RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Participants in the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference 2010 – set for Wednesday, March 17, at the InterContinental O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. – now can earn CEU credits through the University of the Aftermarket.
“The AASA Vision Conference 2010 agenda is extremely strong this year and features important topics to our aftermarket full-service supplier members, such as the channel partners sales force panel discussion, an open discussion on building brand loyalty through service support by Mark Saxonberg of Toyota, the aftermarket customer’s perspective from Larry Magee of Bridgestone/Firestone and much more,” said Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA. “The addition of CEU credits to our outstanding lineup of presentations this year further increases the value of the AASA Vision Conference.”
“The University of the Aftermarket is pleased to partner with AASA to offer these credits for the AASA Vision Conference 2010,” said Brian Cruickshank, director of the University of the Aftermarket. Attendees can apply these credits toward their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designation.
AASA Vision Conference 2010 presentations will include:
• Mark Saxonberg, manager – environment, health, safety and service support, industry and government relations at Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., will address the 2010 AASA Vision Conference on “Building Brand Loyalty through Outstanding Service Support in the Aftermarket”;
• Sales Force panel discussion, “What Channel Partners Expect:” Moderator – Jack Cameron, AASA vice president; panelists – David Barbeau, Delphi Product & Service Solutions; Jeff Brekke, The Gates Corp.; Jim Duckworth, Quaker City Motor Parts (NAPA); Tim Lee, Lang Distributing; Roger McCollum, N.A. Williams Co.;
• Customer presentation: Larry Magee, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC and executive vice president of Bridgestone Americas Inc., the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,100 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, ExpertTire and Wheel Works store locations;
• Keynote Presentation, Economic Outlook: Eric Hurst, Ph.D., professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and top-rated speaker from AASA Vision Conference 2009;
• “Driving Business Success in these Dynamic Times” Mike Hanley, global automotive leader, Ernst & Young;
• Panel of AASA member executives discussing why they support OptiCat, the supplier-centric electronic catalog model: Moderator – Chris Gardner, AASA vice president; panelists – Jay Burkhart, Federal-Mogul; Brad Duncan, OptiCat; Dennis Welvaert, Dayco; Keith Wilson, Affinia Group; Uli Zehnpfenning, TecDoc;
• Government affairs discussion led by Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA);
• “Your Association at Work” AASA council update presented by Jeremy Denton, director, AASA; and
• “Member Spotlights,” featuring "Taking Advantage of Megatrends," George Dunham, CARDONE Industries Inc.; and "Creative Training Programs," Barry Harris, The Timken Co.
AASA Vision Conference 2010, exclusive to AASA member companies, will kick-off with a Welcome Reception on the evening of Tuesday, March 16, following meetings of the AASA Board of Governors and AASA councils. The program will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, March 17 and will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. with a networking reception. Additional AASA council meetings are scheduled for Thursday, March 18, at the InterContinental following the conference.
Ernst & Young is the AASA Vision Conference 2010 premier sponsor. Other confirmed sponsors to date include Babcox Publications and R.L Polk & Co.
Attendees can earn 0.6 University of the Aftermarket CEUs at the AASA Vision Conference 2010, “Know Your Parts.” The agenda, registration and hotel information are available at the AASA Vision Conference Web site, www.aasavision.org.
