Kenneth Walker, president and CEO of Driven Brands, Inc., will be keynote speaker at the California Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) annual dinner at the start of Industry Week.

The annual dinner is Nov. 1. Driven Brands is the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc., Maaco Franchising, Inc., Econo Lube and Tune Inc., Aero-Colors, Inc., AutoQual USA, Drive N' Style and Tortal.net.

"We are pleased and honored to have Mr. Walker as our keynote speaker this year," says Rodney Pierini, CAWA's president and CEO. "He is in a unique position to speak to our members regarding the repair segment of the automotive aftermarket and what manufacturers, distributors and retailers need to consider as the repair industry adjusts to the future marketplace."

Pierini adds that Walker's career in the automotive aftermarket includes experience in the distribution and repair segments of the industry. Walker has received many awards and recognition for his service to the automotive aftermarket, including chair of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association's (AWDA) board of directors and recipient of the Pursuit of Excellence Award.

CAWA members and friends are invited to attend the meeting. All proceeds from the meeting will support the association's Memorial Scholarship Program, which awarded nine scholarships earlier this year to students in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Registration for the dinner is open now, or you can visit www.cawa.org for more information.