Anita Barlow is the recipient of the 2023 Michael Cardone Leadership Award.
The award, presented by MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in remanufacturing and similar forms of sustainable manufacturing.
The award was presented in Chicago during the MEMA Remanufacturing Councils Event on June 15. The presenters were John Chalifoux, COO, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers; Justin Greenberg, CEO, DieselCore and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers board member; and Houman Kashanipour, CEO, Alliant Power and chairman of the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers CEO Council.
At the event, Chalifoux highlighted the legacy of the Cardone family and recognized Barlow for her vision, passion, teamwork and excellence – the key traits associated with the award.
Michael Cardone III, who served with Barlow on the board of directors of the former MERA organization, congratulated her via a pre-recorded video. “Anita, you embody everything this award was created to recognize and we thank you for over 45 years of dedication and service to our industry,” said Cardone.
Barlow spent her career in the commercial-vehicle segment, supporting the original-equipment service and independent aftermarket customer bases. During her career, she worked for Robert Bosch, Navistar and Diesel Forward.
In 2013, Barlow became the managing director of BorgWarner’s North America remanufacturing operations in Troy, Michigan. Prior to her retirement in early 2023, she was a MERA board member and active in MERA’s Women in Remanufacturing Network.
“For her entire career, Anita Barlow served the remanufacturing industry with dignity as a brand ambassador, customer advocate, and strong operational leader,” Chalifoux said. “Anita earned all the recognition that goes with the Michael Cardone Leadership Award. She is a true remanufacturing industry champion!”
In 2017, the MERA board of directors announced the formation of the Michael Cardone Leadership Award in honor of three generations in the Cardone family. In 1970, Michael Cardone Jr. co-founded CARDONE Industries with his late father, Michael Cardone Sr. The company grew to become the largest family-owned remanufacturer of automotive parts in the world.
Previous recipients of the Michael Cardone Leadership Award are:
- The employee owners of SRC Holdings (2022)
- Eugene Neugebohr, president, Auto Electric International (2021)
- Michael Kitching, CEO, GB Remanufacturing (2020)
- Byron Schneidman, partner, RSM US LLP (2019)
- Woody Knopf, former chairman, Knopf Automotive (2018)
- Eric Smith, owner, Impression Products (2017)
