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.
BodyShop Business Presents Scholarship and Award at NACE
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and Babcox Publications have honored Loren Estwick – owner of Loren’s Collision Plus, LLC, in Foley, Minn. – as the recipient of the 2004 BodyShop Business magazine Scholarship. The award was presented at the General Session held during NACE by BodyShop BusinessPublisher Denise Lloyd.
Kathleen Schmatz Named Aftermarket Woman of the Year
The Car Care Council Women’s Board has named Kathleen Schmatz as the very first “Aftermarket Woman of the Year.” The announcement was made during the 2004 Women’s Board reception, which took place on Tuesday, Nov. 2, during AAPEX in Las Vegas.
Live from AAPEX: Schmatz Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of AAIA, was awarded the Martin Fromm Lifetime Achievement Award at AWDA’s Opening Session and Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, prior to the start of the 2004 AAPEX show in Las Vegas. The award honors industry leaders who have distinguished themselves through their commitment to a unique and significant project.
Bosch Appoints Corporate Communications Director
Bosch announced Chandra Lewis has assumed the position of director, corporate communications.
REVVING HER ENGINE: Girls Enjoy Being Gearheads, Too
The full set of acrylic nails Ashley Pawlowski got before going to the senior prom with her boyfriend is not quite so full. The nail on her left pinky has come off and the air-brushed french manicure is chipping away. This, said the 17-year-old Canton, Mich., High School junior, comes from repeatedly washing oil and grease off her hands with an acetone-based soap. Ashley is a “gearhead,” slang for self-professed auto mechanic junkies whose tastes range from routine maintenance to restoring old cars to high performance engineering.
“Brain Reserve” Consultant to Address the Impact of Female Consumers on the Aftermarket at GAAS
Tiffany Vasilchik, a senior consultant with Faith Popcorn’s Brain Reserve firm, will address the subject of the emerging influence of women on the aftermarket. Her presentation — “Futurescape: How Trends and The Female Consumer Are Driving Change in the Automotive Aftermarket” — will take place on Tuesday, May 18 at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago.
Executive Interview with Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of AAIA
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Schmatz became president and CEO of AAIA on Jan. 1, 2004. She had served as executive vice president of the association since January 2002. In addition to filling us in on her first few months at her new post, Schmatz shared with aftermarketNews.com updates on AAIA’s merger with AWDA, Right to Repair legislation and the Be Car Care Award Campaign.
Jill Bookman Named CEO of American Collectors
Jill Bookman has been named CEO of American Collectors Insurance, Inc. (ACI). Bookman, who has been with the company for more than 10 years, will fill the newly created position immediately. ACI is a national specialty provider of collector car, truck and motorcycle insurance.
Executive Interview with Jim Taylor, CEO of Thomas Group
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Jim Taylor, CEO of the Thomas Group. Taylor joined the Thomas Group in 2001 as vice president and CFO. From 1997 to 2001, Taylor served as president of the Chancellor Group, a Dallas, Texas, management consulting firm, where he assisted companies in restructuring, raising funds and completing initial public offerings. Join us as Taylor tells us more about the Thomas Group culture and how it works for its clients.