AASA Vision Conference 2008 brings together suppliers for networking, collaboration

Nearly 140 North American automotive aftermarket suppliers gathered in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 29 - March 1 for the first-ever Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference 2008. The conference featured a stellar line-up of keynote speakers, including Darren Jackson, president and chief executive officer of Advance Auto Parts Inc.; Jeff Rachor, president and chief executive officer of Pep Boys Auto; and Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO of Robert Bosch LLC.

"Our members accomplished something very important at our inaugural Vision Conference," says Steve Handschuh, AASA president and COO. "We've laid the basis for future collaboration, for engaging on issues that will make a difference and for which the effort we invest will return to us many times over."

AASA also held the organizational meeting of its Technicians Advisory Council (TAC), which will work cooperatively with the Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Mitch Schneider, CCPN director, reported in the closing session of the AASA Vision Conference that the TAC will meet again in April in Bonita Springs, Fla.

In addition to the keynote speakers, Mike Hanley, partner, global automotive industry leader for Ernst & Young, discussed the global marketplace and trends. Michael Newkirk, manufacturing industry marketing manager for SAS, moderated a panel of leading manufacturing experts for a discussion of "Lessons Learned from Other Industries," which featured Eric Arnum, editor of "Warranty Week;" John R. Brandt, CEO and founder of MPI and Richard Miller, program manager of ServicePower Field Service Solutions, GE Consumer and Industrial.

Neil De Koker, president and CEO of OESA, and Paul Johnson, general director of the global independent aftermarket for General Motors Corp., discussed emerging automotive technology and its affect on the aftermarket in the technology forum.

Representatives of three member companies shared innovative programs and solutions their companies have implemented: Ed Rammel, vice president of marketing for Dayco products LLC; Bob Soroosh, director of benefits administration for Affinia Group Inc.; and Brian Tarnacki, director of global brand strategy for Federal-Mogul Corp.

The Vision Conference also held three workgroup sessions:

- "Education/Training" — "Mac" McGovern, KYB and Doug Vidler, Delphi Corp.;
- "Cataloging a Better Way" and "Collaborative Purchasing for Indirect Items" — Dil Kulathum, CARDONE Industries, and Susan Ulrey, Tenneco; and
- "Global Selling and Sourcing" — Jeff Brekke, The Gates Corp., and Jeff Stauffer, Affinia Group Inc.

AASA members will be able to access Vision Conference 2008 presentations at the association's exclusive member-only Web site soon. More details on the AASA Vision Conference 2009 – including dates, location and online registration – will be available soon online.

Premier sponsors of the AASA Vision Conference 2008 were: Babcox Publications, Ernst & Young, R.L. Polk & Co. and SAS. Provisional sponsors were Catevo, Pricedex Software and Diamond Plate Productions.