by Amy Antenora

CHICAGO — Yesterday at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago, Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), presented this year’s Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award to Steve Hoellein.

Established in 2005, the award is given annually by AAIA’s Education Committee to the person, aftermarket company or educational institution that best advances the concepts and programs for education or continuing education in the North American automotive aftermarket.

Each year nominations for this award will be accepted and evaluated by the committee in accordance with the candidate’s innovation of new aftermarket education programs, advancement of existing programs and/or superlative effort to further promote the educational programs or education fund raising efforts established.

Hoellein, president of Felt Auto Parts in Odgen, Utah. Hoellein was recognized for his outstanding efforts raising fund for the GAAS scholarship fund as well as for his industry recruitment efforts in his home state of Utah.

Hoellein started out as a driver with Felt Auto Parts in 1966. He became manager of the company’s machine shop operations in 1971. Hoellein became a company owner in 1985, taking over management of the company’s entire operations. A member of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), he received his Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) designation in 1994. Hoellein is quite active in his community, serving on various educational committees. Several years ago he helped start the Automotive Aftermarket Advisory Council in his community, which is comprised of local aftermarket businesses with the purpose of getting the industry’s name out in the community and to work in promoting automotive technology in the high schools.