ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Despite challenging economic times, the heavy duty aftermarket industry demonstrated the need for suppliers and distributors to stay connected with a strong showing at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), which was held last month in Orlando, Fla.
According to HDAW organizers, a total of more than 1,400 individuals attended the three-day conference, including 218 exhibiting supplier companies and 410 distributor executives, representing 194 distributor companies.
The fourth annual HDAW conference was held at the Orange County Convention Center and the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., February 16-19. More than 1,400 pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings were held between suppliers and distributors. Seven individual education programs were presented to large audiences on topics ranging from profit planning analysis to business planning to challenges facing new technologies in the aftermarket. More than 1,200 people attended the opening reception on Monday evening.
“HDAW ’09 was all about quality: suppliers, distributors, education session content and several meals and other networking events,” said Marc Karon, HDAW ’09 co-chair and president of Total Truck Parts Inc. “It was heartening to see the key players in our industry pull together and support the conference, especially during some pretty tough times for many businesses in the heavy duty aftermarket.”
“The overall theme for HDAW ’09 was Maximizing Opportunities in Challenging Times” said Joe McAleese, Karon’s partner as 2009 co-chair and CEO of Bendix CVS. “Our strategy for attendees at the conference was to provide maximum take-away from all elements of the program. This included significant content, the addition of DVD recordings of all of the education programs and workbooks containing all program materials.”
Major industry awards were presented to heavy duty aftermarket individuals and companies by show organizers at a special luncheon during HDAW.
· The Top Five Aftermarket Products were awarded by Heavy Duty Aftermarket Journal to: ArvinMeritor, Donaldson, Nexiq Technologies, SPX/OTC and Penray;
· Mike Betts, owner of Betts Truck Parts and Service in San Leandro, Calif., was awarded Distributor of the Year by Truck Parts and Service Magazine;
· David Bryan Lewis, lead technician and supervisor for Wal-Mart Transportation’s fleet maintenance facility in Sutherland, Va. was awarded Technician of the Year, by SKF/Bendix/Haldex/Dayton/Mahle;
· Jim Burke, the late CEO of Drive Train Industries was honored posthumously with the HD Hall of Fame Award, by R.L. Polk & Co.; and
· D. Mike Pennington, senior marketing director, global communications, ArvinMeritor, was honored by the HDAW organizers for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the event over the last three years.
“HDAW ’09 was a conference that brought together the best that the industry has to offer,” stated Marc Karon of Total Truck Parts, HDAW ’09 co-chair. “The week wrap-up with a luncheon honoring the best of the best with the HD Aftermarket Industry Awards Luncheon was one of the highlights of the event.”
“We are very proud of the achievements of these winners, and salute the excellence they have brought to our industry. Recognizing great performance and honoring of our peers is important, and these individuals represent the best in our industry,” stated Joe McAleese of Bendix CVS, HDAW co-chair.
HDAW’10 will be held at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, January 18-21, 2010.
