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.
NAPA Names Robert Susor as President
Robert Susor will succeed Steve Handschuh as NAPA president. The decision was made following the announcement that Handschuh would be leaving NAPA to take a position as senior vice president of AZ Commercial, AutoZone’s wholesale division. Susor most recently was executive vice president of NAPA member Genuine Parts Co.
Manufacturers’ Rep Conference Slated to Take Place in Conjunction with GAAS
AAIA has announced details of its upcoming Manufacturer’s Representative Conference, which takes place in conjunction with the 2004 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. The conference, slated for May 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill., will address “Industry Partnerships – Developing Strategies for a Profitable Future.” Parts Plus President Mike Lambert is among a number of industry experts scheduled to speak at the event.
Cooper Tire Ups Investments in U.S. Manufacturing Plants, Hires 116 Plant Workers
Cooper Tire & Rubber has increased capital equipment investments in three of its four U.S. tire manufacturing facilities. The company said this increase provides additional production capacity of more than 2.4 million units to meet the steadily increasing demand for the company’s tires. The $32.1 million investment will include the purchase of new tire building machinery and presses. An additional 116 manufacturing employees will also be hired.
Siemens VDO Automotive Presents 2003 Rep of the Year Award
Siemens VDO Automotive has presented Mike Wirth and Doug Mathe of RepWorks Marketing with their 2003 Rep of the Year Award. RepWorks Marketing is responsible for Siemens VDO’s automotive aftermarket sales activities in California, Arizona and Nevada. RepWorks Marketing has represented Siemens VDO Automotive for approximately four years. RepWorks is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., and has an office in Phoenix, Ariz.
aftermarketNews.com Unveils New Features in 2004
aftermarketNews.com (AMN) kicks off 2004 with a number of new editorial features that will provide readers with more comprehensive industry news coverage and useful advice for improving aftermarket businesses. AMN will launch two new features in January, including “DST Asks,” a new technology-themed online reader survey sponsored by information technology services provider DST Inc. Also new this month is “AMN Perspectives by Thomas Group: Experience at Work” which will offer applied techniques for successful implementation of business objectives. Thomas Group is a professional services firm, specializing in improving strategic business processes. Twice a month on AMN experienced Thomas Group consultants will provide practical advice for improving your bottom line.
MPA Automates Catalog and Product Management with e-Publisher
Motorcar Parts of America (MPA) has partnered with Vertical Development Inc. (VDI) to consolidate its application and technical data into a single relational database. As a result, MPA’s customers can now access the latest product information linked to technical reference bulletins in a single lookup.
Pep Boys Names Transpro Primary AC Line Supplier
Pep Boys has named Transpro as the primary supplier of its air conditioning product line. The agreement extends Transpro’s existing relationship with Pep Boys whereby they currently purchase Ready-Rad Radiators and Ready-Aire Heater Cores and A/C Condensers from Transpro.
Art Fisher, CEO of Fisher Auto Parts and Founder of Federated Auto Parts Distributors, Dies at 65
Arthur Jay (Art) Fisher Jr., CEO of Fisher Auto Parts and founder of Federated Auto Parts Distributors, died Jan. 15 in Staunton, Va. He was 65. A graduate of Hope College in Holland, Mich., Fisher taught school before entering the automotive aftermarket in 1964. Under his leadership, Fisher Auto Parts grew from a single location to become one of the largest independently owned auto parts chains in the U.S. Today there are more than 300 Fisher Auto Parts stores, with 18 warehouses and more than 2,000 employees. Fisher founded Federated Auto Parts Distributors in 1985. Federated quickly became one of the industry’s premier programmed marketing groups, with more than 3,800 Federated Auto Parts Stores and 2,400 Federated Car Care Centers today nationwide. In addition to his work and dedication to Fisher and Federated Auto Parts, Fisher served on the board of governors of AWDA and served as chairman in 2001.
ArvinMeritor to Sell Ohio Trailer Systems Business to Sypris Solutions
ArvinMeritor has announced plans to sell its Kenton, Ohio, trailer systems business to Louisville, Ky.-based Solutions. ArvinMeritor said the sale of the facility, which employs more than 200 people, will allow the company to focus strategically within trailer products on its core processes for the design and assembly of complete systems, which consist of axles, brakes, suspension and ride control. Once the transaction is complete, Sypris Solutions would become a long-term, key supplier of trailer axle beams to ArvinMeritor’s trailer assembly facility in Frankfort, Ky.