The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) of the Auto Care Association will be presenting YANG @AAPEX during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), Wednesday, Nov. 1, in Las Vegas. All professionals in the auto care industry under the age of 40 are encouraged to attend.
The program will include the YANG Town Hall, titled, “Get in the Driver’s Seat: The 3 Keys to a Successful Auto Care Career,” featuring an executive panel from all channels of the auto care industry, moderated by YANG Advisory Council member, Dave Shapiro, SRS Marketing Co., 3:45-4:45 p.m. at The Venetian Hotel, Marco Polo Room 706.
The panel topics include:
- Willingness to Grow – How Continuing Education and Learning New Skills Drives Opportunity
- You Are Who You Know – The Importance of Networking and Growing Your Inner Circle
- Learning to Lead – How Getting to the Top Takes Sacrifice and Putting Others First
Immediately after the panel, attendees are invited to attend the YANG-sponsored happy hour, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at LAVO in the Palazzo.
Panelists include: Corey Bartlett, MAAP, president, Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc.; and Aaron Shaffer, business development manager, KYB Americas Corp.
In addition to YANG @AAPEX, members of YANG have the opportunity to receive professional staged photographs free of charge from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov.1, in the Auto Care Association Member Center, Room 201-203 in the Sands Expo.
New this year is the YANG Mentor Pin, designed to initiate conversations between young industry professionals and willing mentors. YANG Mentor Pin wearers will be recognized at AAPEX events by wearing the mentor pin. The pin pledges their willingness to support the industry’s future leaders and to indicate they are open to conversations with members.
“Getting the perspective of professionals with prior experience is extremely valuable, and our hope is that the YANG Mentor Pin will help YANG members identify auto care industry leaders willing to share their experiences,” said Thurston Adams, Heri Automotive and YANG Council member. “Our goal is that mentorship relationships will be formed informally, based on mutual respect for the similar paths we are following throughout our careers in the auto care industry. When someone is wearing a YANG Mentor Pin, YANG members can simply say hello and introduce themselves, pick their brain and ask them about their career. In life and in business, simple introductions often lead to great relationships.”
Those interested in sporting a YANG Mentor Pin may do so by contacting the YANG staff liaison, Courtney Hammer, at [email protected] or by picking up their pin at the Auto Care Association Fall Leadership Days registration desk on Sept. 6-8 in San Francisco, or at the Auto Care Association Member Center in the Sands Expo, Room 201 during AAPEX 2017.
YANG would like to thank its major corporate sponsors of YANG this year, which include Tenneco, Automotive Distribution Network, Automotive Parts Services Group (The Group), AWDA, MANN+HUMMEL/WIX Filtration and Parts Authority.
YANG membership is free and open to Auto Care Association members under the age of 40. For more information, visit autocare.org/yang or email [email protected].
