NATIONAL
The Car Care Council Women's Board has announced that Pamela Krebs, director of advertising and sales promotion for Robert Bosch Corp., is the fourth annual "Aftermarket Woman of the Year." The announcement was made during the 2007 Women's Board reception on Oct. 30 during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. has announced the appointment of Charlie Cleveland as strategic account manager for its Western market. Cleveland's appointment is one of a series of recent alignments by Akzo Nobel to ensure that key customer groups and geographic segments are paired with the highest levels of talent and support, the company said.
Standox has announced the appointment of Petra Schroeder to brand manager. Schroeder will be responsible for product and brand strategy. Schroeder, a native of Wuppertal, Germany, has been with Standox for 38 years.
More than $50,000 was raised as part of the "Keys to Speed" campaign benefiting the education programs and services of the I-CAR Education Foundation and the Collision Industry Foundation. Bill Dunn of Ace Body Shop in Cordele, Ga., was the grand prize winner of a 1957 Speedster Replica, donated by Keystone Automotive Industries. The drawing was held on Nov. 1, at Keystone's 60th anniversary party in Las Vegas.
Geico Insurance contributed $10,000 in October to support the I-CAR Education Foundation mission. 3M contributed $5,000 in November. The contributions to the Education Foundation Industry Partners Annual Fund will support many Education Foundation programs that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.
Carstar Franchise Systems Inc. was honored with three awards at the 2007 Collision Industry Achievement Luncheon during NACE week in Las Vegas. Carstar was presented with the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists' (SCRS) Industry Award. Carstar was commended for its public letter to the industry last spring calling for "responsible push-back" and "stepping up" by repairers across the entire industry. Carstar was also acknowledged for its sponsorship of an 18-month fundraising tour that supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Super'Stang Muscle Tour features a rebuilt 1967 Mustang that visits franchisee fundraising events and car shows around the United States. The tour has already raised more than $155,000.
Colin N. Hoffard of Willow Street, Pa., received the Technician of the Future award, sponsored by Mitchell 1 and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), during a ceremony Nov. 12 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Hoffard had the highest score in North America on the ASE exam. Hoffard is employed as an automotive technician at BMW of Bel Air, Md. He graduated from the BMW Step Training Program in December 2006 and received an associate degree of applied science, automotive technology, Ford ASSET emphasis, with high honors, from the Pennsylvania College of Technology in May 2006. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., LTD. of Osaka, Japan, has announced that Kenji Nakakura is the company's new president and chief executive officer. Nakakura will also be representative director for the company and will continue to serve as a member of the board.
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has hired Sean MacKinnon to direct automotive training development. MacKinnon will provide information to retail tire dealers on servicing vehicles with tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and will also be responsible for updating the Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Training and Certification Program. The association said the position was created to address the growing industry concern regarding the implementation of TPMS and other technology changes.
Spal USA has named Thom Balistrieri director of consumer sales. Balistrieri will be responsible for increasing market share for Spal USA's premium electronic offerings, including power window and door lock kits, vehicle security systems, and collision avoidance solutions.
Tim Dietz, account manager and technical sales chief for Standards Testing Laboratories Inc. has been named chairman-elect of the Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). "I am honored and excited to hold a key position in the Wheel & Tire Council and to be able to promote the important efforts of the aftermarket wheel industry," Dietz said. He will take over as chairman of the WTC in the fall of 2008.
The Equipment and Tool Institute has announced the hiring of Rich Pershell as technical manager. Pershell will be responsible for all of the institute's technical programs and activities, including managing and planning all technical aspects of ETI's Tech Weeks, the Tek-Net Library, and technical content for ETI's Web site and publications. Pershell will oversee the activities of ETI's vertical groups and the technical committee, as well as develop its annual goals and objectives. He also will act as ETI's liaison with other organizations that affect tool and equipment design and manufacturing.
Ansell has appointed Sean Sweeney senior market development manager. Sweeney will be responsible for focusing on the construction, DIY, and other alternative markets. He will be based at Ansell's headquarters in Red Bank, N.J.
During the Winter Shareholder's meeting of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (Alliance) in Boca Raton, Fla., the Alliance board of directors announced the upcoming retirement of president and CEO, Richard H. Morgan. The board has begun its search for his successor as he contemplates his retirement as one of the leaders of the aftermarket industry for the last five decades. While there has been no exact date set for the transition and appointment of a successor, the time frame established by both the board and Morgan indicates a two year process that will be approached conservatively to ensure the appropriate candidate is installed. Qualified candidates should contact efuterman@hahnauto.com.
Due to the continued record increases in the cost of raw materials and energy, Yokohama Tire Corp. is increasing prices on consumer tires by 7 percent; medium-truck tires and light-truck commercial tires 4 percent; and off-the-road (OTR) tires 5 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2008. All three divisions will include adjustments, which will be announced at a later date.
The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) has received a Training Excellence Award for its Overview of Biodiesel course. The Training Excellence Award is presented annually by the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC). The course is taught by certified instructors and covers topics such as biodiesel blends, production, standards, and benefits/drawbacks in order to encourage the adoption of biodiesel. Since its inception in 2005, thousands have been trained from a variety of audiences including public interest groups, automotive technicians, employers, fleet operators, training institutions, and private entrepreneurs.
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has announced two executive staff promotions: Wendy Earp to vice president, secretary, and chief financial officer, and Ann Wilson to senior vice president of government affairs. Earp is responsible for the financial management of MEMA and its market segment associations, and will direct budgeting and finance functions for the automotive-related trade associations administered by MEMA Management Services Group Inc. Wilson works with the association's Washington office staff in overseeing federal and state legislative and regulatory monitoring, reporting, and advocacy. She develops and promotes association members' views on legislation and regulations affecting the motor vehicle supplier industry.
During Engine Parts Group's annual shareholder meeting in Dallas, EPGI's shareholders voted on and named five featured suppliers to its highest vendor status: Dura-Bond, Hastings Manufacturing Co., Mahle-Clevite, Melling Engine Parts, and S A Gear Inc. Engine Pro Distributors operate 31 distribution centers nationally, serving in excess of 17,000 machine shop and engine rebuilder customers throughout the United States.
Federal-Mogul has announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has issued an order confirming the company's Fourth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization on a wholly consensual basis without objections, paving the way for Federal-Mogul to emerge from Chapter 11. The company is now seeking the affirmation by U.S. District Court, which must also take place for the company to emerge from bankruptcy. Federal-Mogul voluntarily filed in 2001 for Chapter 11 in the United States and Administration in the UK in order to separate its asbestos liabilities from its operating potential.
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) re-elected Jerry Lentz of Challenger Lifts Inc. to a second term as chairman of the board of directors during the association's annual membership meeting in Las Vegas in conjunction with the AAPEX/SEMA shows. Other board members elected were Rick Wells of Mohawk Resources Ltd., Pete Liebetreu of Hunter Engineering Co., Doug Grunnet of ALM Auto Lifts/Mach. Corp., Jeff Kritzer of Bend-Pak Inc., and Gary DiAngelo of Wheeltronic Ltd. Gary Kennon of Rotary Lift/Dover Ind. Co. continues to serve as past chairman, and R.W. O'Gorman (ALI president) was re-elected as ALI secretary-treasurer.
Dennis Welvaert, president of the North American aftermarket division at Dayco Products LLC, took office as chairman of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) board of governors at the Nov. 8 board meeting in Chicago. Peter Morse, president of Morse Automotive, and Tom Ward, president of Snap-on Tools Group, also assumed their posts as co-vice chairmen at the Nov. 8 meeting. Welvaert and Michael Cardone, CEO of Cardone Industries, were selected as the AASA representatives to the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) board of directors. Four new board members were elected to three-year terms: Tanvir Arfi, president, tools and equipment, SPX Corp.; David Barbeau, vice president, global independent aftermarket business unit, Delphi Product & Service Solutions; Jeff Brekke, senior vice president, North American aftermarket division, The Gates Corp.; and Paul Johnson, general director, global independent aftermarket, General Motors Corp.
Charles E. Johnson, president, CEO and director of Proliance International Inc., has been elected 2007-2008 chairman of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) board of directors. Other MEMA board officers include:
vice chairman, Terry R. McCormack, president and director of Affinia Group; vice chairman, James S. McElya, CEO, president and director of Cooper Standard Automotive; treasurer, Eugene E. Ezzell, chairman and CEO, Mikronite Automotive Technologies.
Al Stecklein, group president, worldwide aftermarket division, of the Gates Corp., will remain on the board as immediate past chairman. New members of the board are: Terrance J. Keating, CEO and chairman of Accuride Corp., and representative of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA); Gordon Ulsh, president, CEO and director of Exide Technologies; Dennis M. Welvaert, president of global automotive aftermarket, Dayco Products, and AASA chairman.
Joe McAleese, president and CEO of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, has been elected 2008 chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) board of directors. Other HDMA board officers elected include: vice chairman, Dennis Michels, president and CEO of Link Manufacturing; vice chairman Terry Keating, chairman of Accuride Corp. Dennis Kline, vice president for worldwide truck sales and marketing for ArvinMeritor, will remain on the board as immediate past chairman. New members of the board are: John Coll, vice president and general manager of Eaton Aftermarket and Vorad; and Ed Oeltjen, president of Consolidated Metco.