What do repair professionals want from parts manufacturers? Leaders in independent aftermarket repair will take the stage at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) 2013 Vision Conference to lend a first-person perspective on what makes them recommend certain brands of automotive aftermarket parts.
Three industry leading service professionals will discuss “The Role of the Essential Supplier” at the AASA 2013 Vision Conference on Thursday, March 14, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. Panelists include:
• Brian Canning, business analyst, MotorAge contributing editor and former shop owner
• Brett Conner, owner of Bob’s Big Boys Toys in El Paso, Texas, and the 2012 Gates/ASE Technician of the Year
• Chuck Hartogh, president of C&M Auto Service, Glenview, Ill., and a past winner of the local Chamber of Commerce “Member of the Year” award
The AASA members-only conference also will feature a presentation by John Washbish, president and CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (The Alliance), on what aftermarket parts distributors value in “an essential supplier.”
Other program highlights will include:
• “Staying Essential in the Evolving Distribution Model” – Insights on market approaches from representatives of three distinct distribution models: franchise, value-added e-tailer and Internet reseller
• “The Election, Washington and the Aftermarket” – Ann Wilson, senior vice president, government affairs, MEMA/AASA
• “Creating an Irreplaceable Relationship with Customers Using Category Management,” Mike Fitzgerald of MFitzgerald Associates
The Vision Conference is made possible through the support of Premier Sponsor Ernst & Young. Polk is the sponsor of the Networking Luncheon, and Pricedex Software is the Networking Reception sponsor. Elite Vision Conference sponsors are Advanstar, Experian Automotive, Experticity, The Greensheet / Automotive Week, Infor and OptiCat; and The Marx Group and Insights 2 Action are the coffee break sponsors.
Full details on the conference are available at www.aasavision.org.