This is the first installment in a five-part series as Chris Messer, executive vice president of Transportation at EndeavorB2B, chronicles his journey through the University of the Aftermarket's Leadership 2.0 Program at Northwood University.

It had been nearly 20 years since I last set foot on campus as a student. That realization hit me well before sunrise Sunday morning as I loaded my bag into the car and made the familiar 45-minute drive to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Equal parts nervous and excited, I was heading to Midland, Michigan, for Session 1 of the University of the Aftermarket's 2026-27 Leadership 2.0 program at Northwood University.

The Journey

The journey to Leadership 2.0 began with an early morning departure from Minneapolis en route to Detroit. The short flight provided some time to think about the week ahead. After landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, I connected with my friend and fellow Leadership 2.0 classmate, Jennifer Holland, vice president of marketing at ASE. Together, we began the two-hour drive north to Midland.

What could have been a long and uneventful ride turned into one of the more entertaining parts of the day. Between a rock-solid playlist, automotive industry conversations, and a collection of brain-twisting trivia questions, the drive seemed to fly by.

As we approached Midland, signs for Northwood University began appearing along the roadway, serving as a reminder that the week ahead would be devoted to leadership development, personal growth, and industry collaboration.

The Class

For many participants, including myself, Leadership 2.0 represents something more than professional development. It's an opportunity to step away from the daily demands of running businesses, leading teams, and managing customers to spend time thinking intentionally about leadership and the future of the automotive aftermarket.

This year's class includes nearly 40 professionals representing a remarkable cross-section of the industry. Parts manufacturers, warehouse distributors, association leaders, retailers, service providers, shop owners, marketing professionals, and media representatives all gathered in Midland with a shared goal: becoming better leaders. Participants represent companies and organizations including ASE, O'Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, FleetPride, Dorman Products, Gates Corporation, Parts Authority, DENSO, Schaeffler, Valvoline, MEMA, Auto Care Association, and many others.

The Opening Keynote

The official program began Sunday afternoon at Northwood University's Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, where James O'Dell, director of corporate education for the University of the Aftermarket, welcomed us and outlined our full week of learning, discussion, and collaboration.

After the welcome, Jeff Paul, executive vice president of VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies delivered the evening's keynote presentation, "Reflections on the Personal Impact of Leadership."

What followed felt less like a keynote presentation and more like an honest conversation about the people and experiences that shape us as leaders.

Drawing from his career at Enterprise, Experian, Tenneco, JC Whitney, and VIPAR Heavy Duty, Paul shared stories about some of the most influential leaders in his life. Those influences ranged from family members, including his grandfather, to professional mentors such as longtime VIPAR President and CEO Steve Crowley, who passed away just three weeks ago, and current President and CEO Chris Baer.

While every story was different, a common thread was simple: leadership is ultimately about people.

VIPAR's Impact

For those unfamiliar with VIPAR Heavy Duty, the organization has played a key role in the heavy-duty aftermarket since its founding in 1989. During his remarks, Paul said that VIPAR's member network generates approximately $900 million in purchasing activity, translating to roughly $2 billion at the point of sale. The organization supports independent distributors and supplier partners throughout North America, helping members stay competitive in an evolving marketplace.

While those numbers illustrate the scale of the organization, Paul's presentation focused on people, not performance. And that may have been the most important lesson of the evening.

Welcome Dinner and Building Connections

The night concluded with a welcome dinner featuring salad, London broil, mashed potatoes, carrots, and strawberry shortcake. More importantly, it allowed for valuable relationship building with classmates whose perspectives will undoubtedly shape the week ahead.

As I looked around the room, I was struck by the diversity of experiences represented within the class. Manufacturers sat alongside distributors. Association executives exchanged ideas with shop operators. Marketing leaders connected with sales professionals and category managers.

Different backgrounds. Different career paths. Different companies. One common desire to become better leaders.