Transpro Names Paul Verdile Senior Product Manager
Transpro has appointed Paul Verdile senior product manager for its Automotive Light Truck Heat Exchanger Business Unit. In this position Verdile will be responsible for all product development and strategic planning functions for product lines that include Ready-Rad radiators and Ready-Aire heater cores and air conditioning condensers. He will report to Layne Gobrogge, Transpro’s vice president of marketing and will be based in New Haven, Conn.
CARDONE Honored by National Catalog Managers Association
CARDONE Industries recently received six awards for catalog excellence from the National Catalog Managers Association (NCMA) for print and electronic data. The awards were presented on May 4 at the 31st Annual NCMA Conference in Orlando, Fla.
SBC Recognizes Parts Plus for Technical Innovation
SBC Communications Inc. recently honored Parts Plus for outstanding achievement in Technical Innovation. SBC recognized Parts Plus for its efforts in developing an integrated solution for Internet-based ordering and billing of motor-vehicle parts for the telecommunications company’s automotive-business customers.
Mario Andretti to Visit Aiken County, S.C., Firestone Tire Plant
Racing legend Mario Andretti is set to visit Aiken County’s Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire plant on Tuesday. The factory announced May 5 that Andretti will spend about 1 1/2 hours at the facility during an employee recognition event.
SAE to Honor Delphi’s Battenberg
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Foundation will honor Delphi Chairman, President and CEO J.T. Battenberg III with the Manufacturing Leadership Award at a dinner at Ford Field on Wednesday, May 12. The theme of the 2004 banquet is “Manufacturing Leadership for the Future: Celebrating the Year of the Supplier.” More than 20 automotive supplier companies will be recognized for innovative achievements across multiple categories.
SEMA Chairman Honored by Tennessee State Senate
As if winning the 2004 Meguiar’s Award for Collector Car Person of the Year was not enough, the Tennessee State Senate has issued a resolution to honor Joseph “Corky” Coker.Coker, who currently serves as chairman of the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA), is president of Coker Tire in Chattanooga, Tenn. He will be presented with the Meguiar’s award on June 19. On April 19, the Tennessee State Senate issued Senate Joint Resolution 997 to honor and commend Coker for “winning the 2004 Meguiar’s Award for Collector Car Person of the Year” and saluted “his personal, professional and civic excellence,” according to a report from SEMA.
Gessford Machine Inc. Named 2004
George Anderson, owner of Gessford Machine in Hastings, Neb., has been named the 2004 “Machine Shop of the Year” award by Engine Builder magazine and the Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA). AERA is a not-for-profit trade association, serving the engine rebuilder/remanufacturing industry, machine shops, equipment, parts and services suppliers since 1922.
Tower Automotive Reports First Quarter 2004 Results
Tower Automotive has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2004 and updated 2004 earnings guidance. Tower Automotive announced first quarter revenues of $781 million, compared to $733 million in the first quarter of 2003. The company reported net income of $12 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the quarter versus net income for the first quarter of 2003 of $11.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share.
Victor Reinz Names Machinist of the Year
Victor Reinz has named its Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year. Along with the AERA and the ASE, Clevite Engine Parts established the Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award in order to recognize the valuable contributions machinists make to the automotive rebuilding industry. This year’s award was presented at the AERA New Products Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 23, 2004.
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.