Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
Celebration and Remembrance in the World of Towing with Bruce Bender
Feel the pulse of the towing industry's heart as Bruce Bender from the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio takes us through 46 years of tradition and innovation at the Midwest Regional Tow Show. With a shift to the spacious Roberts Center, we're serving up a blend of history, tech, and a strong sense of community. Discover the show's tailored approach to exhibitor and attendee connections, complete with a digital app and thoughtful exhibit hours. Plus, get a look at the compassionate side of the towing world with the introduction of the "Celebration of Life" event and the campaign for road safety awareness.
The tow show is more than just a showcase of shiny trucks and heavy machinery; it's a celebration of camaraderie and industry pride. Get ready for a parade of polished chrome, the chance to snag a truck right off the floor, and evenings filled with auctions, s'mores, and laughter. Bruce Bender shares the scoop on how this event weaves together the strands of business and pleasure, creating a family-friendly tapestry that's inclusive for all. So whether you're a karaoke king or queen or a cornhole champion, there's a spot for you here.
Pack up your motorhome or pop a tent; camping at the tow show is the new rave! We're inviting you to extend your stay and make the most of the networking opportunities, food extravaganzas, and vendor interactions in Wilmington, Ohio, from September 12th through 15th. Join us as we explore how this tow show not only drives the industry forward but also celebrates its very soul—bringing together families, fostering lifelong connections, and honoring the hardworking individuals who keep our roads safe.
Welcome one and all to Toe Professional Podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It is for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go. This is the true voice of the towing and recovery industry. I'm DJ Harrington, your co-host, better known as the Toe Doctor. I'm DJ Harrington, your co-host, better known as the Toe Doctor, and the real man who's the host and president and publisher of Toe Professional Magazine, a good friend of the industry and a dear friend of mine, darren Weaver Darren, how are you this beautiful day?
Speaker 2:Man, I am fantastic, DJ. It is a beautiful day. If you are a duck or a frog, it's a great day out there, happy to be peeking out this window, and I am excited, man, we've got Bruce Bender on from TRAO and we're talking about the Midwest Regional Tow Show, one of my favorites of the entire year that I like going to. It's always beautiful and the weather is always phenomenal. You get that little coolness and crisp in the air and it's always a great time, dj. So this is going to be a great one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I hope our listeners and we've got a ton of them, I hope our listeners have a pen and paper in their hand. I want you to mark down the date September 12th through the 15th up in Wilmington Ohio, and we're going to have Bruce tell us more about it. So can I ask him the first question?
Speaker 2:Go ahead, DJ.
Speaker 1:First of all, Bruce, tell us a little bit about you Before I even ask you this question, and how long have you been at the show?
Speaker 4:Well, I'll tell you what. My name's Bruce Bender, and I am the administrator for the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio and also the Tow Show Coordinator for the Midwest Regional Tow Show. And I'll tell you, I love the towing industry. I love the people that I've met in this industry. It amazes me how much that the towers give up just to serve the public and so to be a part of this industry. You know I am so proud to be a part of this industry. And to answer your question about the show, we are getting ready to have our 46th annual tow show.
Speaker 4:So we've been around a while. It's been in different locations ago we left well, actually last year was our first year that we had left the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, ohio and went to Roberts Center, and there were several reasons why we needed to make the move. And the Roberts Center has been really great to us. They're in Wilmington, ohio. They have a huge convention center to where we can actually bring trucks and trailers in which we couldn't do before. So we still do an indoor, outdoor show, but, um, we were able to actually bring a lot more indoors here, um, because we have about 80 000 square feet under roof that we can work with over here at this location, I hope our listeners heard that 80 000,000 square feet under roof.
Speaker 1:It is a fantastic place. I enjoyed it because not only under roof the restaurant was phenomenal right there but your campground facility is humongous. It's humongous, yeah, yeah. So you know it's gigantic. So I know one thing I want all of our people to start thinking about. You know exhibitors listen up and attendees listen up, because there's a lot of information. You're going to start getting down, so let me turn it over to you, aaron, and see what you got to ask Bruce.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what I wanted to ask, bruce, and I know everybody's going to want to know the hours, exhibit hours of the show, but also what times can they come into the show early and start setting up and so on. So I want to leave that open to you to explain to our listeners.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, absolutely, and I can tell you some of the goals that I have set. As the tow show coordinator is, I have personally set goals that I want for our exhibitors and goals that I want to see for our attendees both. So, as far as the exhibitors, I understand that attending some of the shows, the costs are just exceedingly high and then when they go there, they need to be able to make sales, not only at the show but later down the road. So I try to do everything I can to help with that and help the exhibitors even capture names and information so that they can have leads for the future. So what I did was is I paid a gentleman to build an app for us and it's free for exhibitors to download onto their Apple device or their Android device, scan the QR code on the attendees' badges and we don't charge. I know a lot of the shows you charge to get that information. The exhibitors have to pay to get that. We don't charge. I do it because I care about them and I want to see them succeed. I care about them and I want to see them succeed, and so we keep our costs down on our booth rental and we supply that tool for our exhibitors.
Speaker 4:As far as attendees, we bring in good quality exhibitors to service our attendees so that I know that these attendees are getting good quality products and services when they come to our show. And then we provide a lot of entertainment and a lot of fun things for both the exhibitors and attendees there at the show, along with training and free seminars and educational things going on throughout the weekend. Throughout the weekend, and as far as what you asked, aaron, on the new exhibit hours, I talked with exhibitors and the exhibitors were telling me you know, hey, sundays we were open from nine to noon and they just said they would much rather see us offer a little bit longer hours on Friday and Saturday and cut out the exhibit hours on Sunday. And you know what it made sense. It made sense and I do try to listen to not only the exhibitors and the attendees and their ideas so this year on Friday we will have exhibit hours from 1030 to 530. And on Saturday we'll have 11 to 6.
Speaker 2:And I think that's fantastic. Bruce, me and you talked about this many times, and it's when you, no matter what your hours are, people generally wait to almost the end of the show before some of them make their purchases. And sometimes, when you shorten that up, you go ahead and get that business out of the way and it frees up vendors to head back to their families and attendees to get back profits some of their profits and took this money and invested it in making sure that every one of their vendors had a free tool Not something they're going to be charged to get those leads, but a free tool that all they had to do was scan the person's name tag and they would have every bit of information. So I think that's tremendous, bruce, I'm going to go back to that because you don't see that a lot, especially in a time when people are pushing for tighter returns and they're putting out. You know, sometimes the product suffers, but I really appreciate that. I think it's going to be tremendous for every one of the vendors to be able to pull that knowledge together and to have it free is just more of a reason.
Speaker 2:But let me tell you, guys, men and women, if you're listening to this. Don't miss this show. There's plenty of room. Like Bruce said, there's a tremendous amount of room for expansion. It's a world-class facility. I love it. And this restaurant's phenomenal even decked out with a wall of bourbon that is phenomenal that they're known for. So, hey, keep listening. We're going to have more information when we come back from this quick break with Bruce Bender, show coordinator for the Midwest Regional Toast Show. Hang in there and we'll be right back for the Midwest Regional Tow Show.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you are listening to Toe Professional On-The-Go Podcast Each and every week. We do our best to bring you informative episodes like this one with Bruce Bender. Make sure you download and listen. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. So I'm going to tell all of you my own view as the toe doctor. This is the most family-friendly show of the year. Out of all the toe shows, the Midwest Regional To Tow Show is the most family-friendly show. They have kids programs. But I want to pick Bruce's brain right now. Bruce share with our listeners a little bit about what we call Celebration of Life. It's held on Thursday night.
Speaker 4:All right, this is something new we're doing this year. It's something that I've wanted to do for quite a while and it's been really close to my heart and so I decided you know what, quit thinking about it and let's do it. Come in and set up and attendees start pouring in and getting ready for the weekend, bringing their campers in, getting their hotel rooms coming out. So usually Thursday evening we have an auction, typically on Thursday night, which we're going to push to Friday, and I'll tell you a little bit about that here in a little bit. So on Thursday, what we're going to do is we're going to have a celebration of life event and in doing that, what I'm asking everybody to do is come out, participate.
Speaker 4:We're going to have a parade. I'm suggesting that people put names on banners or on poster board or get the stuff that you can write on your windows and put names of towers that have gone on before us, not necessarily having to be in the line of duty, but towers that you would like to have remembered. With those names out there, we're going to take a parade, we're going to go down into Wilmington and back and we're going to get fire, police and EMS involved. I'm going to reach out to news media. I've got some guys coming in with the trucks that are wrapped in slowdown moveover. So not only can we remember the lives of those that have gone before us, but hopefully we can put some slowdown moveover awareness out there at the same time.
Speaker 4:Yes, us out there at the same time, yes. And then when we get back to where the campground area is, we're going to continue the celebration of life for those that have gone by, having the hog roast and corn hole and other events out there, and just enjoy the times and remember those that have given up so much for everyone that's out here and you know so I really hope that everybody will come out. We're going to do some sort of send off. We're not sure yet whether we're going to do balloons or something else, but we're going to do a send off in memory of everybody. And again, it's a celebration of life. Come out and celebrate with us. I think it's a worthwhile thing to do and to remember these people.
Speaker 1:I love it, I think, to be remembered. Whether you were killed on the white line or not, this is important. So you've had a loved one in this industry that has passed. They will be recognized and it's great. I think it's a wonderful idea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I will second that as well, dj. I tell you, a lot of times the work of our first responders for men and women, of towing, isn't thought of, isn't remembered. The constant day-to-day toil, long hours, missed holidays, missed kids' graduation, you name it it's not remembered until they pass. A lot of it, a lot of that hard work we forget about in the day-to-day grind of this world. So it's another fantastic time to look back and, just like Bruce said, remember, and I think it's a tremendous sentiment for this industry and I applaud you for it, bruce.
Speaker 4:Thank you, thank you, and it is. It's something that's really important to me because you hit it right on the head when you said that they give up so much. They give up so much to not be truly appreciated by so many, and it's time that this industry has a lot larger appreciation for everyone.
Speaker 2:Hey, and let me tell you what's better, vendors, than being able to show up. Come out there, participate in this and then hang out and play some safe games.
Speaker 2:Let's be kind while we're playing cornhole, Nobody has to win it but some good fun games of cornhole hanging out with attendees getting to meet and know others in this wonderful family of towing. And let me tell you, the campgrounds, the restaurant, those things you guys put on last year there's a lot of business done right there in those areas. So folks don't miss this Thursday night before the show. This is something you're going to want to show up for. I guarantee you it's going to be very impactful and also it's just going to be a good place to unwind. And something I've always been proud of with the TRAO, with the show they put on, is it makes you so proud of your industry. So certainly bring your kids, let them hang out, let them have fun and see where all that hard work goes and let them enjoy it here at this show, at the family show, the Midwest Regional Toe Show.
Speaker 5:Well.
Speaker 1:Darren, ask them about Friday and Saturday. I'm dying to hear this one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, bruce, so tell us. I know a couple things have changed. I know some things are still there. You've always done a tremendous job with the bands there, so tell me what's coming up for the Friday and Saturday night at the show this year.
Speaker 4:All right. Friday night, as I said earlier, usually we had the injured drivers auction, which has always been a fun event. You both attended that event. We usually have a live auctioneer there. We have a lot of great items that have been donated and we raise money for the injured drivers fund. We have food in there and everybody just has a lot of good laughs and has a good time at the same time that we're raising money for good calls.
Speaker 4:So people kept telling me why don't you do it on Friday night? Because more people would be able to attend and not miss out. So guess what? We decided okay, let's do it, let's make the change. I'm not afraid of change. I'm not afraid of people coming to me with great suggestions. I love it.
Speaker 4:So we're going to switch that over to Friday night. We're going to have the injured driver's auction. Like I said, there'll be food and there's usually a cash bar there. Everything have a great time with it. And then, as the auction comes to an end, people will still be able to have other things to do, because we'll have some Texas Hold'em going on in one area and some karaoke going on in another area. So there'll be fun things to do to keep everybody occupied and having a great time on Friday night and then Saturday we'll have show hours from 10 to 6. And after the show ends at 6 o'clock on Saturday, we will have a great big taco bar free to everyone that wants to come out there and enjoy the nice taco bar, and we'll have a band. When the band finishes up, we'll have some karaoke going on again that night and I am really encouraging the exhibitors and attendees both, even though the show will end at 6 o'clock, to go ahead and hang out.
Speaker 4:We have our light show on Saturday night. I mean we have a lot going on, a lot of fun things. Hang out and enjoy the time together. You don't get many times in this business to just kick back and enjoy yourself and have a good time, and that's what I want to see. I want to see everybody have that good time. I want the exhibitors to, after they close down their booth, go out there and hang out with your customers and meet new people and relax and enjoy time with them. I mean that's it's time you don't get back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I tell you, bruce, you hit that nail right on the head and that's my plan is staying there until midday, sunday, and then taking a drive back. But you've got so much going on. Hey, whether you're going to be listening to a band, whether you're going to be overdoing karaoke, there's something for everybody.
Speaker 2:Or if you just like people watching, let me tell you karaoke's a good place to do some people watching. Y'all did a phenomenal job with that last year and it was a tremendous hit. And if you want to have a good time, go out there, watch the band people watch and you hit the other one right on the head Taco Bar. I'm sold. I'm in um, so you'll see me down there making the rounds with a taco in my hand yeah, oh, and darren, hey, it gets even better, darren.
Speaker 4:Um, when they come and register for their name badge, they'll give a voucher also when they register for the name badge so that when they get up sunday morning they can go up to that restaurant that you guys have spoken so highly of. It has great food. They have a real nice breakfast bar. They can take their voucher up and get them a free breakfast Sunday morning before they get packed up and head out. It gives them a chance to not only have a good time over the weekend but get a good night's sleep, get up, get a good full belly and then they can head out and head back to their lives and to their homes.
Speaker 2:Oh man. And let me tell you last year that restaurant Bruce, I was blown away. I walk in there. There's a popular dragster engine sitting on the floor in a cave.
Speaker 2:There's cars hanging from the ceiling. I mean it's phenomenal. If I said, hey, build me a man cave, there'd be a picture of it right there. That'd be part of it. But also, I do want to come back to this. One thing I missed I do want to touch on is let's tell our listeners again the proceeds from this show. I mean, you guys have been doing this this is going on the 46th year but why is it so important for our industry to attend these shows, especially when it's an association show? What does that mean to our listeners?
Speaker 4:Well, and listen, darren, you know me, I'm not going to sit here and I'm not going to knock shows that are not association shows. But I will tell our listeners that with an association show versus the other shows, the funds come back in and then they turn around and go back into the industry and that can be with training for the industry, it can be paying a lobbyist to fight for the industry or supporting a lobbyist or anything on a federal level. I mean, the money goes in different directions. That way it does not go back into the pockets of folks that help them buy new houses and new cars, of folks that help them buy new houses and new cars. This money, actually, when we do this show, the money comes back in and it circulates right back into the industry and for the needs and the fights for the industry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's what I love so much, Bruce, is because not only are there some phenomenal people inside TRAO every one of them, people inside TRAO, every one of them but also your care for the industry, for putting that back into training, for putting that back into membership, for putting that back into fighting for our men and women of towing and that's what makes me so proud to be able to attend it every year is seeing the benefits of that, and it's such a blessing to see when companies pour back into where they're pulling from, and the associations have always done that. So, hey, man, we appreciate y'all.
Speaker 1:Thank you so very much. Hey, before we ask the next question, we should take a break, but I got to remind everyone ask the next question, we should take a break, but I got to remind everyone, if you say karaoke up there, they do serious karaoke, yes. And so all I'm going to do is reach out to our listeners and I'm going to encourage Kevin Fox from Florida to bring as many cigars as Leastown. He brought cigars, passed out cigars and jokingly we said well, let's see what this one sounds like. I could not believe how many Towers are such excellent singers. I was blown away.
Speaker 2:There's some talent out there. That's what I was talking about with the people watching. It'll blow you away. There's some talent out there. That's what I was talking about with the people watching.
Speaker 1:It'll blow you away. I was blown away of how talented some of these towers are that got up and sang and I thought to myself good Lord, if you ever got out of towing, you could definitely go into country music singing that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2:Well, dj, do you want to take a quick break?
Speaker 1:We'll come back and we'll talk about other things that are going to happen at the great show up in Ohio. We'll see you in a minute.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners, and I can't thank you enough. Please remember to like, review and share everywhere. This is the fastest growing podcast and I can't thank you enough. This is the fastest growing podcast. I can't thank you enough. If you want to hear another industry expert or your association, your state association, is doing something important. Just contact the hotline number at the podcast center 706-409-5603. And Darren Weaver and I will do our very best not only to get it on the podcast, but to get it in the magazine, co-professional Magazine, which is the fastest growing and now the number one publication, which I can't thank all of you enough. So, without further ado, darren, how about, if I ask Bruce, will we see trucks for sale at this show?
Speaker 4:you know what? I am glad you asked that. I'm not sure how you read my mind on that one, but uh, I'll tell you we, uh, we've got several uh dealers that have already reached out to me and uh taken larger spaces at the show this year because they want to bring more trucks and getting their trucks all ready for the show. So yes, to answer your question, we're going to have trucks there for sale. So if you're out there looking for a truck, make sure you come to the show. We've got such great dealers going to be there that are so willing to be there to help you and work on selling you a truck. We will have lenders there that you can do things right on the spot with. I mean, it's going to be great. That's all I can say about it.
Speaker 2:It's going to be great. Well, bruce, you run into so many shows that you go to that. The majority of what's sitting on the floor plan, for example, is already sold. It's just there to be delivered and it's pre-sold. So, hey, I'm excited because I hadn't heard that in a long time, since COVID, that, hey, we're going to have trucks on the floor that are looking to be sold. So, hey, y'all better get your hotel room now and sign up, because there's going to be some trucks waiting on you. You can come see the latest in technology, find out what's going to move your business from the red to the black, and also jump in something and start busting bugs on the way home and making money. So you can't beat it. And, like I said, my favorite show, the next one I have for you, the next question I have for you, bruce, is let's I know it makes it that way and that's why I love it, but tell our listeners what makes this show a family affair.
Speaker 4:You know, Darren, we have always taken pride in having what we consider a family affair, in having what we consider a family affair and when we say that, we encourage you bring your family with you, bring your wives, bring your husbands, bring your cousins, bring your children and everything, Because we try to have things there that is for any age group and you know, if you bring your kids, we always have things for the kids to do.
Speaker 4:And we're actually working on some things this year for the kids.
Speaker 4:Not only do we have our nights where we have things on Friday and Saturday night where we pay the babysitters that come in and watch the kids so that their parents can have, you know, about four hours of time to go out and enjoy time with everybody and know that their kids are safe and having fun, but we're actually looking at doing some things this year to some challenges for the kids during the day there and our kids when they do these different challenges, they end up getting a trophy at the awards ceremony on Sunday morning, which will be at 10 am.
Speaker 4:So I mean we really want everybody to come kick back, relax, enjoy their time, make quality connections and spend some family time together at the show, because if we don't all stick together and focus on our family and our family time, this industry will be a dying industry, and we need to show the younger generation that's coming in that, hey, this is a quality business, this is a quality industry. We need to show them this because you know, otherwise they just don't understand it. I mean they, and so we, we encourage you, bring the family, let them see what it's like, let them get out there and do fun things and enjoy the time together.
Speaker 2:Well, bruce, I tell you, with the, with the training that you have going on, with the seminars that go on, with different training and so on, uh, and education with um, everything planned for the kids, from, like you said, the Friday and Saturday nights, where they've got all kind of little activities already planned for the kids to do so the mothers and fathers can go out there and relax a little while and talk, and just the ability to get around other people in the industry, to doing the same thing you are and sharing knowledge.
Speaker 2:It's a great thing to do and if you're working in the industry, if you're an owner if you're a dispatcher, if you're a driver, you need to go because there's a lot of not only a lot of fun to be had, but there's a lot of ongoing education to be had and stuff that can help you further your career. So I'd say, don't miss it.
Speaker 4:Yes, yeah, and I can tell you the WTREO, the Women of the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio they schedule the events for the kids on Friday and Saturday night and just to give you a little sneak peek into those, I know one night they've got what they're going to do like a camping theme where there's going to be a lot of big games and everything to play in there for them. They're going to have s'mores and all that kind of fun stuff for the kids that night. Then the next night they're going to have a movie night where they're going to have popcorn and things like that for them and a fun movie for them and things like on a big, oversized projection screen. And I think it should be. It should be a great night, two great nights for those kids there.
Speaker 2:Love it, I love it. Yeah, Don't don't forget parents, bring your kids with you. This is so you want to bring them to. They'll have a great time. Well, DJ, I'm going to toss the mic back over to you for the last one here.
Speaker 1:Well, remind everyone, september 12th, through the 15th Roberts Center in Wilmington Ohio, the Midwest Regional Toe Show, the most family-friendly show of the year. Now I want to talk about camping at the show, because last year you had special prices for pup tents but you had a bunch of motor homes in there which I thought was fantastic.
Speaker 1:You had wash interiors, you know, you had bathrooms for them. So if they wanted to come and camp out and a lot of towers love camping so now's the time where they sit back and they say, could we do it? Oh yeah, and get yourself some cold ones, and you know, around the fireplace and sing karaoke. The place is phenomenal. I mean it really is phenomenal. This could be, you know, woodstock of the towing industry. It's gigantic.
Speaker 4:Well, you know, this is the first place we've had the opportunity of having people be able to bring their campers and motorhomes and tents and things like that, and it's just phenomenal to be able to do that. And you know, for a lot of folks I mean myself included I like the idea of being able just to put my clothes and everything in the camper already, have them hanging and have everything in there that's mine and I know exactly where it's at. All I have to do is pull it in and hook up and you know I can go on and do other things. I don't have to carry stuff in and out of a hotel or sleep on a bed that doesn't seem to be as comfortable as my own. I know last year people were out there playing cornhole out there until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't even hear them while I was inside my camper. I mean, I guess if I'd walked out I'd have heard them, but I know they were out there, they were having a good time, taking time, taking that time for themselves and time to hang out with others, and that excites me to see everyone being able to do that. Because again I go back to the fact that listen cowers give up so much, so much of their time and lives, that I enjoy seeing them be able to kick back and relax and have a good time, which is so well deserved, you know. To me it it's very well-deserved.
Speaker 4:So, yes, we have that wonderful area over there to camp, and so I know that for the primitive section over there this year we've talked with a company that's going to donate the use of some great big generators so that they can have several campers plug in and still have electric if they don't have a built-in generator. So they don't have to be afraid of it being primitive, because all they have to do is fill their water tank and if their tank runs out we've got enough people around there with water hoses We'll run some water over to their tanks. We have dump station there. We'll have the electric. So you know I encourage people. You know, if you've got the camper and all that, hey, have fun, bring it, use it.
Speaker 1:And how about just for a regular tent and campfire and that kind of stuff?
Speaker 4:You know what, if people have tents, bring it, bring it. You know, we make sure that there's a place for people to go to the bathroom and shower. If they need it, we'll have that there. There's no reason why you couldn't tent camp there. The weather's perfect for it, the area is perfect for it. It'd be great for that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a large, large area, folks I mean it is a lot of Campground.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and let's say Bruce does a great job. Let me tell you, when I saw that last year, the big shower facility you had out there for everybody and how everybody was set up, it was very nice. And I want to go back one more time to the restaurant because, bruce, I know, one thing I've heard in the industry is, some places they like a lot of locations to eat. Industry is, um, some places they like a lot of locations to eat. Um, but I I tell you this when you're, when you're going to be at a place, what four days tops, let me tell you, they absolutely knock it out of the park there. I mean, I remember they had soup and salads all you can eat for what? Ten dollars a day. Um, they had a caesar salad that would choke a mule.
Speaker 2:One day they had all-you-could-eat prime rib, which is unheard of around a bunch of towers. I mean I thought they'd be out there in the back just lining cows up but that was $29 all-you-can-eat. It was phenomenal. So the prices, the selection of food they had, I was more happy with the food choices there than I ever was at the other, and just simply because of the value on the cost and everything else. So I think attendees or vendors, don't let that keep you away, because you're going to miss a good meal if you do. This is a phenomenal facility, a lot of room for growth and, first and foremost, I want to thank every one of those vendors that attended last year as the first year there, because it was a big step and, as you know, I printed every one of them in the publication to show their loyalty to the industry, and we certainly are looking forward to seeing them all there again this year.
Speaker 4:Darren, if I may, for our folks that are listening that have Facebook, if you'd go to the Midwest Regional Tow Show Facebook page there and like the page, follow the page.
Speaker 4:Show facebook page there and like the page, follow the page, they'll also be on that page the link for that celebration of life that'll tell the dates and times and everything, and I encourage you to click on it and and let us know you're coming and everything, because, uh, you know, like I said, we'll be doing a hog roast at night and everything, and that gives us a better understanding of you know how much we need to get to cook, because I always like to have more than I need rather than not enough. So, yeah, if people would do that, or if they would like to go to the tow show website and look at it, it's wwwmidwesttowshoworg, so wwwmidwesttowshoworg, so wwwmidwesttowshoworg, and just I encourage people, please go on there and do it, that celebration of life, if you go on there, and if you would share that event for us, anybody and everybody that would share it for us. I want to get that word out because to me, this is a very important event, one that I truly look forward to, honoring those that have gone before us.
Speaker 2:Well, DJ, anything before our parting shots here.
Speaker 1:I think that, bruce, I guarantee you you will have more exhibitors this year than you've ever had before, because we're going to start promoting it ahead of time. I told people that the Florida Tow Show, like Vin Match Pro. They said what show should I go to in the towing industry? I said you got to go to the Midwest Regional up in Ohio because it's the most family friendly show. And he said to me I don't have kids, but I love kids, I'll be there and so that's what we need. We need all the best exhibitors in the country supporting Ohio and supporting the injured driver fund. So, and, darren, I think we should make a promise now that everybody that's an exhibitor will be printed in the magazine.
Speaker 2:Oh, without a doubt, every year we will cover these shows. We'll be covering the North Carolina show, chattanooga, as well as Ohio. Always do a story on Ohio about the show, because it's always, like I said, near and dear to my heart and a phenomenal show. So every one of the vendors will have your name published in a magazine. My thing is to let the industry know who's out here walking to and supporting this industry and supporting our associations and helping put the money back and protecting our, our drivers out there and our owners. So, uh, without a doubt, you got it, dj done.
Speaker 1:You're right support the people who support you. So if you're an exhibitor and you're coming to this show, we, as towers, will support you, because you're supporting us.
Speaker 2:Yeah and one thing. You know one tip, and this is something DJ me and you had talked about in the past. I know there's an article you're going to do to give people information on how to be more successful at shows. Well, here's one big tip knows. Here's one big tip If you're going to be at that show, make sure you yourself do the due diligence and send out emails to your customers and clients and let them know that you're going to be there and let them know to make sure they drop by and see you at the show. Give them some incentive to do so. We all work together. We can keep every one of these things very successful for everyone that's in there. Yes, I'm with you.
Speaker 1:Darren and.
Speaker 4:Darren and DJ. I want to take this time and thank you two for what you do for this industry. You guys, I truly know every time I've sat down and talked with you and everything. Guys, listen, I know you guys truly love the industry and love the people in the industry and I want you to know how much I appreciate that, because that's the way I feel about this industry also.
Speaker 2:Definitely, man. I appreciate that. I really do, bruce. I've been in publishing since I was 24 years old. I'm now 51.
Speaker 2:I've been in many different industries and just fell in love with this one man. I'm a guy that likes classic cars and hot rods and tuning and working on things and took auto body in school. And you know, these men and women in this industry are cut from the same thread. And I've never seen an industry Like I said, I've been in many different ones I've never seen an industry with such a given heart. Um, you know, a lot of people might say, hey, that's just a tour, that's just so-and-so. And I've told them, first off, I've never met so many millionaires as I have in this industry and I've never seen so many people that were, um, that had more than just dollars because of what they had in their heart and how they gave back to their community, from from the people in their community to the municipalities, first responders, all they. They're just phenomenal group of people. So, yeah, without a doubt, man, I'll take that and uh about because this is an amazing community.
Speaker 1:Before we end and Darren, you do your thing at the end I want to tell all our listeners come on up see Bruce, see his great team, and meet Connie, my person in the office.
Speaker 4:Which Connie listen and I'm, she's gonna get. I'm gonna get in trouble for telling this. But not only is connie our first woman president of the towing and recovery association of ohio, but she is 80 years young and I'm telling you what she can outwalk any of us, outwork any of us, and I just love her to death and she truly cares about the industry. She still gets out there and climbs under cars and hooks them up and loads them and everything. And at 80 years old and her husband's 82, and anything they can do for you, they've still got their tow truck and everything. At 80 years old and her husband's 82 and anything they can do for you, they've still got their tow truck and everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're wonderful, wonderful people. I want everyone to come up there and meet Connie face-to-face.
Speaker 2:Wonderful lady, sweet woman, wonderful lady and just always, always been a fan of Darren Weaver man, so I love her to pieces. That's a short line for those fans. So she is something else and I always knew, from the first time I met her, that she was an unbelievable force there that helped y'all out with something else. Listeners, I tell you another phenomenal episode. It was show coordinator Bruce Bender and talking about the Midwest Regional Show and let me tell you, if you don't have it on your calendar, put it on your calendar September the 12th through the 15th MidwestToeShoworg. If you want more information, go to the website and make sure you check out ToeProfessionalcom. We've shared the celebration. You can go in there and click if you're interested, if you're going to be there, if you're going, you'll see Tow Professionals Mark go in. We've got a booth there. We'll be there. We'll be at the celebration and be a part of it, as always, if you have any thoughts.
Speaker 2:I just thank you for this industry. I thank you for our wonderful vendors we have out there. I thank you for their hearts of service, for the products that they make and for the integrity they put out there and for their knowledge base used to create more safety for our towers and, dear Heavenly Father, I just thank you for every one of our first responders, for our men and women of towing. I ask that you continue to protect them and watch over them, and I also ask for you to protect our great nation. Keep your hand on it, lord. I pray for those tornado victims that we lost here in these past weeks, the families that have been impacted, and I ask that you just keep a hand on them, bless them and let them know your presence, lord, in all this. We thank you and we praise you. Amen, Amen Again. Until next week, it's Bruce Bender, darren Weaver and DJ Harrington with Toe Professional On the Go podcast. Keep tuning in and we'll help you stay out of the red and stay in the black. Have a great week you.