Bringing Home the Bacon: DealerConnect 2026
The people, partnerships, and conversations that made Columbus worth the trip.
If there was one thing we had plenty of at DealerConnect 2026, it was bacon. Crispy bacon at breakfast, caramelized bacon at the AppOne Welcome Reception, and enough of it to make you wonder if we’d quietly picked up a pork industry sponsor.
But somewhere between the bacon and the business, something important happened. People connected.
Over breakfast, between educational sessions, throughout the exhibit hall, and during the evening reception, conversations took on a life of their own. Dealers compared experiences, industry partners shared insights, old friends reconnected, and new relationships began. Challenges were discussed, ideas exchanged, and solutions explored, sometimes between bites of bacon.
And that’s really what DealerConnect is all about.
The Best Conversations Aren’t Always on the Schedule
We brought together an impressive lineup of industry experts to tackle the issues affecting dealerships today, from profitability and operational efficiency to emerging technologies, regulatory challenges, and the changing dynamics of our industry.
But what I find equally rewarding are the conversations that happen outside the meeting rooms. A Dealer sharing how they’ve solved a problem another dealer is facing. An exhibitor introducing a solution that could make a meaningful difference in dealership operations. Or two people meeting for the first time and discovering they have more in common than they expected.
Those moments are difficult to put on a conference agenda, but they’re among the most valuable reasons to attend.
Partners Who Made It Possible
A special thank-you goes to AppOne, our first-ever Presenting Sponsor, whose commitment to powersports dealers goes well beyond supporting DealerConnect.
AppOne has been a longtime partner to our industry, listening to dealer feedback and using those insights to continually improve the financing services that help dealerships fund their customers and close sales.
That dealer-focused approach was on display when Andrew Fuller, with some entertaining audience assistance from fellow AppOne representative Cam Domine, delivered a lively, understandable presentation on financing. They made a complicated subject approachable, engaging, and even fun.
AppOne also hosted our Welcome Reception, where the signature Full Throttle Fill-Up cocktail and that memorable caramelized bacon helped get the conversations flowing.
Our Education Sponsors, NCM Associates, NPA, and Inventory Flow, helped bring the speakers, panels, and industry expertise to Columbus. Their support also made possible the DealerConnect Education Workbook, a resource designed for more than simply following along during sessions. It gave dealers a place to capture ideas, reference information throughout the conference, and take practical tools and insights back to their dealerships.
PSX Ascend joined us just in time to sponsor our networking breaks, helping keep the energy up and conversations going throughout the meeting. Sometimes a quick refreshment and a few minutes between sessions are all it takes to spark a valuable new connection.
And our exhibiting partners transformed the networking room into much more than a collection of booths. They brought opportunities, solutions, industry knowledge, and resources that dealers could put to work in their businesses. Just as importantly, they helped strengthen the relationships that make our powersports community so valuable.
The Most Important People in the Room
Of course, none of this happens without the dealers.
To every dealer who stepped away from the daily demands of running a business to join us in Columbus, thank you. Your participation, questions, experiences, and willingness to share with one another are what give DealerConnect its purpose.
As someone who has spent much of my career in powersports, I’ve learned that some of the most valuable things we gain from industry gatherings aren’t necessarily found in a presentation or workbook. They’re the relationships we build, the perspectives we gain, and the ideas we bring home.
DealerConnect 2026 reinforced that for me.
We may not remember exactly how many pounds of bacon we consumed, but we’ll remember the conversations, the connections, and the ideas we brought home.
And that’s the real value of DealerConnect.
We Are Better Together.
Next Stop: The SEMA Show!
We’re taking that spirit of connection to Las Vegas!
November 3–6, 2026 | Las Vegas Convention Center
You’ll find NPDA in the West Hall, right in the middle of the new powersports section, ready to help you make the most of one of the industry’s most exciting trade shows.
Think of the NPDA booth as your home base at SEMA. We’ll help you navigate the show, connect with the product companies you’re looking for, discover new business opportunities, and take advantage of the outstanding education, speakers, events, and activities happening throughout the week.
NPDA members: Visit your Member Portal for a special registration code to expedite your SEMA Show registration.
Whether you’re looking for new products, fresh ideas, or another opportunity to connect with your industry peers, stop by and see us.
See you at SEMA!
