SAN ANTONIO — More than 1,700 part stores, certified service centers, warehouse distributors and manufacturers got the hottest seats in San Antonio at Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance’s “Turning up the Heat” convention April 19-23. The third national convention for Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper proved to be the best yet with record breaking attendance, according to the Alliance.
Cited as a tremendous success, the convention brought together Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper members from across North America. “Education is key to turning up the heat in any business. And for us heat means increased profits,” said Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance President and CEO Dick Morgan. “With all the different seminars to attend, this convention provided the motivation and information that will help our members build stronger, more successful businesses.”
Seventeen workshops combined with a manufacturer expo where more than 100 vendors were on hand offering demonstrations, presenting new products and answering questions, was packed into the four-day event.
One attendee, Michael Stevenson ofImport Automotive, Loma Linda, CA, said, “I was really blown-away by the whole event. I really had no idea just how large the Alliance was. We met with some very professional people, attended some great training classes and overall had a blast! I came away with a renewed interest in making our local service center group successful.”
A welcome party kicked-off festivities. Attendees learned to salsa dance, listened to a sizzling Latin band, had their pictures taken and enjoyed Mexican food. The hottest event was the pepper-eating contest that started with a benign bell pepper and went all the way to blazing jalapeno.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and successful CEO Roger Staubach gave a motivational start Thursday morning as the keynote speaker. The NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP gave the filled theater his insights to creating a winning team. “Teamwork is simply people who care about someone other than themselves,” Staubach told the audience.
Also on Thursday, the vendor expo officially opened with a roar, the #10 Dodge NASCAR Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper show car revving its engine, a splash of confetti and a laser light show. Expo attendees met NHRA Top Fuel Dragster driver Melanie Troxel, who autographed photos.
Garrett Mryglod and Rick Madrizza, both with Piston Ring of Winnipeg, Canada, liked the NASCAR aspects of the show. “The NASCAR revving during the opening was cool. And so was Melanie,” Madrizza said, “We see lots of manufacturers that we don’t carry and see things from manufacturers we do carry that we didn’t know they had.”
LC Enterprises presented the keynote address during the second day of the convention, showcasing its 2005 Charity Car give-away promotion. The Bumper to Bumper Charity Cars Campaign brought auto service business owners together with local charitable agencies in order to help recovering victims of domestic abuse rebuild their lives. On October 16, 2005, more than 100 Chicagoland area women received keys to their own vehicles. The 100-plus Chicago-area Bumper to Bumper Certified Service Centers joined forces with The Original Charity Cars organization which specializes in providing roadworthy vehicles to qualified recipients. The presentation was followed by the announcement from Steve Marks, senior vice president, marketing and advertising for the Alliance group, that this promotion may go nationwide with Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper facilities in the future.
Entertainment, combined with team building and networking, was part of the excitement for convention attendees. Four teams of five people chosen from randomly selected tables got up stage to compete in the Alliance’s own game show The Hot Zone, hosted by Alliance Senior Vice President Steve Marks. The first evening, Thursday, also included cash prizes of $1,500. The finale and play-off game on Saturday evening offered $3,500 in prizes.
“Playing this type of game allows people to get to know each other, and builds camaraderie among our members,” said Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Vice President of Sales and Training John Wick. “It was great to see service dealers from Florida interact with jobbers from Canada.”
Saturday evening festivities started with the presentation by Federal-Mogul of a new Ford Mustang to Joe Smiencisnki, Joe’s Auto Parts, Royal Auto Oak, MI. The car give-away was part of a 2005 Federal-Mogul ThermalQuiet “Try One on Us” promotion.
The crowning event of the evening was the naming of the 2005 Service Certified Center of the Year. Bill Hughes of Way’s Garage, Charleston, SC, was awarded the prestigious honor, along with a brand new Ford F-150 truck. The four finalists each received a $500 check. Finalists were Jim Dykstra, Dykstra’s Auto Service, Grand Rapids, MI; Ivan Anderson, Ivan’s Automotive, Edison, NJ; Mike McGarry, McGarry’s Auto Repair, Chicago, IL; and Diane and Ron Smith, Smith’s Service Center, Madison, WI.
Several Alliance shareholders offered their thoughts about the convention. Gary Hunt of Auto Craft Automotive Products located in King of Prussia, PA, said, “We sent several people to the convention. I can’t believe how charged up they all are and they can’t believe the quality of the programs offered.”
Rollie Olson of Parts Depot in Roanoke, VA, stated, “This was the best convention ever. The banquets were great and the speakers that I saw were outstanding.”
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