Next gen leaders complete University of the Aftermarket’s Leadership 2.0 Program

March 17, 2015
Leadership 2.0, the University of the Aftermarket’s light vehicle Leadership Development Program, concluded at Northwood University Florida on March 13 with a graduation ceremony for its 36 participants.

Leadership 2.0, the University of the Aftermarket’s light vehicle Leadership Development Program, concluded at Northwood University Florida on March 13 with a graduation ceremony for its 36 participants. The program’s second session began the previous Sunday with an opening presentation from former BWP President Neil Stockel.

Leadership 2.0 is a two-week educational program focused on the development of the next generation of auto care industry leaders. Like previous Leadership 2.0 classes, this year’s program represented a wide array of aftermarket companies at all levels of the industry. The class included participants who represented manufacturing, traditional distribution, retail distribution, auto parts stores, service and repair, marketing and industry associations.

Participants began the program with Session I in August 2014. Between Sessions I and II, participants worked on team projects that addressed a wide variety of industry challenges.

This year’s graduating class of Leadership 2.0 participants includes:

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

Mike Englert                  Uni-Select USA

Dave Erb                       Dave's Ultimate Automotive

Elizabeth Estes             Parts Warehouse Inc

Brent Fletcher               Federal-Mogul Motorparts

Kelly Garrison               Auto Wares

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                  Automotive Parts Services Group

David Moilanen             Continental Corporation

Eric Muir                        Brighton Auto Repair

Geoff Nesburg               Service Auto Parts/NAPA

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

Many of the attendees participated in Leadership 2.0 through the generous support of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. The Foundation provides funding for aftermarket educational programs and research. Through its grant program, the Foundation and its donors ensure that education has a positive, stabilizing influence on the future of the auto care industry.

“Each year I look forward to meeting and working with the Leadership 2.0 class,” said University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank, who leads the program. “I have been able to forge relationships with the next generation of auto care industry leaders and based on that, I am confident that the industry’s future is very bright.”

Session I of the next Leadership 2.0 program will be held August 23-28, with the second session scheduled to take place April 24-29, 2016. Interested aftermarket professionals should visit www.universityoftheaftermarket.com and click “Course Calendar” to sign up for the next Leadership 2.0 class. The program is open to any auto care industry professional in any industry segment.

Participants received 7.0 credits toward completion of their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.

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