2008/09 Leadership 2.0 Class Nearly Sold Out
Just two spots remain in the 2008/09 class of the University of the Aftermarket’s Leadership 2.0 program, an MBA-level executive development experience designed specifically for aftermarket professionals. University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank reported that 23 of the 25 available positions have been filled. To reserve one of the two remaining spots, aftermarket professionals are urged to contact university offices as soon as possible.
Activant to Increase Presence at 2008 AAPEX Show
Activant Solutions has announced that it will increase its presence at the 2008 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas this fall based on a significant rise in distributor and jobber meetings and resulting sales of business management solutions during the 2007 show. The company will both increase the size of its AAPEX exhibit (booth #2035) and offer personalized demonstrations of a larger number of aftermarket solutions during this year’s show. This enhanced presence on the AAPEX floor reflects a “sizeable jump” in booth traffic and solutions sales at last year’s event, according to Tom Aliotti, vice president and general manager of the Activant automotive business.
AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report: Total U.S. Aftermarket Sales Exceed $200 Billion
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – U.S. automotive aftermarket sales totaled $202.5 billion in 2007, according to the new aftermarket channel forecasting model highlighted in the 2008-2009 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report, just published by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). An entire section of the Status Report is dedicated to the new forecasting model that
The Alliance’s Dale Hopkins to Discuss e-Commerce Initiatives at MIS Council Fall Conference
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Dale Hopkins, vice president of information technology for Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, will be a featured speaker at the 2008 Fall Conference presented by the MEMA Information Services Council (MIS Council), slated for Sunday, Oct. 12, through Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Marco Island, Fla. Hopkins will discuss the e-commerce and
Jim Ryan Joins Multi Parts Supply USA Inc.
Former Visteon Director of Sales, Jim Ryan, has joined Multi Parts Supply USA INC. (MPS) a multinational auto parts supplier and supply chain management organization, as vice president sales North America. The company, MPS, has its North American headquarters in Jupiter, Fla., with locations in New York, Michigan, China, Taiwan and Europe.
Canadian Plastics Supplier Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Canadian supplier Progressive Molded Products Inc. filed for Chapter 11 protection late Friday, June 20, listing debts in excess of $500 million and assets of no more that $50 million. Progressive’s filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., comes in the shadow of the Feb. 1 bankruptcy filing by giant interior plastic trim supplier Plastech Engineered Products Inc., of suburban Detroit. Plastech, with $1.4 billion in revenue in 2007, has begun liquidating its business under court protection.
Gates Corp. to Testify at June 17 Judiciary Committee Hearing on Intellectual Property
Jeffrey Thurnau, patent counsel with Gates Corp. will testify on Tuesday, June 17, before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing entitled “Protecting Consumers by Protecting Intellectual Property.” The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Thurnau will testify on behalf of Gates Corp. and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). MEMA represents more than 700 motor vehicle product manufacturers with nearly 12,000 U.S. plant locations and 783,100 U.S. workers and contributes to 4.5 million private industry jobs across the country.Thurnau will address the need for strong intellectual property protections to assure the safety and well being of U.S. auto parts consumers as well as the importance of Intellectual Property to Gates and the U.S. motor vehicle parts supplier industry.
The early bird registration deadline has been extended until Friday, June 13 for the 2008 Aftermarket eForum, July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency OÃ′®‚¬®„′Hare i
BETHESDA, Md. – The early bird registration deadline has been extended until Friday, June 13 for the 2008 Aftermarket eForum, July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago. The early bird registration discount entitles attendees to cost savings of $200 off regular registration rates. The early bird savings are on top of discount rates
Queens Auto Parts Dealer Convicted of Trademark Counterfeiting
Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced that a Long Island City wholesale auto parts dealer has been convicted of trademark counterfeiting for dealing in counterfeit Ford auto parts that were packaged, labeled and distributed as Ford manufacturer-quality replacement parts. District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Mordekhay Levy, 43, of 455 Hungry Harbor Road in North Woodmere, Long Island. Levy, the owner of Black and Yellow Auto Parts Inc., located at 5-35 54th Avenue in Long Island City, was convicted of two counts of second-degree trademark counterfeiting. Justice Arthur J. Cooperman, who presided at the eight-day jury trial, set sentencing for June 27. The defendant faces up to four years in prison on each count.
The 2008 AASA Top 100 is Available Now: This Year’s List Shows the Aftermarket’s Resilience
The results of this year’s Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Top 100 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List show that despite the current turbulent economy, the aftermarket continues to grow at a steady pace. The 2008 AASA Top 100 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List is now available online. This year’s edition of AASA’s multi-page, full-color publication features information on the largest suppliers to the automotive aftermarket, and ranks suppliers by annual North American aftermarket sales. This annual report is published by AASA, produced by Babcox Publications and sponsored by Ernst & Young.