AutoMD Inc. announced that Jon Owens has joined the company as vice president of market development. In this position, Owens will lead AutoMD’s sales and market development team, and help accelerate the addition of new members to expand the company’s presence nationally and regionally.

“Jon is a terrific addition to the AutoMD team. His sales and marketing leadership and in-depth knowledge of the aftermarket industry, as well as his deep experience at both the factory and distribution levels, will be invaluable as we broaden our service center network,” said Shane Evangelist, CEO of U.S. Auto Parts Network Inc., the parent company of AutoMD. “Jon’s in-the-trenches insights, and his passion for improving the service process for service shops and WDs, will be a key driver as we accelerate our mission of efficiently and effectively connecting quality service centers with ready-to-service customers.”

For the past five years, Owens has been vice president of sales and market development for Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc., where he headed the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Certified Service Center program and national account efforts. He began his aftermarket career in 1985 with The Timken Corp. as a regional sales manager. In between, Owens also has been a group publisher of several properties at Babcox Media including Bodyshop Business, Counterman and aftermarketNews.com, and was president of Auto 7 Inc. Throughout his career, Owens has been an active industry volunteer serving both the board and executive committee of the Auto Care Association (formerly AAIA) and as president of the Automotive Communications Council and AWDA’s YES organization. Currently, he serves as a board member of the Aftermarket Foundation and on the Auto Care Association’s event committee. Owens earned his MAAP degree from the University of the Aftermarket, and an undergraduate degree from Defiance College.

“It’s been a distinct honor and a true pleasure to work for The Alliance and their tremendous WD shareholders over the past five years,” said Owens. “However, my new role at AutoMD represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to help create complete channel value – from manufacturers to service facility bays – through implementation of AutoMD’s technology. Essentially, AutoMD is the ultimate service writer. There’s a ‘win’ in this for everyone who participates, so this opportunity enables me to truly support and enhance the success of our industry, at all levels. I can’t wait to get started.”