BETHESDA, Md. – Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), recently moderated a panel of industry leaders during the Capital Roundtable’s 2011 MasterClass in New York City.
More than 60 representatives of middle-market private equity firms attended the event held at the University Club on Feb. 3.
The panel, “War Stories – Perspectives from CEOs Who Have Been Through the Cycle,” featured automotive aftermarket industry leaders Marc Graham, American Driveline; Matt Jordan, Eckler Industries Inc.; Robert Lee, OE Quality Friction Inc.; and Steve Scharnhorst, Vista-Pro Automotive LLC. The panel was part of the class, “Private Equity Investing in Auto Aftermarket Products and Services – How to Build Companies That Drive These Fast-Growing Sectors.”
Schmatz led the panel in a discussion of their experiences through the recent recession and the efforts made by their businesses to adjust to the new economic climate. Insights from the panelists included:
• The importance of considering the needs of customers their businesses don’t currently have;
• The necessity of updated technology to reach the right customers and stay in business;
• The essential value of pride and confidence in the quality of their products; and
• The imperative need for involvement in careful category management for the good of the industry.
“The automotive aftermarket is a powerful, viable industry, as evidenced by the participants in this Capital Roundtable MasterClass,” said Schmatz. “We are honored to have been invited to share the message about the strength and resilience of the industry with these private equity investors, their colleagues and portfolio company managers.”
Known for its day-long MasterClass series, the Capital Roundtable focuses on the “need-to-know” information needs of general and limited partners in the middle-market private equity community. More than 4,000 people and 1,500 speakers have participated in the MasterClasses since 2003, and almost 30 classes are planned for 2011.
