BETHESDA, MD — The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) has appointed Larry Northup to direct its day-to-day operations, as a segment of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). AWDA joined forces with AAIA in January 2004.
Northup, who currently serves as senior director of segment management at AAIA, immediately assumes the role of AWDA liaison. Working closely with the AWDA volunteer leadership and AAIA’s professional staff, he will be responsible for coordinating the segment’s membership marketing and recruitment activities, meetings and conferences, including the annual one-on-one meetings, government relations and communications.
Northrup has extensive experience in association management as president of Spectrum Management where he oversaw the Council for Automotive Reliability, the Convenient Automotive Services Institute and the Water & Sewer Distributors of America and several other groups.
“AWDA conducted an ambitious search for a professional who possessed both management and aftermarket experience to direct our organization’s business,” said Richard Beirne, AWDA chair. “Larry brings to AWDA an impressive background and level of professionalism and drive that will solidify our stature and position within AAIA and the aftermarket industry during this critical transitional period and into the future.”
Northup also serves as liaison to AAIA’s Paint, Body and Equipment (PBE) segment which has its own governance, conferences and one-on-one meetings, similar to the AWDA segment structure.
“Larry rapidly became a shining star since joining AAIA in 2000, primarily in the areas of grass roots government affairs leadership and in steering segment collaboration and management,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “We are proud that the AWDA leaders chose Larry for the highly visible and important position previously held by Jim Eady.”
AWDA became a segment of AAIA on January 1, 2004. Founded in 1947, AWDA is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories, tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. Members are engaged in the distribution of passenger car and light truck parts from the manufacturer, on to the jobber, and finally to dealers and service providers.
_______________________________________
Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.
