In this issue:
Free
Real-time Performance Monitor Webinar demo scheduled June 22Karmak is pleased to offer our customers a unique opportunity to see the new ProfitMaster® Real-time Performance Monitor (RPM) in action. RPM is a browser-based dashboard of real-time service department information displayed in customizable views. The program displays information such as technician open time, technician labor, repair order summaries, repair order details, and repair orders with backordered parts in real-time. The free Webinar demo is scheduled for June 22, 2006, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central Time.
Enrollment is limited, and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To make your reservation, use our online Training Registration Form, or contact Lari Vanderpoel at or 1-800-252-7625. Contact your Karmak Regional Manager for more on RPM, or to arrange a demo at your convenience.
For more Webinar opportunities, see the Training section in this issue.
A recent article in Truck Parts & Service magazine featured valuable tips on using computers to gauge technician efficiency and improve service shop profitability. Carroll "Scooby" Barbre, Karmak product architect and design lead for the ProfitMaster Service Management module, contributed his expertise on the subject, and was quoted throughout the article. His advice includes:
Click the link below to read the complete article, provided courtesy of Truck Parts & Service magazine.
"Gauging The Efficiency Of Your Technicians," by Lauri Lyons
For more on ProfitMaster Service Management, contact your Karmak Regional Manager. For training on the many service features of your Karmak Legend, INFO 5, or Director Series system, contact the appropriate department listed in the Training section of this issue.
Area Managers John Stasko and Jeff Eudy represented Karmak at the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Show in Atlanta, Ga. on March 1-4. Karmak products, especially Director Series, generated much interest among the audience of truck body and equipment manufacturers. The meeting will be held next year in the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome, Indianapolis, March 7-9, 2007. For more information on NTEA, call 800-441-NTEA, visit www.ntea.com or e-mail .
With record-breaking attendance of more than 80,000 attendees, the 2006 Mid-America Trucking Show was recently held at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. A hit with visitors, Karmak featured product demos, including Sales Management, Real-time Performance Monitor, and Director Series. Karmak changed booth locations this year, resulting in increased quality of traffic. The 2007 Mid-America Trucking Show will be held March 22-24, 2007, in Louisville.
Karmak was represented by Jeff Eudy, Eastern Area Manager, at the Truck Renting and Leasing Association’s Annual Meeting held in San Diego, Calif. on March 29-April 1. The meeting was attended by 192 members including leasing companies and vendors. Karmak’s ProfitMaster modules including Preventive Maintenance, Service, and Lease and Rental, attracted attendees to our booth at the Technology Fair on Friday morning. Next year’s meeting will be held March 21-24, 2007, in Palm Springs, Calif. For more information on TRALA, visit www.trala.org.
John Stasko, Western Area Manager, and Jim Schien, Senior Sales Director, represented Karmak at the CVSN Executive Conference held in Louisville, Ky. CSVN (Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network) was formed this year through a merger of the Council of Fleet Specialists (CFS) and the National Wheel and Rim Association (NWRA). The inaugural meeting was attended by approximately 78 companies and 35 suppliers. Karmak held one-on-one meetings with both prospects and existing customers. For more information on CVSN, visit their website at www.cvsn.org, or e-mail .
Congratulations to the following Karmak dealers on recent awards and nominations for the American Truck Dealers/Heavy Duty Trucking 2006 Truck Dealer of the Year. Candidates were selected for business excellence, industry participation, and outstanding civic accomplishments.
Kenworth Truck Company recently named its 2006 Kenworth Dealer Council and Service Council members. The Dealer Council consists of leading executives from the nearly 300 Kenworth dealerships in the United States and Canada. The Service Council is comprised of leading service managers representing Kenworth dealerships in the United States and Canada.
Congratulations to the following Karmak representatives:
Karmak announced the appointment of Mike Kirk, an 18-year veteran of the company who has been Director of Customer Services for the past 9 years, as Vice President of Operations. Kirk’s new position will expand his duties to include operations of Karmak’s Carlinville, Ill. and the Springfield, Mo. offices.
“Mike has devoted much time and effort to developing solid relationships with Karmak customers over these past years. His extensive background with our company and his demonstrated success in management and customer relations make him the ideal choice for this new position,” said J. Richard Schien, President of Karmak. Continued>
Karmak is pleased to announce that Steve Silcox has joined Karmak as a Regional Manager for the Northwest area. In his new position, Silcox will oversee Oregon, Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon Territory, ensuring that Karmak customers receive the best sales and service support.
With more than 10 years of experience in the heavy duty truck industry, Silcox’s background includes positions in parts management, warranty management, and operations. Prior to joining the company, he worked for a large dealership in Seattle, Wash., where he used the Karmak system to improve efficiencies and processes for multiple facilities.
Karmak recently named Dan Weider the new Regional Manager for the Western U.S. territory. As a District Manager for the same area, Weider originally focused on selling the Director Series software to fleets, parts distributors, and service shops. In his new position, Weider’s responsibilities will now include the sales of all Karmak products across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii, in addition to maintaining relationships with his existing customers.
“Dan’s prior fleet management experience and his success selling our Director Series software position him well for his new Regional Manager responsibilities,” said John Stasko, Western Area Manager.
Glen Green was recently named Manager of Customer Services in Karmak's Springfield office.
Glen has been with Karmak for almost four years and previously worked in the INFO 5 Applications Support and ProfitMaster Applications Support and Implementations departments.
He says that, "Karmak's goal has always been to provide the best hardware and software solutions to serious business leaders in the heavy duty trucking industry. It is my goal to continue to provide exceptional customer support and help make those leaders secure in the knowledge that Karmak sincerely cares about their success and will always be available when help is needed."
Join us this fall for our 2006 conference—"Teammates in Technology"—at the Hilton at the Ballpark in downtown St. Louis. We are excited to bring you the tools to turn your business into a winning enterprise, as Karmak celebrates its 25th year as an innovation champion.
Our new schedule features many new Webinars, in addition to our popular classes and workshops held at the Karmak Training Center in Carlinville, Ill. Our latest offerings include sessions on ProfitMaster Sales Management as well as a free demo of ProfitMaster Real-time Performance Monitor.
Currently scheduled Webinars and Training Center classes include:
The Training Department has compiled a series of training sessions designed to increase efficiency and maximize use of the INFO 5 software package. Training Center classes are offered at Karmak’s office located in Springfield, Mo. In addition, some classes are available at your location. And now, you can attend training on various INFO 5 modules or request custom training without ever leaving your office. For a small fee, we are now offering several one-hour Webinar sessions each month via the Internet.
Currently scheduled Webinars and Training Center classes include:
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Visit the INFO 5 Training web page for details and online registration. For questions regarding INFO 5 training or to request custom Webinar sessions, please call 1-800-865-8991 or e-mail .
Call the Director Series Help Desk at 1-866-856-4846 to schedule a WebEx training date after Director Series has been installed on your server. For more on other training options, contact Jim Vanderpoel, Director Series Manager, at 1-866-856-4846, or e-mail .
Did you know that you can purchase computer supplies such as backup tapes, printer toner cartridges, and printer ribbons, from Karmak? Our knowledgeable sales team offers one-stop shopping on items that are compatible with your Karmak system, often at a significant savings over other suppliers. We work with technology vendors and manufacturers and purchase in bulk to reduce costs and facilitate orders. It's all part of our commitment to providing you the best possible service on your Karmak system. So, the next time you need consumable supplies, check with your Karmak sales representative and find out how they can help you:
Are you concerned about your network security? SonicWALL's Gateway Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Intrusion Prevention Service offers a complete security solution. And, it's available through Karmak in partnership with Western NRG. The SonicWALL system works through a deep packet inspection engine that stops external threats right at the network gateway, and protects your system against any issues that originate internally as well. This security package features:
If you feel it's time to make a change in your security coverage, contact your Karmak sales representative for more information on SonicWALL's security solutions available through Western NRG at competitive prices. Specializing in the heavy-duty market space, Western NRG has been a Karmak business partner since 1994, and was awarded SonicWALL’s Outstanding Partner of the Year 2004.
Hot tips
Director Series frequently asked questionsClick the links below for the answers to these common Director Series questions.
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Karmak CompassThe purpose of Karmak Compass is to keep all our customers informed of current activities within the Karmak family. This newsletter is designed for both technical and non-technical readers.
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