Jillian has taken on the giant task of planning the yearly convention among her other duties. We recently had the chance to talk to her about the yearly conventions and what it takes to make it happen. The following are excerpts from our conversation.
What goes into planning a convention?
To date, I have planned two conventions, in 2023 and 2024. I am just starting to work out the details for the 2025 convention. There is a lot that goes into planning big events like these. The location is always the first thing you have to think about. Finding a place that holds approximately 150 people and has enough hotel rooms for everybody is crucial. I’m an anxious person when it comes to parking, so I always want to make sure that there’s enough parking.
It is important that the convention is held in a place that accommodates our members. I don’t want to ask our dealers to drive out of state, so we plan on staying in Montana.
I love Montana. I love the beauty that’s here. I want our sponsors to see that Montana is more than just the rumor of no electricity and riding a horse to work every day.
Do you have a favorite memory from a past convention?
I don’t know if I have a favorite memory, but I definitely recall one moment that made me really glad that I am a part of the association and solidified that this was the right job for me.
It was last year. Bruce mentioned that he wanted to get mechanic jumpsuits for himself, with our sponsor logos on it, to wear at the convention. I sarcastically asked him why Deb and I didn’t get one of the jumpsuits. He responded, “Yeah, we should all wear one!” Then my body tensed up. My sarcasm had gotten the better of me, and I thought, “This will be embarrassing because they’re men’s jumpsuits. They don’t fit women’s bodies very well.”
All three of us ended up wearing the jumpsuits. We received nothing but positive feedback and our sponsors saw, in a very fun way, just how much we appreciated their support.
It was at that moment I knew that this was exactly where I was supposed to be in life. I would do it all over again because I love supporting our sponsors and what their involvement means to our dealers.
What do you hope dealers and sponsors get out of the convention?
We want to help dealers build relationships with sponsors and learn about what’s new in the industry. That’s the whole point of our conventions. We prioritize getting sponsors that are invested in Montana dealers long-term. Bruce is always saying, “If sponsors want to be here for one year, that’s not my priority. I want someone who’s going be here in 20 years, still supporting dealers and helping the association,” and that has stuck with me. If I’m here in 20 years, I still want to have the same relationships with these companies. In short, conventions are all about getting everybody together and building relationships.
More About Jillian
Between Jillian and her husband, Colton, you will find a total of five cars in their driveway — a car for every type of adventure that life might bring their way. They have two fur babies, a Corgi named Pippa and a Lab/Wirehair Pointer named Remington, who are always excited to go along for the ride.
At a young age, Jillian fell in love with cars. Her parents, John and Becky, would buy a “new-used” car every single year. By the time Jillian was 16, she had her heart set on buying her own “new-used” vehicle … a Ford 150. That wasn’t to be though. Her father just happened to find a shiny little gold Mercedes convertible for sale and decided that it was the perfect first car for his daughter.
Around that same time, Jillian and her family moved to Montana. Jillian was concerned about the convertible handling well on icy roads that come with Montana winters, so her father threw a few sandbags in the trunk to weigh the car down. One night, during a snowstorm, the car had a hard time stopping and Jillian ended up getting in a wreck. Both drivers were OK and the car was able to be repaired, but ultimately, this led Jillian to get a different car. Following her parents’ example, each year since then, she has traded her vehicle in for a new ride.
In late 2018, Jillian responded to a job posting for an internship at MTADA. At first, she thought she was being pranked because she was working with car dealers and dipping her toes in politics all day, but the job was legitimate. She found her stride until 2020 when the pandemic changed things, and Jillian needed to find a new job.
In late 2022, Jillian jumped at the chance to come back to work for the association. She returned the Sunday before the convention started and there was still so much to get ready. Jillian picked up where she left off and got to work. She is looking forward to future conventions, strengthening the association and all of the relationships that will be built.
