SCRS Appoints 2004-05 Executive Board and Officers
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has appointed its board of directors and executive officers for the year 2004-2005. The election took place at the SCRS Annual Meeting on April 8 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. For the second year in a row, Lou DiLisio was elected SCRS chairman of the board, an occurrence that has happened only twice before — first, when inaugural Chairman Don Caldwell presided over consecutive terms in 1982-83 and 1983-84 and a second time, when Chairman Bob Jones held the office in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
APRC Presents Third Annual Excellence in Automotive PR Awards
The winners of the third annual Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Awards were honored on April 21 at the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) Spring Conference held in Dearborn, Mich. APRC, a part of MEMA, is a professional organization for public relations practitioners in all segments of the automotive industry. The only award of its kind, the Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award identifies public relations programs that have successfully addressed an automotive-related public relations issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.
Visteon has 1st profit since ’02
Auto-parts maker Visteon Corp. said Thursday that it turned a quarterly profit for the first time since mid-2002 and surpassed earnings expectations, largely due to new business from the automakers and lower health-care costs for employees. The Dearborn, Mich.-based supplier reported first-quarter net income of $30 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with a loss of $15 million, or 12 cents a share, in the same quarter a year ago.
Honeywell Receives APA’s Branded Products Award
Honeywell Friction Materials, which manufactures Bendix branded brake products, was recently recognized with the Automotive Parts Association’s (APA) Branded Products Award. The award was presented to Honeywell at the association’s 24th annual Shareholders & Manufacturers Conference held at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza in San Diego last month.
BFNAT Introduces Three New Truck Tires
This week, at BIZCON 8, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNAT) annual dealer conference in Chicago, Ill., the tiremaker unveiled three new truck tires. The new radial tires – the R287 steer, M726 EL drive and R195F free-rolling trailer – offer long-haul and long regional haul fleets longer tire life and lower cost per mile, according to the company.
Ontario to Pay to Attract Auto Plants
With automakers bypassing Ontario and choosing instead to build plants in the U.S. and Mexico, the Ontario government plans to spend $500 million Canadian (about $372 million US) over the next five years to entice automakers to invest in the province.
MEMA Creates Brand Protection Council to Address Counterfeiting, Non-Compliant Products, Intellectual Property Rights
MEMA and its market segment associations have established a new Brand Protection Council to help address and set the association’s priorities in the areas of counterfeiting, diversion, non-compliant products and intellectual property rights. The council will meet four times a year and will help dictate MEMA’s (and the industry’s) collective actions on various intellectual property issues. The council will also share best practices and dialogue on this growing industry challenge.
Lear Downplays SEC Inquiry
Lear Corp. CEO Robert Rossiter on Wednesday downplayed an informal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into its employment of corporate officers’ relatives and insider business transactions. The head of the Southfield, Mich.-based auto-interiors supplier also told analysts that the probe is strictly related to disclosure — not whether there was financial misconduct. Management, he added, quickly corrected the disclosure omissions as soon as they were pointed out.
ArvinMeritor’s Bill Overmyer Named Advance Auto Parts’ Sales Rep of the Year
Bill Overmyer, national accounts sales manager for ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) group, has earned Advance Auto Parts’ Advance Factory Direct Representative Award. The award recognizes the achievements of a veteran sales professional who best supports Advance Auto Parts’ marketing, training, customer service and merchandising initiatives. Overmyer was presented with the award at the auto parts chain’s recent annual Leadership Conference.
Tom Lindberg Named President, CEO of Interdynamics; Company Named Advance Auto Parts Vendor of the Year
Tom Lindberg, former vice president, International for Honeywell’s Automotive Consumer Products Group, has been tapped to lead Interdynamics as president and CEO. Interdynamics manufactures mobile A/C and compressor products. Tom Lindberg, former vice president, International for Honeywell’s Automotive Consumer Products Group, has been tapped to lead Interdynamics as president and CEO. Interdynamics manufactures mobile A/C and compressor products.