MIDLAND, Mich. – Timothy Lee, MAAP, president of Lang Distributing Inc., a member of the executive committee of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) and board of directors of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, will deliver the convocation address during Session II of the 2011-2012 University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 experience in West Palm Beach, Fla., in April.
Lee in the early 1990s joined a group of distribution executives in proposing the development of an aftermarket-specific leadership education program that would foster improved communication between supply chain partners. Their idea became AWDA University’s Leadership 2010 program, which debuted in 1995. The program was renamed Leadership 2.0 by the University of the Aftermarket in 2006.
“We envisioned a program that would bring together professionals from manufacturing and distribution organizations in a non-adversarial environment where they could learn what’s best for all parties in addressing industry challenges and opportunities,” Lee said. “That networking element is as important today as it was 17 years ago. Instead of taking a confrontational approach, the program encourages us to sit down, sell one another on specific ideas and cooperate in finding solutions.”
Lee, who completed the Leadership 2010 experience in 1996, will tell this year’s Leadership 2.0 class how important it is to find the right career opportunity in today’s aftermarket.
“There are a lot of surprising opportunities that can arise in this industry, things that cross your path that can literally change the course of your life,” he said. “I’m going to talk about how to approach those opportunities.”
Session II of the 2011-12 Leadership 2.0 experience will take place April 15-20 on Northwood University’s campus in West Palm Beach. The Session II curriculum will include a blend of industry research and market analysis, discussion and debate of aftermarket challenges and competitive strategies, and a variety of leadership education activities. Participants also will present the findings of team research projects conducted since the end of Session I in September.
Members of the 2011-2012 class are:
Nikki Ayers, Ayers Automotive Repairs
Christopher Battershell, Federal-Mogul Corp.
Courtney Carbone, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
Steve Chetwood, NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.)
Ben Devlin, Halton Automotive
Dean Dibley, Uni-Select
Rudy Epp, Rudy’s Auto Service
William Flaherty, Stant USA Corp.
Jennifer Gilbertson, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association
Chris Hillestad, NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.)
Tracie Howerter, Gates Corp.
Dan Humphrey, The Timken Co.
Rob Jones, Epicor Software Corp. (formerly Activant)
Jeffrey Koviak, Tenneco
Brent Kulcsar, Auto Electric Service
Adam Lee, Lang Distributing
Jon McSweeney, GPI/CARQUEST
Michelle Menendez, MacKenzie Warehouse
Dwayne Myers, Dynamic Automotive
Doug Rockefeller, Tenneco
Corey Roppel, Roppel Industries
Larry Sandlin, Auto Electric & Carburetor Co.
Greg Sharrar, The Tire Mart
Geoffrey Shifflett, Fisher Auto Parts
Patricia Spierling, R.L. Polk & Co.
Adam Stranik, Midas
Sean Tucker, Accessories Marketing/Slime
Kent Van Oort, Gates Corp.
Jeffrey Walter, Zimmerman’s Auto Service
Blake Ward, Southeast Automotive Warehouse
Wesley Ward, Wes Ward Auto Repair
Mike Whiteis, Automotive Parts Headquarters
Leadership 2.0 and other University of the Aftermarket programs are presented through significant financial support from the independent University of the Aftermarket Foundation and Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association. Program graduates earn 7.0 continuing education units that can be applied toward their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.
For additional information regarding Leadership 2.0 and other University of the Aftermarket programs, visit www.universityoftheaftermarket.com or call 1-800-551-2882.
