For those of you returning from what appeared to be a very upbeat and strong showing at this year’s AAPEX show, welcome back! This year’s AAPEX generated a ton of great news, so stay tuned next week when we continue to provide news and updates from this year’s event.
The most popular news items on AMN this week all originated from the show floor at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, where a number of awards were presented and aftermarket executives and businesses were recognized and honored.
Among the award recipients this year was Rollance E. Olson, CEO of Parts Depot Inc. in Roanoke, Va. Olson was named the 2010 recipient of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Leader of the Year Award. Each year, AWDA bestows this prestigious award on an aftermarket professional who has contributed to the industry in a unique and significant way. A veteran of nearly 40 years in the aftermarket, Olson has spent time on both the manufacturing and distribution sides of the business. Over the years, many familiar companies and brands have appeared on Olson’s resume, including Honeywell, Bendix, Fram and Raybestos. In 1986, Olson acquired Parts Depot Inc. from the Stapleton family. Over a 25-year period, Parts Depot grew from three warehouses to – at its peak – a company serving 13 states and generating more than $350 million in revenue. Olson has served as chairman of All Pro/Bumper-to-Bumper, and in 2000, he and Fred Bunting were co-chairs of the Alliance when the group was formed.
On Tuesday, the Auto International Association (AIA) segment of AAIA presented its 22nd Annual Import Product Awards at AAPEX. The awards recognize manufacturers and marketers for excellence in products, packaging, websites, catalogs and marketing/advertising programs for import cars and trucks. AIA Awards Committee Chairman Marty Gold presented the 2010 AIA Import Product Awards in seven categories. Click here to see this year’s winners.
A near-record class of 23 motor vehicle aftermarket professionals received University of the Aftermarket AAP (Automotive Aftermarket Professional) or MAAP (Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional) certificates in a ceremony held Wednesday during AAPEX. The professional certificates were conferred by University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank, MAAP, and Northwood University President and CEO Dr. Keith Pretty. To see a complete list of this year’s AAP and MAAP recipients, click here.
Northwood University also honored eight automotive aftermarket leaders with its annual Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award at a luncheon held Tuesday during AAPEX. The Northwood Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award is given to individuals in the automotive aftermarket field who have made noteworthy contributions to education, on any level, inside or outside of the industry. They are people of stature and the award is recognition of substantial dedication over a number of years to the educational process and the field of automotive aftermarket. To view the complete list of recipients, click here.
Rounding out our recap of this week’s most-clicked news is the launch of ACDelco’s all-new online catalog of ACDelco GM OE Service parts for the aftermarket, which was previewed at AAPEX. The browser-based catalog, being developed for ACDelco by DST Inc. of Lake Forest, Calif., is partly based on one currently used at GM dealers. The new catalog allows customers to search for a component three different ways: by the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), by illustration or by year, make and model. The new online catalog will not include ACDelco parts for non-GM applications or non-OE lines, such as the Professional and Advantage lines. It will be made available to ACDelco wholesale distributors as well as independent service centers and ACDelco WISE Internet Program (WIP) systems users.
