The Top Ten Newsmakers of 2004
For the first time ever, Counterman magazine and aftermarketNews.com bring you The Top 10 Newsmakers of the Year. Our editorial team took a look at some of this industry’s most influential leaders and selected the 10 we believe have had a direct impact on the success of the aftermarket in 2004. Beyond that, we believe these individuals have helped set the stage for an even more productive future for our industry.
Federated Donates $100,000 to Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
Federated Auto Parts has made a $100,000 donation to the Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund, which is administered by the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), benefits students pursuing automotive aftermarket careers. It was recently renamed after Fisher, who died in January 2004, to honor his dedication to the industry.
Grote Donates Three GAAS Scholarships
To show its continued commitment to education and training, Grote Industries, a designer and manufacturer of vehicle safety systems, said it will donate three scholarships to the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in the spring of 2005. The scholarships will go to vo-tech students who wish to pursue careers in the automotive and heavy-duty truck aftermarket.
The Year in Review – A Look at the Top 10 News Stories of 2004
Whether you believe 2004 was a good or bad year for the aftermarket, no one can argue this was a big news year for our industry. The year included noteworthy shifts in leadership, mergers, acquisitions and more, most of which will significantly impact the industry for many years to come. Here’s a month-by-month look at what aftermarketNews.com considers to be biggest news events that happened in our industry in 2004.
Job Lessons Include Downsizing; Participation in State Youth Apprentice Program Drops After Funding Is Cut
For 17-year-old Mark Olsen, Gordon’s No. 1 Wheel Service in Franklin is not just a place to work after school.As an auto technician in training, it’s an extension of his automotive studies at Greendale High School and a pathway to a career.
ATP President Dick Wolff Dies
Richard “Dick” Wolff, the President of ATP-Inc., died suddenly on Nov. 14. Wolff was one of the founders of Automatic Transmission Parts, Inc. which was formed in 1955. Wolff was active in many industry organizations. He was very active in Project TEAM, an organization which helped educate young people for a career as automotive technicians. He was also involved in many community organizations and formerly sat on the board of a major bank in the Chicagoland area.
AWDA Memorial Scholarship Fund Re-Named Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
The AWDA Memorial Scholarship Fund, which benefits students pursuing automotive aftermarket careers, has been re-named the Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Herman Trend Alert: States Will Compete for Jobs…and Qualified Workers
State government economic engines have never stopped running. Attracting industry to build the tax base and employment opportunities is vitally important. With business expanding, we will see significantly more activity in this arena, with intensifying competition between states—and counties and cities—to build stronger economic environments.
SEMA Awards Record Amount in Scholarships
As the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund celebrates its 20th year of giving, the association has announced it awarded students a record number of scholarships this year. Seventy-five students preparing for careers in the automotive industry received individual awards of up to $4,000, for a total of $110,000 in scholarships.
Snap-on Tools and SkillsUSA Work Together to Train and Inspire Workers
As the 2004 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) approaches, thousands of students are preparing to descend on Kansas City, Mo., to test their skills against those of fellow students from across America. With the approach of the June 20th to 25th conference, Snap-on Tools is once again supporting SkillsUSA as it trains, develops and inspires the next generation of American workers.