Longtime automotive aftermarket leader and Federated Auto Parts CEO Rusty Bishop was named 2008-2009 chairman of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) on Nov. 2 during the AWDA Annual Business Conference in Las Vegas.
A Waynesboro, Va. resident, Bishop began his career in the aftermarket more than 38 years ago with Fisher Auto Parts. During his time at Fisher, he worked in warehouse and store management, and served as a director of the company. In 1985, Bishop co-founded Federated Auto Parts with the late Art Fisher, serving today as its CEO.
Bishop has served the automotive aftermarket industry in many leadership roles, including board member of the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA), chairman of AWDA’s Membership and Marketing Committees, governor on AWDA’s Board and most recently as AWDA vice chairman. He is a member of the University of the Aftermarket Board of Trustees and, in 2007, was a presenting panelist at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). Bishop earned his AAP designation in 2008 and was honored by Northwood University with the prestigious Automotive Aftermarket Education Award during AAPEX 2008 in Las Vegas.
“I have spent my entire career in the automotive aftermarket with both Fisher and Federated Auto Parts and am truly honored to serve as chairman of AWDA,” said Bishop. “Both Fisher and Federated have always taken an active leadership role in the automotive aftermarket and we plan on continuing that role well into the future.”
Joining Bishop in AWDA’s top leadership positions are:
Vice Chairman, Willi Alexander, regional vice president, Uni-Select USA, Roanoke, Va.;
Secretary, David T. Segal, AAP, Automotive Supply Associates Inc., Concord, N.H.; and
Treasurer, Timothy A. Lee, AAP, chairman, Lang Distribution, Kankakee, Ill.
New AWDA Governors Added to the Board
In addition to its new officers, AWDA also welcomed several new members to its Board of Governors:
• Don Bickle, Jr., president, Warehouse Inc., Hays, Kan.
• Scott Grill, vice president and chief purchasing officer, Auto-Wares Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Todd Hack, senior vice president, CARQUEST Corp., Raleigh, N.C.
• Scott LeProhon, senior vice president, NAPA Headquarters, Atlanta, Ga.
• John Quirk, president and CEO, VIP Inc., Lewiston, Maine
AWDA thanks the departing Governors for their dedicated service on the Board:
• Richard Beirne, AAP, United Auto Supply, LaCrosse, Wis.
• J. Richard Fairbanks, Jr., Orleans Auto Supply Inc., Hyannis, Mass.
• Robert J. Blair, CARQUEST Corp., Raleigh, N.C.
• Robert Susor, NAPA Headquarters, Atlanta, Ga.
• John Washbish, AAP, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, San Antonio, Texas
• Douglas Washbish, AAP, Moog Louisville Warehouse, Louisville, Ky.
