NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Panza
Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association
440.746.1500
First Responders Safety
Seminar Returns to the Cleveland Auto Show
Cleveland, OH (February 17, 2014) — Hosted by the Cleveland Auto Show and Stark State College in North Canton, the First Responders Safety Seminar is returning to the Cleveland Auto Show this year, offering EMTs, emergency personnel and other front line responders the chance to keep up on ever-changing automotive technology. The First Responders Safety Seminar will be held on Thursday, March 6 at 10:30 a.m., with sign in at 10 a.m., prior to the opening of the Cleveland Auto Show.
“With the technology in today’s vehicles changing faster than ever before, it’s important for these first responders to have up-to-date information on the latest in alternative fuel and propulsion technologies,” says Dennis Rose, floor manager of the Cleveland Auto Show. “This seminar was started as a response to firefighters who were hesitant to work on hybrid cars because they were unfamiliar with the technology.
“That’s why we partnered with Stark State College. They have a fire science program as well as an automotive technology program that can educate firefighters and other emergency personnel on how to deal with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, EVs and alternative fuel vehicles.”
The seminar this year, First Responder Technologies and Protocols, will begin with a nostalgic look back at vehicle and first responder technologies and conclude with how these technologies have advanced. Rich Peterson, Fire Chief of the Nimishillen Township Fire Department for 22 years, will serve as the main presenter at the seminar this year. In addition to his duties as Fire Chief, Peterson has also been an instructor in Emergency Services at Stark State College for 16 years and a Service Manager at Kempthorn Motors for 30 years.
Peterson will be assisted by Matt Buca, Automotive Instructor at Stark State College. Buca is certified to teach diagnostics and repair of hybrid and advanced technology vehicles.
Stark State’s college-level automotive programs include Toyota, Honda and GM, and the school is also a factory-authorized training center for all General Motors dealerships in this area. Buca is an ASE Master Tech, GM World Class Technician and ASE/GM Technician of the Year in 2002.
In addition to the free seminar, participants will also be admitted to the Cleveland Auto Show as guests of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association (GCADA) after 12 p.m.
While closed to the general public, members of the press are invited to attend this informative seminar. However, seating is limited. If you would like to attend, please contact Dennis Rose at drose@gcada.org or Joel Kincannon at jkincannon@gcada.org.
The Cleveland Auto Show opens its doors at the I-X Center on Saturday March 1 and runs through Sunday, March 9 at the I-X Center in Cleveland. It features more than 1,000 vehicles in over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space over its nine-day run at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
Tickets for this year’s Cleveland Auto Show cost $13.00 for adults and $11.00 for seniors aged 62 and older and preteens aged seven to 12. Children six and under get in free. Parking is also free, courtesy of your local franchised new motor vehicle dealers.
Show hours run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Updated Cleveland Auto Show information and E-Tickets are currently available at www.clevelandautoshow.com. You can also like the Show on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
About the Cleveland Auto Show
The Cleveland Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com and Medical Mutual, marks the start of the spring selling season in Northeast Ohio. Featuring concept, pre-production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers, the show is held annually at the I-X Center with nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibits. The Show also features an array of entertainment including sports celebrity appearances from the Browns and Cavaliers. The Cleveland Auto Show is a consumer show and a favorite family tradition since 1903. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheClevelandAutoShow.
About the GCADA
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA) has served the retail-automobile industry and community with integrity and distinction since 1903. Today, located in Brecksville, Ohio, GCADA represents 250 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which includes new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in a 21-county region of northern Ohio along the Lake Erie shore and beyond. More information on the GCADA can be found at www.gcada.org.
