TEQUESTA, Fla. – Robert Hirsch, president of the Aftermarket Foundation, has announced the appointments of Luanne Brown, president of eTool Developers LLC and member of the SEMA Board of Directors; and Jeffrey Helfrich, vice president – purchasing, TBC Corp., to its board of trustees. 
“On behalf of the entire board, I am very pleased to welcome both Luanne and Jeff to the board of the Foundation,” said Hirsch. “Our board is already very strong; and the addition of Luanne, who is well-known for her very active role in the SEMA community, and Jeff, who is a respected veteran of the tire industry, will bring a new level of energy and vitality to the Foundation’s activities and efforts. We are very pleased that they have accepted the role, and we thank them for their willingness to serve for the common good of the less fortunate in our industry.”
Hirsch also pointed out that the direction of the foundation to take care of those in need within the industry has not changed in its 50-plus year history.
“At this point in the Foundation’s existence, there is an increasing demand for our help, which is only a predictable result of overall increased awareness of the Foundation’s activities and the role it plays within our industry. The appointments of both Luanne and Jeff will significantly support our industry-outreach activities, and bring additional philanthropic expertise to our board,” he said.
In addition to her private sector activities with eTools Developers, Brown has been actively involved in the SEMA community for more than 10 years, serving on its board of directors since 2008 and chairing its "SEMA Cares" Committee since 2011. She is also involved with the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN Past Chair), the SEMA Business Technology Committee, and several SEMA Councils including ARMO, HRIA, LTAA and ETTN. She also is an active member of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA).
Jeff Helfrich’s roles with TBC Corp. over the past nine years have involved senior management positions at Big O Tires and within the TBC Purchasing department. His experiences traverse the manufacturing and product management sectors at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., where he was in several management roles during a 10-year career with the company. During his career, he has gained extensive, 360-degree knowledge of the industry from his positions at the manufacturer, retail and wholesale levels. As an active community volunteer and advocate for several local and church charities in his hometown of Stuart, Fla., Helfrich already has demonstrated his commitment to "common good," and says he is looking forward to the active role in fostering greater industry knowledge and understanding of the Aftermarket Foundation, and what it can do in "supporting our own."
“The work done by the Aftermarket Foundation, to quietly assist those within our industry who have no other place to go in times of need, is an exceptional endeavor, and is crucial for some of our people. The fact that the Aftermarket Foundation is a home-grown, aftermarket industry-sponsored initiative to help members of our aftermarket sector underscores the sense of family we all share, and is very much worth supporting,” Helfrich said.
“I took a leap of faith over 13 years ago and established myself in the specialty and performance aftermarket,” Brown reflected, “and ever since then I have been inspired and energized by the passion and sense of purpose in the community. I have always also been impressed by the sense of kinship in our industry – it is like being in one very big family. I am very honored to have been asked to join this highly prestigious board.”
For more information, visit www.aftermarketfoundation.com.
