Automotive Parts Associates Announces 2019 Board Of Directors

Automotive Parts Associates (APA) elected its 2019 board of directors at the 38^th-annual APA Shareholders and Suppliers Conference, held March 20-22 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel, in Dallas, Texas. The annual meeting provides an opportunity for APA shareholders to network with each other and with supplier partners to learn about new product lines and resources that are available to help grow their businesses and better serve their customers.

Upon conclusion of the new, successful two-session one-on-one meeting format and other networking activities earlier in the week, shareholders held a private vote on Friday, March 22 to elect the 2019 Automotive Parts Associates Board of Directors.

The 2019 APA board of directors includes:

Chairman – Jim Holmquist, H&H Wholesale Parts of Arleta, California
Vice Chairman – Douglas Squires, Bestbuy Distributors Ltd., of Mississauga, Ontario Canada
Secretary/Treasurer – Ben Yelowitz, POJA Warehouse of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Board Member – Danny Beyda, Coney Island Auto Parts of Brooklyn, New York
Board Member – Edward Harake, Value Plus Auto Parts Wholesale of Westland, Michigan
Board Member – Joseph Koudsi, International Metric Specialists of North Hollywood, California
Board Member – Robert Jacobs, Automotive Warehouse Company of Wichita, Kansas
Board Member – Randall Swedlove, Morris Automotive Supply of Fontana, California

New Chairman of the Board Jim Holmquist previously held positions as secretary and vice chairman, and will take over the leadership role of the organization immediately from former Chairman Douglas Squires, now vice chairman.

“Jim has an impressive background in the aftermarket industry and all levels of APA’s board of directors. It is his industry experience combined with his leadership and team-building approach that makes him ideally suited for the role of chairman,” said Vice Chairman Squires. “Jim’s election as chairman follows a calm and steady process of identifying a board that will continue to provide the needed stability toward APA’s long-term success.

“I will continue to be involved in APA’s board as vice chairman and will work with the entire team with a proactive, creative, unique, dynamic and modern approach in order to lead APA through the challenges of an ever-changing industry and triumph over the new realities within the aftermarket. I offer Jim my full support and best wishes in his role as chairman,” Squires concluded.

Federated Auto Parts Distributors announced it is entering into a collaboration with the Association of Independent Oil Distributors (AIOD) – one it said will focus on mutual benefits for the respective members.

“Federated is constantly looking at ways to improve value for all constituents and this agreement provides that,” said Sue Godschalk, president of Federated. “This collaboration provides added volume and opportunities for our suppliers, new partners for our members, and added supply points and products for shop customers. We have enjoyed working closely with several AIOD members in the past and this agreement will expand and create further opportunities for both Federated and AIOD.”