October 19, 2025 • 38 mins
Ever wonder what it really takes to build an industry event that gives more than it takes? We sat down on the floor of the Tennessee Tow Show in Chattanooga with Brenda from Tow Times and Anthony from the Tennessee Tow Truck Association to unpack the moving parts, the purpose, and the payoffs you can’t see from a flyer. From an opening national anthem that shook the hall to a year-long planning cycle that starts the minute the lights go down, this is the story of a show built to lift towers, not just fill a hall.
We talk through the show’s “give back” DNA, why October dates matter for travel and weather, and how a true team effort—booth sales, banners, social, and on-site coordination—creates space for real training and real connections. Anthony shares the behind-the-scenes work of the association: funding a lobbyist, fighting for practical rules, and securing 13 amendments and nearly 19 revisions to a state motion act so towing companies can operate safely and profitably. That policy work ties directly to what happens on the floor: vendors demonstrating tech and tools, owners swapping pricing models and hiring tactics, and crews sharpening skills in light-duty, heavy-duty, rotator recovery and EV procedures.
We also dig into growth beyond the floor: the Towing and Recovery Management Summit, designed to help owners run their business instead of being run by it. Think leadership, finance, valuations, M&A timing, and smart tech like AI that can streamline billing, dispatch and communications. Along the way, you’ll hear personal paths—Brenda’s route from electroplating and barbering to event leadership, and Anthony’s journey from operations to association advocacy and music—that show how diverse skills make this industry stronger. If you want smarter training, better networking and a voice in the rules that shape your margins, this conversation is your map.
Want more like this? Follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a quick review so other towers can find us. Then mark your calendar for Chattanooga and the Denver Summit—see you there.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_06 (00:03):
Hello, everybody.
Welcome to uh our podcast,American Town Recovery Institute
on the Go.
We're happy to be at theTennessee Toe Show with good
friends of ours, and they'regonna introduce themselves to us
in a few minutes.
Um, we got here, it's a greatevent.
If you've never been toChattanooga, you should come.
Um, how many years, Brendan, howmany years have you guys been
doing this toe show?
SPEAKER_05 (00:23):
2012.
SPEAKER_06 (00:24):
2012 was with Tennessee with with Tow Times.
SPEAKER_05 (00:27):
Toe Times in the Tennessee Tow Truck Association
partnered, and we've juststarted in 2012.
SPEAKER_06 (00:33):
And so for 13 years, the next show you'd be 14.
Right.
We didn't do 2020.
Nobody did.
Right, but every year we've beenhere.
A little happiness going on thatyear, so I don't know.
Don't think anybody did thatmuch of anything.
Um, I think everybody took thatyear off, right?
Unfortunately.
Yeah.
All right, I'm gonna let youguys introduce yourself um and
(00:53):
what your your part is in this.
And um go ahead, Brenda, youfirst.
Okay, I'm Brenda Fallman.
SPEAKER_05 (01:00):
I uh originally worked with Toe Times magazine
as their advertising manager,and then when the Tennessee Tow
Truck Association approached us,then I started working mostly
with uh as their event manager.
SPEAKER_06 (01:13):
How long have you worked with uh Toe Times?
SPEAKER_05 (01:17):
I started in about 2004, and then I took two years
off from 2008 to 2010, then cameback in 2010.
Worked as the advertisingmanager and the event manager
until uh 2019, and now I just dothe events.
SPEAKER_06 (01:35):
And uh what was your background?
What was your background beforetow times?
SPEAKER_05 (01:40):
I worked for an electroplating association as
their membership manager.
Wow.
Yes, so it's always been kind ofa sales situation.
SPEAKER_06 (01:47):
Yeah, I'm and you're good at it.
Very good at it.
Very, very good at it.
Thank you.
Do not get in her way becauseshe will she would she will get
you.
Then we have our our superstarhere.
He's shaking his head no, butwe're gonna play you a clip here
in a little bit, and we're we'regonna illustrate what a
superstar you are.
Go ahead.
SPEAKER_03 (02:07):
My name's Anthony Roberts, and uh I am the uh
newbie to the family.
Um I am the Tennessee Tow TruckAssociation Administrator, and
uh that means that whatever isneeded uh is is a task that I
don't know how to do, then Ihave to obviously learn how to
do it.
So that's the that's the gist ofit.
(02:27):
And so this has been my firstyear to be actively involved uh
with tow times, putting on thisamazing event that uh actually I
have a personal testimony aboutthis.
15 years ago to September 15th,when you used to have it in that
range, uh is the first day Istarted work in the towing
(02:47):
industry.
Uh I didn't come from the towingbackground or anything like
that.
So when I come to get to come tothe uh the uh the tow show, this
is my anniversary.
So this is also you know a veryspecial place for me because I
love this business, I love theindustry.
Um there's something about beingable to pick up the phone when
someone calls and you answer thephone and you're there to help.
(03:09):
There's just a unique feelingwith that, and that's kind of
been my my emphasis.
And uh I really enjoy doing it.
I have a passion to see uhpeople grow and people succeed
with their businesses, and um Ithought it was been a great fit
for me.
You know, I've I've reallyenjoyed it.
Got a lot to learn.
Um, if I can if I could raisemoney a third of the good as
(03:30):
Miss Brenda could, ourassociation wouldn't have any
issues whatsoever.
So I have a lot to learn.
SPEAKER_06 (03:35):
So well number one, number one, if Brenda wants
something from you, she'sprobably gonna get it from you.
That's correct.
That's not 100%.
Okay.
That's correct.
She's very, very good at whatyou're doing.
SPEAKER_03 (03:43):
She don't mind calling an ace of spades.
She does, she does it's it'sthere's no there's no issues
with that.
So it kind of keeps you in line.
SPEAKER_06 (03:50):
So yeah, she doesn't confuse you, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_03 (03:52):
That's for sure.
SPEAKER_06 (03:53):
So if you looked at Anthony the uh working this
event, you would think that he'sbeen doing it for a while
because it just looks like youhonestly, Anthony, it looks like
you were a natural artist.
You just picked everything upand then you just went with it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:04):
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_06 (04:05):
Some of your background from administrating
comes from working for Ikertowing as well.
That's correct.
Because I know that you're veryessential with that.
SPEAKER_03 (04:15):
I come from the business management background.
Um, I actually, my career, so tospeak, is is was operating and
working with uh rent-to-ownedcompanies.
I actually opened threedifferent stores for a
particular company that in inour area over there.
And then I was in sales, carsales, cell phone sales, uh, you
know, just everything's alwaysbeen the the uh kind of unique,
(04:38):
kind of a funny story.
I got out of college and I gowork for a paper mill, okay?
And you show up to the sameplace every day.
And uh I'm I'm uh what I guesswhat they in their world they
call a free thinker, which isnot a good thing in the
corporate world, okay?
Uh in in a lot of times.
So um I was pouring down rain atthis paper mill, brand new
(05:00):
place.
They had a big leak in the roof.
So I took it upon myself to moveall the paper out of the rain.
Makes sense, right?
Right.
Well, I got I got almost firedfor that because I was not told
to do that.
And the HR lady said that youdon't need to be doing this.
Uh you you think too much onyour own.
You need to be in sales.
So I was like, hey, so I foundout that the Lord blessed me to
(05:22):
run my mouth.
SPEAKER_06 (05:23):
And when she told you that you have to be in
sales, did she give you aposition in sales?
SPEAKER_03 (05:28):
Oh no, no, they moved me out, they moved me out
into the worst position in theplant.
And then within two days, theymoved me for that because I made
the guy up there that thatmulched everything, uh, made uh
he got mad because I worked himtoo hard because I'd figured out
a uh an easier way to push theproduct into the mulcher, and he
didn't like that.
So then they put me in thebowler room, and I knew
(05:50):
absolutely nothing about thebowler room, and the most
craziest thing happened, theylost their contract, the place
shut down.
Guess who got to keep their job?
The bowler room guy and thesupervisor.
So I had another job for fourmonths, and guess who lost their
job?
The HR lady.
So I didn't think I'd done toobad.
I guess not.
Right.
unknown (06:06):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_06 (06:07):
And then what is Brenda?
What is your background?
Um, I I know that you've beenwith the the show for 2012, and
you've been with Ho Times muchlonger than that.
What is what is your background?
SPEAKER_05 (06:18):
Well, kind of weird.
Um, I was a barber in my dad'shometown barber shop for a
couple of years.
SPEAKER_06 (06:26):
Then I would have never have guessed.
SPEAKER_05 (06:29):
Okay, and that was uh little town outside of
Pittsburgh.
Then I moved to Orlando when Igot married, and I worked for
the Electropellers Associationuntil I didn't.
And I we moved to Texas, I cameback, um, and then very shortly
after that started working atTow Times.
SPEAKER_06 (06:47):
How did you how did you hear about this?
I mean, it's not it, it's not atypical business, any of it.
Towing is not a typicalbusiness, let alone a trade
magazine for you.
SPEAKER_05 (06:56):
My very first friend in Orlando was Eleanor Joyce,
and she was the advertisingmanager at Toad Times, and then
another friend of mine went fromuh Lockheed, from one of the
electroplators to Lockheed toToad Times.
So then when Eleanor wasleaving, they called me.
Amazing.
(07:16):
So yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (07:17):
We're gonna take a quick break, and then when we
come back, we're gonna talkabout this event that um Brenda
and Clarissa and Anthony havepulled off, and many others too.
We're gonna actually talk aboutsome of the other things that we
have the team effort.
So um come back, come back afterthe break, everybody.
SPEAKER_01 (07:35):
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SPEAKER_06 (09:27):
Welcome back, everybody.
We're on the floor of theTennessee Toast Show, and we are
talking about the people who putthis together.
We uh are honored to have Brendaand Anthony, two very essential
people.
And they've already introducedthemselves again, but we're
gonna bring it back.
Number the first thing Iactually want to talk about a
little bit is about Anthony.
Anthony's bashful, he's a littlebit shy, but his voice is not.
(09:50):
His voice is phenomenal.
We the whole place almost camedown this morning when he sang
the national anthem and openedup the show.
And we're gonna let um you guyshear a little snippet of it.
(10:29):
I just want you to sing AveMaria now, okay?
That's the only one to hear.
I mean, it is.
SPEAKER_03 (10:34):
I don't think I can pull that off.
First of all, I gotta say thankyou for letting Miss Brendan M
trust me too.
When I sang, you know, when Isaid, Hey, I'm gonna sing the
national anthem, uh, there was amoment of silence.
Uh, I didn't know if that waslike the axe was gonna come down
or like, okay, because you know,I've been in that position on
the on their side when somebodysays they want to do something,
(10:55):
and uh it gets kind ofinteresting.
So I was to maybe say no.
I was honored that they theyallowed, you know, for me to do
this.
So one of the one of the thingsis is that you know, Miss Brenda
in Tow Times has put this, youknow, incredible event on on our
side of the on our side of thefloor, so to speak, with the
with the association side, youknow, Jimmy Collins and and Evan
(11:16):
Miller, and there's probablysome others that that in uh
David Um uh from David Williamsand stuff, they're really the
founders of it that that gotwith tow times and put those
things together, and they're anintegral part on our side.
Toe times really is the is thenuts nuts and bolts and glue.
(11:36):
And then when we get here thatwe're just like, hey, what do
you need?
How do you want us to set it up?
And I I hate to use the word theenforcers, but we're kind of
like the enforcers, and and thenthen Miss Brenda, of course, uh
is the final say-so.
So we're very honored, you know,to be a part of that in that
regard.
Yes.
SPEAKER_06 (11:53):
I think it's that's more about structure and having
like a uh a direction to go inbecause it can it can get a
little crazy if you don't knowwhich way to go with that, and
that's a very good thing tohave.
Not everybody could lead likethat, Jill.
SPEAKER_03 (12:05):
Right.
But to answer the question aboutthe singing part, um, my mom and
dad is you know church goers,you know, we travel different
around the country.
My dad worked nuclear powerplants for a living.
So we moved every two to threeyears, and dad had a little
book, and he would look up inthe organization that we were
in, and he would look up andfind that church, and that and
they he would visit three orfour churches in the area, and
(12:28):
generally they're smallerchurches.
My mom played played the piano,my dad sang.
He worked, you know, as kind ofwhat we call a lay minister in
the church.
And then for some reason uh I Ilearned that I could sing a
little bit, and um not onlythat, I play a saxophone too,
uh, that I didn't learn until alittle bit later, you know,
(12:48):
closer to my teenage years.
But um at nine years old, I sangmy first song in church, and it
was kind of a unique thing.
It's kind of because I didn'tI've always been the guy that
just like, well, I can sing alittle bit or whatever.
Well, as time got on, everybodyknew me for playing a saxophone,
nobody knew me for a singing.
(13:09):
So, but I had a very blessedgrow uh growing up, even though
that we moved every so often, wehad incredible talent with the
with the choir teachers and inin the growing up and kind of
that real that real pivotal timein my life was kind of like the
eight to twelve year old, youknow, twelve twelve years old.
(13:29):
And I had an incredible teacher,uh, you know, that was just a
drill sergeant when it comes todoing parts, when it comes to
singing, when it came totechnique.
And then I was able to kind ofcarry that on.
But I remember the days I usedto lay in my bed, you know, and
I would listen to the music, youknow, and I'd try to sing.
I'd try to duplicate what Iheard.
And it's just a passion.
(13:49):
And then uh I do praise andworship with church and got an
we've we've relaunched a brandnew trio, uh gospel trio that
we're trying to do.
So it's just a passion.
It really is.
It's a God-given gift that Idon't take lightly, and that uh
if I can bless someone, it'sjust it's it's a blessing to me.
SPEAKER_06 (14:07):
Well, we were all blessed today.
SPEAKER_03 (14:08):
We're very grateful.
SPEAKER_06 (14:09):
You have that, and I reported it.
So gonna submit it to the voicefor you so you can get it.
SPEAKER_03 (14:14):
We'll make another round in the morning.
We'll make it, we'll make it uhuh number two if it's okay with
Miss Brenda.
SPEAKER_06 (14:19):
I don't we call we call that an encore in the
business, okay?
We call that an encore.
SPEAKER_04 (14:25):
I got kicked out of ninth grade chorus.
SPEAKER_03 (14:27):
Oh no, Miss.
SPEAKER_04 (14:28):
She said, You have no range, honey.
Oh goodness.
I'm like, okay, art class.
SPEAKER_03 (14:34):
I sang with the girls uh growing up.
So I mean I was I had to getstand over with the boys next to
the altos.
So I actually learned altobefore I learned tenor growing
up.
SPEAKER_02 (14:44):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (14:46):
I can't I can't sing at at all.
And the only time that I coulddo it is karaoke, and if I've
had one or two or three, maybe.
And then I could singeverything.
SPEAKER_05 (14:56):
At least you think you can.
I think I can.
SPEAKER_06 (14:59):
I think I can, yes.
And so now we have Brenda herewho is the ringleader, so to
speak, of everything, withClarissa, who's doing museum
stuff right now.
Brenda, tell us about um thisshow and what it takes to put it
together and who it helps to andhow and and how essential that
(15:20):
is.
SPEAKER_05 (15:21):
Well, it takes a full, like once we leave here,
we're gonna start all over.
SPEAKER_06 (15:26):
From right now, really, from right now to next
year, you're working on the nextshow.
SPEAKER_05 (15:30):
Yes, yes.
But let me let me stress this itis a complete team effort.
I mean, I might be the personselling the booth space, but
everybody in that tow timesoffice has their hands involved
in this.
From ordering banners to doingthe social media to making the
phone calls to designing the adsbecause I couldn't sell boost
(15:56):
space if we didn't get attendeeshere.
So there isn't one person inthat office that doesn't have
their hand involved in this.
So it is a true team effort.
And then once we get here, thenthe association helps
exponentially for moving in.
Beauty contest, helping me makedecisions because they're their
(16:20):
booths in the ground in thetrenches.
They know the people that um ontheir end.
SPEAKER_06 (16:28):
Oh yeah, and at any time we can go to Anthony or
Jimmy Collins or Evan or anybodyand and get assistance at any
any time.
And that's the one one of thegood things about this show, and
if Wes was here, we would stressthis.
Number one, it's a give back tothe industry show.
SPEAKER_05 (16:46):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (16:46):
This show is a give back to the industry show.
SPEAKER_05 (16:48):
Right, and that's what that's what it and the one
thing about tow times that youmay not know is it is owned by a
group of stockholders who aretowing company owners.
So they know the business, butthey also give back.
SPEAKER_06 (17:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (17:03):
And um that speaks to uh the other contract that we
have here is working with theInternational Towing Museum with
their fundraising auction, withtheir Hall of Fame dinner.
We don't get much much involvedwith the Wall of the Fallen
because that's mostly all museumpersonnel, but it's we're it's
(17:24):
all rounded, it's all together.
SPEAKER_06 (17:26):
You guys don't do that much with it, except that
you do help advertise it, you dohelp promote it.
SPEAKER_05 (17:30):
Right, we're not boots on the ground over there
running the wall of the fallen.
That their their uh boardmembers do that.
We we really are more involvedwith the fundraising auction,
getting the the the items andthen handling the dinner and
that sort of thing.
SPEAKER_06 (17:49):
There's only a couple shows that um well I'm
gonna say Wes does, but me too.
And Ohio's one, Tennessee isone, and Florida is one, and
that's because those three showsare give back to the industry
shows.
SPEAKER_05 (18:03):
Yeah, yes, they're association based.
SPEAKER_06 (18:05):
They're association based, and you guys don't you're
not just association.
I mean, you do give back to theindustry.
And Wes is not gonna do anythingunless it's a give back to the
industry.
That that's just all if it'sjust for profit, he's not doing
it.
And um I I had that value in himwith that and and respect with
him and that.
And I when we come to thesethings, we see it.
(18:26):
The people who come to theseshows and are vendors because if
you don't get vendors, you don'thave a show.
SPEAKER_05 (18:31):
Well, and I also have the utmost respect for tow
operators, owners.
I mean, it is one heck of adangerous business.
Yes.
And it's primarily a familybusiness.
SPEAKER_06 (18:46):
Most of most probably like I'm gonna say like
95%.
SPEAKER_05 (18:49):
I mean, and the nicest, most down-to-earth
loving people you'd ever want toknow.
And it it's it's an honor.
It's an honor for me.
SPEAKER_06 (18:59):
So they are down to earth no matter how successful
they're even, no matter howsuccessful their businesses are,
they they could they could havetrucks and trucks and trucks and
trucks, and they're still gonnalook like you you and me.
They're gonna wear the the jeansand uh and you're never gonna
know that if they're reallysuccessful, you're gonna never
(19:19):
know that by what they'rewearing or what they're driving.
SPEAKER_05 (19:22):
Yeah.
You'll never know that they owna half a million dollar truck or
a fleet of half a milliondollars trucks.
SPEAKER_06 (19:27):
Right.
But they're just um You're nevergonna know by how they dress or
or their demeanor or how theytreat you.
Right.
And um it is a it's a veryunique industry that we're in.
SPEAKER_05 (19:37):
And I one of the things I I love about coming
here is I've never been ma'amedso much in my life.
I mean, talk about true southernhospitality and politeness.
It's it's beyond.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, if you want to gettreated well, you come to
Chattanooga.
Right, right.
So I it's an honor.
It's an honor for all of us atTot Times.
SPEAKER_06 (19:57):
And it's a great event to be here.
Uh Wes is gonna be Wes isgearing towards this 1000th
class.
Okay.
I'm it's probably impossible todo it, but I would love for his
1000th class to be here nextyear.
He's at 972.
It's feasible, it's possible ifnothing if we like hand it out
(20:20):
and nothing cancels.
That the 20 28th year, we have28 classes from me from 1000.
I will love for his 1000th classto be here.
SPEAKER_05 (20:30):
Have to see how it goes.
SPEAKER_06 (20:31):
For everybody too.
For us too, it's laying outtheir classes.
Right.
Because there's a lot of movingparts to a heavy duty class.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So and even us, it is like we ifwe're blessed and we get 35
classes, that you know blows itout of the water.
But and um, you know, so but wejust be a unique a unique thing
to happen.
(20:52):
Right, especially where theindustry started.
That's it.
And what's this verysentimental?
Wes is very sentimental aboutChattanooga.
Right.
And as as most of us are,absolutely.
As most of us are.
All right, we're gonna come backfrom the break, and then
Brenda's gonna tell us what youneed to do if you want to be a
vendor uh for next year.
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SPEAKER_06 (22:52):
Welcome back, everybody.
We are um on the floor of theTennessee Toe Show with Brenda
and Anthony, and we're talkingabout the great event that is
going on here.
It's ongoing.
Today is uh the Friday of theclass, and tomorrow is Saturday.
Um, it's been great so far.
Brenda is gonna give us thedate.
We already have the date for2026, and she's gonna talk about
(23:15):
what needs to be done.
If you want to be a vendor atone of these at this at this
show next year, 2026, then I'lllet you know how to do that.
SPEAKER_05 (23:23):
So next year's October 16th through the 17th.
So the 15th, if that's aThursday, that would be moving.
So what you have to do is youhave to get on Tennessee Toe
Show.com and uh contact me, andI will get you on the list to
get a booth.
If you're new, if you're anexisting uh vendor, you have
right of first refusal on yourspace.
(23:45):
And once all of those peoplehave been contacted and given me
a yes or a no, which is mostly ayes, then I um I I reach out to
the new people.
And our goal is from here until2028 to have it in October.
It works better weather-wisehere, but it also works
weather-wise around the countrybecause last year, even though
(24:07):
we had it was in September, notby our choice, but because we
were forced to move dates.
Um Chattanooga was beautiful,but there was hurricanes
surrounding the entire 500-mileradius, which inhibited travel
uh for our tendees.
That's why we are staunchlygonna stay in October.
SPEAKER_06 (24:27):
Yeah, I was we were here last year and there was a
lot of rain and there was a lotof flooding at that.
SPEAKER_05 (24:32):
Yeah, that's when it went up through Asheville and it
flooded.
SPEAKER_06 (24:35):
Yeah, and even like not here.
There was heavy rains here, butit didn't close anything down.
No, no, and it stopped kind oflike right before the show show
had started.
Yes.
But like when going home likeI've 40, we got rerouted because
parts of that was shut down.
SPEAKER_05 (24:51):
Our street party, which we have every Friday night
at the show, was canceled lastwell.
We had to move it indoors, butwe have a free street party
every Friday night for vendorsand attendees, and it's uh
really good sugar ribs barbecue,and uh we have beer and a DJ and
a face painter and games.
So it's just a little treat foreverybody to just kind of hang
out together.
SPEAKER_06 (25:11):
Yeah, that's a fun hangout, and you'll do that
again next year, too.
That's just uh let your hairdown, just have a little
something to eat, a littlesomething to drink, and just be
able to network and talk andjust chill out.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (25:23):
Five o'clock the show shuts down, and we just
walk over to the street.
unknown (25:27):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (25:28):
I I got something I just want to share maybe from
from like a differentperspective.
You you you know, sometimes wesay, Oh, it's the toast show, or
oh it's just well, it's justsomebody trying to somebody
trying to sell something oranything.
It's it's it is that they theycome here, they show up, they're
here to they're here to promotetheir company in whatever manner
or capacity that they are.
One of the things that I thinkgets forgotten about, and we
(25:51):
probably we know about itbecause we're here and things
like that, it's the connectionsthat you make that you can't put
a dollar amount on, and theconversations and the
relationships you begin to bebuild with vendors that you
wouldn't have not known aboutbecause they may be a regional
vendor, uh, or they that some ofthem may be national vendors or
(26:13):
something that you would neverknown about.
Not only just the vendors, butthe relationship that you're
building with other towers.
Nothing is more this is this isa thing that I really like about
this.
I meet people, I get their phonenumber, and believe it or not,
for whatever reason, there maybe somebody that I know that's
in their area, and they'll callme and go, hey man, do you know
(26:34):
anybody in this area?
Well, matter of fact, I do.
Hey, I know a guy in Kentucky,hey, I know a guy down in
Georgia.
Where are you at?
Oh, yeah, he's like 10 milesfrom you.
So me getting thoserelationships and stuff and
being able to help people intheir time of need, that's one
thing.
But not only that, listening tocompanies, how they operate
their business, and you're a towowner yourself, and you have a
(26:55):
you have a street party like wedo out here on that we're gonna
have tonight, and you get tolisten how they operate and do
their business.
I promise you, if you'll openyour ears just a little bit,
you're gonna learn something.
Take that home and apply that tothat you to that business, to
your business, and and generatemore revenue, you can't put a
price tag on that.
I can't.
(27:16):
It's it's building thoserelationships.
Now we we're spoiled becausewe're used to it.
You know, we know what happens.
It's the people that say, hey,and I've never been to a toe
show.
I'm so busy.
Listen, we put the toe show onto have the training.
And a training is a really bigpart for me that's I think is
very vital to what we do.
And having comp having owners orthey can send their people into
(27:41):
our events that are able to gettraining, I think is a a vast
necessity.
SPEAKER_06 (27:47):
You know, I got two points on that.
Number one, is the seminars youguys had yesterday, the
different ones, the differenttopics, that's a valuable thing.
Number two, I agree witheverything that you said as far
as the networking, not meetingpeople that you would never meet
before.
The flip side of that is thefamily reunion vibe that you get
when you come to these showsbecause have not seen them for a
(28:10):
year or two or three.
And now you get to see them.
It's the family reunion witheverything that you said, it's
that it's that part of it too.
It's true.
SPEAKER_03 (28:20):
And we're a very small niche industry.
That's true.
Very small.
I promise you, if you screw up,it ain't gonna take long for
somebody to know about it.
You you do a really good job,it's not gonna take long for
somebody to know about it.
And we're we're really justwe're a niche industry, we're a
vital part of the industry inwhat we do and how we do it.
(28:41):
And but it's just important forwhat we do.
You know, they put on a greatprogram, and I hope I'm saying
this okay, to plug this for thesummit.
Oh, yeah, we can touch upon it.
They also they also put thesummit on, and I had the I had
the honor and the privilege togo be a part of the summit uh
earlier this year in Florida.
It was amazing.
I learned a ton of information,and I got a different
(29:02):
perspective in listening toowners talk about things that's
going on and how they approachedthem and how they fixed, you
know, how they they fixed them.
And then also we learned aboutdown there on if if you're an
owner and you're you knowreaching towards the end of your
career and you know you want tosell your business.
Well, what are the things to doto sell your business?
(29:22):
Now we don't want to ever talkabout that, but at some point
it's gonna come.
You get of age, you don't wantto do it.
So there with the summit, it'sjust it's a way different
approach.
It's not a hands-on thing, it'ssitting in classes and listening
to people go through things.
I mean, I learned a veryvaluable thing, and I don't know
if many people talked aboutthis.
The AI thing blew me away.
Oh, yeah with the with the guyhe talked about what he was
(29:44):
doing with it and where where hewas going with it.
It blew me away with what how hewas implementing it with his
business.
Guess what I did?
I come home, I signed up uh toget AI, which everybody talks
about AI today, but I startedapplying that to my business,
you know, to our business.
I don't own the company, but Irun the day-to-day operations.
I do it in billing and stufflike that.
(30:04):
But it helped me it it helped medramatically.
I started implementing it withdifferent parts what I was doing
with the association, you know,and it changed.
I mean it it really has changed.
So just that one little classfor me there was other things
and I don't really want to, youknow, go down that road, but it
was people that I met.
You know, I got to meet theassociation members that head up
(30:25):
the Florida Association.
And they're a powerfulorganization now.
They definitely are and they doa lot of lobbying legislation
for their state.
To be do you know be like othercount you know other states.
I about to say other countriesbut other states.
SPEAKER_05 (30:37):
But now the towing and recovery management summit
is uh an event that Tow Timesputs on started in 2014 based on
a need for owners to learn howto run this is the tagline to
learn how to run their businessinstead of their business
running them.
And it's not seminars on how tohook up a car or whatever.
(31:00):
It's business related.
Now there's a towing aspect toit but we bring in speakers from
all different aspects and it'sit's it's grown to the point
where we're probably going tocap it because we don't want it
to be too big because that takesaway the the networking part of
(31:22):
it.
But the the fact that they justtalk and talk and talk and talk
and talk and vendors can bethere and they learn something
on how to run their business andthen they get to know these
owners very intimately and wewill be in Denver May 13th
through the 15th into 2026.
Answer my next question I wasgoing to ask is when and we then
(31:42):
then in 2027 we'll come back tothe East Coast so we can we can
cover the country.
SPEAKER_06 (31:47):
That's great because you give if if traveling is an
issue and time off is an issue.
Right.
The alternate year you can getwe at least be on your side of
the country.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (31:56):
So it's it's really uh it's it's a very vital part
of education.
Right.
SPEAKER_06 (32:03):
I want you to talk about Iker towing and how they
have been wonderful in lettingyou have this flexibility
Anthony.
SPEAKER_03 (32:09):
I've just been honored um you know we we wanted
to be a part of the associationwe were for several years and
and I wanted to get involvedfrom a different perspective
with the association because Ireally felt like it was vital to
us to know what's going on inour state and I have a passion
for information to let othersknow and for their business to
(32:32):
run better, you know?
And in our state we've had a lotof changes go on.
And unfortunately what happensis is that somebody gets upset
and they know somebody in thestate and they go we're going to
make a new law or we're going tomake a new rule or we're going
to make some sort of change thataffects the tower that was due
to someone that didn'tunderstand the process and then
(32:54):
all of a sudden hey it's a newlaw.
So we as an association arethere to protect the tower
across the state of Tennesseenow when it comes to my company
I'm very fortunate that we havegreat we have a great team and
you know I have a boss thatbelieves in the association and
I'm able to you know go out andand promote the association but
(33:15):
I'm also able you know kind oflike not really I look for ways
to help our company which iswhat I love coming about here
but I'm just honored that I havea you know I have a a boss an
owner that that believes in theassociation and believes in what
we're doing and allows me thattime.
You know that's really what itbecause he believes in the
program the process and whatwhat's going on he's like hey
(33:39):
you know if you can help themyou know I want you to help them
and I'm like well I'm trying youknow but it's it's an uphill
battle you know and and we havea lot of things that we're going
to be facing in our state not toreally point the finger at the
Tennessee but we have we havesome new things that's going to
be implemented in the next 18months that we don't know how
it's going to how it's going toadversely uh uh make how how we
(34:02):
operate our businesses and it'sgoing to be a huge thing and
it's state involved it's notlike we're going to have a
choice and so those are thingsthat the association does that
we're able to have thoseconversations behind closed
doors that we've been having ahuge impact and just this past
year just from the associationstandpoint we were able to get
make 13 amendments to the newmotion act in the state of
(34:22):
Tennessee and we're also had uh13 or 19 revisions made to that
law and that was huge for us.
We're a small organ you knowwe're a small association and we
have we have an incredible uhlobbyist that goes on our behalf
and she costs money.
I mean that's that but that'syou know and so we have to pay
them and I can tell you aboutother states that I found out
(34:45):
about the summit that they spentnearly$100,000 and lost their
case to for for their particularcompany I'm not going to name
but they're going to everysingle state trying to get laws
changed to benefit them as acompany which I get it they have
a right they have a lot of moneyinvested and they just want to
know that towers are doingthings the right way well it
adversely affected Tennessee andhow they done and we were
(35:06):
fortunate to be able to go backin and get those corrections.
So the associations are vitalyou know tow times is vital you
know what they do that they'regiving information they have an
incredible magazine that I thinkthat gets overlooked from a toe
show standpoint but the themagazine is incredible
information.
We're able to share I had the Iwas honored this year in July
(35:28):
and had my first article ever intow times.
That was a big deal for mebecause I'm I'm not a writer I'm
not I'm just a I'm just a guywith an idea and I was able to
share what was going on in ourstate and I was very honored
that they were able to do that.
And it's information is key whenyou want to get in a business
and you want to start a towingbusiness you have to know
information.
(35:48):
And going coming to the tow showgetting a part of associations
getting getting the tow timesmagazine all of those things are
extremely vital for what we do.
And without one without theother and everybody kind of
connecting the dots it reallydoesn't exist.
It really doesn't unless we workas a team and we put these
events together and it'sstressful and it's frustrating
(36:10):
and we got people I mean it'samazing to hear some of the
questions that go on and youjust have to look at them and
you smile and you go hey I'm sosorry that you don't understand
let me repeat that for youbecause let's just say people
didn't grow up in the same neckof the woods that some common
sense uh you know lived in youknow and so we have to change
that.
SPEAKER_05 (36:27):
And I mean that humbly and I think that Miss
Brenda I was just thinking abouta question that somebody asked
me here a few years ago is itokay if I bring a box of baby
squirrels into the show and likesay that again?
Yeah I found a box I found somebaby squirrels and I don't know
what to do.
I'm like yeah bring them in.
Not bring them in as the onething to do or not do right yeah
(36:49):
I'm like put them under thetable and if they get loose
they're like no no no they werelike just they found they were
found newborn it was one of youknow well the thing about baby
squirrels and I found this outbecause we had we had a cat that
brought in she was a hunter andbrought in a baby squirrel and
then got loose the baby squirrelwould imprint on you it would it
would try to attach to you.
SPEAKER_06 (37:10):
Get out really so you they would probably had pet
here so it will imprint wellit's a it's a nature it's a
nature thing baby squirrelsdidn't get out so I didn't have
to worry about it so yes yes nowI'm gonna tell a funny story
about and I think this was thefirst year that Toe Thomas was
doing Tennessee Toast show andWes was considering whether to
do a booth here and West willconsider things for a long time
(37:35):
and you called and you was likewhat are you gonna do and Wes
was like well and you were likewell hell you gotta do something
and it made him he was like hesaid you're right I have to do
something it was like thedeadline the show was like in
three days or something and youstill had to spot or something
and it was gonna go and fromthat point on that's funny.
(37:56):
From that point he's told thatstory so many times that's so
funny.
In closing I want you to um giveus the website give us a date
again for next year and for theum the summit and how do you get
the magazine okay so we haveTennesseetoe show dot com and
that's October 16th through the17th next year in Chattanooga.
SPEAKER_05 (38:15):
The Toe Summit is tow summit.com May 13th through
the 15th in Denver and then towtimes dot com you could
subscribe there.
SPEAKER_06 (38:26):
Thank you guys thank you guys so much for doing this
podcast with us we reallyenjoyed it and um thank you for
asking we hope to see everybodyhere in twenty twenty six thank
you
Hello, everybody.
Welcome to uh our podcast,American Town Recovery Institute
on the Go.
We're happy to be at theTennessee Toe Show with good
friends of ours, and they'regonna introduce themselves to us
in a few minutes.
Um, we got here, it's a greatevent.
If you've never been toChattanooga, you should come.
Um, how many years, Brendan, howmany years have you guys been
doing this toe show?
SPEAKER_05 (00:23):
2012.
SPEAKER_06 (00:24):
2012 was with Tennessee with with Tow Times.
SPEAKER_05 (00:27):
Toe Times in the Tennessee Tow Truck Association
partnered, and we've juststarted in 2012.
SPEAKER_06 (00:33):
And so for 13 years, the next show you'd be 14.
Right.
We didn't do 2020.
Nobody did.
Right, but every year we've beenhere.
A little happiness going on thatyear, so I don't know.
Don't think anybody did thatmuch of anything.
Um, I think everybody took thatyear off, right?
Unfortunately.
Yeah.
All right, I'm gonna let youguys introduce yourself um and
(00:53):
what your your part is in this.
And um go ahead, Brenda, youfirst.
Okay, I'm Brenda Fallman.
SPEAKER_05 (01:00):
I uh originally worked with Toe Times magazine
as their advertising manager,and then when the Tennessee Tow
Truck Association approached us,then I started working mostly
with uh as their event manager.
SPEAKER_06 (01:13):
How long have you worked with uh Toe Times?
SPEAKER_05 (01:17):
I started in about 2004, and then I took two years
off from 2008 to 2010, then cameback in 2010.
Worked as the advertisingmanager and the event manager
until uh 2019, and now I just dothe events.
SPEAKER_06 (01:35):
And uh what was your background?
What was your background beforetow times?
SPEAKER_05 (01:40):
I worked for an electroplating association as
their membership manager.
Wow.
Yes, so it's always been kind ofa sales situation.
SPEAKER_06 (01:47):
Yeah, I'm and you're good at it.
Very good at it.
Very, very good at it.
Thank you.
Do not get in her way becauseshe will she would she will get
you.
Then we have our our superstarhere.
He's shaking his head no, butwe're gonna play you a clip here
in a little bit, and we're we'regonna illustrate what a
superstar you are.
Go ahead.
SPEAKER_03 (02:07):
My name's Anthony Roberts, and uh I am the uh
newbie to the family.
Um I am the Tennessee Tow TruckAssociation Administrator, and
uh that means that whatever isneeded uh is is a task that I
don't know how to do, then Ihave to obviously learn how to
do it.
So that's the that's the gist ofit.
(02:27):
And so this has been my firstyear to be actively involved uh
with tow times, putting on thisamazing event that uh actually I
have a personal testimony aboutthis.
15 years ago to September 15th,when you used to have it in that
range, uh is the first day Istarted work in the towing
(02:47):
industry.
Uh I didn't come from the towingbackground or anything like
that.
So when I come to get to come tothe uh the uh the tow show, this
is my anniversary.
So this is also you know a veryspecial place for me because I
love this business, I love theindustry.
Um there's something about beingable to pick up the phone when
someone calls and you answer thephone and you're there to help.
(03:09):
There's just a unique feelingwith that, and that's kind of
been my my emphasis.
And uh I really enjoy doing it.
I have a passion to see uhpeople grow and people succeed
with their businesses, and um Ithought it was been a great fit
for me.
You know, I've I've reallyenjoyed it.
Got a lot to learn.
Um, if I can if I could raisemoney a third of the good as
(03:30):
Miss Brenda could, ourassociation wouldn't have any
issues whatsoever.
So I have a lot to learn.
SPEAKER_06 (03:35):
So well number one, number one, if Brenda wants
something from you, she'sprobably gonna get it from you.
That's correct.
That's not 100%.
Okay.
That's correct.
She's very, very good at whatyou're doing.
SPEAKER_03 (03:43):
She don't mind calling an ace of spades.
She does, she does it's it'sthere's no there's no issues
with that.
So it kind of keeps you in line.
SPEAKER_06 (03:50):
So yeah, she doesn't confuse you, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_03 (03:52):
That's for sure.
SPEAKER_06 (03:53):
So if you looked at Anthony the uh working this
event, you would think that he'sbeen doing it for a while
because it just looks like youhonestly, Anthony, it looks like
you were a natural artist.
You just picked everything upand then you just went with it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:04):
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_06 (04:05):
Some of your background from administrating
comes from working for Ikertowing as well.
That's correct.
Because I know that you're veryessential with that.
SPEAKER_03 (04:15):
I come from the business management background.
Um, I actually, my career, so tospeak, is is was operating and
working with uh rent-to-ownedcompanies.
I actually opened threedifferent stores for a
particular company that in inour area over there.
And then I was in sales, carsales, cell phone sales, uh, you
know, just everything's alwaysbeen the the uh kind of unique,
(04:38):
kind of a funny story.
I got out of college and I gowork for a paper mill, okay?
And you show up to the sameplace every day.
And uh I'm I'm uh what I guesswhat they in their world they
call a free thinker, which isnot a good thing in the
corporate world, okay?
Uh in in a lot of times.
So um I was pouring down rain atthis paper mill, brand new
(05:00):
place.
They had a big leak in the roof.
So I took it upon myself to moveall the paper out of the rain.
Makes sense, right?
Right.
Well, I got I got almost firedfor that because I was not told
to do that.
And the HR lady said that youdon't need to be doing this.
Uh you you think too much onyour own.
You need to be in sales.
So I was like, hey, so I foundout that the Lord blessed me to
(05:22):
run my mouth.
SPEAKER_06 (05:23):
And when she told you that you have to be in
sales, did she give you aposition in sales?
SPEAKER_03 (05:28):
Oh no, no, they moved me out, they moved me out
into the worst position in theplant.
And then within two days, theymoved me for that because I made
the guy up there that thatmulched everything, uh, made uh
he got mad because I worked himtoo hard because I'd figured out
a uh an easier way to push theproduct into the mulcher, and he
didn't like that.
So then they put me in thebowler room, and I knew
(05:50):
absolutely nothing about thebowler room, and the most
craziest thing happened, theylost their contract, the place
shut down.
Guess who got to keep their job?
The bowler room guy and thesupervisor.
So I had another job for fourmonths, and guess who lost their
job?
The HR lady.
So I didn't think I'd done toobad.
I guess not.
Right.
unknown (06:06):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_06 (06:07):
And then what is Brenda?
What is your background?
Um, I I know that you've beenwith the the show for 2012, and
you've been with Ho Times muchlonger than that.
What is what is your background?
SPEAKER_05 (06:18):
Well, kind of weird.
Um, I was a barber in my dad'shometown barber shop for a
couple of years.
SPEAKER_06 (06:26):
Then I would have never have guessed.
SPEAKER_05 (06:29):
Okay, and that was uh little town outside of
Pittsburgh.
Then I moved to Orlando when Igot married, and I worked for
the Electropellers Associationuntil I didn't.
And I we moved to Texas, I cameback, um, and then very shortly
after that started working atTow Times.
SPEAKER_06 (06:47):
How did you how did you hear about this?
I mean, it's not it, it's not atypical business, any of it.
Towing is not a typicalbusiness, let alone a trade
magazine for you.
SPEAKER_05 (06:56):
My very first friend in Orlando was Eleanor Joyce,
and she was the advertisingmanager at Toad Times, and then
another friend of mine went fromuh Lockheed, from one of the
electroplators to Lockheed toToad Times.
So then when Eleanor wasleaving, they called me.
Amazing.
(07:16):
So yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (07:17):
We're gonna take a quick break, and then when we
come back, we're gonna talkabout this event that um Brenda
and Clarissa and Anthony havepulled off, and many others too.
We're gonna actually talk aboutsome of the other things that we
have the team effort.
So um come back, come back afterthe break, everybody.
SPEAKER_01 (07:35):
When that next call comes in, will you be ready?
At the American Towing andRecovery Institute, we make sure
the answer is yes, withstate-of-the-art training that
prepares you for anything theroad throws your way.
Our instructors, J.T.
Reeser and Wes Wilburn, bringover 60 years of combined towing
and recovery experience.
They've seen it all, and nowthey're passing that real-world
(07:58):
knowledge on to you.
From light duty to heavy duty,roadside service to rotator
recovery, every class is packedwith techniques, safety
practices, and certificationsthat give you an edge.
Because in this business,staying trained isn't just
smart, it's the differencebetween a risky guess and a
(08:18):
competent solution.
Don't settle for good enough.
Take your career, your crew, andyour company to the next level.
See the upcoming schedule andregister today at amto
signup.org.
That's am T-O-W S-I-G-N-U-P dotorg.
(08:39):
The American Tony and RecoveryInstitute, small enough to know
you and big enough to serve you.
Don't forget, that's amtosignup.org.
Or feel free to give us a callat 636-800-ATRI.
SPEAKER_06 (08:56):
For electric and other alternative fuel vehicles,
we have developed an app thatgives you all the manufacturers
411 for when that 911 happens.
Whether you are a fire, tower,or police, we got you covered.
To find the EV Clever app, go toyour Apple or Google Play Store
for a 30-day free trial.
SPEAKER_00 (09:14):
We also offer the National Tow Operator
Certification, an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy-duty,electric, and alternative fuel
vehicle.
SPEAKER_06 (09:27):
Welcome back, everybody.
We're on the floor of theTennessee Toast Show, and we are
talking about the people who putthis together.
We uh are honored to have Brendaand Anthony, two very essential
people.
And they've already introducedthemselves again, but we're
gonna bring it back.
Number the first thing Iactually want to talk about a
little bit is about Anthony.
Anthony's bashful, he's a littlebit shy, but his voice is not.
(09:50):
His voice is phenomenal.
We the whole place almost camedown this morning when he sang
the national anthem and openedup the show.
And we're gonna let um you guyshear a little snippet of it.
(10:29):
I just want you to sing AveMaria now, okay?
That's the only one to hear.
I mean, it is.
SPEAKER_03 (10:34):
I don't think I can pull that off.
First of all, I gotta say thankyou for letting Miss Brendan M
trust me too.
When I sang, you know, when Isaid, Hey, I'm gonna sing the
national anthem, uh, there was amoment of silence.
Uh, I didn't know if that waslike the axe was gonna come down
or like, okay, because you know,I've been in that position on
the on their side when somebodysays they want to do something,
(10:55):
and uh it gets kind ofinteresting.
So I was to maybe say no.
I was honored that they theyallowed, you know, for me to do
this.
So one of the one of the thingsis is that you know, Miss Brenda
in Tow Times has put this, youknow, incredible event on on our
side of the on our side of thefloor, so to speak, with the
with the association side, youknow, Jimmy Collins and and Evan
(11:16):
Miller, and there's probablysome others that that in uh
David Um uh from David Williamsand stuff, they're really the
founders of it that that gotwith tow times and put those
things together, and they're anintegral part on our side.
Toe times really is the is thenuts nuts and bolts and glue.
(11:36):
And then when we get here thatwe're just like, hey, what do
you need?
How do you want us to set it up?
And I I hate to use the word theenforcers, but we're kind of
like the enforcers, and and thenthen Miss Brenda, of course, uh
is the final say-so.
So we're very honored, you know,to be a part of that in that
regard.
Yes.
SPEAKER_06 (11:53):
I think it's that's more about structure and having
like a uh a direction to go inbecause it can it can get a
little crazy if you don't knowwhich way to go with that, and
that's a very good thing tohave.
Not everybody could lead likethat, Jill.
SPEAKER_03 (12:05):
Right.
But to answer the question aboutthe singing part, um, my mom and
dad is you know church goers,you know, we travel different
around the country.
My dad worked nuclear powerplants for a living.
So we moved every two to threeyears, and dad had a little
book, and he would look up inthe organization that we were
in, and he would look up andfind that church, and that and
they he would visit three orfour churches in the area, and
(12:28):
generally they're smallerchurches.
My mom played played the piano,my dad sang.
He worked, you know, as kind ofwhat we call a lay minister in
the church.
And then for some reason uh I Ilearned that I could sing a
little bit, and um not onlythat, I play a saxophone too,
uh, that I didn't learn until alittle bit later, you know,
(12:48):
closer to my teenage years.
But um at nine years old, I sangmy first song in church, and it
was kind of a unique thing.
It's kind of because I didn'tI've always been the guy that
just like, well, I can sing alittle bit or whatever.
Well, as time got on, everybodyknew me for playing a saxophone,
nobody knew me for a singing.
(13:09):
So, but I had a very blessedgrow uh growing up, even though
that we moved every so often, wehad incredible talent with the
with the choir teachers and inin the growing up and kind of
that real that real pivotal timein my life was kind of like the
eight to twelve year old, youknow, twelve twelve years old.
(13:29):
And I had an incredible teacher,uh, you know, that was just a
drill sergeant when it comes todoing parts, when it comes to
singing, when it came totechnique.
And then I was able to kind ofcarry that on.
But I remember the days I usedto lay in my bed, you know, and
I would listen to the music, youknow, and I'd try to sing.
I'd try to duplicate what Iheard.
And it's just a passion.
(13:49):
And then uh I do praise andworship with church and got an
we've we've relaunched a brandnew trio, uh gospel trio that
we're trying to do.
So it's just a passion.
It really is.
It's a God-given gift that Idon't take lightly, and that uh
if I can bless someone, it'sjust it's it's a blessing to me.
SPEAKER_06 (14:07):
Well, we were all blessed today.
SPEAKER_03 (14:08):
We're very grateful.
SPEAKER_06 (14:09):
You have that, and I reported it.
So gonna submit it to the voicefor you so you can get it.
SPEAKER_03 (14:14):
We'll make another round in the morning.
We'll make it, we'll make it uhuh number two if it's okay with
Miss Brenda.
SPEAKER_06 (14:19):
I don't we call we call that an encore in the
business, okay?
We call that an encore.
SPEAKER_04 (14:25):
I got kicked out of ninth grade chorus.
SPEAKER_03 (14:27):
Oh no, Miss.
SPEAKER_04 (14:28):
She said, You have no range, honey.
Oh goodness.
I'm like, okay, art class.
SPEAKER_03 (14:34):
I sang with the girls uh growing up.
So I mean I was I had to getstand over with the boys next to
the altos.
So I actually learned altobefore I learned tenor growing
up.
SPEAKER_02 (14:44):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (14:46):
I can't I can't sing at at all.
And the only time that I coulddo it is karaoke, and if I've
had one or two or three, maybe.
And then I could singeverything.
SPEAKER_05 (14:56):
At least you think you can.
I think I can.
SPEAKER_06 (14:59):
I think I can, yes.
And so now we have Brenda herewho is the ringleader, so to
speak, of everything, withClarissa, who's doing museum
stuff right now.
Brenda, tell us about um thisshow and what it takes to put it
together and who it helps to andhow and and how essential that
(15:20):
is.
SPEAKER_05 (15:21):
Well, it takes a full, like once we leave here,
we're gonna start all over.
SPEAKER_06 (15:26):
From right now, really, from right now to next
year, you're working on the nextshow.
SPEAKER_05 (15:30):
Yes, yes.
But let me let me stress this itis a complete team effort.
I mean, I might be the personselling the booth space, but
everybody in that tow timesoffice has their hands involved
in this.
From ordering banners to doingthe social media to making the
phone calls to designing the adsbecause I couldn't sell boost
(15:56):
space if we didn't get attendeeshere.
So there isn't one person inthat office that doesn't have
their hand involved in this.
So it is a true team effort.
And then once we get here, thenthe association helps
exponentially for moving in.
Beauty contest, helping me makedecisions because they're their
(16:20):
booths in the ground in thetrenches.
They know the people that um ontheir end.
SPEAKER_06 (16:28):
Oh yeah, and at any time we can go to Anthony or
Jimmy Collins or Evan or anybodyand and get assistance at any
any time.
And that's the one one of thegood things about this show, and
if Wes was here, we would stressthis.
Number one, it's a give back tothe industry show.
SPEAKER_05 (16:46):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (16:46):
This show is a give back to the industry show.
SPEAKER_05 (16:48):
Right, and that's what that's what it and the one
thing about tow times that youmay not know is it is owned by a
group of stockholders who aretowing company owners.
So they know the business, butthey also give back.
SPEAKER_06 (17:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (17:03):
And um that speaks to uh the other contract that we
have here is working with theInternational Towing Museum with
their fundraising auction, withtheir Hall of Fame dinner.
We don't get much much involvedwith the Wall of the Fallen
because that's mostly all museumpersonnel, but it's we're it's
(17:24):
all rounded, it's all together.
SPEAKER_06 (17:26):
You guys don't do that much with it, except that
you do help advertise it, you dohelp promote it.
SPEAKER_05 (17:30):
Right, we're not boots on the ground over there
running the wall of the fallen.
That their their uh boardmembers do that.
We we really are more involvedwith the fundraising auction,
getting the the the items andthen handling the dinner and
that sort of thing.
SPEAKER_06 (17:49):
There's only a couple shows that um well I'm
gonna say Wes does, but me too.
And Ohio's one, Tennessee isone, and Florida is one, and
that's because those three showsare give back to the industry
shows.
SPEAKER_05 (18:03):
Yeah, yes, they're association based.
SPEAKER_06 (18:05):
They're association based, and you guys don't you're
not just association.
I mean, you do give back to theindustry.
And Wes is not gonna do anythingunless it's a give back to the
industry.
That that's just all if it'sjust for profit, he's not doing
it.
And um I I had that value in himwith that and and respect with
him and that.
And I when we come to thesethings, we see it.
(18:26):
The people who come to theseshows and are vendors because if
you don't get vendors, you don'thave a show.
SPEAKER_05 (18:31):
Well, and I also have the utmost respect for tow
operators, owners.
I mean, it is one heck of adangerous business.
Yes.
And it's primarily a familybusiness.
SPEAKER_06 (18:46):
Most of most probably like I'm gonna say like
95%.
SPEAKER_05 (18:49):
I mean, and the nicest, most down-to-earth
loving people you'd ever want toknow.
And it it's it's an honor.
It's an honor for me.
SPEAKER_06 (18:59):
So they are down to earth no matter how successful
they're even, no matter howsuccessful their businesses are,
they they could they could havetrucks and trucks and trucks and
trucks, and they're still gonnalook like you you and me.
They're gonna wear the the jeansand uh and you're never gonna
know that if they're reallysuccessful, you're gonna never
(19:19):
know that by what they'rewearing or what they're driving.
SPEAKER_05 (19:22):
Yeah.
You'll never know that they owna half a million dollar truck or
a fleet of half a milliondollars trucks.
SPEAKER_06 (19:27):
Right.
But they're just um You're nevergonna know by how they dress or
or their demeanor or how theytreat you.
Right.
And um it is a it's a veryunique industry that we're in.
SPEAKER_05 (19:37):
And I one of the things I I love about coming
here is I've never been ma'amedso much in my life.
I mean, talk about true southernhospitality and politeness.
It's it's beyond.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, if you want to gettreated well, you come to
Chattanooga.
Right, right.
So I it's an honor.
It's an honor for all of us atTot Times.
SPEAKER_06 (19:57):
And it's a great event to be here.
Uh Wes is gonna be Wes isgearing towards this 1000th
class.
Okay.
I'm it's probably impossible todo it, but I would love for his
1000th class to be here nextyear.
He's at 972.
It's feasible, it's possible ifnothing if we like hand it out
(20:20):
and nothing cancels.
That the 20 28th year, we have28 classes from me from 1000.
I will love for his 1000th classto be here.
SPEAKER_05 (20:30):
Have to see how it goes.
SPEAKER_06 (20:31):
For everybody too.
For us too, it's laying outtheir classes.
Right.
Because there's a lot of movingparts to a heavy duty class.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So and even us, it is like we ifwe're blessed and we get 35
classes, that you know blows itout of the water.
But and um, you know, so but wejust be a unique a unique thing
to happen.
(20:52):
Right, especially where theindustry started.
That's it.
And what's this verysentimental?
Wes is very sentimental aboutChattanooga.
Right.
And as as most of us are,absolutely.
As most of us are.
All right, we're gonna come backfrom the break, and then
Brenda's gonna tell us what youneed to do if you want to be a
vendor uh for next year.
SPEAKER_01 (21:12):
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SPEAKER_06 (22:52):
Welcome back, everybody.
We are um on the floor of theTennessee Toe Show with Brenda
and Anthony, and we're talkingabout the great event that is
going on here.
It's ongoing.
Today is uh the Friday of theclass, and tomorrow is Saturday.
Um, it's been great so far.
Brenda is gonna give us thedate.
We already have the date for2026, and she's gonna talk about
(23:15):
what needs to be done.
If you want to be a vendor atone of these at this at this
show next year, 2026, then I'lllet you know how to do that.
SPEAKER_05 (23:23):
So next year's October 16th through the 17th.
So the 15th, if that's aThursday, that would be moving.
So what you have to do is youhave to get on Tennessee Toe
Show.com and uh contact me, andI will get you on the list to
get a booth.
If you're new, if you're anexisting uh vendor, you have
right of first refusal on yourspace.
(23:45):
And once all of those peoplehave been contacted and given me
a yes or a no, which is mostly ayes, then I um I I reach out to
the new people.
And our goal is from here until2028 to have it in October.
It works better weather-wisehere, but it also works
weather-wise around the countrybecause last year, even though
(24:07):
we had it was in September, notby our choice, but because we
were forced to move dates.
Um Chattanooga was beautiful,but there was hurricanes
surrounding the entire 500-mileradius, which inhibited travel
uh for our tendees.
That's why we are staunchlygonna stay in October.
SPEAKER_06 (24:27):
Yeah, I was we were here last year and there was a
lot of rain and there was a lotof flooding at that.
SPEAKER_05 (24:32):
Yeah, that's when it went up through Asheville and it
flooded.
SPEAKER_06 (24:35):
Yeah, and even like not here.
There was heavy rains here, butit didn't close anything down.
No, no, and it stopped kind oflike right before the show show
had started.
Yes.
But like when going home likeI've 40, we got rerouted because
parts of that was shut down.
SPEAKER_05 (24:51):
Our street party, which we have every Friday night
at the show, was canceled lastwell.
We had to move it indoors, butwe have a free street party
every Friday night for vendorsand attendees, and it's uh
really good sugar ribs barbecue,and uh we have beer and a DJ and
a face painter and games.
So it's just a little treat foreverybody to just kind of hang
out together.
SPEAKER_06 (25:11):
Yeah, that's a fun hangout, and you'll do that
again next year, too.
That's just uh let your hairdown, just have a little
something to eat, a littlesomething to drink, and just be
able to network and talk andjust chill out.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (25:23):
Five o'clock the show shuts down, and we just
walk over to the street.
unknown (25:27):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (25:28):
I I got something I just want to share maybe from
from like a differentperspective.
You you you know, sometimes wesay, Oh, it's the toast show, or
oh it's just well, it's justsomebody trying to somebody
trying to sell something oranything.
It's it's it is that they theycome here, they show up, they're
here to they're here to promotetheir company in whatever manner
or capacity that they are.
One of the things that I thinkgets forgotten about, and we
(25:51):
probably we know about itbecause we're here and things
like that, it's the connectionsthat you make that you can't put
a dollar amount on, and theconversations and the
relationships you begin to bebuild with vendors that you
wouldn't have not known aboutbecause they may be a regional
vendor, uh, or they that some ofthem may be national vendors or
(26:13):
something that you would neverknown about.
Not only just the vendors, butthe relationship that you're
building with other towers.
Nothing is more this is this isa thing that I really like about
this.
I meet people, I get their phonenumber, and believe it or not,
for whatever reason, there maybe somebody that I know that's
in their area, and they'll callme and go, hey man, do you know
(26:34):
anybody in this area?
Well, matter of fact, I do.
Hey, I know a guy in Kentucky,hey, I know a guy down in
Georgia.
Where are you at?
Oh, yeah, he's like 10 milesfrom you.
So me getting thoserelationships and stuff and
being able to help people intheir time of need, that's one
thing.
But not only that, listening tocompanies, how they operate
their business, and you're a towowner yourself, and you have a
(26:55):
you have a street party like wedo out here on that we're gonna
have tonight, and you get tolisten how they operate and do
their business.
I promise you, if you'll openyour ears just a little bit,
you're gonna learn something.
Take that home and apply that tothat you to that business, to
your business, and and generatemore revenue, you can't put a
price tag on that.
I can't.
(27:16):
It's it's building thoserelationships.
Now we we're spoiled becausewe're used to it.
You know, we know what happens.
It's the people that say, hey,and I've never been to a toe
show.
I'm so busy.
Listen, we put the toe show onto have the training.
And a training is a really bigpart for me that's I think is
very vital to what we do.
And having comp having owners orthey can send their people into
(27:41):
our events that are able to gettraining, I think is a a vast
necessity.
SPEAKER_06 (27:47):
You know, I got two points on that.
Number one, is the seminars youguys had yesterday, the
different ones, the differenttopics, that's a valuable thing.
Number two, I agree witheverything that you said as far
as the networking, not meetingpeople that you would never meet
before.
The flip side of that is thefamily reunion vibe that you get
when you come to these showsbecause have not seen them for a
(28:10):
year or two or three.
And now you get to see them.
It's the family reunion witheverything that you said, it's
that it's that part of it too.
It's true.
SPEAKER_03 (28:20):
And we're a very small niche industry.
That's true.
Very small.
I promise you, if you screw up,it ain't gonna take long for
somebody to know about it.
You you do a really good job,it's not gonna take long for
somebody to know about it.
And we're we're really justwe're a niche industry, we're a
vital part of the industry inwhat we do and how we do it.
(28:41):
And but it's just important forwhat we do.
You know, they put on a greatprogram, and I hope I'm saying
this okay, to plug this for thesummit.
Oh, yeah, we can touch upon it.
They also they also put thesummit on, and I had the I had
the honor and the privilege togo be a part of the summit uh
earlier this year in Florida.
It was amazing.
I learned a ton of information,and I got a different
(29:02):
perspective in listening toowners talk about things that's
going on and how they approachedthem and how they fixed, you
know, how they they fixed them.
And then also we learned aboutdown there on if if you're an
owner and you're you knowreaching towards the end of your
career and you know you want tosell your business.
Well, what are the things to doto sell your business?
(29:22):
Now we don't want to ever talkabout that, but at some point
it's gonna come.
You get of age, you don't wantto do it.
So there with the summit, it'sjust it's a way different
approach.
It's not a hands-on thing, it'ssitting in classes and listening
to people go through things.
I mean, I learned a veryvaluable thing, and I don't know
if many people talked aboutthis.
The AI thing blew me away.
Oh, yeah with the with the guyhe talked about what he was
(29:44):
doing with it and where where hewas going with it.
It blew me away with what how hewas implementing it with his
business.
Guess what I did?
I come home, I signed up uh toget AI, which everybody talks
about AI today, but I startedapplying that to my business,
you know, to our business.
I don't own the company, but Irun the day-to-day operations.
I do it in billing and stufflike that.
(30:04):
But it helped me it it helped medramatically.
I started implementing it withdifferent parts what I was doing
with the association, you know,and it changed.
I mean it it really has changed.
So just that one little classfor me there was other things
and I don't really want to, youknow, go down that road, but it
was people that I met.
You know, I got to meet theassociation members that head up
(30:25):
the Florida Association.
And they're a powerfulorganization now.
They definitely are and they doa lot of lobbying legislation
for their state.
To be do you know be like othercount you know other states.
I about to say other countriesbut other states.
SPEAKER_05 (30:37):
But now the towing and recovery management summit
is uh an event that Tow Timesputs on started in 2014 based on
a need for owners to learn howto run this is the tagline to
learn how to run their businessinstead of their business
running them.
And it's not seminars on how tohook up a car or whatever.
(31:00):
It's business related.
Now there's a towing aspect toit but we bring in speakers from
all different aspects and it'sit's it's grown to the point
where we're probably going tocap it because we don't want it
to be too big because that takesaway the the networking part of
(31:22):
it.
But the the fact that they justtalk and talk and talk and talk
and talk and vendors can bethere and they learn something
on how to run their business andthen they get to know these
owners very intimately and wewill be in Denver May 13th
through the 15th into 2026.
Answer my next question I wasgoing to ask is when and we then
(31:42):
then in 2027 we'll come back tothe East Coast so we can we can
cover the country.
SPEAKER_06 (31:47):
That's great because you give if if traveling is an
issue and time off is an issue.
Right.
The alternate year you can getwe at least be on your side of
the country.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (31:56):
So it's it's really uh it's it's a very vital part
of education.
Right.
SPEAKER_06 (32:03):
I want you to talk about Iker towing and how they
have been wonderful in lettingyou have this flexibility
Anthony.
SPEAKER_03 (32:09):
I've just been honored um you know we we wanted
to be a part of the associationwe were for several years and
and I wanted to get involvedfrom a different perspective
with the association because Ireally felt like it was vital to
us to know what's going on inour state and I have a passion
for information to let othersknow and for their business to
(32:32):
run better, you know?
And in our state we've had a lotof changes go on.
And unfortunately what happensis is that somebody gets upset
and they know somebody in thestate and they go we're going to
make a new law or we're going tomake a new rule or we're going
to make some sort of change thataffects the tower that was due
to someone that didn'tunderstand the process and then
(32:54):
all of a sudden hey it's a newlaw.
So we as an association arethere to protect the tower
across the state of Tennesseenow when it comes to my company
I'm very fortunate that we havegreat we have a great team and
you know I have a boss thatbelieves in the association and
I'm able to you know go out andand promote the association but
(33:15):
I'm also able you know kind oflike not really I look for ways
to help our company which iswhat I love coming about here
but I'm just honored that I havea you know I have a a boss an
owner that that believes in theassociation and believes in what
we're doing and allows me thattime.
You know that's really what itbecause he believes in the
program the process and whatwhat's going on he's like hey
(33:39):
you know if you can help themyou know I want you to help them
and I'm like well I'm trying youknow but it's it's an uphill
battle you know and and we havea lot of things that we're going
to be facing in our state not toreally point the finger at the
Tennessee but we have we havesome new things that's going to
be implemented in the next 18months that we don't know how
it's going to how it's going toadversely uh uh make how how we
(34:02):
operate our businesses and it'sgoing to be a huge thing and
it's state involved it's notlike we're going to have a
choice and so those are thingsthat the association does that
we're able to have thoseconversations behind closed
doors that we've been having ahuge impact and just this past
year just from the associationstandpoint we were able to get
make 13 amendments to the newmotion act in the state of
(34:22):
Tennessee and we're also had uh13 or 19 revisions made to that
law and that was huge for us.
We're a small organ you knowwe're a small association and we
have we have an incredible uhlobbyist that goes on our behalf
and she costs money.
I mean that's that but that'syou know and so we have to pay
them and I can tell you aboutother states that I found out
(34:45):
about the summit that they spentnearly$100,000 and lost their
case to for for their particularcompany I'm not going to name
but they're going to everysingle state trying to get laws
changed to benefit them as acompany which I get it they have
a right they have a lot of moneyinvested and they just want to
know that towers are doingthings the right way well it
adversely affected Tennessee andhow they done and we were
(35:06):
fortunate to be able to go backin and get those corrections.
So the associations are vitalyou know tow times is vital you
know what they do that they'regiving information they have an
incredible magazine that I thinkthat gets overlooked from a toe
show standpoint but the themagazine is incredible
information.
We're able to share I had the Iwas honored this year in July
(35:28):
and had my first article ever intow times.
That was a big deal for mebecause I'm I'm not a writer I'm
not I'm just a I'm just a guywith an idea and I was able to
share what was going on in ourstate and I was very honored
that they were able to do that.
And it's information is key whenyou want to get in a business
and you want to start a towingbusiness you have to know
information.
(35:48):
And going coming to the tow showgetting a part of associations
getting getting the tow timesmagazine all of those things are
extremely vital for what we do.
And without one without theother and everybody kind of
connecting the dots it reallydoesn't exist.
It really doesn't unless we workas a team and we put these
events together and it'sstressful and it's frustrating
(36:10):
and we got people I mean it'samazing to hear some of the
questions that go on and youjust have to look at them and
you smile and you go hey I'm sosorry that you don't understand
let me repeat that for youbecause let's just say people
didn't grow up in the same neckof the woods that some common
sense uh you know lived in youknow and so we have to change
that.
SPEAKER_05 (36:27):
And I mean that humbly and I think that Miss
Brenda I was just thinking abouta question that somebody asked
me here a few years ago is itokay if I bring a box of baby
squirrels into the show and likesay that again?
Yeah I found a box I found somebaby squirrels and I don't know
what to do.
I'm like yeah bring them in.
Not bring them in as the onething to do or not do right yeah
(36:49):
I'm like put them under thetable and if they get loose
they're like no no no they werelike just they found they were
found newborn it was one of youknow well the thing about baby
squirrels and I found this outbecause we had we had a cat that
brought in she was a hunter andbrought in a baby squirrel and
then got loose the baby squirrelwould imprint on you it would it
would try to attach to you.
SPEAKER_06 (37:10):
Get out really so you they would probably had pet
here so it will imprint wellit's a it's a nature it's a
nature thing baby squirrelsdidn't get out so I didn't have
to worry about it so yes yes nowI'm gonna tell a funny story
about and I think this was thefirst year that Toe Thomas was
doing Tennessee Toast show andWes was considering whether to
do a booth here and West willconsider things for a long time
(37:35):
and you called and you was likewhat are you gonna do and Wes
was like well and you were likewell hell you gotta do something
and it made him he was like hesaid you're right I have to do
something it was like thedeadline the show was like in
three days or something and youstill had to spot or something
and it was gonna go and fromthat point on that's funny.
(37:56):
From that point he's told thatstory so many times that's so
funny.
In closing I want you to um giveus the website give us a date
again for next year and for theum the summit and how do you get
the magazine okay so we haveTennesseetoe show dot com and
that's October 16th through the17th next year in Chattanooga.
SPEAKER_05 (38:15):
The Toe Summit is tow summit.com May 13th through
the 15th in Denver and then towtimes dot com you could
subscribe there.
SPEAKER_06 (38:26):
Thank you guys thank you guys so much for doing this
podcast with us we reallyenjoyed it and um thank you for
asking we hope to see everybodyhere in twenty twenty six thank
you
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