RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) announced today the realignment of staff to strengthen its aftermarket market segment, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), and the overall communications program for MEMA and its market segment associations.

Chris Gardner, formerly vice president of strategic services and technology, has been promoted to vice president of AASA. Margaret Beck, current director of communications, has been promoted to senior director of communications.

“I am pleased to announce this reorganization, which will result in increased services and programs to our AASA members and increased communications with all of our members, both print and electronic,” said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA. “Chris and Margaret both have been valued members of the MEMA staff. We are excited by the prospect of continued growth in these areas as these two assume their new roles.”

In his new role, Gardner will be responsible for assisting in the management of AASA and its programs and services. He will report to AASA President Steve Handschuh, and the focus will be on carrying out the association’s strategic plan and developing new programs and services for its aftermarket supplier members.

Gardner assumed his previous role in 2005, managing technology initiatives for member companies of MEMA and its market segment associations. Gardner joined MEMA in 1998 as marketing vice president for the Management Information Systems Group, Inc., the e-commerce commercial division of MEMA. He has previous experience with a public relations agency that focuses on the automotive supplying community and was the editor-in-chief of an automotive industry trade magazine. A North Carolina native, Gardner earned a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.

In her new role, Beck will be responsible for the communications programs for MEMA as well as MEMA’s peer and products groups and its Management Services Group, an association management group. Her duties will include supervision of all MEMA’s electronic newsletters and websites. Beck also will be responsible for the development of the communications programs for the events and programs offered by MEMA and its associations and groups.

She will continue as editor of FOCUS, MEMA’s quarterly magazine, which examines the critical issues and challenges facing today’s OE, aftermarket and heavy duty suppliers.

Beck joined MEMA in 1998 as the association’s staff writer, was promoted to the position of communications manager in 2000 and director of communications in 2005. Prior to joining MEMA, she was the director of communications for the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina, an automotive service provider association. Her experience also includes association communications for the North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education and the North Carolina Bankers Association.

A native of Rocky Mount, N.C., Beck is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in English.

For more information about MEMA, go to: http://www.mema.org.