MIDLAND, MI — Northwood University President Keith Pretty, J.D. has extended to the community an open invitation to the ground-breaking ceremony for The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this 25,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art education center will take place at 11 a.m. on March 21, at the building site near the back parking lot behind the NADA Center. A reception and lunch will follow at 12 noon in the NADA Education Center. The Northwood University Michigan campus is located at 4000 Whiting Drive in Midland, MI.
Dr. Timothy Nash, provost and COO of the Michigan campus, said, “The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies has been named in honor of industry icon, O. Temple Sloan, Jr., the founder of GPI and CARQUEST, his brother, C. Hamilton Sloan, an early partner in GPI, and their family members. The Sloan family and the employees of GPI and CARQUEST are responsible for just over half of the $6 million needed to build this innovative facility which will house The Sloan Aftermarket Management Program, the University of the Aftermarket and key university faculty.”
The two-story Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies will consist of a 3,600-square-foot atrium area, designed for large group gatherings, as well as four tiered classrooms with seating capacity of 60 students per classroom on both the lower and upper levels. Three traditional classrooms will accommodate 40 students each on both lower and upper levels. Located on the lower level is an alumni lounge, including a fireplace and a comfortable setting for small meetings and entertaining. A state-of-the-art conference room is also scheduled for the lower level with seating for 10. Six faculty offices and a faculty reception area will be located on the first floor. A two-story graduate school style auditorium with seating for 150 and the latest technology will be located on the lower level, with access from both levels.
A more traditional student lounge with a fireplace and areas for snacks and refreshments will be located on the second level. Additionally, an executive boardroom complete with multi-media and seating for 20 will be located on the upper level, with a panoramic view of the surrounding campus area. Two executive offices and reception area will complete the upper level.
The design of the new building is meant to convey the strength of the industry on the outside with unique dynamics in the interior. It will support the growing automotive aftermarket program through an interactive education center, which can be linked to other interactive classrooms on Northwood’s Texas and Florida campuses.
President Pretty noted, “These ‘smart classrooms’ will allow resident faculty, special instructors and world-renowned guest speakers to teach students in state-of-the-art classrooms. In addition to housing the O. Temple Sloan, Jr. Aftermarket Management Program and the University of the Aftermarket, the facility will serve other allied academic and executive development activities on the Michigan campus. The Sloan Program in Automotive Aftermarket Management Studies will have the exposure that it deserves while attracting the best and brightest to the program and the industry. The facility will also serve as a world-class center for executive education.”
Northwood University announced in March 2006 the naming of Northwood’s automotive aftermarket program in honor of O. Temple Sloan, Jr. This unique four year undergraduate dual major enables students to enroll in core industry courses in aftermarket manufacturing, heavy duty marketing, aftermarket retail/wholesale management, supply chain management, lean distribution, logistics and current issues affecting the industry, as well as general education and strategic management courses. Additionally, students will complete an industry internship and create an operational business plan.
O. Temple Sloan III, president of GPI, stated, “The Sloan family and the Northwood family hold many core values in common. Our mutual belief in and respect for free enterprise and education is accented by a shared commitment to ethical management and people.”
Provost Nash noted that, “Northwood University has established a rich reputation of educating future entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs for careers in organizational leadership. The close relationship with the Sloan family and GPI adds an invaluable resource that will greatly benefit Northwood students for years to come!”
Major contributors to the building fund to date include: Activant Solutions; Affinia Group; Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance; AMS Automotive; Andrew F. Anderson Family; ArvinMeritor, Inc.; AutoZone; Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association; Babcox Publications; BWP Distributors; CARDONE Industries; Delphi Automotive Systems; Dr. David E. Fry; East-Penn Manufacturing Company; Federal-Mogul Corporation; Gates Corporation; General Parts, Inc.; Grote Industries, Inc.; BD & JE McIntyre Foundation; Meineke Car Care Centers; Morse Automotive; Muffler Warehouse, Inc.; Dr. Timothy and Pamela Nash; Rowley Family; RPM Group; SBA-TLC, Inc.; Mort Schwartz; C. Hamilton Sloan; O. Temple Sloan, Jr.; William and Linda Stavropoulos; United Components; University of the Aftermarket Foundation; The Valvoline Company; John and Carol Washbish; and NA Williams Company.
