Member Benefits
FOR NEW-CAR DEALERS
Membership in the CATA, at just $400 a year, benefits a dealer in many facets of day-to-day operations. The Odometer Statements and Used-car Buyers Guides, paperwork required to sell used vehicles, are offered by nearly all state and metro dealer associations?for a fee. The CATA supplies those necessary forms and others free.Also free to CATA dealer members:
- Presence on the CATA Web portal, www.drivechicago.com, to list new- and used-vehicle inventories. Important, nonmembers do not appear on DriveChicago.com.
- Advisement from the association's general legal counsel.
- Service from the association's labor relations counsel, including negotiation of collective bargaining contracts and defense against unionization efforts.
- Tickets to the Chicago Auto Show's employee appreciation days, and discounted tickets to attend the show on other days.
- Lobbyists who interact with elected officials on state, county and local levels to enact legislation that benefits dealers.
- Longstanding relationships with government and watchdog groups. The CATA is a sitting member on advisory boards of the Illinois secretary of state, the Illinois attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
- Goodwill promotion of the Chicago area's dealerships through many CATA public relations vehicles, including "Drive Chicago," the nation's only automotive radio program owned by a dealer association. The show is broadcast Saturdays on WLS-AM, 890.
- Meeting space at the association headquarters, for groups up to 130.
- Informative monthly CATA seminars on the operations of every department of a dealership.
- Timely industry news via the twice-monthly CATA Bulletin.
The CATA responds to its members' needs. When dealers said qualified salespeople were becoming harder to find, the association launched CATA Learning University. Curriculum initially focused on instruction for those with little or no automotive sales experience. The coursework continues to expand, and now it includes training for service advisors and receptionists and, beginning this quarter, management. We also offer AFIP certification for F&I personnel that, with tuition reimbursement, costs less than half of what other entities charge.
The above list is not exhaustive, but you get the point. Membership in the CATA is more than worth the $400 annual dues.
FOR ALLIED MEMBERS
The benefits of CATA membership far exceed the $400 annual dues, and they are realized in many ways. Benefits of CATA membership to allied members include:
- Listing in the CATA annual directory, a dealer source to identify allied member services. The directory prints each July.
- Timely industry news via the biweekly CATA Bulletin.
- Longstanding relationships with government and watchdog groups. The CATA is a sitting member on advisory boards of the Illinois secretary of state, the Illinois attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
- Free meeting space at the association headquarters, for groups up to 130. Meetings must be tuition-free.
- Informative monthly CATA seminars on the operations of every department at a dealership.
- Tickets to the Chicago Auto Show's employee appreciation days, and discounted tickets to attend the show on other days.
- An opportunity to exhibit at the association's annual Dealer Meeting & Expo each June.
Finally, you must tender on the application the names of two CATA dealer members who would recommend you for membership, based on a favorable working relationship with you. If you have any questions when completing the application, call the CATA at (630) 495-2282.
CATA Approved Member Partners
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association has identified a number of allied members who offer programs designed to save our member dealers money. The vendors provide exceptional service and are working with the CATA to extend these benefit programs to our members.
AFLAC
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association has approved an opportunity for dealer members of the association to benefit by accessing Aflac insurance coverage for their employees.
For those not aware, Aflac coverage is completely funded by the employees who choose coverage. Aflac is a safety net of cash paid directly to the employee to cover out-of-pocket expenses associated with any accidents or illnesses that happen to them or their immediate family.
The CATA board of directors voted to promote the Aflac program for several reasons:
- The AFLAC program costs dealers absolutely nothing. In fact, dealers can realize additional money to their bottom lines by not having to match FICA on the employee payroll deductions. The employees pay for 100 percent of the coverage they select.
- AFLAC has agreed that every policy written for dealership employees will generate revenue back to the CATA. That will, in turn, help support the Chicago Auto Show and other charitable events in which the CATA is involved. The revenue also will help the CATA recuperate lost manufacturers revenue during the economic downturn.
Directors of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association have approved Aflac agent Paul Jackson, who previously worked in advertising with several local dealer groups, as the lead agent in the new program.
- Paul Jackson has over 23 years of experience working with dealers including as vice president at J. Walter Thompson on the Chicago Ford Dealer Advertising Association (FDAF) account; and as a senior vice president at Campbell Ewald servicing several Chevrolet Dealer Associations in the North Central Region, including Chicago. Paul understands dealerships and how to most efficiently/effectively administer the Aflac program.
- Jackson is part of largest Aflac office in the country. This office has the critical support necessary to effectively administer the program to CATA dealer members. His Chicago office has more than 70 agents. Among many accomplishments at Aflac, Paul won the coveted Illinois State Rookie of the Year award.
If you have any questions, please contact Paul Jackson at (313) 808-0221.
CIMCO
CIMCO is a Chicago-based provider of provider of dedicated T1 phone and internet solutions. The parent company of CIMCO is Comcast, which offers triple-play coax- and fiber-based services. The partnership with the CATA provides a redundant telecom solution for CATA dealer members. In addition, CATA has arranged for a dedicated account manager for all CATA dealers. Here are details of the program.
CIMCO Products offered to CATA Members:
- Dedicated account manager
- T1 Internet with managed equipment
- TDM PRI
- Hosted PBX
- Point to Point
- MPLS- Any to Any Connectivity via T1
COMCAST Products offered to CATA Members
- Triple Play products
- Coax based services- Small Business Portfolio
- 12/2, 22/5, 50/10, & 100/10 internet speeds available
- Voice Services- Analog ( POTS) and PRI- All local and LD usage included on Analog and all Local and 4600 LD min on each PRI
- TV services
- Comcast Ethernet via Fiber Optics- Enterprise Business Portfolio
- Speeds from 10M to 10Gig, Guaranteed speeds, Service Level Agreements
- Dedicated Internet
- Point to Point
- Point to Multi Point
- Any to Any connectivity
- PRI over fiber
If you are interested in finding out more about the services offered by CIMCO, please contact CATA Internet Director, Mark Bilek at 630-424-6082 or
mbilek@drivechicago.com.
DEALERSEDGE Webinars
Dealers are encouraged to take advantage of a partnership between The Chicago Automobile Trade Association and DealersEdge to provide high-quality training and informational Webinars to dealers at a significantly discounted rate.
The rate for CATA members for the weekly presentations is $149, half what is charged to users who do not subscribe to DealersEdge. Webinars premiere on a near-weekly basis.
Even for dealers who hold an annual membership with DealersEdge, the new relationship with the CATA represents a savings because DealersEdge offers its Webinars to its own members for $198. Regular annual membership fees are $397, and normal Webinar fees are $298 for non-DealersEdge members.
Once purchased, DealersEdge Webinars and accompanying PDF files can be downloaded and viewed later--and repeatedly. No matter how many people watch at your location, each connection costs a CATA member just $149. The fee includes both PowerPoint slides and audio; a telephone connection is not needed.
Click here for more information.
First Payment Systems
The CATA has negotiated for its members discounted credit card processing rates with First Payment Systems. All CATA dealer members qualify for guaranteed low rates through the CATA Bank Card Program.
No new electronic payment processing equipment is needed; existing terminals can be programmed over the telephone in minutes. And FPS imposes no merchant contracts, unlike banks, which usually insist on 3- to 5-year contracts with heavy fees for breaking a contract.
"Since this program was rolled out they (FPS) have saved the dealers from $1,200 a year per location all the way up to $12,000 a year per location," said CATA Chairman Kevin Mize.
Guaranteed benefits of the CATA Bank Card Program include:
- Low, wholesale processing rates
- Fast, simple set-up
- Free comprehensive cost analysis
- No service interruption
- No equipment purchase required
- Checks converted to electronic deposits end trips to the bank
- Toll-free customer support 24/7
- No annual fees
- No hidden or junk fees of any kind
- No contractual term requirement; if no completely satisfied, cancel at any time
For a free cost analysis and the chance to lower your payment processing costs today, fax your credit card processing statement to First Payment Systems at (678) 336-8421, or call Elaine Queen at (877) 726-7017 ext. 145.
Utility Management Group
Utility Management Group is a full-service energy consulting firm. The CATA encourages its members to explore the energy offerings of Utility Management Group, a licensed Illinois energy broker. The company's Elmhurst office phone number is (630) 279-0117.
UMG benefits and services include the following:
- Pooled Natural Gas and Electric Rates
- Negotiated on the strength of CATA, not your individual account
- Priority customer Service
- Energy Conservation Products
- Proven lighting savings
- Up to 50% savings for indoor lighting
- Up to 85% savings for outdoor lighting
- Electric conservation products that reduce overall consumption by 10% to 34%
- Experienced Consultants
- Our consultants average more than 10 years of experience in the utility industry
- Comprehensive Audit of Supplier's Programs, Financial Stability and Customer Agreements
- We do the homework on suppliers so you don't have to
- No Obligation Review of Your Services
- No consulting contracts or obligation with our organization
- Contingent Based Recovery of Overcharges
- Only for accounts we believe are being overcharged by their current supplier
- Audit conducted at no cost to you and with no obligation
- Any overcharges are recovered on a contingent basis. There is no fee for our service until you receive your refund.
Please contact us at 630-279-0117 for a no-obligation review of your services.
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association has formed a Member Benefits Committee whose sole purpose is to identify potential partners among allied members that will bring added benefit to CATA dealer members.
This committee welcomes any and all proposals from qualified CATA Allied Members for review. These proposals must provide a substantial benefit to CATA membership above and beyond existing offerings. Remuneration to the CATA may also part of the agreement.
Initial proposals should include detailed information about your company or organization, description of the benefit or service you are going to provide to CATA member dealers and the financial incentive or discount that will be applied to the services. Proposals will be reviewed by the Member Benefits committee. Potential vendors may be asked to present to the committee or full CATA board.
In return, the CATA will provide to accepted vendors promotional consideration that will include mention in the official CATA Bulletin, listing on the CATA Web site and participation at CATA events like the Dealer EXPO.
Proposals and questions should be submitted to Mark Bilek at the CATA via
mbilek@drivechicago.com.