ArvinMeritor Honors Outstanding Achievements in Engineering
ArvinMeritor has announced the winners of its 2003 Engineer of the Year and Manufacturing Engineer of the Year awards. The awards, presented at ceremonies on Feb. 5, in Detroit, Mich., recognize those engineers or scientists who have made significant and innovative technological contributions to ArvinMeritor, its customers and the automobile industry.
Car Care Council Offers “Be Car Care Aware” Starter Kits for National Car Care Month
“Be Car Care Aware” point-of-sale starter kits — containing marketing and promotional materials to help businesses promote vehicle maintenance and the on-going “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign — are available just in time for National Car Care Month in April. The starter kit features National Car Care Month materials that can be used each April to celebrate and promote this national event. The kit includes “Be Car Care Aware” signage, consumer literature and the industry’s first comprehensive service interval schedule.
Rema Tip Top/North America Announces Two Executive Appointments
Rema Tip Top/North America’s TRM division has expanded its national account department and appointed two new executives. As part of the expansion, Kevin Sapp has been named national account manager. In this new role, Sapp will continue to develop Rema Tip Top’s business with OEM tire manufacturers, retread material manufacturers, retail tire chain, mass merchandisers and automotive distribution chains. Additionally, the company has named Michael Gibson as its new south central zone territory manager. Gibson brings 11 years of experience to the position, coming from Schrader-Bridgeport where he fulfilled various responsibilities in sales, operations and purchasing.
Two Visteon Employees to be Honored by Society of Automotive Engineers
Two engineering professionals from Visteon Corporation will be honored with the prestigious Forest R. McFarland Award on Tuesday, March 9, at the Honors Convocation during the 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress & Exhibition in Detroit.
Bendix Brakes Awards “Drive it Home” Promotion Grand Prize
Bendix Brakes has awarded Vinemont, Al-based technician Rick Holland a new 2004 Ford F150 truck. Holland, a customer of warehouse distributor Walter White and a technician for National Tire & Battery, was the grand prize winner of the brand’s “Drive It Home” scratch and win promotion.
NASTF Updates OE Service Information Matrix
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has updated its OE Service Information Matrix. NASTF established the OE Service Information Matrix in 2001 with the assistance of the International Automotive Technicians’ Network (iATN). The matrix provides OE company contacts for obtaining service information, training materials and tools. The update incorporates revisions since the October 2003 update. The matrix is updated quarterly, with the next update scheduled for April 2004.
“DST Asks”: Adding Service/Installation as an Additional Profit Center in a Parts Enterprise
How many readers know that Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee retailer, actually began operating as a coffee roaster in Seattle, selling bags of whole bean coffee in Pike Street Market? It took a visionary leader, Howard Schultz, coupled with an ambitious operating plan and enterprise management technology to morph the business into the worldwide coffeehouse chain and merchandising success story we see today. And this all happened in an incredibly short period of time…with growth from 17 outlets in 1987 to 7,225 outlets today. All of this was based on the simple premise, “We already have customers who buy our coffee beans — what if we brewed the coffee for them, too?” We see a similar opportunity in parts distribution.
Tenneco Automotive Expands ‘Expert Plus’ Rewards Program
Tenneco Automotive’s Monroe shocks and struts and Walker exhaust brands have expanded the Expert Plus automotive service promotions and technician rewards program for 2004. Expert Plus is a comprehensive offering of national trade and consumer promotions, marketing materials, merchandising tools and installation incentives for automotive repair facilities and professional technicians. The program attracted more than 20,000 members in 2003.
Executive Interview with Rich White, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, AAIA, and Executive Director of the Car Care Council
Rich White is vice president of marketing and communications for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). He oversees marketing, public relations, media relations, publications, Web sites and most recently, the Car Care Council and the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign. With National Car Care Month just around the corner, White provided aftermarketNews.com with an update on the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign and the Car Care Council’s plans for this year. He also shared how aftermarket companies can become more involved in the campaign.
Car Care Council Reports Increased Web Site Usage, Women’s Board Membership Up
In 2003, usage of the Car Care Council’s Car Care Newspaper Supplement (CCNS) Web site grew dramatically, the council said. The growth coincides with the first year of the Car Care Council’s “Be Car Care Aware” consumer-education campaign. In addition to the news of increased usage of Car Care Council materials, the Car Care Council Women’s Board’s announced that its membership more than doubled in 2003, setting a record high number.