RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The MEMA Technology Council (MTC) held its 2011 Fall Conference Oct. 16-18 in Marco Island, Fla., with an insightful agenda covering current and future technology trends and the largest attendance recorded at the event in decades, according to the association.
One hundred automotive aftermarket technology professionals attended the 2011 MTC Fall Conference, which offered an agenda focusing on the theme: “Strategy Over Tactical = Success.”
“Automotive supplier technology professionals must meet today’s internal and customer business requirements while staying aware of technology trends on the horizon,” said Chris Gardner, MTC group executive and vice president, programs and member services, for the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). “Technology is an integral part of aftermarket suppliers’ business planning, and the 2011 MTC Fall Conference reflected the need that attendees have in meeting these challenges head on in a strategic and proactive way.”
Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA, opened the MTC Fall Conference with a presentation of the critical findings in AASA’s “Aftermarket Outlook 2020” report that have a direct impact on technology professionals.
“Technology may be the most critical area in preparing the supplier community to differentiate themselves over the next 10 years,” Handschuh told conference participants.
Robert Blair, president of The Grandborough Partnership II and a former CARQUEST executive, conducted an interactive session during the conference. Blair challenged attendees to consider the “Black Swan” events – those that are not anticipated but, in looking back, are recognized as life changing – of the recent past and those that may be occurring now.
Other conference highlights included:
* Presentations by Chris Kersting of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Dale Hopkins of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance and Randy Buller of the Parts Authority, which provided insights into the direction the channel partner community is headed.
* Sessions by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Oracle and McGladrey that analyzed cutting edge IT trends and technologies and how the aftermarket might take advantage of them.
* Pre-identified roundtable discussions facilitated by conference sponsors during the event luncheon. Discussion results will be aggregated and published to attendees soon.
During the Fall Conference, Incoming MTC Board Chairman Fred Dingraudo of Affinia Group, announced the council will change its name to the AASA Technology Council (ATC) in 2012 to reflect AASA management of the council and the growing number of AASA member companies that support the council. The council’s website and materials will be updated in January 2012. A new AASA and ATC brochure, “Technology and Data: Strategic Business Drivers,” also was distributed at the conference.
Conference presentations will be available soon on the 2011 Fall Conference page of the MTC website. MTC Fall Conference attendees earned 1.2 CEU credits toward their automotive aftermarket professional (AAP), master automotive aftermarket professional (MAAP) or the industry’s new aftermarket catalog professional (ACP) designation.
Pricedex Software was the Premier sponsor for the MTC Fall Conference 2011. Polk was the Welcome Reception sponsor and Autologue was the Luncheon sponsor. Elite sponsors were Corcentric, Edgenet, Epicor, Experian Automotive, GCommerce, InterTrade, JNP Software, MAM Software, OptiCat, TecDoc and WHI.
