GAAS Fund Organizers Announce $50,000 GAAS Scholarship Challenge
An anonymous donor has issued a $50,000 fund raising challenge for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarship program, awarded to students planning aftermarket careers. The “$50,000 GAAS Scholarship Challenge” was initiated after the donor committed to donate up to $10,000 to the Global Scholarship fund in 2004 and will match 25 percent of all other donations to the fund up to a matching amount of $10,000. The challenge campaign aims to net the fund a total of $50,000 in donations. Delphi Corp. has made the first challenge donation of $3,000.
NAPA/ASE Name Parts Specialist of the Year
Mike Mrozinski, a manager at Capital and Auto National Truck Service in Albany, N.Y., was recently named the 2004 NAPA/ASE Parts Specialist of the Year. Now in its fifth year, the NAPA/ASE Parts Specialist of the Year is awarded to a parts professional within the NAPA organization who demonstrates superior parts knowledge and business practices, a commitment to customer service and training, involvement in the community and outstanding service to the automotive parts, repair and maintenance industry. Judges include representatives from ASE, trade press, universities and aftermarket industry associations. Mrozinski was unanimously selected by the judges.
Coyle Named to Fuel Systems Job at TI Automotive
Patrick Coyle has been named North American regional director for TI Automotive’s Global Fuel Systems Division. Previously, Coyle was responsible for global fuel-system quality. TI Automotive is a tier one supplier of integrated fuel-storage and delivery systems.
Universal Technical Institute Signs Lease for New Campus in Pennsylvania
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has entered into a long-term lease agreement for a new UTI campus near Exton in southeastern Pennsylvania. Encompassing approximately 160,000-square-feet, the new facility is expected to open in summer 2004. The new UTI-Exton campus will initially offer programs in automotive technology to diagnose, service and repair automobiles.
Fusor Named Preferred Supplier by Keystone Automotive
Keystone Automotive has named Lord Corporation’s Fusor Automotive Repair Adhesives a preferred supplier. Fusor Automotive is a provider of metal and composite bonding solutions for automotive body repair. Lord Corp. provides its full product-line of Fusor Automotive Repair Adhesives to Keystone Automotive Industries, specifically their adhesives for metal bonding, plastic repair and bumper repair; as well as their seam sealers and foams. According to the Keystone supplier performance summary, Lord earned 100 points on a rating scale with a total possible 100 points. Program criteria included quality, order fill rate and order lead-time.
Sarah Fisher and Larry Hoofnagle to be Featured on C.A.R. Show
IRL IndyCar Series driver and Raybestos Safety Campaign spokesperson Sarah Fisher, and Larry Hoofnagle, director of marketing for Brake Parts Inc., will be featured on the C.A.R. Show radio program on Saturday, January 31. The broadcast will air between 9 – 11 a.m. EST. During the broadcast, Hoofnagle and Fisher will discuss the importance of vehicle maintenance and the need to educate consumers about taking proper care of their vehicle’s braking system through annual brake inspections, maintenance and repair.
Executive Interview with Terry McCormack, President, Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG)
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Terry McCormack, president of Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG). McCormack talked to aftermarketNews.com about the recent news that Dana will divest its aftermarket group. He shared details of the announcement as well as his insights on what this major change means for the company and the division.
Save the Date: MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit – Advancing American Manufacturing, May 5-6
MEMA and its market segment associations – AASA, HDMA and OESA – will host the inaugural “MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit: Advancing American Manufacturing” on Thursday and Friday, May 5-6 in Washington, DC. The Summit has been created to raise awareness among Washington policymakers of the supplier industry’s many contributions to the nation’s economy. MEMA intends to bring members to Washington, DC, to collectively share their priorities and concerns with members of Congress and the Bush administration. While in Washington, they will discuss best practices in government affairs for our industry, and provide updates and dialogue on legislative, regulatory and political developments from senior administration officials, members of Congress and other experts.
Noble International Completes LWI Acquisition, Plans to Sell Monroe Engineering Subsidiary
Noble International has completed its acquisition of Clinton Township, Mich.-based Laser Welding International (LWI), a supplier of laser-welded blanks to General Motors. The acquisition which was first announced late last week, now includes the proposed sale of LWI’s subsidiary, Monroe Engineering Products. Noble paid $14.7 million for LWI, with an additional $1 million payable if certain new business is awarded to Noble within the next twelve months.
TIA Off-The-Road Tire Conference Set for Feb.
The Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Off-The-Road (OTR) Tire Conference is set to take place next month in central Florida. This annual event attracts the largest gathering of executives and business owners that manufacture, service, repair, retread or supply products for the OTR market. Off-road racer Walker “The Legend” Evans will be the keynote speaker for the event. The OTR Tire Conference takes place Thursday through Saturday, February 26-28, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.