GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – The Automotive Distribution Network’s (ADN) executive committee recently met in New York City as part of their annual retreat, which included a tour of the historic corporate headquarters of Standard Motor Products (SMP).
 
“It was quite an experience to walk through this 94-year-old, 300,000-square-foot, six-story building in Long Island City that has served as SMP’s headquarters since the 1930s,” said Mike Lambert, Network president. “The tour of the R&D area and our discussion with SMP’s [chief executive officer and chairman of the board] Larry Stills enabled the committee to grasp the cultural heritage of one of the Network’s most valued manufacturer partners.”
 
Made up of nine CEOs representing the Network’s membership, the executive committee also toured some of the parts stores and facilities owned by two of the association’s New York-area warehouse distributors, ARCH Auto Parts and Big City Automotive.
 
Over the course of the three-day meeting, the executive committee reviewed the group’s strategic plan, which was developed during the 2002 retreat, to measure its success and to ensure that the Network’s programs continue to meet the diverse needs of their affiliates at every level of distribution.