Northwood University Announces New New Strategic Plan, Talent Growth Focus at APSG

Northwood University is launching a new five-year strategic plan with a key element of "doubling down" on the automotive aftermarket industry, Dr. Matthew Bennett, vice president of strategic alliances and the Center for Automotive and Mobility Studies (CAMS), told attendees at the Automotive Parts Services Group's "Success is a Choice" national conference in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 2.

The 2026–2031 plan, Bennett said, follows a year-long listening tour conducted at Northwood University by Bennett; James O'Dell, MAAP, Northwood's assistant director of aftermarket education; Brent Domine, major gift officer; and others. The findings showed that talent was the most important need across the industry.

"The companies that are going to succeed in the next decade are those that intentionally focus on building their bench—building a strong talent pipeline not only for talent acquisition, but also for the continual upskilling of [employees] in your organizations," Bennett said.

"Northwood's been engaged with this aftermarket industry for well over 30 years. So, 75% to 80% of that time, we've worked directly with you on developing programs, developing leaders, most importantly, anchored in the fundamental concept of free enterprise," he added. "And that's very key as you're looking at developing the workforce."

Bennett illustrated this point by calling attention to the university's placement results. Northwood placed about 40 graduates in the industry this past year, and has worked with companies such as Dorman, Schaeffler, East Penn, and others.

He added that Northwood will continue to double down on being the premier aftermarket talent provider by offering programming and instruction that prepares students for aftermarket leadership roles.

"If you identify highly influential leaders or aspiring leaders, we have programming that we can work with you," he said. "The bottom line is you need people that immediately impact the organization."

He called the pursuit of continuing aftermarket education a clear choice, one in which suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers would see return on investment for the time in partnering with Northwood University to find and acquire new talent as well as train it there.

"You'll see it in ROI. You'll see it in new people that you acquire. You'll see it in new sales talent that you hire from Northwood," Bennett said, warning that there was a price to pay for an undereducated workforce. "If you don't choose, and that's your choice, then you'll see it in other ways. You'll see it in lost growth opportunities. You'll see it in a weaker bench.

"A wise philosopher in the room told me, 'If I want a PhD, I'm going to send him to Harvard. If I want somebody who can help me sell more parts and be more successful in my business, I'm sending them to Northwood.'"

Northwood's offerings span what Bennett described as the full range of aftermarket talent needs—from 18- and 19-year-olds fresh out of high school looking for internships, to new graduates, to aspiring leaders within member organizations. Established programs include Leadership 2.0, Aftermarket 101, and HD Leadership, with additional new products in development with industry partners, such as APSG, Auto Care Association, AWDA, and MEMA.