CHANTILLY, Va. – Gary Phillips was installed as the chairman of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) during the association’s recent International BIG R Show held Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 in Las Vegas.

Phillips grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., and moved to Tampa in 1978. Phillips has been working with Allison Transmissions as a primary career focus since he was 19 years old. He served as a technician, service manager and dealer development manager for a Detroit Diesel Allison Distributor.

In 1981, Phillips founded Reliable Transmission Service as an Allison Transmission Regional Remanufacture and Service Center in Tampa. Reliable Transmission Service and affiliated companies, also known as “RTS,” are currently in seven locations serving customers that use Allison Transmissions in the South, Midwest and Texas, with plans to expand to other areas of the United States.

Phillips served for five years as chairman of APRA’s Heavy Duty Transmission Division and several years as a member of the APRA Board of Directors. He was also instrumental in helping to form APRA’s Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG) in 2005 and also assisted in organizing the first Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Summit just prior to the 2006 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas.

Phillips stated, “I would like to see us grow our association membership by making the industry more aware of what APRA offers in benefits and services. But more importantly, as the voice of remanufacturing in Washington, D.C., I want everyone to know the value proposition we have worked on since 1941 in the legislative and government arena in Washington, D.C.”

Phillips will serve as APRA chairman until Oct. 31, 2011 at the conclusion of the next International BIG R Show in Las Vegas.