The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies hosted its 2023 IMPACT Conference, setting new benchmarks in attendance, as it hosted its largest trade show to date uniting the Power Heavy Duty and VIPAR Heavy Duty networks for the first time.
“By all measures, our annual IMPACT Conference was a success. The enthusiasm from our distributors and supplier partners was overwhelming,” said VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO Chris Baer. “The independent aftermarket channel is thriving. I think everyone in attendance would agree that it’s a great time to be in the heavy-duty truck parts business.”
The conference, held at the JW Marriott Marco Island in Marco Island, Fla., from Oct. 15-20, commenced with a performance update, highlighting the company’s financial growth and the expansion of its locations throughout North America, surpassing 920 earlier this year. Baer reflected on the success of initiatives launched over the past two decades, including expansion into Mexico, the acquisition of Power Heavy Duty and the establishment of CoMan Centers, the company’s manufacturing division.
Looking forward, Baer affirmed that the company is operating at peak efficiency, aligning major initiatives with the market needs of distributors, the company said.
Key highlights from the 2023 IMPACT Conference include a question-and-answer panel with the VIPAR Heavy Duty leadership team, a keynote address by Dr. Peggy Whitson, billed as “America’s Most Experienced Astronaut,” an update on the REPAIR Act by Lisa Foshee, senior vice president of government affairs and general counsel of the Auto Care Association, and insightful sessions on succession planning and cybersecurity. The conference also featured a trade show with 140 exhibitors and approximately 1,500 one-to-one distributor/supplier partner meetings.
The 2024 VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies IMPACT Conference is already scheduled for Oct. 20-25, 2024, at the JW Marriott Marco Island in Marco Island, Fla.
