ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Despite the demanding yet recovering economic times, the heavy duty aftermarket industry demonstrated its resolve and the need for suppliers and distributors to stay connected with a strong showing at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) in Las Vegas, according to HDAW organizers.
A total of more than 1,700 aftermarket industry leaders attended the three-day conference, including 495 distributor executives and 229 exhibitors.
The 6th annual HDAW conference was held Jan. 17-20 in Las Vegas. More than 1,400 people attended the opening reception on Monday evening and started the week with an optimism and excitement for the growing relationship-based industry, event organizers say.
“HDAW ’11 was all about bringing suppliers and distributors together for the betterment of our industry as a whole,” said Dave Willis, HDAW ’11 co-chair and president of CRW Parts. “Having our industry’s key companies come together and support the conference in the numbers they did speaks volumes to the value the event provides all attendees.”
“Our overall theme for HDAW ’11 was Leadership: Strategies for Tomorrow,” said Terry Livingston, Willis’s partner as 2011 co-chair and general manager – Americas, Aftermarket for ArvinMeritor. “Attendees took full advantage of the education sessions, the product expo, the numerous networking sessions as well as participating in the one-on-one meetings. From my meetings and conversations I had with colleagues, I truly believe that this year’s attendees will share and implement new leadership strategies for their businesses.”
More than 1,000 people attended the opening general session as Donald Knauss, chairman and CEO of The Clorox Co. delivered a compelling address on the topic of leadership traits as the keynote speaker, and Dr. Martin Regalia of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave the audience the U.S. Economic Outlook for 2011 and beyond.
The Distributor of the Year Award was presented to Keith McLemore and Don Purcell of Stone Truck Parts by Denise Rondini, editor in chief of Truck Parts & Service magazine.
2010 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame Award was presented to Don and Wayne Keller, brothers and co-founders of Keller Truck Equipment, which later became Keller Truck Parts by Mark Seng – vice president of Polk’s Commercial Vehicle and Automotive Aftermarket business units.
Heavy Duty Aftermarket Journal’s Top 5 products were presented to the following suppliers by Kate Miller – president and group publisher of Newport Business Media:
• Alcoa – LvL One Lightweight Wide Base Wheel
• Bee Line – Mobile Alignment System Package
• Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake – Versajust Automatic Slack Adjuster
• Fontaine – Ultra Fifth Wheel Line
• Hendrickson International – TireMaax Pro
More than 1,667 pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings were held between suppliers and distributors, making it the largest HDAW one-on-one meeting numbers ever. These meetings facilitate an in-depth dialogue between senior executives of the distributor and participating supplier companies.
Eight well-attended individual education programs were presented to large audiences on topics ranging from OEM Dealers vs. Heavy Duty Distributors: Point – Counterpoint, Steps to Developing Sales Approaches that Inspire, to Left of Boom: How to Make Your Facility Immune to Union Organizing.
The HDAW Product Expo was filled wall-to-wall with distributors visiting suppliers unveiling new products and services and overall effective ways for distributors to be more profitable and to serve the end-user smarter and better. Several special attractions, included the HDAW new product showcase, a display of the Pinewood Challenge “race-trucks,” and a multitude of new products and programs for 2011.
The annual All-Industry Reception and Pinewood Challenge, with live entertainment sponsored by Eaton Corp., proved again to be an exciting event for all 18 race participants and an audience of more than 700. Winners of the event were:
Pinewood Race Winners:
1st – Pascale Service Corp. – Jim Pascale (also the 2010 winner)
2nd – Triangle Innovation – Jeff Miller
3rd – Bendix Eversure – Randy Salvatora
Concours D’elegance Winners: (Best designed and best looking trucks)
1st – Marmon Highway – Jeff Miller
2nd – Franklin Truck Parts – Greg Franklin
3rd – Triangle Innovation – Jeff Miller
HDAW’12 will be held Jan. 23-26, 2012, at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
