

MobilityWorks - Nashville 173 Industrial Drive Lavergne, TN 37086 (615) 280-5058 1,3 Superior Van & Mobility Knoxville 10640 Braden Dickey Lane Knoxville, TN 37932 (865) 622-6550 1, 3

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TEXAS Access2Mobility, Inc. 12406 State Highway 155 S. Tyler, TX 75703 (903) 592-6760 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Greenville 563 Woodruff Road Greenville, SC 29607 (864) 293-7171 1

Adaptive Driving Access College Station 2214 N Earl Rudder Fwy Bryan, TX 77808 (979) 307-7676 1, 3

MobilityWorks - Murrells Inlet 11816 Highway 17 Bypass Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 (843) 268-4850 1, 3

Adaptive Driving Access Corpus Christi 2201 Gollihar Road Corpus Christi, TX 78415 (361) 852-0922 1

____________________________

SOUTH DAKOTA MobilityWorks - Tea 200 1st Street Tea, SD 57064 (605) 498-2200 1, 3

____________________________

Adaptive Driving Access Houston 6836 N Sam Houston Pkwy W Houston, TX 77064 (713) 874-9100 1, 2, 3 Adaptive Driving Access McAllen 120 North 20th Street McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 971-0001 1

Andy’s Mobility & Lift Services 1502 Santa Ursula Laredo, TX 78040 (956) 722-7371 1 Lift Aids Inc 1500 Westpark Way Euless, TX 76040 (817) 835-0035 1, 2, 3 MobilityWorks - Austin 239 Commercial Drive Buda, TX 78610 (512) 295-3800 1,3 MobilityWorks - Dallas 4150 Interstate 30 Mesquite, TX 75150 (972) 270-7114 1,3 MobilityWorks - Fort Worth 2110 N Beach Ft Worth, TX 76111 (866) 211-8267 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Houston 3327 S Sam Houston Pkwy Suite 300 Houston, TX 77047 (346) 226-6999 1 MobilityWorks - San Antonio 6473 DeZavala Road San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 697-8884 1,2,3 MobilityWorks - Selma 16262 IH 35 North Selma, TX 78154 (210) 718-0055 1,3

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS MobilityWorks - Waco 4980 S Loop 340 Robinson, TX 76706-4640 (254) 754-2700 1 Open Road Mobility Amarillo 6669 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79110 (806) 353-2747 1 Open Road Mobility Lubbock 7411 82nd Street Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 771-5873 1, 2, 3 Texas Mobility Services, LLC dba Texas Adaptive Aids 701 Bearcat Road Unit B Aledo, TX 76087 (817) 394-3914 1, 3 United Access - Arlington 2432 E Randol Mill Rd Arlington, TX 76011-6335 (817) 402-0069 1, 3 United Access - Austin 15301 Interstate 35 Ste A Pflugerville, TX 78660 (512) 436-0820 1, 3 United Access - Dallas (East) 2704 Lawing Ln 300 Rowlett, TX 75088 (877) 501-8267 1, 2, 3 United Access - Dallas (North) 2109 Luna Rd Ste 200 Carrollton, TX 75006 (877) 501-8267 1,3 United Access - El Paso 8736 Gateway East Blvd Suite B El Paso, TX 79907 (915) 585-0775 1

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VERMONT MobilityWorks - Essex Junction 5C David Drive Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 878-8640 1,3

VIRGINIA Driver Rehabilitation Center of Excellence d/b/a DRCE Mobility Solutions 14101 Parke Long Court Ste E Chantilly, VA 20151 (703) 345-2990 1, 3 Independent Lifestyles 4880 South Amherst Hwy Madison Heights, VA 24572 (434) 846-7510 1 MITS of VA 2075 W Main Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 (540) 932-7300 1 Mobility Plus Inc of Virginia 763 Union Street Salem, VA 24153 (540) 389-3400 1, 3 MobilityWorks - Alexandria 5751 General Washington Dr Alexandria, VA 22312 (571) 421-2647 1 MobilityWorks - Norfolk 6059 Virginia Beach Blvd Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 455-9889 1,3

Absolute Mobility Center 21704 87th Ave SE Woodinville, WA 98072 (425) 481-6546 1, 3 Goldenwest Mobility 1815 E Francis Ave Spokane, WA 99208 (509) 484-3842 1, 3

____________________________

WEST VIRGINIA Total Mobility Services Inc - Hurricane 146 Stricklin Rd Hurricane, WV 25526-6734 (304) 727-9478 1, 3

____________________________

WISCONSIN A & J Mobility - De Pere 1330 Mid Valley Drive De Pere, WI 54115 (920) 632-4882 1, 3 A & J Mobility - Eau Claire 2650 Prospect Drive Eau Claire, WI 54703 (715) 874-6630 1, 3

MobilityWorks - North Chesterfield 7450 Midlothian Turnpike North Chesterfield, VA 23225 A & J Mobility - McFarland 4125 Terminal Drive (804) 220-0611 McFarland, WI 53558 1,3 (608) 579-1500 1, 3 Priority Honda Hampton dba Priority Mobility A & J Mobility - Richfield 4115 W Mercury Blvd. 3058 Helsan Drive Hampton, VA 23666 Richfield, WI 53076 (757) 838-1252 (800) 517-1024 1 1, 3 ____________________________

WASHINGTON Ability Center - Everett 7202 Evergreen Way Everett, WA 98203 (425) 353-6563 1, 3 Ability Center - Redmond 14640 NE 91st Street Suite A Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 406-8484 1

____________________________

Ability Center - Sumner 6015 160th Avenue East Sumner, WA 98390 (253) 863-4744 1, 2, 3

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

A & J Mobility - Valders 333 Washington Street Valders, WI 54245 (920) 775-9333 1, 2, 3 MobilityWorks - Green Bay 844 Ontario Road Green Bay, WI 54311 (920) 491-8384 1,3 MobilityWorks - Sun Prairie 222 Linnerud Drive Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (608) 395-2350 1

MobilityWorks - Waukesha N8 W22195 Johnson Drive Ste 130 Waukesha, WI 53186 (888) 473-5402 1,3 ___________________________

WYOMING Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc. - Cheyenne 1207 E Pershing Blvd Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 637-7663 1

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

CANADA

____________________________

ALBERTA ECO Medical 18303 107 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5S 1K4 (780) 483-6232 1, 3 Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Calgary 4216 54 Avenue SE Unit 60 Calgary, AB T2C 2E3 (403) 243-6300 1, 3 Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Edmonton 14568-116 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5M 3E9 (844) 799-5464 1

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BRITISH COLUMBIA Alliance Mobility Solutions - Kelowna 1075 McCurdy Road Kelowna, BC V1X 2P9 (236) 420-1400 1, 3 Alliance Mobility Solutions - Richmond 12211 Vulcan Way #110 Richmond, BC V6V 1J7 (604) 370-7004 1, 3 Home2Stay Accessibility Ltd 305-1515 Broadway St Port Coquitlam, BC V3C6P6 (604) 259-1211 1 Island Mobility - Victoria 750 Enterprise Crescent Victoria, BC V8Z 6R4 (855) 593-0959 1, 3 Sidewinder Conversions & Mobility Ltd. 44658 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 0G5 (604) 792-2082 1,2,3 Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Maple Ridge 11393 Kingston St. Unit 4 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0Y7 (877) 215-7609 1

ONTARIO Conval-Aid/Liftability 2600 Lancaster Road Ottawa, ON K1B 4Z4 (613) 738-2721 1 Courtland Mobility 1355 Artisans Court Unit B Burlington, ON L7L 5Y2 (800) 354-8138 1, 2, 3 Goldline Mobility & Conversions 762 Industrial Road London, ON N5V 3N7 (519) 453-0480 1, 2, 3 Northend Mobility 301 Aqueduct Street Welland, ON L3C 1C9 (905) 735-5552 1, 2 Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - London 2028 Dundas Street London, ON N5V 1R2 (844) 799-5464 1 Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Ottowa 5300 Canotek Road Unit 42 Ottawa, ON K1J 1A4 (613) 290-5279 1

Centre d Autonomie 399 Ave De La Friche Dolbeau Mistassini, QC G8L 2T3 (418) 276-8336 1, 3 Centre de L’auto St-Lambert 145 Damase Breton St-Lambert de Lauzon, QC G0S 2W0 (866) 641-0419 1, 3 Eureka Solutions - Levis 107-829 J-Ambroise Craig Levis, QC G7A 2N2 (866) 562-2555 1 Eureka Solutions - Longueuil 2755 Montee St Hubert Longueuil, QC J3Y 4H6 (866) 562-2555 1, 3 Eureka Solutions - Sherbrooke 5018 Industrial Blvd Sherbrooke, QC J1R 0P4 (866) 562-2555 1, 3 SMVR 2 Visions Inc 414 Blvd St Germain Ouest Rimouski, QC G5L 3N4 (418) 723-9225 1, 3 TVR Technologies Inc. 20 Rue des Metiers Lavaltrie, QC J5T 0H4 (888) 919-2555 1, 3

Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Toronto 14 Goodmark Place Etobicoke, ON M9W 6R1 (844) 799-5464 1

Van Action 2005 Inc 4350 Autoroute 13 Laval, QC H7R 6E9 (800) 668-8705 1, 2, 3

Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Waterloo 675A Davenport Road Waterloo, ON N2V 2E2 (844) 799-5464 1,2,3

SASKATCHEWAN

____________________________

QUEBEC Adaptation 04 Inc 3025 rue Girard Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 2M4 (819) 372-0102 1, 3

_______________________

Golden Mobility & Rehab Ltd Saskatoon 3150A Faithfull Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7K 8H3 (306) 242-9060 1, 3 PrairieHeart Mobility 3033 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, SK S4T 1H5 (306) 584-8456 1, 3

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Jul-Sep 2022

CEO’S MESSAGE

You Gotta Stand for Something By Danny Langfield NMEDA CEO

o, this article is not directed

is in compliance with all applicable

and accountability for the entire auto

at our U.S. Congressmen

standards at the time of manufacture.

mobility industry.

NMEDA came to a realization well

Back on the dealer side of the

over a decade ago: NHTSA’s system

equation, the Quality Assurance

of self-certification is not sufficient

Program, under Rule 5.T., prohibits the

in the real world for verifying

sale of new, personal-use conversions

Instead, I am speaking to all NMEDA

crashworthiness. In other words, folks,

without verified evidence of

members, and specifically to the notion

registering as an alterer and slapping

compliance to certain of these federal

of QAP and what it means.

a sticker on the B-pillar isn’t enough.

motor vehicle safety standards.

As the vast majority of you are well

So, the association created the

That means that a QAP-accredited

aware, NMEDA is the association that

Compliance Review Program (CRP).

location must be in possession of

administers the Quality Assurance

Under the unofficial motto, “Trust,

valid crash test data or engineering

Program accreditation, affectionately (!)

but verify,” CRP set out to provide a

analysis data (the data itself, not a

referred to by its friends and adherents

mechanism for validating converters’

report summarizing the data) that

as QAP.

claims of compliance. NMEDA’s

demonstrates compliance to said

QAP has many requirements, from

Manufacturer Quality Assurance

requirements for every new, personal-

Program (MQAP) accreditation

use conversion it sells.

and women, although one can certainly be forgiven if

that was the first thought that came to mind upon reading the title.

properly trained technicians to annual mandatory audits, all aimed at the overarching goal of consumer safety. Are we the only ones interested in safety? Certainly not. From a regulatory standpoint, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees and enforces the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). But here’s the thing: NHTSA allows for vehicle alterers to be selfcertifying: in other words, while the law requires that conversions be compliant, it does NOT require the submission of any evidence of compliance. Conversion companies must register with NHTSA and are required to place a label on all altered vehicles that states the vehicle

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

“

Thirty states and the province of Quebec currently either require or strongly recommend QAP for all vehicle mods they approve. These entities and countless others have placed their full faith in the Quality Assurance Program, and for good reason.”

requires all manufacturer members to submit crash test data to CRP for all personal-use conversions they manufacture. This has been a powerful tool in raising the standard for safety

Such data is complex and extremely difficult to interpret without significant automotive engineering expertise, expertise typically not found (or expected) at an auto

mobility dealership. Enter CRP,

new, personal-use conversions to its

whereby NMEDA offers converters

customers without objective, verified

the opportunity to submit the data

evidence that those conversions are

directly to the association, or to work

crash-worthy.

directly with a NMEDA-approved test lab. In the former case, CRP contracts with automotive engineering experts to carefully review the data to verify that the conversions in question are indeed compliant to those federal requirements. (In the latter case, the test lab performs the verification and provides the completed reporting form to NMEDA.) In either case, once accepted by CRP, the conversions are posted to the Safety Reviewed Vehicles section of nmeda.org. This satisfies the dealer QAP requirement under 5.T. There are those who take the position that 5.T. is an unreasonable intrusion into their business practices, and that a QAP dealer should be able to sell any new, personal-use conversion to a customer he or she sees fit to sell. To those who take that position, let me ask you something, point-blank: Do you believe there are any WAVs currently available to consumers

The Board of Directors’ position on the matter is clear: That isn’t going to happen. 30 states and the province of Quebec currently either require or strongly recommend QAP for all vehicle mods they approve. These entities and countless others have placed their full faith in the Quality Assurance Program, and for good reason. To our friends at the VAs and Voc Rehabs, the regulatory agencies and everywhere else that cares about the safety of the consumer: know that NMEDA is deadly serious about the QAP accreditation. Have we lost members over this? Yep. And that’s unfortunate—but you gotta stand for something. While I have you, there are a couple of rumors I’d like to dispel: This is just a play by NMEDA to force manufacturers to become members and generate more dues revenue for the association.

(depending on gross revenue). Taking the larger number, the cash in question here maxes out at less than $13 grand. NMEDA is a $2.5M association. So, while we are always delighted to welcome new members, 0.5% of our revenue…is not really a needle mover. This is all because (mystery company X) doesn’t want dealers to be able to sell anything but their stuff. Nothing personal, but these folks might need to be fitted for tin foil hats. Everyone in auto mobility is HYPER aware of the severe inventory shortages in the marketplace. And keep in mind, DEALER members

in the marketplace that are not

For starters, you do NOT have to be a

make up nine of the 13 NMEDA board

compliant with NHTSA’s federal

member to submit conversion data to

member positions. The association

safety standards for crashworthiness?

CRP—that opportunity is open to all.

would love nothing more than to be

Furthermore, non-member companies

able to post as many conversions as

may submit an individual conversion

possible, providing more potential

ala carte (MQAP-accredited

inventory sources for dealers and

companies are required to submit ALL

more choices for customers. Come on.

If not, give me a call. I have a bridge you may be interested in buying. If so, then you probably also realize why the Compliance Review Program was established, and why it plays the essential role it does in our industry. A dealership taking the position above is essentially demanding that the association grant it QAP accreditation, despite the fact that the dealership may be willing to sell

personal use conversions). One more note—the cost of submission is the same for members and non-members.

In conclusion, conspiracy theories notwithstanding, Rule 5.T. is in place for two reasons: the safety of the

The reality is there are maybe a half

customer, and the legitimacy of the

dozen non-member manufacturers

Quality Assurance Program.

at stake here. Industry Member dues are either $1,575 or $2,100 annually

---

Jul-Sep 2022

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT

Updated VA 1394 Procedures: What You Need to Know By Amy Schoppman NMEDA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC POLICY

arlier this year, I woke up in

updated VBA rating decision. For

entirely—I was eager to discuss the

a North Little Rock Hampton

the member cases in question, the

challenge with NMEDA’s contacts

Inn. Such an occurrence would

updated eligibility determinations

at VACO and VBA. After providing

normally be considered a bad thing,

typically occurred around the time

an overview of the frequency and

but in this instance, I was filled with

the veteran engaged the mobility

duration of these cases, as well as

neither regret nor dread. In fact, I was

dealer for services. In most of these

a few strongly worded testimonials

feeling rather satisfied with myself

cases, neither the veterans nor the

from dealers and veterans, VA staff

given that I’d driven nearly 1,000

dealers were promptly notified of the

agreed that they would reexamine

miles in 1.5 days and was about to

veteran’s eligibility change, so dealers

the agency’s approach to confirming

whip up a few of those adorable mini

“

a veteran’s eligibility in an effort to

and deliveries only to be ultimately

identify why this was happening and

denied payment for the authorized

how it could be remedied.

waffles in the criminally underrated free breakfast area before continuing my road trip from Florida to New Mexico. To further reveal how low maintenance I can be, I was also legitimately excited to spend the better part of that morning on a call with VA Central Office (VACO) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). We had much to discuss, namely the confounding “approved but not eligible” situations that had been cropping up over the past year or so. Some background: since 2020, NMEDA has witnessed a sharp increase in dealer reports of VA denying Auto Adaptive Equipment (AAE) benefit payments due to a

proceeded with vehicle modifications

It turns out that there was a pretty straightforward answer to ‘why was this happening?’: VA did not have any mechanism for communication between VHA and VBA regarding changes in a veteran’s eligibility.”

work. VA’s proposed “resolutions” for such cases were unappealing at best: the dealer was directed to repossess the vehicle, convince the veteran to return the vehicle, or file an equitable relief claim and hope for the best.

It turns out that there was a pretty straightforward answer to “why was this happening?”: VA did not have any mechanism for communication between VHA and VBA regarding changes in a veteran’s eligibility. VHA

previously eligible service-connected

Knowing that there had to be better

was relying on VA Form 21-4502

veteran being deemed ineligible to

options for resolution—or, ideally,

to validate a veteran’s eligibility,

receive such benefits based on an

some method for preventing these

but a subsequent rating decision

“approved but not eligible” cases

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

would supersede the information on

please let it be that a signed quote

asking themselves any number of

the 4502, and this element of the

is not a legally binding document

(reasonable) questions, including:

agency’s process was resulting in

which obligates payment; VA’s

these rejected and unpaid AAE claims.

position is that the agency will not

Once this process flaw was identified,

be held responsible for any payments

an interim solution was developed.

if a signed quote is substituted for a

So, let’s break down the updated

completed and signed VA Form 10-

10-1394 procedures, which were

1394. While securing prior approval

officially communicated to Prosthetics

for all work may not seem ideal, an

Representatives nationwide in mid-

even less ideal outcome would involve

May: •

Part I will continue to be completed by the veteran and reviewed by PSAS.

•

Part II will now involve a verification of 4502 eligibility that must be confirmed by the Chief

“

Is this policy update why I experienced delays at my VA(s) in April/May? Probably. VACO’s effort to investigate this issue and update its policy required a temporary pause in approvals. Complicating that effort

If you are experiencing delays due to the 1394 process changes, please contact me so I can share your experiences and data with VACO and VBA.”

of Prosthetics, Assistant Chief of Prosthetics, or Supervisory Prosthetic Representative. •

The status of the veteran’s AAE eligibility – approved, rescinded, terminated – is validated at this stage and the process will continue (or not)

your company going unpaid for work that was furnished to an ineligible veteran. Based on the many conversations I’ve had with dealers regarding this updated policy, readers may be

were multiple mixed messages and fuzzy timelines being communicated to vendors and staff in the field. While the roll-out wasn’t as smooth as envisioned (when are they ever?), dealers should rest assured that some of the more outlandish rumors

as appropriate. •

Part III is to be completed by the Prosthetic Representative approving the AAE. •

Note that the same endorser cannot sign in Part II and Part III.

•

Once modifications have been completed and the applicant has certified Part IV, PSAS will submit all documentation to VBA for payment processing.

Dealers should note that Parts I, II, and III of the 1394 must be completed and signed before modifications begin and the vehicle is released to the veteran. If you walk away from this article having understood only one thing,

Jul-Sep 2022

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT circulating—namely that all AAE payments were on indefinite hold, that all AAE approvals were indefinitely suspended, and that VA Prosthetics might shut down entirely—were (and continue to be) false. The actual 1394 policy update was clarified to

(continued)

I’ve noticed that VA has begun to institute new evaluation requirements (e.g., evaluations for passengers, evaluations for veterans on a second or third vehicle) – is this related to the updated 1394 procedures?

are no doubt aware, relationships with Prosthetics Representatives are critical and this policy tweak underscores the importance of maintaining and developing a functional rapport with VA personnel.

No, they are two separate issues. VA

VA field employees in mid-May and,

I’ll also reiterate my previous call

efforts to update the agency’s AAE

at this point, should be in practice

to contact me with feedback on

evaluation procedures has been in the

nationwide.

your experiences with the updated

works for some time now and, as of

procedures. There will be future

this writing, has not been finalized.

opportunities to refine VA’s updated

While some dealers may have noticed

approach to 1394 submissions, and it’s

a shift in evaluation requirements

important that your input be included.

Is this policy update permanent? No, not currently. VA may more

“

around the same time the 1394

As most dealers are no doubt aware, relationships with Prosthetics Representatives are critical and this policy tweak underscores the importance of maintaining and developing a functional rapport with VA personnel.”

permanently adopt this interim procedure, but that will depend on vendor and veteran feedback and outcomes (more on that below).

Will this policy update delay vehicle delivery to veterans? It shouldn’t. An adjustment period was expected but I have been informed that, in the 6+ weeks since this interim policy was communicated to VA field staff, flow processes have been developed to minimize approval delays. If you are experiencing delays due to the 1394 process changes, please contact me so I can share your experiences and data with VACO and VBA.

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update, any evaluation procedure changes you may have experienced are not an outgrowth of the 1394 situation.

How can I best navigate the updated procedure? Talk to your Prosthetics Representative(s)! These individuals are best equipped to provide insight into the process, guidance for navigating the updated procedures most efficiently, and tips for minimizing potential delays and maximizing assurance that the VA will in fact pay you for the work you perform. As most dealers

---

GUEST FEATURE

Recruiting, Retention & Recognition: The Necessity of Your Business Today and in the Future

NMEDA Conference Sneak Peek

By Jay Gonien, WrenchWay Joe Clementi, MobilityWorks

t’s often said that people are our

industry is no easy task. From

with the noise coming from multiple

biggest asset and priority, yet our

understanding how to get in front

aftermarkets competing for a

actions typically fail to reflect that.

of these technicians, to coming up

candidate’s attention.

We get caught up in our day-to-day

with a compelling offer for qualified

activities, working to put out fires,

candidates, and finally doing what it

and finishing whatever is next on our

takes to keep these techs satisfied is

to-do lists. As a result, the people-side

hard. Doing it without a plan is almost

of our business tends to fall by the

impossible.

wayside as we continue chasing our

Yet, we find almost every mobility

tails trying to use a garden hose to put out a 5-alarm fire.

shop goes into recruiting blindly. There’s no real plan other than to post

You might be wondering what

ads on Indeed and become frustrated

retention has to do with you? Here’s a

when we don’t see immediate results.

shocking statistic!

Sure, you may network here or there

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics there are 703,800 open positions for skilled technician labor. That same report shows there are less than 68,000 qualified applicants. So we need to ask the questions: Where does your next-level of talent come from? AND What will set your business apart from the employment noise coming at potential candidates?

and maybe even work with your local

“

tech school, but that’s not enough.

Is the Technician Shortage Painful Enough to Change How You Recruit? The shortage of talent in our industry is not getting better. There are all kinds of statistics clearly showing this, and we’re sure many of you are feeling the pain each and every day. Is the pain you’re feeling enough to drive you to make changes in the way you approach finding and retaining quality talent? You’d think so, but labor shortage is at a tug and pull

Is the pain you’re feeling enough to drive you to make changes in the way you approach finding and retaining quality talent?”

For many, the challenge is that our industry, and specifically your operations, are not a name brand recognizable in the industry, similar to your local Ford, Honda, Toyota,

Finding qualified technicians for

or Chrysler store. The challenge is in

our adaptive and accessibility

and of itself when trying to compete

in constant flux creating uncertainty about this very subject. We’re here to remind you that there are no magic bullets! No shortcuts, easy fixes, and magic wand to be waved. We’re sure you’ve read it in

Jul-Sep 2022

GUEST FEATURE

(continued) with a solution to provide them with

consultant, but you need to find ways

Making a Change with Employee Marketing

to work ON your business rather than

As we mentioned earlier, having a

calling. There are no other industries

IN your business. A context requiring

plan is essential, but you don’t need

that have the true impact that the

leaders to rethink their business

an elaborate plan that is difficult

mobility industry has. It takes special

strategy not merely for the immediate,

to execute. You need something

people to do the things that all of you

but rather long-term. Finding quality

tangible that will allow you to pivot

do every day.

people for your shop falls in the

and alter your habits so you are able

working ON your business category.

to consistently do the things needed

You may be asking yourself, “How

“

to change your luck. You need a way

You have all experienced the

to change the problem you currently

and you find yourself beating your

“whirlwind”, right? You know the

have into a strength that sets you

head against the wall.

whirlwind—which is a representation

apart from other industries.

of the important/urgent activity

That’s where employer marketing

your stories. I’m jealous of the amount

comes in. Employer marketing is

of content that each of you has rolling

telling the story of what it’s like to

in the door each and every day. Some

work at your organization to help

of the projects that you’re working on

attract and retain employees who will

may seem really mundane because

thrive there.

you see it everyday, but much of it is

Most qualified technicians already

really interesting to those that don’t

have a job and aren’t actively looking

get exposure to it.

for work. So, why would an employee

Take reality TV shows for example.

leave a good job to come work for

People love to see this type of

you? They won’t… unless you give

content. It shows because the ratings

them a compelling reason to make a

are consistently high and they

change.

keep creating more of it. We’re not

a business book or been told by a

the freedom and accessibility is our

does this pertain to finding quality talent for our shops?” Well, it’s huge. Your employer brand is core

Most qualified technicians already have a job and aren’t actively looking for work. So, why would an employee leave a good job to come work for you?”

to putting a good recruiting plan together. Telling stories of the people in your business helps create a pull type of marketing strategy that helps technicians follow you. The current strategy for most mobility shops is asking people to come work for you. That message gets stale really fast,

needed to run the every-day functions in your business. The whirlwind of day-to-day activity can suck up attention and make it difficult to focus or make any progress on your strategic priorities. The client emergency, the production job in hold-pattern as you adjust from one equipment solution to another, more suitable product. The complicated diagnostic that you could not anticipate, to the immediate need of a client stuck in their wheelchair accessible van. Once you get the people-side down, it will allow you to take a break from putting out fires so you can focus on the stuff that matters. The more tactical and strategic elements that will grow and stabilize your business.

Story-Telling is a More Compelling Way to Attract Technicians Creating content is a great way to

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suggesting that you need to create a reality TV show based on your work mix, but the concept of it should tell you that this type of content works.

differentiate yourself as an employer.

What you’re ultimately trying to

The incredible part of the mobility

do is position yourself as a “cool”

industry is the amount of purpose it

place to work. You want to create a

provides. What makes the mobility

destination shop that works toward

industry so unique are the clients we

a purpose rather than just another

serve. The unique set of skills required

job that isn’t any different than who

to fabricate a solution to serve a client

Instead of doing that, focus on telling

they are already working for. Imagine

All of these Key technician needs

to come work for you immediately has

having a tech walk in the door already

can be met through the adaptive

trust issues because they already feel

feeling like they know the people

community. Your business fills a void

like they’ve been lied to. Rarely does

they are about to interview with.

that these technicians are looking for.

that get better after the start.

Think that would do anything for how

They just don’t know it yet!

comfortable they would be walking in

Transparency is Key

Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

By being transparent with who you

THE SCIENCE OF RECRUITING PEOPLE

A key piece to creating this type of

in yourself. This speaks volumes to

content is being comfortable with

people that might be looking at you

Research into the great resignation

who you are as a business. Are you

as a potential employer and makes

of 2022 has provided incredible

truly a great place to work? If we’re

them happier once they join your

evidence for having the right culture,

being honest, most mobility shops are

team. With that being said, don’t let

a mission that serves a purpose, and a

good, but not great. If you don’t find

this be an excuse to not get better.

work-life balance. The impact on the

yourself in that great category, get

You need to constantly strive to

economy is in the millions of dollars

to work on making yourself great. It’s

deliver a world class experience to

in lost production, lost wages, and the

easy to fall into the status quo, but

your people, regardless of how big

employee shortage.

you need to push yourself further.

your shop is.

The science behind what drives

Many times, we find that shops

Ultimately, recruiting is not as

engagement to your organization

aren’t comfortable creating content

complicated as we make it. Be a

shows that “students who have

because they don’t feel great airing

good place to work, create raving

been surveyed nearly 90% of them

out their dirty laundry. When we

fans by getting them to follow your

narrowed their search to 3 key areas.”

don’t think we’re great in some

journey, and hire people that fit your

Hint, there’s a direct correlation

certain aspect of our business, we

company’s culture. Creating content

with the research on the “great

tend to bury our heads in the sand.

isn’t the most natural thing for most

resignation.”

We would challenge you to embrace

people to do but once you embrace it,

•

where you currently are. There isn’t

it can completely change the success

a shop, regardless of size, that is

you have in regard to finding great

perfect. Documenting your journey to

people.

the front doors?

They want to align themselves with a purpose driven company. Stakeholders continue to demand more from their organizations.

•

improving your offering is incredibly

Employees are leaving companies

important.

that are not aligned with their

Doing it in an authentic way helps

core values that offer a greater

you build trust. I think a lot of people

sense of purpose.

have probably worked at a place that

Future employees want a flexible

promised the world and tried making

schedule and the ability to prioritize their quality of life with work. They want to know their

really are, you are showing security

All it takes is being proactive and getting a little uncomfortable ---

themselves look better than they actually were. This causes a lot of issues because the person signing up

families are just as important as the company’s finances. •

They want to know that their work is contributing to others. Technicians in particular, see themselves as artists that render unique paintings. They want to know the work they perform is more than a commodity of hours.

Recruiting, Retaining, & Recognizing Top Tech Talent I bet this article got your wheels turning. For a deeper dive into this topic be sure to check out the education session at conference! See page 31 for the full education line up and information on how you can get registered. Jul-Sep 2022

MEMBER NOTICE

Welcome New Leadership: Kyle Norton—VMI by Katie McDonald NMEDA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL

VMI is excited to announce the transition of Kyle Norton into the role of CEO. As a Veteran of the U.S. Army and having helped support a loved one who passed from ALS, VMI’s mission is personal. Kyle’s goals for VMI are a deep focus on (i) quality, (ii) customer experience, and (iii) building a company that VMI’s associates are proud to be a part of. He’s a candid and pragmatic leader who places a high emphasis on integrity, responsiveness, and relationships. Kyle is committed to achieving growth and success together with VMI’s partners as we collectively provide independence to individuals who face mobility challenges. NMEDA was able to connect with Kyle recently, tackling a few “get to know you” questions and prying for a sneak peek at the Conference Closing General Session panel on the future of the industry...read on to see what we learned!

Tell us about your history/experience before your current role. My career has spanned a broad range of roles and functions. I served as an Officer in the U.S. Army, twice deploying as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following the military, I was a consultant at McKinsey and Company, working with Fortune 100 companies and focusing on operational transformations in automotive, healthcare, and industrial sectors. I also started and led a venture-backed company in the data and analytics space working with healthcare, industrials, and retailers.

Why did you choose the mobility industry? I was drawn to the mobility industry and VMI specifically for three reasons. First, the mission resonated for me. I wanted to be part of a company that ultimately helped others. I knew fellow Veterans who relied on accessible vehicles in their daily lives and it really resonated. Second, I wanted to be part of a team that the mission mattered to. I felt that passion when I spent time with the

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team at VMI.

Third, I wanted to be able to provide a good quality of life for my own family.

What are your thoughts on the industry? While the mission of the industry pulled me in, my understanding of the role our industry plays in people’s lives has grown immensely. I’ve only been part of this industry for 3 years now, joining VMI in 2019. In that time, there has been a dramatic amount of change and I imagine much more is to come. While that can be scary at times, I believe there is tremendous potential as there are so many families and individuals in need. Our industry will continue to find more and more ways to serve them better with products, services, and support.

What is the most inspirational/impactful experience you’ve witnessed since joining the mobility industry? The 2 customer situations that tend to get me choked up are (a) young families getting to take vacations and

What do you view is the #1 benefit from being a NMEDA member?/What would you say to a non-member about why they should become a member? For me NMEDA represents two things; community and standards. On the community side, my perspective is that what we collectively do isn’t easy. It’s good and helpful to have relationships and friends who can help solve challenges and support customers. On the standards side, I think it’s important that we work together to always do right by our customers (quality, safety, and support).

Tell us about you/your family. I grew up in small town, western Pennsylvania, and love sports. I was fortunate to be able to play baseball while in college. Today there is no baseball being played but I’ve gotten myself into running and cycling. I have 2 young girls ages 7 and 5

It’s my goal to demonstrate that

and have been happily married for 17

VMI is 100% committed to quality

years.

and customer experience. I know we

and (b) those individuals trying to

Something else you want to share that we didn’t ask?

best enjoy their remaining days.

I’m excited to engage with NMEDA,

go to new places for the first time,

Tell us the last movie you’ve seen.

our industry, and the organizations we work with to support customers.

won’t always be perfect, but we will work hard to be forthright and honest partners in our pursuit of being the best that we can be. ---

As a former Army guy, it’s hard for me to admit but I saw Top Gun recently and absolutely loved it. It was the first time in a movie theater for me since COVID and the action scenes on the big screen were incredible.

Auto Mobility & the Supply Chain: What’s the Forecast? Kyle will be a panelist on the NMEDA Annual Conference stage as a part of our Closing General Session panel discussion on the future of the industry. Learn more about this session on page 31. Jul-Sep 2022

WELL

THAT

ESCALATED QUICKLY. LEARN MORE AT: QSTRAINT.COM/INQLINE

WHEELCHAIR PASSENGER BOARDING SYSTEMS Come Laugh and Learn About All the SeQurement Memes

Jul-Sep 2022

IT STARTS WITH US

Apr-Jun 2021

Technician Training

Sales Masters Course

Dealership Management

Dealer Sales & Marketing

Innovation & Evolution

True Story: My Best Influen Event EVER

Back and in effect, our ever-popular Influencers Panel will invite you to for about stats, graphs and ivory tower theories for a minute to focus on actu success stories from real-life events. Y come away convinced—if they can do can you. MODERATOR

Monique McGivney BraunAbility

PANELISTS

TBD

ncer

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NMEDA 2022 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION October 1-3, 2022 | Charlotte, NC

Registration also available online at www.NMEDAAnnualConference.com Company: ____________________________________________________ Contact: __________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________ State/Prov: ____ Zip/Postal: _________ Phone: ________________________ Email: __________________________________ EARLYBIRD REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE THROUGH AUGUST 20, 2022

DEALER Earlybird/Regular

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BANQUET ONLY: $75 (Monday Night)

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Exhibit & Sponsorship Opportunities are Still Available! www.AutoMobilityExpo.com

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

NMEDA Keynote Address

ADED Keynote Address

$7,500

Become the exclusive sponsor for the only ADED/NMEDA joint general session for the entire conference. This opportunity includes a 2–3 minute speaking opportunity in front of ADED and NMEDA’s combined attendees as well as a seat drop for all individuals attending the session.

Opportunity to address attendees for 2–3 minutes at the NMEDA Opening General Session and introduce our Keynote speaker. This sponsorship also includes a seat drop for all individuals attending the Opening General Session.

Opportunity to address ADED attendees for 2-3 minutes at the ADED opening general session and introduce our keynote speaker. This sponsorship also includes a seat drop for all individuals attending the Opening General Session.

Elevator Cling

Welcome Bags

Automatic Traffic

$7,500

$5,000

Exclusive opportunity to showcase your company on the interior doors of all elevators at the Westin Charlotte host hotel for the duration of the conference.

Get your company on the bag of every ADED and NMEDA attendee. No cheap totes here, we protect your brand with a quality bag. Why? To give you continued brand exposure long after the event! You’re welcome.

Do you want to drive traffic to your booth? We have a solution. You will not only host the giveaways for the Passport and Bingo drawings right in your booth on day 3, but each attendee will have to visit your booth throughout the conference to drop off their entries for a chance to win. And remember, they must be present to win!

Escalator Clings

Lanyard

Candy Sponsor

$5,000

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Put your brand directly around the neck and in view of every ADED and NMEDA attendee at the events.

You may not know this, but our conference attendees have quite the sweet tooth. For years they have been flocking to registration for free candy throughout the conference. Put your logo directly on the wrappers for the candy that will be set out at the registration desks for the attendees, and they’ll have your brand in their hungry hands for three straight days.

Joint General Session Sponsor $10,000

Do you want to make sure everyone sees your brand before heading into the expo? Do you want to make sure everyone sees your brand when they leave the expo? Then why not put your brand directly on the full-length escalator that takes all attendees to and from the expo hall?

INTERESTED? GREAT—CONTACT US TODAY! www.AutoMobilityExpo.com • phone 813.264.2697 • e-mail conference@nmeda.org

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There will be no escaping your branding with this four-sided sign. Each side is 8’x3’, positioned in high traffic areas in the convention center.

Each attendee will receive a one-page welcome letter when they check-in at the Westin Charlotte. With the welcome letter sponsorship, they will also receive a custom branded onepage promoting your company at check-in!

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Conference Wall Cling

$2,500

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Place your company directly in the path of the attendees as they make their way through a high-traffic hallway in the convention center with 48 square feet of custom branded real estate. OR you can take the entire wall for yourself with a REALLY big cling—just ask us about pricing.

Transportation This generous in-kind sponsor helps ensure our attendees in chairs have a safe, comfortable ride to and from the airport for our event.

Add-On Items

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INTERESTED? GREAT—CONTACT US TODAY! www.AutoMobilityExpo.com • phone 813.264.2697 • e-mail conference@nmeda.org

Mobility Way By Mike Savicki — Afterburner Communications NMEDA CONSULTANT

Dennis Knox—A Life of Adventure, A Lifetime of Passion

f you happen to be wondering, by

Yes, you heard it right. This is one of

somewhere,” Dennis Knox, 53, begins.

chance, what it’s like to survive

those stories that, if it weren’t all true,

He’s at his Palm Harbor, Florida home,

being lost at sea for more than 24

you might think belongs in an action

taking an interview break from his 27

hours, Dennis Knox is the guy you

movie or cable series. And I’ll admit

year job at AT&T while also preparing

should ask. He can also tell you a

that never in all my decades of writing

for a two-day offshore fishing trip. The

good bit about big and small game

have I written about someone being

Gulf waters are forecasted to be flat

hunting on continents around the

lost at sea or gator hunting let alone

and calm for the upcoming weekend

world, all types of fishing from ice to

both. But that’s because I have never

so he thinks he can make it 55 miles

spear, and SCUBA, too. And before I

before met anyone like Dennis Knox.

out to good fishing waters, then back,

forget, yes, he’s also a pretty decent alligator hunter.

“I feel like if I share my story and experiences, I’m helping out someone

on two consecutive days. Why not stay on the boat overnight? Two trips means he can maximize his haul of fish; what he catches and unloads on the first day doesn’t count against what he catches on day two. He’ll captain his 30’ Island Hopper. It has an open and spacious deck for his chair. His 25’ Carolina Skiff will stay docked on the lift. If you haven’t guessed by now, Dennis has a huge sense of, and passion and purpose for, adventure. He’s a modern-day outdoorsman. That sense of adventure and being outside took root as a kid growing up in upstate New York. He comes from a family of hunters and fishermen. Twelve months of the year they were outside. Always. Almost every day.

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It was while living in Georgia that his

and I had systems for all

life changed. Less than a year after

my gear and equipment.

leaving the Air Force at the end of

I remember one truck I

1992, where he worked in electronics

had, I could basically roll

on telephone switching systems,

my chair right under it.”

Dennis sustained a T2 spinal cord

He now primarily drives

injury from a motorcycle accident

a 2015 BraunAbilty Ford

in July 1993. His sister, whom he

Explorer that he bought

calls his Guardian Angel, pushed to

used in 2017. His wife,

get him into The Shepherd Center

Jessica, drives a 2016

for rehabilitation and it was there

Honda Accord.

that he saw his life could still have tremendous purpose and opportunity.

Dennis shares, “Neither of us have bought new in

“I had someone come in to Shepherd

quite some time. Things

as a peer support person, he was

change so much, and so

young, he was working, he was about

fast, I like to know what

to get married, and when I saw him

I’m driving is proven.

pull up in a Jeep, my eyes opened

But, that said, I’m always

right up, I realized these were all

looking.”

things I could do,” Dennis Knox shares.

Mechanically inclined, a

“More than that I wanted to get right

welder and fabricator,

back to it,” he adds. “I was never

Dennis has more sets

depressed, never down, and knowing

of hand controls than

my old employer was holding my

he can count. He uses

job kept me going. Knowing others

them on Bobcats, golf

believed in me helped me believe in

carts, trucks, a Can-Am

fight and fight, but make no progress.

myself.”

side-by side, and everything else

Minutes turn to hours as you drift

As far as driving, the car that his

that fits his lifestyle. His driving circle

farther and farther away, paralyzed,

therapists recommended he drive

currently runs from The Keys, through

swimming only with your arms.

lasted just about a year.

Florida and Georgia, to Louisiana.

Through an entire day then night you

He’s planning a fishing trip to Alaska

stay afloat. You are rescued the next

as well as a hunting trip to Wyoming.

day, picked up more than twenty

While the gator hunting in Georgia

miles from where you started. And

is good, he says Florida is better. A

here’s the kicker. You know the waters

good 12-footer can weigh more than

very well, you drifted right through

700 lbs.

the same area where you like to go

“I went to my first deer hunt pulling a trailer behind a Buick Grand Sport and quickly realized I needed something different,” Dennis says. “My old Buick wasn’t built to pull a hunting trailer so, after seeing what others were driving and how they did everything, I

“Things go from calm to chaos when

upgraded to a truck.

you catch one,” he laughs.

“And while some of the others

Oh, before I forget, here’s the story of

(hunters) had helpers, I wanted to

Dennis being lost at sea. Imagine the

be fully independent,” he states. “As

feeling when you come near your boat

I traveled more and more for hunts,

after a dive off the Florida Panhandle

my trucks got bigger and bigger,

and the current is holding you back,

higher and higher. I had systems to

it is just too strong to swim against it

get myself up then I’d pull my chair in,

to get to your lift. You swim and swim,

shark fishing. “My outlook on life made me, and makes me, want to keep going,” he reflects. “I’ve got so many things I still want to do. I’m far from slowing down.” ---

CANADA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Instant Observations By Russ Newton — Sure Grip PRESIDENT, NMEDA CANADA

our years absent from this

in concert with an incredibly well

NMEDA Canada recently attend the

position bookended by four

prepared team of NMEDA staffers was

CAOT conference in British Columbia.

years of active duty, with four

a joy to view.

We had a significant sponsorship

The second and most notable

role that saw Tamalea Stone address

months of new service, I have some instant observations. First significant observation was the NMEDA strategic planning session held in April. The event unto itself was a brilliant collaboration of directors, staff and a moderator. The event was laserfocused on where your association would concentrate resources for the next three years. I was fortunate enough to have been a participant in a like-planning session a few years back. While some of the folks around the table were unchanged and the

“

moderator was the same fellow, the

observation is the way in which NMEDA is now recognized as the preeminent voice in automotive mobility. I am aware of scenarios

the attendees as part of the opening night program. Tamalea delivered a strong message, leaving no doubt that NMEDA ought to be the sole source

where NMEDA has collaborated with

for auto mobility in Canada.

government agencies, vehicle OEMs

NMEDA went to that event with a

and rule/law makers in other countries

couple of funders circled as primary

relative to compliance and quality.

targets. I can tell you that we began

Again, simply speaks to the quality

a very meaningful conversation

and workmanship being applied to

with a major Canadian funder of

our craft by volunteers and staff.

auto mobility. That conversation has

Simply had to allude to the quality of

morphed into one or more face-

the advancements, the maturity and

Simply, had to allude to the quality of the advancements, the maturity and ongoing initiatives that have occurred over the past four years with NMEDA as an association.”

to-face meetings with that funder looking to understand how NMEDA dealers can provide value and quality to their auto mobility purchases. Darlene from AVS in Kelowna and Lars Taylor our professional member also joined us in Whistler, manning the booth and spreading the good word. A new initiative from the Canadian group that is being headed by Darin

tone, process, focus, symmetry, and

ongoing initiatives that have occurred

Ashby with help from Aaron Andre

most importantly, resulting mandates

over the past four years with NMEDA

is what we are calling our ”Dealer

are clear, concise, and perfectly

as an association.

Support Forum.” The first meeting is

created to provide growth for the

OK, lots going on in Canada. A new

association and its members. By the

Board now in place: Tamalea Stone,

time you are reading this you will have

Vice President; Pierre Cote, Secretary;

seen the outcomes from the session

Serge Lavallee, Treasurer; Darin

and will see exactly where and how

Ashby, Darlene Nargang, and Shelly

your Association is focused. All of

Pattenden, Directors at Large; and

this to say that your volunteer leaders

Lars Taylor, Professional Member.

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

scheduled for July. The goal is to look broadly at what issues are common amongst our dealers from a service standpoint and look to resolve those common issues as a group versus a single dealer position. I’m excited to see how this progresses.

Lastly, you will notice that this edition

Well, the overall benefit available to

for you to participate. In fact, much

of the Circuit Breaker is focused

you far exceeds your cost to be there.

of the success of this platform will

squarely on the upcoming Conference

Book early, take advantage of the

be contingent on your commitment

and Auto Mobility Expo. NMEDA

educational opportunities and come

to provide content and share with

Canada will be, subject to attendance,

home a better equipped operator.

those individuals and Government

OH YEAH, worth mentioning as well:

Agencies who you deem as necessary

holding a meeting of membership. Once again, I will promise you that the content from an educational perspective will be worth every dollar you invest. We all talk about ROI.

NMEDA Canada has committed to the undertaking of a fairly aggressive,

and valuable to our mission. Watch for announcements, be a player….GO

new social media platform. There will

Habs! right Pierre??

be much in the way of opportunity

---

MEMBER NOTICE

Amy Lane Full-Time Director Education, Training & Conferences

MEDA is thrilled to announce

In addition to education and training,

Amy Lane will be joining

Amy will be stepping in as the

the NMEDA team full-

lead in NMEDA Annual Conference

time as our Director of Education,

management, transitioning many

Training & Conferences beginning

of the conference planning tasks

this September. Amy first stepped

previously handled by Marilyn Myers.

into the part-time role of Director of Education & Training in the fall of 2020 when NMEDA and the University of Pittsburgh launched a unique twoyear education partnership. As that agreement expires this September, we are delighted to share

Amy will remain based in Pittsburgh, PA joining us at the Tampa office as needed. Join us as we congratulate Amy on this new role! ---

that Amy will be joining us full-time and expanding her responsibilities.

Jul-Sep 2022

INDUSTRY ADVISOR

TC to Enact Administrative Penalties By Harry Baergen – Autoregs Consulting NMEDA CRP COORDINATOR

Harry Baergen was previously the Regulation Enforcement Officer for Transport Canada. Currently, he acts as the Compliance Review Program (CRP) Coordinator for NMEDA. If you have any questions about the contents of this article, or about the NMEDA CRP, contact Harry Baergen at 778.888.2210.

n May 07, 2022, Transport

in violation of the Act is subject to

Canada (TC) issued a

criminal action in court to a fine

Regulatory Impact Analysis

of $200,000.00 to a maximum of

Statement (RIAS) proposing to

$2,000,000.00. An individual is

amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

subject in court to a fine of $4,000.00

(Act) to allow enforcement officers

or to a maximum of two years in

to issue Administrative Monetary

prison. TC can also seize vehicles

Penalties (AMPs) for safety defects

and forfeit them. Where vehicles are

and non-compliance. In other words,

seized, a court case is automatically

TC could issue monetary fines without

generated, but charges can be

a court order. The fines would be

dropped if corrective measures are

tailored to the seriousness of the

taken by the defendant.

violation and would supposedly bring vehicle manufacturers or importers into compliance without leaving them with a criminal record (in Canada the Act is entirely based on the criminal code, unlike in the United States where the Motor Vehicle Safety Act is mostly based on civil law).

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

last resort action to obtain corrective measures even though prosecution is intended to set a precedent. Also, prosecution can be resource intensive. Another problem is that commencing litigation action is not decided by the enforcement officer.

By way of background, a U.S. vehicle

It is decided by TC internal legal

manufacturer or importer found in

counsel often made up of regulatory

violation of the Motor Vehicle Safety

lawyers who do not have a litigation

Act, notwithstanding the TREAD

background and who may lean toward

Act, is subject to civil action in court

the political ideology of the day and/

to a maximum fine of $5,000.00 for

or who may not be familiar with the

each violation and for each vehicle

practical aspects or the broader

to a maximum of $15,000,000.00

precedent setting benefits of the

and $5,000.00 per violation per day.

case. The TC legal counsel provides

Criminal action in court can result in a

counsel for regulations development,

fine and up to five years in prison.

assigns litigation cases to law firms

In comparison, a Canadian vehicle

and ensures that court cases are

manufacturer or importer found

In Canada, TC prosecution cases are a

registered for future case law, but enforcement may not always be a

priority for TC legal counsel. For

Refuse to pay the fine and

importation. However, denying

example, it was eventually discovered

continue to manufacture or

importation requires collaboration

that during the 1990s and early

import non-complying vehicles,

with, and the discretion of, Canada

2000s only one court case out of approximately twelve, most of which were successful, was registered in case law. Therefore, the implementation of AMPs might provide another interim option for TC enforcement officers if the enforcement is left to the discretion of the enforcement officer. Based on the factors to assess the severity of a violation, AMPs may also provide a more predictable penalty system and an unyielding pathway to prosecution without interference of internal legal counsel.

Pay the fine and take corrective measures,

Prolong things through an appeal tribunal.

The Canadian RIAS, Part I, a process similar to the NHTSA notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM), blatantly omits the recourse TC would have against a company who does not conform in response to the issuance of a monetary penalty. It might be considered that a company would refuse to pay if the reason for the fine is refusal to comply. Where a company’s response to a TC monetary

DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS FOR ASSESSING THE SEVERITY OF A VIOLATION Harm or Risk

The harm or risk posed by the non-compliance

Degree of Negligence or Deliberateness

How negligent was the company or person? Was the non-

Compliance History Mitigation of Harm Cooperation with TC Detective of Contravention

compliance deliberate or accidental? Whether the non-compliance caused the company to benefit financially, or derive a competitive advantage

Border Services Agency (Customs). TC has also been known to collaborate with NHTSA to take action against a U.S. manufacturer who is shipping non-compliant vehicles to Canada, but this is also at the discretion of NHTSA. Another enforcement tool TC utilizes is collaboration with the provinces. The provinces in Canada have an outdated mandate for manufacturers to apply the federal national safety mark (NSM), but provinces do not consider federal standards a priority. Revoking an NSM may also serve as a deterrent in some cases, but TC’s legal authority for NSM cancellation is debatable. The aforementioned enforcement methods are some tools TC uses to avoid prosecuting companies. However, the only enforcement powers afforded to TC under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act are through seizure, entering a facility without a warrant, and prosecution. All other tools are just support that TC

How the company or person acted to mitigate the risks once the

solicits from other jurisdictions. It

issue was detected

has also been proven that if these

The level of cooperation with Transport Canada in relation to the

satellite jurisdictions see that TC is

non-compliance Whether the company or person reported the non-compliance, if it was discovered jointly, or discovered by TC alone

too dependent on them and is not doing its own part by using its own enforcement powers under the Act, the collaborating jurisdictions may take TC less seriously.

Where a TC enforcement officer

fine is refusal to pay, that takes TC

Therefore, assuming the enforcement

issues a company a fine the company

back to the only real power it has –

officer must be on the company’s

will have to decide on its options:

to seize vehicles and/or lay charges

premises to issue a fine, the

under the Act. Therefore, AMPs could

officer would have simultaneously

be just another link in the chain to

opportunity to detain (seize) vehicles.

delay inevitable prosecution.

Otherwise, there may not be enough

It might appear that TC has other

incentive for the company to pay the

Refuse to pay the fine and take corrective measures,

Pay the fine and continue to manufacture or import noncomplying vehicles,

peripheral powers, such as denying

fine and take corrective measures,

Jul-Sep 2022

INDUSTRY ADVISOR

(continued)

measures which could include

and the Act differentiates between

Act, may be the ultimate deterrent

conducting recalls. In other words;

less serious summary convictions

after all. By doing some of its own

how is the delinquent manufacturer

and more serious indictment

enforcement TC may also gain some

or importer held accountable under

convictions. Although, TC has, in

credence in the eyes of all the other

AMPs?

the past, arbitrarily established an

agencies it tries to collaborate with

administrative policy for a company

and defensible prosecution, reinforced

to apply for enforcement relief for

by AMPs, could set a long-lasting

inconsequential non-compliance.

precedent in the industry.

It could be discerned that the AMPs

The RIAS can be found in the Canada

On the other hand, where noncomplying vehicles are found after being shipped and the fine can be issued remotely the vehicles would still have to be detained and reported to a justice until corrective measures are taken. When a vehicle (or vehicles) is detained and corrective measures are not taken, the vehicle(s) will serve

“

proposed in the RIAS provides an adjustment tool for the severity of a violation to determine the amount of the monetary penalty with the expectation that the company will pay the fine, or, AMPs can also

as evidence for laying charges. If a fine is issued without seizure and the company refuses to pay the fine it may be more difficult to find vehicles for evidence.

assist a judge in determining the penalty in sentencing. Using AMPs could also give some discretionary guideline to the enforcement officer in determining the compliance status of

Transport Canada states in the

a company. Otherwise, AMPS may just

RIAS that AMPS would serve as an

be adding another link in the chain to

enforcement tool, “in the absence

prolong the steps toward prosecuting

of an enforcement tool to address

a delinquent company.

regulatory violations that would not warrant a prosecution, but for which a warning is not a sufficient response.” This is not clear in that the RIAS at issue does not provide any examples of what does not warrant prosecution. According to the Act, all violations warrant prosecution

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Understandably, TC avoids prosecution due to resource allocation, but the RIAS mentions adding four person years to administer AMPS. This is likely exactly the manpower that is needed to prosecute delinquent companies. Prosecution, which is clear under the

Gazette, Part 1, Vol 156, No. 19. ---

QAP STRAIGHT TALK

Top 10 QAPx TimeSavers You May Not Know About by Chuck Hardy NMEDA DIRECTOR OF QUALITY & COMPLIANCE

ou already know QAPx is helping you process QAP jobs more efficiently. But you may not know all the tricks and hidden gems that could be saving you even more time. And who doesn’t want that? In this article, I am going to show you ten time-saving features of QAPx that you may not be aware of. Let’s get going!

Number 10 – Hidden links Did you know you don’t have to open a new browser window to get to the NMEDA home page or directly to the QAP page on NMEDA’s website? Just click on the NMEDA logo or QAP logo in the header and in one click, you’re there!

Number 9 – VIN Lookup That’s right, QAPx has its own built-in VIN lookup. Under the vehicle details section, just pop in a VIN and the year, make, and model will populate without you doing anything else. What could be easier?

continued...

Jul-Sep 2022

QAP STRAIGHT TALK Number 8 – Training videos Have you ever forgotten how to do something in QAPx? Do you have a new tech you’re training? Or do you just want to learn more about what QAPx can do? A lot of people don’t know that there is a library of training videos under the “Help” navigation. Just click on Help > Frequently Asked Questions, and you will see a list of over 35 training videos, including the whole enchilada (the complete course). So, the next time you forget how to upload a form, or how to submit a job, just click on the training video and get a quick refresher on how to do it. Not to mention, all of this can be done at your leisure, on demand.

Number 7 – Sorting This is the easiest one to explain, but if you don’t know it’s there, you may never use it. To sort a column of data, just click on the words in the top title for the column and it will sort A-Z [and you will see a small blue up arrow] and click the title once again will sort in the reverse order Z-A [and you will see a small blue down arrow]. That’s it on sorting.

Number 6 – Quick access to Rules, Guidelines, and Bulletins Now that the QAP Rules and Guidelines are all on-line, there is no need to keep paper copies around, right? but you know that already, duh…. And while you are already in QAPx, and have a question about the Rules or Guidelines, just click on the “quick link” in the top banner and BAM, there they are, like magic! We also put in a link to the QAP Bulletins, so you have a quick reference if you ever need it. You’re welcome.

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

(continued)

Number 5 – Assigning techs to multiple locations Got techs who work at more than one of your locations? QAPx has you covered. Click on “Administration” then “Accounts” then edit the tech you want to assign, and click on “Assigned Dealers.” From there, just pick each location you want them assigned to. And remember, if you want the tech to show up on the dropdown when you’re completing the equipment installation information, the tech has to be assigned to that store.

Number 4 – Filtering Results QAPx outputs a lot of data. That’s what it’s supposed to do. But sometimes you want to pick just one job out of the data, or one label number, or one customer. All of that can be done in QAPx by using the filter feature. You see that little “funnel” looking icon at the top of each column of data? Well that little bugger is the “filter” icon. Click on that and you will get a popup, and on that popup, you can enter your search criteria and hit the “filter” button. For example, if you want to look up a specific last name, click the filter icon, in the popup, click “Contains” and then enter some or all of the last name in the search box, then hit ‘Filter’, and you will see only the last names that contain your criteria. Note that this filter is sensitive and if you click “exactly” it will only show exact matches. That’s why I like to use the “contains” option. It allows you to be a little sloppy and will give you anything close. The last thing about filters, if you have one turned on (in use) that little funnel icon will be blue. I got freaked out a few times when my dashboard was all blank and I thought $!@# I lost all my jobs. But then I realized the filter was ‘ON’ and I just had to clear it. Don’t be a Chuck: Clear Your Filter!

Number 3 – Manager access to multiple locations Are you managing multiple locations and want to be able to see QAPx jobs and information for each of your locations? QAPx can do that. But it does require a little up-front work. Just call the Help Desk or send a message to me asking to be assigned to multiple locations. Once you are set up, you can access any of your stores by clicking on the location you want— and you don’t have to log back out to jump between stores. Just go to the navigation and click on another store to jump around. Cool beans, aye? continued...

Jul-Sep 2022

QAP STRAIGHT TALK

Number 2 – Help Desk I’ve taken a lot of calls here in the office to help people out with QAPx. But I am not always available. Whether that’s because of differing schedules, or differing time zones (especially for the good folks in Hawaii 6 hours behind me in Tampa town... Aloha my friends!), I want you to always get the assistance you need. So, a faster way for you to get help is to call the QAPx help desk! I don’t think they are open 24/7 but they are open during all normal working hours (regardless of time zone!). You can find their number right under the “Help” section and if you’re feeling shy that day, you can even send in a ticket, and someone will get back to you ASAP. Next time you need help, give it a go!

Number 1 – Use the barcoded forms and let QAPx sort them into the right jobs Drum roll please …… the number one QAPx time saver a lot of people don’t know about: Barcoded forms. That’s right, you see that big barcode on the bottom of the customer forms like the Make Inoperative and Delivery forms? Well that little baby can save you a lot of time. Let me tell you how. When you open one of the job forms on the Customer Forms tab, the system applies a unique barcode to

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

(continued)

that form. It may look like the same

And before you ask the question, I will

Well, that’s all folks. I hope you had

barcode on each form, but it is not.

tell you that it doesn’t matter what

some fun and learned some new tricks

That barcode knows exactly what job

job you have opened at the time, just

to help you work more efficiently in

it was created for and that means that

click on the (and this is important)

QAPx! If you think of anything else

when it is uploaded back into QAPx

“Upload Signed Docs” button from

you wish it would do, drop me a note.

(after printing and signing) the fancy

inside any job, whatever one you’re

I am keeping a running list of future

whiz-bang technology in QAPx will

in at the time, and upload as many

enhancements and we will incorporate

sort it right into the proper job folder

forms as you want. Sometimes it takes

as many as we can as the software

quicker than you can slice bread (or

a minute or two to process, but it will

matures. Until next time, thank you for

whatever the metaphor was that I

do its thing and you will not have to

reading and thank you for taking care

was supposed to use….I’m not good

sort anything. Just sit back and relax.

of the person behind the wheel!

One final note on this feature, if it

---

at metaphors as my office mates will attest) anyway… What that means is you can upload a stack of barcoded forms from jobs completed that day, or that week, or for whatever timeperiod you like, and those forms could be mixed in any which way and they will be sorted and put into the right jobs every time. It’s a beautiful thing.

does choke when you are uploading, nine out of ten times it is because you have a sheet in your stack that is not barcoded, or, I’ve seen this too…. you reused the same barcoded form from another job. Take the bad sheet out of the upload and try it again.

Get Social with NMEDA

Jul-Sep 2022

QAP DASHBOARD

QAP DASHBOARD AVERAGE FINDINGS PER AUDIT July 2021 – June 2022

3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

TOP 5 AUDIT FINDINGS July 2021 – June 2022 QAP Contact Training Incomplete

NCT Missing/Expired

QC Manual Needs Update

QAPx Forms Incomplete QAPx Location Documents Missing

35 21

AUDIT FINDING SEVERITY July 2021 – June 2022 Successful Audit

Major

Minor

Opportunity for Improvement

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

QAP DASHBOARD

QAP DASHBOARD TOTAL QAP DEALERS IN GOOD STANDING Quarterly: June 2021 – June 2022 330

325

323

325

321

320

320 315

308

310 305 300 295

Jun-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Mar-22

Jun-22

NEW QAP APPLICATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS Quarterly: June 2021 – June 2022 Applications

4 3 2

Accreditations

4 3

1 0

0 Jun-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Dealers with No Audit Findings

Mar-22

Jun-22

Newly Accredited Dealers

Key Mobility Services – Xenia, OH MITS of Virginia – Waynesboro, VA

Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA INDUSTRY MEMBERS INDUSTRY

____________________________

Accessible Vans of America, LLC. 334 Buckington Street St. Peters, MO 63376 (636) 294-1762

DealerTeam.com, LLC 2195 Larkspur Ln #203 Redding, CA 96002 (530) 232-3260

Adaptive Driving Alliance 111 Stow Avenue, Ste 103 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 (330) 928-7401

Driverge Vehicle Innovations 4199 Kinross Lakes Parkway Suite 300 Richfield, OH 44286 (330) 510-3069

Adaptive Mobility Systems, Inc. 2072 N. Bibb Drive Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 674-0776

Driving Systems, Inc. 16139 Runnymede St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 (818) 782-6793

Adapt-Solutions 145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 (866) 641-0419

EZ Lock 2001 Wooddale Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 214-4620

AMF Bruns of America 1797 Georgetown Road Hudson, OH 44236 (877) 506-3770

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 1000 Chrysler Drive Auburn Hills, MI 48326 (800) 255-9877

Assistability 30171 Chinook RPO Calgary, AB T2H 2V9 (800) 403-9019

Ford Motor Company 777 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500 Detroit, MI 48226 (313) 202-6342

Bever Mobility Products 2885 Sanford Ave SW 41693 Grandville, MI 49418 (888) 959-6198 Brandl Mobility Finance Services 559 Hwy 10 South St. Cloud, MN 56304 (866) 581-3922 BraunAbility P.O. Box 310 Winamac, IN 46996 (800) 843-5438 Bruno Independent Living Aids 1780 Executive Drive Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (262) 953-5316 Creative Carriage Ltd. 6 Ridgeview Street St. George, ON N0E 1N0 (519) 740-4801 Crescent Industries 191 Washington St. Auburn, ME 04210 (207) 777-3500

Fortress Partners 5005 Plainfield Ave NE Suite 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 447-2293 General Motors Corporation 100 Renaissance Ctr., MC482-A20-B98 Detroit, MI 48265 (313) 667-8682 Harmar Mobility 1500 Independence Blvd. Ste 220 Sarasota, FL 34234 (800) 833-0478 Johnson Hand Controls LLC 3960 Locust Grove Rd Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 449-0089 Joysteer USA, Inc. 6624 Clay Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49548 (832) 783-9751 KEMPF 1245 Lakeside Dr. #3005 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (408) 773-0219

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Mahadev Metal Works & Fabrication Unit 124, 125 - 11071 Bridgeport Rd. Richmond, BC V6X 1T3 (604) 270-3317 Malley Industries, Inc. 1100 Aviation Avenue Dieppe, NB E1A 9A3 (506) 859-8591

Twining Consulting, Inc. 18071 Mount Washington St Unit A Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (562) 272-7231 Royale Mobility LLC 100 Newark Street Haverhill, MA 01832 (978) 374-4530

Manufacturing Production Services Corp. 2222 W. Enterprise St. Escondido, CA 92029 (800) 243-4051

Schmidt Business Consultants, LLC 24410 Emmons Rd Columbia Station, OH 440289663 (330) 351-1711

Master’s Specialty Vehicles LLC 800 Quick Trip Way Belton, MO 64012 (800) 783-3613

Sure Grip Hand Controls 4850 Route 102 Upper Kingsclear, NB E3E 1P8 (506) 363-5289

MGA Research Corporation 5000 Warren Road Burlington, WI 53105 (262) 763-2705 Mobility Credit Acceptance 1108 E Main St Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 505-4000 Mobility Innovations 51277 Celeste Dr. Shelby Twp, MI 48315 (586) 843-3816 Mobility Support Solutions 16212 Bothell Everett Highway Mill Creek, WA 98120 (877) 246-0979 PMG Technologies Inc. 100 Du Landais St. Blainville, QC J7C 5C9 (450) 430-7981 Pritchard Auto Group 1400 S 24th St Ste B Clear Lake, IA 50428-4016 (352) 552-6674 PSA Insurance & Financial Services 11311 McCormick Rd. Hunt Valley, MD 21031 (443) 798-7495 Q’STRAINT/Sure-Lok 4031 NE 12th Terrace Oakland Park, FL 33334 (954) 986-6665

Tempe Mobility 7975 S. Autoplex Loop Tempe, AZ 85284 (480) 598-2383 TMN 58 Hachermesh St. Haifa, Israel 31000 073-2229222-200 Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc 6565 Headquarters Drive Plano, TX 75024 (469) 292-4649 Vantage Mobility International 5202 S. 28th Place. Phoenix, AZ 85040 (800) 348-8267

NMEDA ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

____________________________

ARIZONA Jennifer Nordine Driving to Independence LLC 1414 W. Broadway Rd #218 Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 449-3331

____________________________

CALIFORNIA Penny M. Anders Sharp Memorial Hospital Rehab 1641 Borana St. San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 565-2437 Lula Capuchino Capuchino Therapy Group 3601 Marconi Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 481-1300 Melanie Henry Driver Cognitive Assessment Center, LLC 4450 Black Ave Suite D Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925) 249-5947 Gregory Paquin Gregory J. Paquin 5140 Florence Ave. Unit C Bell, CA 90201 (310) 337-1410

____________________________

GEORGIA Dan Allison 142 Lynford Ln Woodstock, GA 30189 James Kennedy Shepherd Center 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 367-1296 Eilif L. Olesen 636 Frigate Dr # 9201 Ellijay, GA 30540-6335 (727) 424-7485

Brian Iadarola DriveAbilities 224 N. Hite Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 893-0050

Jurgen Babirad Rehabilitation Technology Associates, Inc. PO Box 540 Kinderhook, NY 12106 (800) 987-2753

LOUISIANA

John Lorenzetti, OTR/L, CDI, DRS FLX Driver Rehabilitation, LLC 4144 High Banks Rd. Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 585-9198

____________________________

Michael K Shipp MKS Consultants, LLC 1340 Mitcham Orchard Rd Ruston, LA 71270 (318) 245-7361

____________________________

MARYLAND

Rajesh Pagadala Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 3586 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31210 (478) 751-6272

Elin Davis American Occupational Therapy Association 6116 Executive Blvd Ste 200 North Bethesda, MD 20852 (800) 729-2682

ILLINOIS

MASSACHUSETTS

Anne Hegberg Strive for Independence 1919 S. Highland Avenue Bldg. C, Suite 119 Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 909-6080

Eugene Blumkin Massachusetts Rehab Commission 600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02211 (617) 204-3721

Darina Yakimec 2500 Archbury Ln APT 1K Park Ridge, IL 60068

MICHIGAN

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C Kerry Jones The Space Between 26875 Church St. Edwardsburg, MI 49112 (269) 663-0226

COLORADO

INDIANA

Sarah Davidson Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson St. Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8117

Kathy Kachanoski Columbus Regional Hospital 1732 Timbercrest Dr. Columbus, IN 47203 (800) 841-4938

Barry Doyle Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8218

Carin Mitchell Mitchell Driving Solutions PO Box 705 New Carlisle, IN 46552

Colleen Knoll Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8218

Eva Richardville Therapeutic Mobility Services, Inc. 311 Airport North Office Park Ft. Wayne, IN 46285 (260) 417-8399

Nikki Simmons Driving Independence 5225 Crawford Rd Hernando, MS 38632 (901) 734-7472

KENTUCKY

Gail Babirad Rehabilitation Technology Assoc. Inc PO Box 540 Kinderhook, NY 12106 (800) 987-2753

Natalie Uyeno 3425 S Clarkson St Englewood, CO 80113-2811 (303) 789-8218

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FLORIDA Stephen A. Emerson Stephen A. Emerson Inc. 1384 Wainwright Way Ft. Myers, FL 33919 (239) 633-0180

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MaryFrances Gross On the Road, Again 4805 Hemlock Way Lexington, KY 40514 (619) 607-1142

Kelby Lloyd Special Driving Services, Inc. P.O. Box 241 Okemos, MI 48805 (517) 862-1717

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MISSISSIPPI

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NEW YORK

Raanan Zidile Tri-Boro Driver Rehabilitation & Mobility Services, Inc. 1642 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230

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NORTH CAROLINA Cyndee Crompton Genesis Marketing & Agencies dba Genesis Mobility PO Box 448 McLeansville, NC 27301 (336) 697-7841 Mike Edwards North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 5501 Executive Center Dr Suite 101 Charlotte, NC 28212 Liz Green ADED 200 First Avenue N.W. #505 Suite 505 Hickory, NC 28601 (866) 672-9466

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PENNSYLVANIA Brenda Bennett Transportation Solutions 4202 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509 (814) 833-2301 Amy Lane Adaptive Driving Program/U of Pittsburgh 3600 Forbes St Pittsburgh, PA 15101 (412) 864-3068

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SOUTH CAROLINA Alan B. Simmerson CDRS WJBD VA Medical Center 3602 Deerfield Drive Columbia, SC 29204 (803) 776-4000

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Jul-Sep 2022

NMEDA ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS TEXAS Christine Salinas Strowmatt Rehabilitation Services, Inc 10690 Shadow Wood Dr Suite 113 Houston, TX 77043 (713) 722-0667 Chad Strowmatt Strowmatt Rehabilitation Services, Inc 11020 Katy Freeway Ste 217 Houston, TX 77043 (713) 722-0667

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CANADA

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BRITISH COLUMBIA Larry Bowen Larry Bowen PO Box 78095 Northside RPO Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 4X5 (604) 996-4893 Dean Robertson Access Driver Rehab Specialists 3405 W 31 Ave. Vancouver, BC V6S 1X6 (604) 263-5286

Lars Taylor InSight Rehabilitation Services Inc. 3002 Coachwood Crescent Coldstream, BC V1B 3Y4 (250) 542-3087 ____________________________

NEW BRUNSWICK Maura DuLong Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation 800 Priestman St. Fredericton, NB E3B 0C7 (506) 452-5876

Tamalea Stone Ottawa Hospital 686 Vivera Pl Stittsville, ON K2S 2N1 (705) 741-7660 ____________________________

QUEBEC Kristian Thivierge Centre de Readaptation Constance-Lethbridge 7005, Boulevard de Maisonneuve Quest Montreal, QC H4B 1T3

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ONTARIO Shah Baqar, OT, CDRS CBI Health Group 20 Linsmary Court Markham, ON L6E 1L2 (416) 419-3031

SASKATCHEWAN Suzanne Lendvoy SK Health Authority 2180 23rd Avenue Regina, SK S4S 0A5 (306) 766-5968

F. Lortie F. Lortie 68 Bloomfield London, ON N6G 1P3 (519) 495-9541

EUROPE ____________________________

UNITED KINGDOM George Uzonwa Flat 72 Athelney Street London, UK SE6 3LB

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NMEDA EDU/GOV’T/NON-PROFIT MEMBERS

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Chelsea Hales The Master’s Driving School W7366 Flambeau Point Rd Ladysmith, WI 54848 (715) 532-0327

Eric Bradley Texas A&M Transportation Institute 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845-7492

Todd Keanan James A. Haley VA Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs. Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 972-2000

Tim Brant Brant’s Driving School 1614 Debran Lane Johnstown, PA 15905 (877) 395-7011

James Kovar 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 778430001

Daniel Reid 1721 Hardy Street Hattiesburg, MS 39401 (601) 544-5403

Julius Lee SMCL Foundation & Associates Inc. Adaptive & Multi-services Organization 2910 Seine Street New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 450-4014

Daniel Rome SMCL Foundation & Associates Inc. Adaptive & Multi-services Organization 2910 Seine Street New Orleans, LA 70114

EDU/GOV’T/NONPROFIT

Lance Bullard Texas Transportation Institute A&M Univ 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845-6153

Justin Maxwell 3135 Tamu College Station, TX 77843

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Torrey Morse Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services 55 Farmington Ave, 12th Fl Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 424-5543 Tina Paff Bicks Driving School 6367 Glenway Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211 (513) 251-2100

James Rose 5541 E Grant Rd Tucson, AZ 85712 Edwin Stang Disabled Sailing Association 402 Houghton Ct Kelowna, BC V1X 7C7 (250) 859-0816 Stephen Sundarrao Rehabilitation Engineering & Technology Program 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-5346 Arthur Yeager 3835 Maple Hill Rd Fairfax, VA 22033-2722 Bill Youngman, MSW Dept. of Social & Health Services Assistive Technology Services Area 2 Tacoma, WA 98411-6699 (206) 437-9681

It’s time to update your Wheelchair & Occupant Securements

NMEDA EDU/GOV’T/NON-PROFIT MEMBERS

As part of any product life-cycle, wheelchair & occupant securement systems need to change as our market changes rapidly! Red Dot Winner (Design Award) Protektor Series Wheelchair Securement Retractors offer: • • • • •

Cutting-edge design Automatic and self-tensioning Durable tensioning handle Durable cover Available with different hook attachments or vehicle floor attachments

AMF Bruns America 877-506-3770 www.amfbrunsamerica.com est 1958

Jul-Sep 2022

DATES TO REMEMBER This calendar of upcoming events is provided as a service to NMEDA members. The Circuit Breaker cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Please verify dates and locations with the organizations listed.

Abilities Expo - Houston

August 5—7, 2022 Visit www.abilities.com/houston for more information.

NMEDA Board of Directors Meeting August 18, 2022 September 15, 2022 October 1, 2022 (at NMEDA Conference)

Abilities Expo - Phoenix

September 9—11, 2022 Visit www.abilities.com/phoenix for more information.

2022 NMEDA Annual Conference & 2022 Auto Mobility Expo

October 1—3, 2022 in Charlotte, NC Visit www.NMEDAAnnualConference.com or www.AutoMobilityExpo.com for more information.

Abilities Expo - Miami

November 4—6, 2022 Visit www.abilities.com/miami for more information.

NMEDA Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions (CAMS) November 8, 2022 — Pflugerville, TX November 9, 2022 — Houston, TX

Visit www.NMEDA.org/CAMS for more information.

To have your information included in Dates to Remember, please submit at least 12 weeks before the event to katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org.

NMEDA Circuit Breaker

Jul-Sep 2022

where you want in life

The BraunAbility Pacifica offers the uncompromised performance you deserve, from the Most Recommended Name in Mobility*

BraunAbility.com *Based on 2016 Dealer Service Technician Study

844.382.8134

July—September 2022

Articles inside

QAP Dashboard

QAP Straight Talk

Industry Advisor

Canada President’s Message

CEO’s Message

Government Relations Report Updated VA 1394 Procedures

Around the Industry

Officer’s Message

Member Notice Welcome VMI Leadership

Board of Directors

Recruiting, Retention Recognition