ILLINOIS
Bando USA Corp. of Itasca has announced the addition of Alberto de la Pena to its field sales team. In his new role, de la Pena will be responsible for customer acquisition and management of the southeastern region. With more than 15 years of industry experience, de la Pena was most recently employed by Sheppard Steering Components. His duties will also include working with Bando's rep agencies Accelerated Sales & Marketing and Strategic Marketing.
Oliver C. Joseph Inc., a Chrysler and Dodge franchise dealership in Belleville, has purchased United Auto Parts of Belleville from Bob Lelly. The name will be changed to Oliver C. Joseph United Auto Parts and is temporarily being run from the dealership.
Craig Buick Pontiac GMC & Toyota in Madison can now do the title work and get permanent license plates for car buyers. Ron Stiver, Bureau of Motor Vehicles commissioner, said 64 dealerships have signed up for the program.
Randy and Toby Sorg, co-owners of Sorg Dodge in Goshen, have purchased Petro Dodge-Chrysler Jeep of Warsaw and renamed the dealership Sorg South. Sorg purchased the dealership from Steve Petro and has retained the existing staff.
The Automotive Service Providers Association of Illinois (APSA-IL) has elected new board members for 2008. Pictured, from l. back row, are Past President Jim McKay, Vice President Ken Kalina, Region 8 Director John Verstegen, Region 7 Director Jerry Chambers, and Region 4 Director Steve Fransene. Front row, from l., are Secretary John Rice, Region 10 Director Wain Taylor, President Jeff Dust, Region 5 Director Randy Van Kuiken, and Region 3 Director Michele Brett.
KENTUCKY
Bailey's Service Center in Shelbyville has been nominated for two awards this year--the CARQUEST National Automotive Facility of the Year and the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics by the Better Business Bureau. Bailey's is owned by Roy and Wanda Bailey.
MISSOURI
Five paint companies owned by Gary and Kathy Allen have merged to become ColorVision. The distributor for automotive paints and industrial coatings earned a Platinum certification from PPG when the program began in 1995 and has continued to qualify each year. The stores included in the merger are C&D Car Color in West Plains, Valley Paint & Supply in Springfield, Auto Paint Stop in Independence, Overland Auto Paints in Overland Park, Kan., and Duncan Auto Paints in Olathe, Kan. "We are building a stronger regional network with good branding power," Allen said. "Instead of planning for five different outlets, we can develop meaningful programs as a single entity."
Sentaida International has acquired ZT Wholesale, the wholesale division of Zisser Tire Co. Inc. of St. Louis. The deal will give ZT Wholesale a distributor of high- and ultrahigh performance tires and access to other lines of passenger, medium truck, and off-road tires. Don Mathis is now general manager of Sentaida's U.S. operation as well as ZT Wholesale.
An Auto Zone parts store is slated to open in the 9400 block of Gravois Avenue in St. Louis. Manager Lionel Moise III said he hopes to be in the new building early this year.
O'Reilly Auto Parts recently celebrated the grand opening of its store at 31 Charleston Square in St. Peters. The store is managed by James Reynolds.
Saturn of West County held a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on its new location in Chesterfield. The new store is expected to open for business this summer.
Mitsubishi Motors North America has recognized Kirkwood Mitsubishi for selling cars and trucks for 25 years.
A new CARQUEST Auto Parts jobber store opened in October at 1556 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold.
The owners of Fairground Chevrolet plan to consolidate their current franchises and expand their dealership facility in Rolla. "We have been in business for 17 years," said Bill Peach, a co-owner of Fairground Chevrolet. "To have all five franchises under on roof has been a dream of ours."
Chris McGlothlin is the new parts adviser at Suntrup Kia in St. Louis. McGlothlin was previously a counterman at Auffenberg Kia in O'Fallon, Ill.
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