(Oct. 31, 2007) Northwood University is widely known as the only institute of higher education that offers an associate's and bachelor's degree in automotive aftermarket management. And yesterday, at Northwood University's Automotive Education Awards, this legacy was carried on as a new class of inductees was announced for the esteemed honor. Honorees during the lunch event at the Venetian Hotel hail from many different corners of the aftermarket, from manufacturers to distributors. This year's class includes: - Frank Ordoñez, president of Delphi Product & Service Solutions. A native of Havana, Cuba, Ordoñez began his career as a co-op student at General Motors Cadillac Division and joined Delphi in 1988, holding a number of finance and business planning positions. He has overseen a variety of functions, including capital management, portfolio management and GM's partnership issues.
- Joe Pomaranski, vice president of sales, North American Aftermarket for Tenneco, Inc. In his current position since 1999, Pomaranski is responsible for sales and customer care in the aftermarket ride control and emission control businesses. He also handles DuPont Car Care chemicals and Monroe brake products in North America.
- E. Fletcher Lord, Jr., president/CEO, Parts Warehouse, Inc. His Replacement Parts, Inc. business is known for offering training for customers and store personnel. Lord is chairman of the board of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), the Automotive Aftermarket Alliance, ACDelco DDG Steering Committee, and he also serves as president of the Super Service Club, Distributors Institute.
- Donald J. Reimondo, senior vice president, customer relationship management, Affinia Group, Inc. Reimondo is responsible for establishing and maintaining customer interfaces, increasing top-line revenue, strengthening Affinia's brands across the globe and overseeing the sales force representing Raybestos, Spicer and WIX brands.
- Michael B. Howarth, senior vice president, KYB America LLC. He stresses that KYB has entered a strategy called "Ride Control Solutions," a program that has helped raise shock and strut sales by sometimes more than fivefold, he adds. This program is not a discount, not a giveaway, and is not dependent upon boxes of printed marketing material; rather, it provides training and support that helps vendors sell more products and more maintenance, as well as training service providers to identify not only failed parts, but also worn parts.
- Matt Agosta, president/CEO, Steele Rubber Products, Inc. Agosta has been with Steele Rubber Products, Inc. for 31 years, the last 22 years as president/CEO and part owner. He has brought educational programs to the Hotrod and Restoration Show, including panel discussions on Internet, TV and print advertising, as well as informational sessions with college students about the restoration industry. As chairman of the SEMA task force for Electronic Data Interface, he brought SEMA members information on business-to-business use of traditional and internet EDI capabilities via Webinars and magazine articles.
- Timothy R. Kraus, president and COO, Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA). Kraus has been directly involved in customer training and has personally conducted hundreds of clinics, product technical and installation classes. He currently leads ongoing technical, marketing, government affairs and operations educational efforts through HDMA.
Northwood's Automotive Aftermarket Education Award recognizes leaders for their contributions to the educational process in the automotive aftermarket field. The award was created to insure that these individuals receive national recognition for their efforts to improve education inside and outside the industry, according to University officials. |
