Late fall is a time to reflect on the accomplishments of the outgoing year and anticipate the growth and momentum of the year ahead. For the automotive aftermarket, it's award season, a time when we come together to honor those among us who have gone above and beyond the call of service and whose exploits have inspired the industry.

It's my pleasure to share Aftermarket Business World's first All-Star Awards class, celebrating the leaders who drive excellence across the automotive aftermarket. The 2026 honorees come from every corner of the parts and distribution segment of the industry and represent manufacturers, distributors, retailers, program groups, service providers, and technology companies.

You'll see familiar faces within the pages of this magazine: 

• Sue Godschalk of Federated Auto Parts
• Mary Ieng of the Auto Care Association
• Bradley Jackson of Dorman Products
• Elle Lawhead of AutoZone
• Autumn Lamb of GSP North America
• Fletcher Lord III of Bumper to Bumper
• Courtney Pedler of Autology Data Management
• Aaron Shaffer of Standard Motor Products
• Suellyn Sprague of Epicor Software Corp.
• JC Washbish, CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

These are our 10 inaugural award winners, peer-selected to represent the aftermarket in this special issue.

It has been a pleasure to capture these stories from angles you may be hearing for the first time. We asked the honorees about their hobbies, their leadership philosophies and mantras, and things people outside of their orbit may not know about them. What's rich about every account is how each honoree entered the aftermarket. Much like weddings remind us of the day we first fell in love, these accounts will have you reflecting on your first day in the industry and why you're still here. I think you'll find their stories inspiring, amusing, and deeply human.

Please join me in celebrating the Aftermarket All-Stars class of 2026. Each is deserving of the honor and is finding their own way to leave their mark on the industry they love.