PASADENA, Md. — The 2009 board of directors and officers of the Chesapeake Automotive Business Association (CABA) took office Nov. 15 at the Annual CABA Volunteer Dinner, held this year at McCormick & Schmick’s in Baltimore. October elections graduated four experienced board members into officer positions, re-elected six and introduced one new volunteer to the 17-person leadership board. CABA is a not-for-profit membership trade association for automotive aftermarket businesses in Maryland, DC and Delaware.
Bill Cropper, owner of Salisbury Automotive (Salisbury, Md.) becomes CABA President for a 2009-2010 term. "I am proud to be president of CABA at such an exciting time in our long history," said Cropper, owner of nine NAPA auto parts stores on the Eastern Shore. "Our new initiatives in education, insurance and other benefits are just what jobbers like me and customers like mine need from CABA in these tough times for the aftermarket."
Also elected for two-year officer terms were 1st Vice President Doug Meekins (Brooks-Huff Tire), 2nd Vice President Vernon Lyon (Mainline Auto Parts) and Secretary/Treasurer Rob Wilson (Admiral Tire & Auto). Bob Wilson, owner of Admiral Tire & Auto (Annapolis, MD) assumes his officer role as immediate past president.
Re-elected to another two-year term were Mike Kress (Marlboro Tire, Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Dave Sutton (Standard Auto Parts, Baltimore). Re-elected to vacant one-year terms were Len Gentilcore (Olympic Auto Parts, College Park, Md.), Paul Warner (Auto Plus Auto Parts of Crofton, Md.) and Bryan Smith (Standard Motor Products). Marty Dover (co-owner of Century Automotive in Germantown, Md.) was elected to his first two-year term on the CABA Board. Three vacancies remain to be filled.
Three veterans of the CABA leadership retired from the board as their terms expired. John Harrison, owner of Johnny’s Auto Service (Lanham, Md.) had been CABA president through 2006 and ended his term as immediate past president. Larry Singer, past-owner of Mel-Jule Auto Parts (Kensington, Md.) and John Palumbo, owner of Palumbo’s Car Care Center (Newark, Del.) each ended their multiple terms on the CABA Board. "The time and opinions of these fine gentlemen were very much appreciated," remarked Bob Wilson in honoring the legacy of the three retiring volunteers. "CABA owes them each a great deal of gratitude."
