LAS VEGAS – William T. “Bill” Glasgow, retired president of W.T. Glasgow Inc., was presented the prestigious Triangle Award by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) during the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Executive Breakfast yesterday at AAPEX in Las Vegas. 
For more than 30 years, MEMA has presented its Triangle Award periodically to a person, persons or organization whom the association’s members choose to honor for selfless contribution to the automotive industry.
“The Triangle Award, the highest honor bestowed by MEMA and AASA, advances the philosophy that many of the most important contributions to the industry are made by those who work quietly and effectively behind the scenes, out of the glare of public accolade, to advance the interests of the entire industry,” said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA, in his presentation of the award. “That accolade certainly applies to Bill Glasgow. Through his efforts literally working behind the scenes at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo, the annual event has become one of the world’s premier automotive aftermarket trade shows.”
“Bill has worked tirelessly to establish a professional business environment at AAPEX and ensure ROI for its exhibitors,” added Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA, co-owner of AAPEX. “He has set AAPEX’s high standards of excellence and made it the industry gathering ‘where business is done.’ Thanks to his efforts, AAPEX ranked 38th in 2011 Trade Show News Network Top 250 U.S. Trade Shows.”
Under Glasgow’s management, AAPEX has shown tremendous growth. In the past decade, total exhibitors have grown from 1,735 to 4,929 exhibitors. Most significantly, the total number of buyers participating AAPEX has increased from 69,353 to 128,074 in the same period.
For more than 20 years, Glasgow has directed his family-owned and operated trade show management firm, W. T. Glasgow Inc. He launched his company more than 40 years ago with the management contract of the former APAA Show. When APAA merged with the Big I Show, W.T. Glasgow was awarded the management contract for the combined event, known today as AAPEX.
Glasgow began his career at the Chicago Hilton & Towers in Chicago. His experience includes serving as general manager of Greyhound Foods at McCormick Place, and vice president and show manager of the Consumer Electronics Show. Glasgow organized and was the first chairman of the Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO), a forum for managers of major trade shows to discuss the unique needs and common problems shows experienced by shows of large magnitude.
Other past recipients of the MEMA Triangle award include Pete Kornafel, vice chairman of CARQUEST and chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee; Gene Ezzell, retired president of Crane Cams; David O’Reilly of O’Reilly Automotive Inc.; Pete Joy of Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems; the late Joseph M. Magliochetti of Dana Corp.; Tom Gallagher of Genuine Parts Co., Atlanta, Ga.; Robert H. Raff, MAAP; L. Gene Stohler of Masco Tech Inc.; Frederick J. Mancheski of Echlin Inc.; John M. Riess (then of The Gates Rubber Co.); the late Larry McCurdy (then of Moog Automotive); and Jack Reilly (then of Tenneco Automotive).
