Longtime Disney Exec Named to New IMS Marketing Post
Phil Lengyel, a longtime member of the Walt Disney Co. management team, has been named to a newly created position with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. (IMS). IMS President and CEO Tony George announced that Lengyel will join the company in May. Lengyel, 55, will retire from Disney on April 25 after 23 years of service and will start May 1 as executive vice president, marketing, for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League and Clabber Girl Corp.
Imperial Celebrates 100 Years
Stride Tool’s Imperial brand of HVAC and specialty tools, celebrated its 100th anniversary in January. The company started in January 1905 as the Imperial Brass Manufacturing Co. Stride Tool purchased Imperial when it bought the tools and accessories division of the Imperial Eastman Co. in 1996. Since that time, Imperial’s customer base has expanded in such international markets as the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
Register Now for GAAS and Save $200
By signing up now, attendees can save $200 on the registration for the 10th annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) program. The event will take place Wednesday, May 11, and Thursday, May 12, at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago and features a stellar lineup of speakers and industry leaders as they discuss “Lessons from the Past, Perspectives on the Future.”
Volvo Trucks Executive Named Chair of the 2005 SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) announced that Peter Karlsten, president and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America, Inc., will serve as the executive chair of the 2005 SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition. The event will take place Nov. 1 – 3 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.
Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Fund Received Record Donations in 2004
The Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship program, funded through the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), received more than $20,000 in corporate and individual donations in 2004, helping the program award a record 145 scholarships of $1,000 to students planning aftermarket careers, and to sons and daughters of industry families.
AAIA Urges Attendance at Three Strategic Industry Events
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) is urging aftermarket executives and managers to attend three very important events scheduled to take place in 2005. AAIA has rated the Aftermarket Legislative Summit, the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) and the Aftermarket eForum as ‘must-attend’ events for aftermarket executives and managers to stay in tune with the latest technology trends, management solutions and legislative initiatives.
MACS Announces Trade Show Policy on Trademark Infringement and Counterfeit Product
The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide said it is taking steps to protect its trade show exhibitors and the mobile A/C and engine cooling industry as a whole against counterfeiting and trademark infringement. MACS will hold its 25th Anniversary Convention and Trade Show February 1-3, 2005 at the Las Vegas Hilton. As part of its new policy, MACS is asking every exhibitor at this year’s show to sign the MACS Trade Show counterfeit product policy statement prior to their participation at the show.
Executive Interview with Chris Gardner, Director of MEMA’s MIS Council
Our latest Executive Interview features Chris Gardner, director of the MEMA (Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association) Information Services (MIS) Council. The MIS Council is a peer group of individuals from MEMA member companies who are responsible for their companies’ IS operations and serves as a forum for industry interaction, education and idea exchange. Gardner has his finger on the pulse on the latest advancements in technology and how they can best be implemented in the aftermarket. Here, Gardner talks about MEMA’s efforts in the technology sector through the MIS Council and group initiatives.
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.
SAE Plans Centennial Celebrations
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE ) plans to hold special celebrations at several of its conferences and expositions in 2005 to celebrate its 100 year anniversary. SAE has been serving the mobility engineering community since 1905. From a black tie gala and special section functions to PR events and centennial series editions of its magazines, there will be ample opportunities for joining SAE in toasting its first century.