The 2019 AASA Channel Excellence Award finalists and projects are:

·      Brake Parts Inc/Genuine Parts Co.: integrated systems and teams to improve customers’ end-point sales

·      Gates Corp./XL Parts: collaborative category management program to provide channel partners an expanded data source

·      Tenneco/Parts Warehouse Inc.: inventory and sales optimization through extensive use of shared data analytics

The AASA Channel Excellence finalists have submitted short videos about their respective projects. These will be posted on the AASA website and played at the 2019 AASA Vision Conference on April 3. The final winner(s) will be announced at the event.

“The applicants for our first award were all outstanding, as were the projects these aftermarket companies initiated to drive innovation in the industry,” said Bill Long, president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and president and COO of AASA, MEMA’s light vehicle aftermarket division. “We are confident that our annual award will continue to inspire further collaboration in our industry.”

“The finalists are prime examples of the initiatives between suppliers and channel partners that benefit the entire aftermarket value chain,” said Scott Thompson, senior vice president, automotive and business services, for Epicor. “We have enjoyed working with AASA developing this award and look forward to recognizing these finalists and the winners at the upcoming Vision Conference.”

“We are encouraged by the innovation and collaboration already taking place in the aftermarket and by the number of suppliers and channel partners developing new processes together,” said Paul McCarthy, AASA executive vice president. “Our Selection Committee, who represented the diversity of the aftermarket, rose to the challenge of selecting these finalists from the field of excellent candidates and projects. Our thanks to them all for their efforts.”

The 2019 AASA Channel Excellence Award Selection Committee included:

·      Rod Bayless, senior director, Industry Data Analytics, Epicor

·      Brian Cruickshank, director, University of the Aftermarket – Northwood University

·      Chris Gardner, senior vice president, AASA

·      Rick Guirlinger, partner, Schwartz Advisors

·      Tony Molla, vice president, Automotive Service Association (ASA)

·      Joe Pomaranski, president, Pomaranski Consulting