Kathleen Schmatz Named to Prestigious U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named Kathleen Schmatz to its prestigious Association Committee of 100, comprised of the country’s leading association chief executives. Schmatz is president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Founded in 1958, the Association Committee of 100 is comprised of experienced CEOs who represent association members before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; enhance Chamber lobbying and coalition work; recommend programming; and strengthen outreach to the business and association community.
AMN Top Ten Week: The Top 10 Newsmakers of 2005
Now in its second year, aftermarketNews, together with its sister publication Counterman magazine, present the Top 10 Newsmakers list. While it is difficult to whittle down the number of influential leaders who are making an impact on this industry today, our editorial team has carefully compiled a list of individuals whom we believe to have left a distinct impression on the marketplace in 2005, and perhaps for years to come.
Robert Blair Named President of CARQUEST
CARQUEST Corp. has appointed Robert Blair to the position of executive vice president of product management and president of CARQUEST Corp. effective Nov. 7. Blair replaces Art Lottes, III who has announced his retirement effective Jan. 2, 2006, after 26 years as a member of the CARQUEST Team.
Wheels, Inc. Appoints Gino Fontana Senior Director of Purchasing Operations
Wheels, Inc., recently announced the appointments of Gino Fontana to Senior Director of Purchasing Operations and Sheryl Sawyers to Director, Vehicle Acquisitions.
Federal-Mogul Appoints Second Former Fiat Exec to Management Team
Jean Brunol has been appointed senior vice president, business and operations strategy and a member of the strategy board for Federal-Mogul Corp. His appointments are effective May 2. In this new role, Brunol will be responsible for corporate development of business and global growth strategies. Most recently Brunol was senior vice president, product and business strategy, international operations at Iveco – the commercial vehicle company of the Fiat Group. He is the second executive from Fiat Group to join Federal-Mogul in recent weeks. Last week, the company announced the appointment of Mario Leone, Fiat Group’s former chief information officer, to the position of senior vice president and chief information officer for Federal-Mogul.
AAIA Legislative Summit Drives Home the Message
With record numbers and spirited optimism, representatives from the aftermarket industry assembled in Washington, D.C., for the Aftermarket Legislative Summit this past Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 250 attendees representing 37 states made the journey to the lobbying rally to discuss with members of Congress the issues that affect the aftermarket.
TriMas Appoints Three New Board Members
TriMas Corp. — a company comprised of high-end, specialty niche manufacturing businesses — has named three new board directors.Marshall Cohen, Arthur Huge and Eugene Miller have been named to the company’s board of directors, effective with the start of the company’s 2005 fiscal year in January.
AAIA’s Aaron Lowe Shares the History and How-to’s for its Annual Legislative Summit
Our latest Executive Interview features Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. On March 1 and 2, more than 200 aftermarket executives will gather in our nation’s capitol for the 2005 Aftermarket Legislative Summit. The annual event gives representatives of the aftermarket the opportunity to provide policymakers with the information they need to make educated and informed decisions about issues that impact the aftermarket. Major issues to be highlighted during this year’s Summit include: The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act; association health plans; anti-counterfeiting; and asbestos litigation reform legislation. Lowe recently shared with us some history about this industry-critical event and how you can get involved.
Delphi Makes Organizational Changes in Aftermarket Unit
Delphi has announced organizational changes in its Delphi Product & Service Solutions division, the company’s aftermarket and consumer products division. Russell W. H. Bailey, managing director of Delphi Integrated Service Solutions, a business unit of Delphi Product & Service Solutions, is retiring after more than 36 years in the industry. Mark Theriot, currently director of global service technologies, will succeed Bailey in this role, in addition to maintaining his current responsibilities. Under the new organizational structure, Theriot will have full global responsibility for executing Delphi’s service strategy and vision.
NHTSA Administrator to Join RMA in December
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has announced that Scott Brenner will join the trade group in early December as vice president of government affairs. Brenner currently serves as associate administrator for external affairs with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) where he is responsible for the content and conduct of the agency’s communications with Congress, Federal and State agencies; media and stakeholders.