Darren R. Jackson to open AASA's Vision Conference with a keynote address

The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference is scheduled to take place Friday, Feb. 29 through Saturday, March 1, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla. The conference will feature presentations, panel discussions and three Vision workgroup sessions, and is exclusive to AASA member companies.

Darren Jackson, president and chief executive officer, Advance Auto Parts Inc., will present his perspective on the automotive aftermarket industry during one of the conference's keynote presentations. Jackson joined Advance Auto Parts, the second-largest automotive aftermarket retailer in the United States based on sales and store count, as its president and CEO on Jan. 7, 2008. He had been a member of the Advance Auto Parts Board of Directors since July 2004.

Jackson is the latest addition to the AASA Vision Conference agenda, which also includes keynote addresses by Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO of Robert Bosch LLC, and Jeff Rachor, president and chief executive officer of Pep Boys Auto.

Other presentations will include:

• A panel discussion of the aftermarket's global outlook presented and moderated by Ernst & Young;
• "Lessons Learned from Other Industries," featuring a panel of noted industry leaders moderated by SAS Institute Inc.;
• The Technology Forum: "The Impact of Automotive Technology on the Aftermarket," led by Neil De Koker, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA); and
• Member Spotlights: brief presentation on a variety of aftermarket key issues by select AASA member companies.

The Vision Conference also provides three work group sessions. Attendees will select from one of three open discussion groups, which will examine the most important issues to the aftermarket supplier community. Sessions and facilitators include:

• "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
• "Global Selling and Sourcing" — Jeff Brekke, The Gates Corp., and Jeff Stauffer, Affinia Group Inc.

Early bird discounts save members $100 off the regular registration fees, and all member company attendees can take advantage of the discount. The first registrant from a member company will pay $595 ($100 off the regular $695 fee) and each additional attendee will pay $495 ($100 off the regular $595 fee for each).

To register, visit AASA's Web site and complete the online registration form.

The AASA Vision Conference activities begin on Thursday, Feb. 28, with meetings of AASA councils and the Board of Governors. The conference officially opens at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 29, and continues through 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

Sponsors of the AASA Vision Conference 2008 are: Ernst & Young, R.L. Polk & Co. and SAS.