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.