Automotive aftermarket professionals hone skills at University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 Program
Retired Worldpac CEO Tom O’Hare shared industry insights and leadership and career management advice, drawing on his vast experience, to 36 automotive aftermarket professionals hailing from throughout the industry. The group gathered at Northwood University in Midland for the kickoff of the University of the Aftermarket’s latest Leadership 2.0, the industry’s formal leadership-development program.
Leadership 2.0, a two-week, residential aftermarket-focused education program, is designed to develop the leadership and business skills of the next generation of visionary industry professionals. Session I, which concluded on Aug. 29, met at the Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies at the university’s Michigan campus. Participants will reconvene in March, 2015 for Session II, which will take place on Northwood’s campus in West Palm Beach, Florida.
During each session, instructors blend decades of senior aftermarket experience with MBA-level instruction from Northwood University’s DeVos Graduate School of Management faculty. The program includes discussion on industry trends and market analysis, debate of new challenges and competitive strategies, skills training in team and individual leadership, insight into supply-chain solutions and other critical issues facing the industry. Participants in this year’s program represent the widest-range of aftermarket companies and market segments in the program’s history.
Members of the 2014-2015 class include:
Kelly Anderson                     A-Plus Automotive Inc
Sue Bonino                         Permatex Inc
Brian Bowersock                  West Automotive Group
Jerry Creamer                      Midas Auto Service & Tires
Rick Denton                         Orleans Auto Supply Inc
Mike DiGregorio                   Dorman Products
Andrea Divis                        Advance Auto Parts/CARQUEST
Mike Englert                        Uni-Select USA
Dave Erb                              Dave's Ultimate Automotive
Elizabeth Estes                    Parts Warehouse Inc
Brent Fletcher                       Federal-Mogul Motorparts
Kelly Garrison                       Maxi Automotive
Dawn Gonzalez                    Trico Products Corp
Victor Gonzalez                    Uni-Select USA
Chuck Hartogh                     C&M Auto Service Inc
Carri Irby                              Tenneco Inc
Melissa Jablonski                 Delphi Product & Service Solutions
Eric Johnson                       The Merrill Company
Ryan Kooiman                     Standard Motor Products
Scott Kraus                          O'Reilly Auto Parts
Emily Lawler                        Standard Motor Products
Mike Mohler                         National Pronto Association
David Moilanen                   Continental Corporation
Eric Muir                               Brighton Auto Service
Geoff Nesburg                     Service Auto Parts
Shane Norman                     Eastern Warehouse Distributors
Dave Pinkham                      Auto Care Association
Ashley Portal                       Standard Motor Products
Aaron Rycroft             Tenneco Inc
Steffanie Savine                  The Marx Group
Jon Sechrist                         Motown Auto Distributing Inc
Tim Tallent                          NGK Spark Plugs (USA)
Tom Trojan                          Gates Corporation
Rich Violette                        Standard Motor Products
Dan Winslade             Eastern Warehouse Distributors
Jerry Zielinski                       Motown Auto Distributing Inc
Participants receive 7.0 credits toward completion of their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.
For more information and to reserve a spot in the 2014-15 Leadership 2.0 class, please visit www.universityoftheaftermarket.com or call 800-551-2882.