The University of Aftermarket, in partnership with Northwood University, has announced its lineup of professional development courses for 2025, designed to advance careers across the automotive aftermarket industry.
Dr. Thomas Litzinger, executive director of the University of the Aftermarket and aftermarket education industry chair at Northwood University, emphasized the programs' impact on employee retention and engagement. "These courses help employers retain and engage employees because attendees leave our programming with new-found knowledge of how to achieve better results and create a competitive edge," he explained.
The curriculum combines expertise from Northwood faculty and industry executives, incorporating team projects and robust debate to foster innovation and collaboration. James O'Dell, assistant director of aftermarket education at Northwood University, noted that the programs align with their mission to equip professionals with essential knowledge and leadership skills for navigating the evolving automotive aftermarket landscape.
The 2025 calendar features several flagship programs. Leadership 2.0 Session 2, scheduled for March 9-13, will focus on tactical leadership challenges and opportunities in the motor vehicle aftermarket industry. This advanced program is exclusively available to those who have completed Session 1.
For industry newcomers, Aftermarket 101 will run May 19-20 in Detroit, providing a comprehensive introduction to the automotive aftermarket sector. Following closely, Heavy Duty 101 will take place May 21-22, offering specialized training in the heavy-duty commercial vehicle market.
A highlight of the international program is INFUSION, an executive development series scheduled for June 8-12 in South Korea. Hosted at CTR, this program aims to transform tactical leaders into strategic visionaries through intensive leadership training.
Technical professionals can benefit from the Aftermarket Data Standards course, running June 17-18 in Detroit. This specialized program requires prior completion of Introduction to ACES and PIES courses.
The Heavy Duty Leadership 2.0 program, set for July 13-17 in Detroit, represents a cornerstone of the industry's leadership development initiatives. Later in the year, Leadership 2.0 Session 1 will commence August 10-14 at Northwood University's Midland campus, with Session 2 following in March 2026.
The North American session of INFUSION 2025 is tentatively scheduled for September 21-25 in Detroit, with a global session planned for June 2026.
Interested professionals can access complete course descriptions and registration information through the University of Aftermarket's online portal at Northwood University's website.
