This week, 30 aftermarket professionals have returned to the classroom for Session II of the University of the Aftermarket’s sold-out Leadership 2.0 experience. Throughout the week, they will hear from industry leaders such as Tim Lee, MAAP, president of Lang Distributing Inc., analyze the latest industry challenges, present their intersession research findings and hone their leadership skills before returning to their jobs at aftermarket manufacturing, distribution, association and vehicle service organizations. Once again, several participants in this week’s session have agreed to give us their insider’s take on the experience, as part of our second annual Leadership 2.0 blogger series. Our fifth and final blog entry this week comes from Tricia Spierling, Senior Account Representative at R.L. Polk & Co. 
Blog #5
Today was the last full day of Leadership 2.0. After gathering with my classmates for our farewell dinner, I take the time to reflect on the past week and what I intended to get out of this course.
When I had first heard about Leadership 2.0 and was asked to participate, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it would be an opportunity for growth, but I predicted it would be a lot like the other programs I had participated in over the course of my six-and-a-half years with Polk.
Although the educational events I have signed up for previously have given me tools and information to bring back to my day-to-day job, Leadership
2.0 was nothing like the rest. The framework of this experience focuses on relevant content and collaboration amongst aftermarket professionals. This opportunity has been unlike any of those I have participated in before and has provided me with extremely valuable knowledge that will positively impact my career.
Thursday started out with [University of the Aftermarket Director] Brian Cruickshank highlighting some of the major happenings that have taken place within our industry in recent years. He also shared information about what some of the past students of the Leadership course had expected the aftermarket to look like today. Their estimations were fairly accurate. He then put us into groups and encouraged us to come up with our own opinions about the direction in which we think our industry is moving and some of the challenges we will need to prepare for. It was an extremely thought-provoking exercise and all of the groups came up with informative responses. It will be interesting to see how accurate we are with our own predictions.
You could tell when you walked in the classroom this morning that everyone was thinking about the afternoon’s agenda. Today was the day we had prepared for with our teams over the past six months. We had all chosen topics related to major issues impacting the industry. All of the presentations were well-delivered and deserve recognition. It was very difficult to choose one team as the winner because the group as whole really stood out. I would like to give special thanks to my team, The M.A.N.H.A.T.I.N. Project 2.0, for outstanding collaborative efforts. It was a pleasure working with you.
We gathered at the Islander Restaurant for our last dinner as a group. Everyone had a great time reminiscing about the “activities” that brought us together as friends in such a short time. There were a lot of laughs, as there always seems to be with this group, as well as some much-deserved acknowledgment of various successes. Congratulations go out to team Under Pressure and its members, Courtney Carbone, Steve Chetwood, Rudy Epp, Adam Lee and Sean Tucker. Their presentation focused on the importance of succession planning and how a well-prepared plan, or lack thereof, affects all levels of the supply chain. Although service business owners were among our classmates, the message was well-received by the entire group because the team was able to effectively communicate the impact that succession planning can have on each step of the aftermarket. They brought a vital topic to top of mind and encouraged all of us to discuss the importance of positioning our legacies for those who come next.
The attendees of GAAS will have the pleasure of seeing this presentation in May. Good luck to my classmates – the opportunity is well-deserved and I know you will do an outstanding job.
As I mentioned previously, although the other educational events that I have participated in have certainly been enriching, Leadership 2.0 has exceeded my expectations. This is not only a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other members of our industry; it was an opportunity to create relationships with some of the brightest people I’ve ever met.
I would like to thank the professors and the University of the Aftermarket staff for a truly enjoyable experience. My appreciation goes out to my management team at Polk and especially to Kendra Rawls, senior vice president, global sales and marketing, for the opportunity to participate in this invaluable educational experience. To my classmates, it has been my pleasure getting to know you both professionally and personally. I sincerely enjoyed learning with you, and I look forward to opportunities when our careers will bring us together again. – Tricia Spierling, Senior Account Representative, R.L. Polk & Co.
