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In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Tonnika Haynes. Tonnika shares her experiences navigating trade shows like Vision and ASTA, highlighting the challenges of scaling events while maintaining their community feel. The conversation touches on the struggle to balance profitable training with meaningful content for shop owners. They also discuss the importance of grassroots networking and accountability within industry associations, emphasizing the need to evolve while remembering what made previous events special.

00:00 Trade show insights and takeaways

04:45 Struggling to secure instructors

09:25 Improving trade show quality

11:08 Evaluating training investment costs

15:18 Investing in employee training

18:21 Challenges in Automotive Training

22:41 Getting great deals at the show

23:30 Boosting vendor sales at trade shows

27:40 Considering a move to a convention center

30:58 Regional networking events in Asheville

35:07 Adjusting content for wider appeal

37:22 Demand for hands-on Tesla class

41:53 Early board experiences discussed

42:36 Addressing organizational dysfunction

46:57 Launching the new podcast

52:03 Discussing video production deadlines

53:03 Braxton starting a media company

56:04 Introducing the next topic