Multi Parts sponsored its 2015 SPARK Initiative participant, Elizabeth Niemi, with a trip to the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) Leadership Conference May 6-7, in Bonita Springs, Florida. A collaborative learning event, the conference gives young professionals under the age of 40 a forum to enhance their leadership skills, sharpen their global perspective of the auto care industry and develop new relationships with peers, says the company.

“There is only so much you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom setting,” said Niemi. “This conference exposed me to real-world advice from industry leaders and gave me a place to connect with peers who I hope to be working alongside after college.”

Multi Parts President Brian Cohn said bringing Niemi to the conference was the next clear step in helping her cultivate a passion for a career in the automotive aftermarket. “We will continue to find substantive ways to engage these students in our industry. Elizabeth has taken great strides to prepare for her career since the 2015 SPARK event. We are simply living the SPARK Initiative’s mission by supporting her efforts,” he said.

Niemi, a junior at Northwood University, says Multi Parts’ support has made her more eager than ever to complete her Bachelor of Business Administration degree and pursue a Master in Business Administration degree in automotive aftermarket management. “My passion to pursue a career in this industry has been fueled with the help and support of Multi Parts,” she said. “Since attending SPARK, I have learned that ours is a tight-knit, yet rapidly growing industry where things are always changing. The best way to keep up with that change is to stay engaged, and the YANG conference was a perfect opportunity for me to do just that.”