The AAPEXedu set two new records at the 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) by having the highest attendance ever and offering the largest number of sessions in AAPEX history. Attendance increased by 8 percent over 2013 and a total of 51 free sessions were part of the 2014 AAPEXedu.
The 2014 AAPEXedu also offered an all-new, free General Session featuring a keynote address by Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media. Forbes delivered his address to more than 1,200 AAPEX attendees and spoke of a new business-friendly environment for the aftermarket due to recent election results.
In addition, the AAPEXedu featured three new customized conferences, including the new Service Professionals Program, sponsored by MAHLE Service Solutions. The program featured more than 20 education sessions, facilitated roundtable discussions, and in-booth technical demonstrations and networking on the AAPEX exhibit floor.
The Recruiting and Retaining Conference sessions focused on establishing relationships with colleges, developing internships, and attracting and keeping high performance talent. The conference featured a panel of millennial leaders talking about their experience in the auto care industry.
The new REMANedu Conference featured valuable remanufacturing sessions, an engine remanufacturing panel discussion, and remarks by representatives of the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), the remanufacturing division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and the Auto Care Association.
Specific AAPEXedu sessions that hit the mark with attendees included the “2015 Aftermarket Outlook” by David Portalatin, NPD Group, and “Five Trends in Five Minutes” by Mark Seng, IHS Automotive. Other popular sessions covered industry trends, marketing via websites and social media, creating a world-class organization and coaching the sale to become the greatest sales manager in the world.
AAPEX was held Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
AAPEX 2015 dates are: Education – Monday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 5; Exhibits – Tuesday, Nov. 3 through Nov. 5, at the Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas, Nev.