Dennis M. Welvaert, MAAP, former president of the North American Aftermarket Division of Dayco, Tulsa, OK, has been named the 2011 recipient of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Leader of the Year Award. Each year, AWDA bestows this prestigious honor on an aftermarket professional who has contributed to the industry in a unique and significant way.
A veteran of more than 41 years in the aftermarket, Welvaert began his professional career with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1970 where he held various technical positions in Research and Development, Product Engineering and Sales.
Welvaert joined Dayco in 1981, holding numerous executive-level positions in the OEM, Industrial and Aftermarket divisions. He has also served as vice president and general manager of the aftermarket for Mark IV Industries, which consisted of Purolator Filtration, Eaglemotive Fan Clutch and Dayco Divisions.
Welvaert’s dedication to industry service runs broad and deep. He has been a member of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation Board of Trustees; a past chairman of AASA; past president of the Automotive Sales Council (ASC) and a past member of the Board of Directors of AAIA. Most recently, Welvaert accepted the position of chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS).
In 2008 Welvaert received AWDA’s Pursuit of Excellence Award on behalf of Dayco as well as Northwood University’s Aftermarket Management Education Award.
AWDA’s Executive Director Larry Northup recalled running into Denny in his Dayco booth at AAPEX a few years back. “It was closing time on Thursday afternoon, but unlike most exhibitors, Denny was still there. He said, ‘If my customers are here, then so am I,’ To me, that sums up Denny’s commitment to the industry and illustrates why he so deserves this award.”
Last year’s award winner, Rollie Olson, described Welvaert as a “shining example of someone who loves his industry and take sersiously the obligation to ‘give something back’. He richly deserves to have his name added to the roster of winners of this prestigious award.”
