Leadership 2.0: Notes From the University of the Aftermarket 2026 Leadership 2.0 Program at Northwood University
Key Highlights
- Participants from various sectors of the automotive industry gathered at Northwood University to enhance leadership skills and industry collaboration.
- Keynote speaker Jeff Paul emphasized authenticity, relationships, and the importance of human connection over technology like AI.
- The first day of the Leadership 2.0 program focused on themes such as responsibility, developing talent, succession planning, and emotional intelligence.
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.
Authenticity and Relationships
During his presentation, Paul returned to the importance of authenticity and relationships. Leadership, he explained, is learned from the people around us. Technical expertise and business knowledge matter, but our lasting impact is found in how we treat others.
His message challenged us to focus on integrity, accountability, and courage. Leaders, he said, must create and communicate a clear vision while also providing the consistency people need to succeed.
One observation in particular resonated with me: People thrive when they have clear and consistent direction.
In a business environment full of disruption, uncertainty, and change, that may be more important today than ever.
Paul also emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes without becoming consumed by them. Great leaders make difficult decisions, adapt to changing circumstances, and move forward with the best information available at the time.
Technology and Human Connection
Another topic that surfaced during the discussion was artificial intelligence. While Paul acknowledged AI's ability to improve efficiency and transform many aspects of business, he stressed that technology cannot replace genuine human connection. Relationships are at the heart of successful organizations, regardless of how advanced technology becomes.
That perspective hit home given the growing role AI is playing throughout the automotive aftermarket.
Key Leadership Themes
Several additional leadership themes emerged throughout the keynote:
- Great leaders accept responsibility for failures and share credit for successes
- Organizations must intentionally develop their people
- Succession planning should be a leadership priority
- Leaders must ensure that the right people are in the right roles
- Servant leadership remains one of the most effective leadership models
- Emotional intelligence matters
- Effective leaders meet people where they are
Three Takeaways
At the conclusion of his presentation, Paul left the class with three simple but powerful takeaways:
- People come first; lead with authenticity
- Maintain an entrepreneurial mindset
- Be invested in what you do and focus on execution
Simple advice. Not always easy advice. But perhaps that is why it resonated.
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.
The Week Ahead
The week ahead includes sessions on leadership, team dynamics, distribution, networking, organizational culture, communication, emotional intelligence, and high-performance teams, led by a mix of Northwood faculty and respected aftermarket leaders.
For now, however, Day 1 is officially in the books.
More than 20 years after my last experience as a student, it feels surprisingly good to be back in a classroom. And if the opening day was any indication, the lessons learned this week will extend far beyond the campus of Northwood University.
About the Author
Chris Messer
Executive Vice President | Transportation
Chris Messer is the Executive Vice President for Endeavor Business Media's Transportation Group.