SOUTHFIELD, MI — Mike Gingell, vice president of strategic markets for R. L. Polk & Co., has been selected to receive the Automotive Hall of Fame’s prestigious 2006 Young Leadership and Excellence Award. The award recognizes women and men under 35 years of age who have demonstrated significant potential as future automotive industry leaders. Gingell will be recognized at the Automotive Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held in Dearborn, MI, on October 3.

“Mike possesses the essential qualities and skills of a strong leader – a passion for the automotive industry, the ability to build a winning team and a gift for developing innovative ideas and seeing them through to fruition,” said Stephen Polk, chairman, president and CEO of R. L. Polk & Co.

Throughout his 11 years at R. L. Polk & Co., Gingell has led a number of significant contributions to the automotive aftermarket and commercial vehicle industries. Included among his many successes is the creation of the Polk Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket Demand Factors, which helps companies make better decisions regarding market penetration and distribution coverage. Under his leadership, the Polk Part Lifecycle product was developed. Lastly, Gingell and his team created the Polk Inventory Efficiency Award, an industry honor that rewards companies that positively impact their inventory efficiency, one of the largest issues in the automotive aftermarket.

Gingell holds a bachelor of science degree from Oakland University and a master of business administration from Wayne State University. He is an active member of the Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit, TEC Detroit, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Detroit Economic Club, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and various other industry committees.

For more information about Polk, visit: www.polk.com .

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