Leadership and Innovation: A Conversation with Wayne Gretzky and Dr. Kent MacDonald at AAPEX
Key Highlights
- - Dr. Kent MacDonald, President of Northwood University, shares his leadership experiences during crises like the pandemic and floods.
- - Wayne Gretzky discusses lessons learned from his hockey career, focusing on anticipating future opportunities and challenges.
- - The session emphasizes the importance of strategic foresight, innovation, and adaptability in the automotive aftermarket industry.
- - Attendees will explore how to 'skate to where the puck is going' in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.
- - The event offers networking opportunities with industry leaders and insights into overcoming current industry challenges.
Northwood University President Dr. Kent MacDonald will moderated the Automotive Atermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) 2025 Keynote Breakfast.
MacDonald is currently in his second term at Northwood University and has a unique background that's related to the topic of discussion.
The session is titled "Getting into the Hall of Fame: What it Takes," and will feature the hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky.
Despite the global pandemic, which upended academia, and a flood that caused chaos on the school's campus, enrollment has grown under MacDonald's leadership. This experience tightly relates to the breakfast's main topic and will offer attendees further insight into the ambiguity of skilled labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and technological innovations.
MacDonald's discussion at the breakfast with Gretzky will focuses on what the reknowned hockey player learned throughout his remarkable career. It will also have a heavy focus on Gretzky's famous quote, “skate to where the puck is going," and connect the topic to the automotive aftermarket and its times of uncertainty.
The keynote breakfast is a ticketed event and will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 6:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., at The Venetian Hotel, Palazzo Ballroom.
Individual tickets to the Breakfast are priced at $200, and table reservations, which seat 10 people, cost $2,000 (POC: Chris Kalousek, [email protected]).
AAPEX strongly recommends that attendees staying overnight secure hotel reservations as soon as possible, using onPeak, the official AAPEX housing partner.