Pete Kornafel Presented with AWDA's 2012 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award

AWDA presented the 2012 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award to Pete Kornafel, MAAP, for his tireless work on behalf of education in the aftermarket. The award was presented on Oct. 28 at AWDA’s Annual Conference. Kornafel (left) and Fisher.

The Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award is presented annually to an aftermarket company or individual who demonstrates outstanding commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Given in memory of former AWDA chairman Art Fisher, the award grants substantial scholarships in the name of the award winner to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University.

Over a long and distinguished career in the aftermarket, Pete Kornafel has come to be universally recognized as one of the industry’s foremost proponents of education and training. He has worked tirelessly to increase the number and size of scholarships available to students of aftermarket education. Kornafel has overseen the presentation of hundreds, if not thousands, of such scholarships to deserving students.
Kornafel, an engineer by trade, author, entrepreneur and industry leader, began his career in the car care industry in 1967. In 1970, he joined CARQUEST, serving as president of the group until 1996. Presently, he remains active in the company as vice chairman.

Over the years, Kornafel has served as chairman of AWDA, director of ASE and as a trustee for the NATEF. He has served on the GAAS Scholarship Committee since 1998 and was named chairman that same year. It was Kornafel’s single-minded focus on education that served as the impetus for AWDA to grant this prestigious award.

In presenting the award, Bo Fisher, CEO of Fisher Auto Parts and son of the award’s namesake, Art Fisher, said, “Pete’s professionalism, experience and unselfish contributions are perfectly aligned with what this award is all about. Pete was Dad’s advisor as he went through the AWDA chairs and had a great deal of respect for him. No doubt, Dad would be particularly pleased with this year’s winner.”