The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., program group headquarters for Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper, kicked off its 2023 annual Winter Shareholder Meeting at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry in Aventura, Florida, with what it said is the largest gathering of shareholders and channel partners to date, with well over 500 in attendance.
The December business event includes a series of departmental updates, information technology user group workshops, commercial vehicle and heavy-duty sessions, a Latin America shareholder meeting, social mixers, meals, and a joint general session for shareholders and channel partners.
On Tuesday evening, the Alliance will host its annual Channel Partner awards banquet where the Alliance shareholders announce their prestigious supplier award winners and Channel Partner of the Year winner for 2023.
Sunday morning began with departmental committee meetings including Category Management, Information Technology, Warehouse Operations, and Sales & Marketing. In the afternoon was a variety of sessions, including a National Account and Certified Service Center roundtable meeting, a store operations committee meeting, and an open session focused on the Alliance Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Duty program. The evening included a reception event for both shareholder and channel partners.
“The Winter Shareholder Meeting is an opportunity to bring together some of the best in the industry to celebrate a strong 2023, but also focus on business and building for the future,” said John R. Washbish, president and CEO of the Alliance. “This meeting is valued among our shareholder members because of the interaction with their manufacturing business partners. A great way to cap off the end of the year for all of us.”
Monday began with a shareholder only general session and includes headquarters and membership report outs, category management, information technology, sales and marketing and the commercial vehicle and heavy-duty program as topics. The afternoon will also include organizational updates on the Federated-Alliance joint venture, as well as a unique “social showcase” networking mixer with channel partners and shareholder members.
Tuesday once again unites channel partners and shareholder members with a joint general session, and an afternoon of golf, fishing, or poker. The day will culminate at the Tuesday night reception and awards banquet, where the annual channel partner awards winners will be announced and honored, as noted earlier.
“The partnerships we have with our channel partners are integral to our members success, being able to celebrate these relationships is important,” said Justin Hebert, vice president of category management at the Alliance, “We are actively planning for 2024, and our goal is mutual success across the industry, from light to medium and heavy duty.”
