ROANOKE, Va. — Advance Auto Parts is holding its first-ever conference targeted specifically for female commercial business partners. The conference, "Women Growing Together, Creating Customers for Life," is being held this week, Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, Fla., and consists of training, development and networking for Advance Auto Parts female commercial customers.
"This unique event will bring together our customers with our team members, and allow them the opportunity to learn about industry trends and our business while creating the opportunity to network with each other," said Donna Broome, senior vice president, commercial sales officer.” Many of our female customers feel isolated and do not have access to any resources for development. This conference will create a network for them, provide training and enhance our partnerships so that we can grow our businesses together."
The conference consists of a variety of break-out and general sessions and well as time for networking. Speakers from Advance Auto Parts include:
• Darren Jackson, CEO
• Jim Wade, President
• Tami Kozikowski, Chief Development Officer
• Donna Broome, Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales Officer
• Derrick Thomas, Senior Vice President, Field Operations
• Sarah Powell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
• Amy Bonder, Vice President, Commercial Effectiveness
• Walter Scott, Vice President, Commercial eCommerce
• Francesca Spinelli, Advance Auto Parts Board of Directors, Director and Principal of Precidia Partners
Additionally, the conference attendees will hear from:
• Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
• Nicole Sherry, Head Groundskeeper, Baltimore Orioles (only the second woman ever to serve as Head Groundskeeper with a major league team)
• Victoria Tashjian, President of Tashjian and Co., a consulting firm specializing in leadership development and executive coaching
• Melissa Kelly, Executive Chef and Proprietor of Primo
• Tammy Cohen, PHR, President & Chair, InfoMart, a multi-million dollar pre-employment screening company
• Susan Ulrey, Executive Director, Sales Operations and Ecommerce, North American Aftermarket, Tenneco Inc.
• Karen Vellequette, Chief Financial Officer, Tuffy Associates Corp.
• Robyn Cross, United States Navy Nurse Corps Officer
Over the three-day conference, courses will be conducted in leadership, technical training, customer service and communications. The conference will also include a team-building activity involving preparing care packages for female military members stationed overseas.
"Whenever we are together we like to give back to our community. We thought this was a great way for us to thank our troops for all they do for us," said Broome.
For more information, visit the Advance Auto Parts website.
