The 14th annual Auto International Association (AIA) Luncheon/Awards Program held at AAPEX this week featured the presentation of the AIA People Awards to those who have made significant contributions to the import automotive aftermarket.
This year’s honorees are:
· AIA Hall of Fame Award: Anthony “Tony” Perticari, USA Industries
· AIA Lifetime Achievement Award: Janette Ponciroli, Interamerican Motor Corporation [IMC]
· AIA Young Executive of the Year Award: Kenny Ho, Intex Auto Parts
2012 AIA Hall of Fame
Anthony “Tony” Perticari, USA Industries
Tony Perticari got his start in the automotive aftermarket with Sun Oil Co. in 1969 as a motor products representative in southern New Jersey, ultimately overseeing 22 full-service gas stations.
Perticari took the next step in his accomplished career, joining the Robert Bosch Corp. in 1973 as a territory representative calling on domestic and import WDs, while building the sales of import parts and expanding Bosch’s distribution.
Clearly on the fast track, he was named national account manager in 1976, and then promoted in 1978 to Mid-Atlantic district sales manager, and again in 1981 to East Coast zone manager. It was during this time that he developed his connection and dedication to the import aftermarket.
In 1986, Perticari went to work at Crown Remanufacturing, Inc., a small-scale company in Philadelphia, Pa., as national sales manager. Named VP of sales and marketing in 1988, Perticari helped build Crown into a nationally known brand and eventually the largest import-only remanufacturer in the U.S.
Perticari went to work for CARDONE Industries in 2006, where he developed an import parts program under the Autoline Import brand, while aiding in launching CARDONE’s entrée in the diesel market in 2009.
Perticari’s significant achievements in the industry have led to numerous honors, including being named AIA Lifetime Achiever in 1998, AIA Person of the Year in 2002 and chairman of AIA, 2006-’09. While he was carving out an impressive career and building relationships in the industry, he found the time to give back to the industry by serving a variety of organizations, including the Automotive Sales Council, AIA Board of Directors, AAPEX Show Committee and, currently, the MERA Sales and Marketing Council.
Perticari is the director of sales-special markets at USA Industries of Bay Shore, N.Y., where he works on new market development and special projects for the Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, Frank Doria.
2012 AIA Lifetime Achievement
Janette Ponciroli, Interamerican Motor Corporation (IMC)
Janette Ponciroli’s interest in cars started in 1965 one summer at Doheny Beach, Calif., when a little brown 356 zipped by. It continued for years, and in 1975 with the purchase of a 1975 Porsche 914 2.0 and a membership in PCA, Ponciroli’s career path changed. Gary Evans from Eurasian Automotive Products offered her a sales position at EAP in November 1976, where she became the first female salesperson, with the task of making cold calls to U.S. Honda dealers.
With her true love being Porsche, when a Porsche buying position opened up, she applied and that was her start in the import specialty market and purchasing. From EAP, she went to Westex Automotive, then to WAWD and moved to southern California. WAWD became Import Parts America (IPA) and Ponciroli moved back to northern California. In February 1990, a call from IMC changed her career and life forever. She and her daughter moved back to southern California, and she found a home at IMC that allowed her to grow professionally and work among the best. Hanns Hederer’s open-door policy and hands-on approach to mentoring his staff seeded the environment for all of his employees to grow and be the best.
At IMC, Ponciroli developed, along with IT, the addition of a source file for storing parts/vendor information, collaborated as part of the management team’s opening of new locations and launched IMC’s Asian Program. She also developed a computer-based catalog look-up for sales with purchasing/product management staff, continued development of their buying system, helped introduce OP Parts (their house brand), and collaborated with their parent company, Wulf Gaertner, on their Meyle brand. She holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in English literature with a minor in linguistics from San Jose State University
“Achievement is possible only with the people — mentors, friends, partners in business,” said Ponciroli. “It is the constant reward of our industry to work with, and learn and achieve from the best. Relationships are my best achievement and my greatest gift. The IMC family and the purchasing/product management department continue to nurture me to become the best I can be.”
AIA Young Executive of the Year
Kenny Ho, Intex Auto Parts
Kenny Ho has been fortunate enough to grow up in the auto parts industry and remembers helping out his father each summer as a student. Now, Ho serves as vice president of Intex Auto Parts, which has been in business for 32 years with four locations in California and a staff of 50 people.
Ho graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in electrical engineering computer science. For the past 10 years, he’s been working full-time to improve every aspect of the automotive business, including organizing pictures, cataloging data and product information. He served for two years on APA’s iSuccess committee, and three years on the Society of Import Parts Specialists (SIPS) board, helping to better organize and communicate with members.
Currently, Ho serves on the CAWA board, protecting our industry from harmful legislation, and also serves as an APA board member, to help move our industry forward. He is very passionate and committed to the automotive industry and is eager to make a difference.
Another happy milestone for Kenny is that he and his wife, Yun are expecting their first child soon.
