AAPEX REPORT: New Officers Installed at CAWA's Annual Meeting on Sunday

At its annual meeting October 30 to kick off this year’s Industry Week, the California/Nevada/ Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) installed the following individuals to serve as officers for the 2012 year:

• Chair of the Board – Steve Sharp, WORLDPAC;
• Vice Chair of the Board – Ed Jimenez, Riebe’s Auto Parts;
• Treasurer – Ron Cannon, Charleston Auto Parts;
• Secretary – Ron Aparicio – Walker Products; and
• Immediate Past Chair of the Board – Mary Davis, NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc.

During the CAWA Annual Membership Dinner, sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America, at the Venetian that night, industry colleagues gathered for great networking and all-around fun.

Following dinner, CAWA held its traditional “red vest” ceremony and installation of the new officers. Then, the evening was topped off with a very competitive and energetic live auction. One hundred percent of the funds that were raised from the auction and meeting registration is contributed to the CAWA Memorial Scholarship.

This year, CAWA awarded scholarships to 25 students for the 2011-’12 academic year.

Chambers Watkins-Blackshear (Andrew), a student at Miramar College in San Diego was the recipient of the Mort Schwartz Award. Blackshear demonstrated outstanding goals and achievements and is well deserving of this high honor.

The other CAWA scholarship winners include: Carrine Greaves, Oakland, CA; Nina Hunter, Tempe, AZ; Cortney Zellman, Roseville, CA; John Geiger, Red Bluff, CA; Maureen Moscoso, Pacifica, CA; April Craven, Santa Paula, CA; Jimmy Ho, Castro Valley, CA; Joe Grado Jr., Tempe, AZ; Michael Rydz, Eureka, CA; Noel Myers, Vacaville, CA; Rachel Feliciano, Las Vegas; Sandra Ingersoll, Redding, CA; Vince Contorno, Sacramento, CA; Alan Erese, Avondale, AZ; Wade Wontorek, Fiddletown, CA; Kari Morey, Glendale, AZ; Luis Peralta, Caliente, CA; Josh Donovan, Avondale, AZ; Michelle Perez, Half Moon Bay, CA; Ronald Yoder, Hemet, CA; Marc Chenez, Camarillo, CA; Nicole Kelsey, Tucson, AZ; Alisha Williams, Citrus Heights, CA; and Arturo Cabral, Los Angeles.

The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association continues to improve its scholarship program.

“Not only did we increase the amount of funds this year, but we also increased the number of scholarships to 25 students representing all three states – an accomplishment that we are very proud of,” said Julie Snyder, director of operations, CAWA. And Scholarship Task Force Chair Borise Cota of Akebono stated, “It’s very rewarding to be able to provide assistance to so many well-qualified and deserving candidates. I encourage our members and students to continue to apply each year.”

Applicants for CAWA’s awards were taken through www.automotivescholarships.com. New applications are now being accepted for the 2012-’13 school year.

To make a contribution, contact Snyder. All contributions are tax deductible, and you and your business will receive great recognition for the support.

Founded in 1955, CAWA is a non-profit trade organization representing automotive jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers, manufacturers and manufacturers’ representatives in California, Nevada and Arizona. CAWA’s mission is to provide communications, education, legislative and regulatory advocacy and group purchasing of services for its members while promoting the automotive aftermarket industry.

For additional information about CAWA, go to www.cawa.org.

Despite a tough commercial tire market in 2023 due to overstock and the effects of a rubber-banding supply chain, some tire manufacturers are expressing a cautious optimism for stabilization and gradual recovery through the rest of 2024 and into 2025.

"The economy is not showing signs that it’s going to slow down, but I don’t think the situation’s going to improve dramatically by the end of this year. It’s more likely next year," said Pierluigi Cumo, Vice President of B2B products, at Michelin North America. "We can see the light because the beginning of 2023 was very bad. I think now we’ve found the bottom, and I don’t think we’re going to get much further from the bottom in 2024."