Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance 2018 Winter Shareholder Meeting Kicks Off In Miami

Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper warehouse distributor shareholders of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance arrived at Turnberry Isle in Aventura, Florida, this weekend for their annual winter meeting.

“We look forward to our annual shareholder meetings,” said Corey Bartlett, president and CEO of Automotive Parts Headquarters in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and the incoming chairman of the Alliance board of directors. “This is our time to come together with other members, celebrate our successes and most importantly, to plot our course for the future.”

Alliance President and CEO John R. Washbish greets the crowd in Aventura.

Members of the Sales and Marketing, Information Technologies, National Accounts, Product and newly created Operations committees began the week with closed-door meetings on Sunday morning. They came together that afternoon for a joint session that concentrated on a complete overhaul to the Alliance’s Shareholder Portal and Communications Exchange platform. On Sunday afternoon, the Alliance board of directors also met to discuss the group’s direction for the coming year.

With nearly 500 in attendance, shareholders from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America join more than 200 channel partners in collaborative joint sessions, receptions, a golf outing, deep-sea fishing and more. The highlight of the meeting will be Tuesday night’s annual banquet and awards ceremony culminating with the announcement the 2018 Alliance Channel Partner awards and ends with the Channel Partner of the Year. The meeting concludes on Wednesday.

Federated Auto Parts Distributors announced it is entering into a collaboration with the Association of Independent Oil Distributors (AIOD) – one it said will focus on mutual benefits for the respective members.

“Federated is constantly looking at ways to improve value for all constituents and this agreement provides that,” said Sue Godschalk, president of Federated. “This collaboration provides added volume and opportunities for our suppliers, new partners for our members, and added supply points and products for shop customers. We have enjoyed working closely with several AIOD members in the past and this agreement will expand and create further opportunities for both Federated and AIOD.”