The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) of the Auto Care Association is hosting the second annual Young Professionals Program on Wednesday, Nov. 4 during this year’s AAPEX in Las Vegas. Professionals in the auto care industry under the age of 40 are encouraged to attend.

The program will include the YANG Town Hall featuring an executive panel from all channels of the auto care industry moderated by YANG Advisory Council member, Chase Baxley of The Parts House. The panel will take place from 3:45-4:45 p.m. at The Venetian Hotel in Marco Polo Rooms 805-807. The presenters will discuss issues that are facing industry leaders and young auto care professionals. Directly following, attendees are invited to attend the YANG-sponsored happy hour, from 5-6:30 p.m., at LAVO in the Palazzo.

“We are pleased to bring the Town Hall format to the under-40 crowd,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “It is a great opportunity to bring together our industry’s young men and women with dynamic speakers from different parts of the industry.”

Panelists include:

• Jeff Koviak, vice president and general manager, North America Aftermarket, Tenneco, Inc.
• Bill Maggs, MAAP, president and CEO, National Pronto Association and Co-CEO, Automotive Parts Services Group
• John Bunting, COO, Fuse 5
• Jim Dykstra, founder and president, Aftermarket Telematics Technologies (ATT)

“We are very fortunate to have such a strong panel this year. It is a testament to the overwhelming support that YANG continues to receive from the industry’s top leaders and companies,” said Michael Rukov, YANG chairman, One Stop Parts Source.

In addition to the Young Professionals Program, members of YANG have the opportunity to receive professional staged photographs for free from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4 in the Auto Care Association Member Center Room 201-203 in the Sands Expo Center.

Major corporate sponsors of YANG include Tenneco, Automotive Parts Services Group, Fuse 5 and the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

All professionals in the auto care industry under the age of 40 are eligible to join YANG. Membership is free and open to Auto Care Association members and non-members under the age of 40. For more information, visit autocare.org/yang or contact Courtney Hammer at 240-333-1067 or [email protected].