BETHESDA, MD – In response to attendee requests, the 2006 Aftermarket Financial Symposium (AFS) will feature lunchtime roundtable discussions during the first day of the symposium. Discussions will be moderated by representatives from Alvarez & Marsal; Smith Barney; Capstone Financial; RSM McGladrey; R. L. Polk & Co.; Universal Underwriters Group; Keeley, Kuenn & Reid; G.M. Zack, LLC; Thompson Hine and others.

Hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the 2006 AFS is scheduled for Sept. 26-27 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago. The event is geared toward CEOs, CFOs, financial service providers, investment analysts, CPA firms and others with interests in the automotive aftermarket.

"By adding roundtable discussions, AFS will provide a unique opportunity for face-to-face discussions between attendees who share a common interest," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. "We are responding to past attendees' who asked for opportunities to network among a select group of their peers with an expert on-hand to lead them through their topic of concern."

Each luncheon roundtable will feature a moderator who will lead a discussion on a specific topic of interest to financial professionals in the automotive aftermarket. Topics will include back office and manufacturing outsourcing, fiduciary responsibility, accounting, inventory efficiency, partnering with your insurance company and human resources law. There will also be tables featuring a discussion on the growing similarities between OE tier one and the aftermarket, bankruptcy preference action and a fraud accounting question-and-answer session.

As an added benefit to attendees, the 2006 AFS has been authorized to offer 12 continuing professional education (CPE) credit hours for financial professionals that participate in both days of the symposium. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on AFS or to register, go to: http://www.aftermarket.org , or contact Susan Medick, CFO, AAIA, at 301-654-6664 or e-mail susan.medick@aftermarket.org.