Parts Plus has announced the major prize winners of the “Repair America” sweepstakes promotion for professional service dealers.
Throughout June and July, when service dealers were given the opportunity to win prizes in this special promotion, more than 62,000 entries were returned to headquarters, with an additional 7,500 entered online through www.partsplus.com.
The winner of the grand prize, a seven-day Bahama cruise for two, was Mike Roberts of Roberts Auto in Henrietta, TX. The two first-place race weekend package winners were Sonny Reppert, Reppert’s Garage in Northampton, PA, and Edgar Taylor, Ed Taylor’s Automotive in Tucson, AZ. There were also four second-place $2,500 prize winners.
Tenneco’s Monroe Brand Funds CCPN Scholarships
Tenneco recently announced a $10,000 donation on behalf of its Monroe brand to fund shop management education and technical training scholarships through the Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN). The donation is the first of its kind to CCPN, which was established in 2007 by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) to represent the interests of automotive service businesses and their employees.
“CCPN’s mission is consistent with Tenneco’s commitment to provide technical education for aftermarket professionals of every age and experience level,” said Carri Irby, brand manager, North American Aftermarket, Tenneco. “The Monroe brand supports innovative, results-driven training for multiple generations of shop owners, service writers and technicians. Now we’re expanding these efforts through new scholarship funds, our popular Monroe ‘Ride and Drive’ experience, on-site training clinics and a variety of activities designed specifically for vocational education students.”
The Monroe scholarship funds will be available to qualified shop professionals participating in courses offered through the new CCPN Learning Center.
Sun Automotive Named 2007 CARQUEST ‘Excellence Award Winner’
Mike and Sherrie Buckridge, owners of Sun Automotive in Eugene, OR, are the 2007 CARQUEST Excellence Award winners. The award seeks to recognize the top independent automotive service business in North America that exemplifies the professionalism necessary to build public understanding and respect for people working in the auto service industry today.
“Sun Automotive exemplifies the commitment of providing quality customer support and satisfaction,” said Mike DeSorbo, CARQUEST director of traditional markets. “Their commitment to training is second to none.”
Sun Automotive has two locations in Eugene and one in Springfield, OR. Each location is an ASE “Blue Seal of Excellence” facility and all are members of the TECH-NET Professional Auto Service program.
Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Hood Promo Winner Announced
Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper has announced the winner of its “Put Your Name on the Hood of a Race Car!” promotion, giving exposure to one Certified Service Center by placing their company name on a NASCAR race car.
“When I found out my shop won, I couldn’t have been happier,” said Michael Gauldin, owner, Discount Mike’s Tire & Automotive in Broken Arrow, OK. “I love NASCAR racing and am so pleased that my company will be shown on the hood of a race car. It’s all like a great big dream!”
Along with the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper logo, the logo of Discount Mike’s Tire & Automotive was showcased on the hood of the #9 Dodge in the NASCAR 2007 Busch Series race with driver Elliott Sadler at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3.
Team IMC Completes Tour d’AAPEX
It took four days, covering nearly 350 miles, for Team IMC to reach its final destination. The team, comprised of a group of cyclists from Interamerican Motor Corporation (IMC) and other industry partners, rode to Las Vegas all the way from Los Angeles for a good industry cause: to raise funds and awareness for a pressing issue that impacts the entire automotive aftermarket — telematics.
“The original goal was to ride from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to attend the AAPEX show. But after some thinking, we thought that our ride could have a positive impact on our industry,” said Thomas Beer, IMC president and CEO. “The enhanced goal, other than surviving the ride, was to raise funds to study and then develop strategies on how we as an industry will turn telematics from a threat into an opportunity.”
Monies raised from the event will be used to fund a study and subsequent white paper on the challenges and opportunities presented by telematics.
Bosch’s Pamela Krebs Receives Top Honor From CCC Women’s Board
The Car Care Council Women’s Board named Pamela Krebs, director of advertising and sales promotion for Robert Bosch Corp., as the fourth annual “Aftermarket Woman of the Year.”
Instituted by the Car Care Council Women’s Board in 2004, the prestigious “Aftermarket Woman of the Year” award goes to a candidate who has made outstanding contributions to the aftermarket through dedicated service and enlightened leadership.
Krebs has served in various advertising positions at Bosch since 1984, and currently directs all brand management initiatives for the company’s North American Aftermarket Division. Her responsibilities include the development of brand strategy and positioning, advertising, public relations, sales support programs, product packaging, motorsports marketing and website development.
Federal-Mogul and Philips Lighting Collaborate on Premium Lighting Lineup
Federal-Mogul and Philips Automotive Lighting N.A. announced a unique collaborative arrangement to bring a “Total Category” lighting offering to the North American aftermarket.
The relationship leverages Federal-Mogul’s sales, marketing and distribution leadership with original equipment innovations from Philips Lighting.
“We are presenting the aftermarket with a powerful category solution,” said Jay Burkhart, senior vice president, Global Aftermarket, Federal-Mogul. “Customers trust the Wagner Lighting brand, now offered together with innovative new products from Philips to provide the industry’s most complete premium lighting lineup.”
AIA Luncheon Salutes ‘People Award’ Winners
The Auto International Association (AIA) hosted its ninth-annual awards luncheon at AAPEX, to honor the winners of its prestigious AIA People Awards.
Some 300 AIA members and guests helped to congratulate the below winners of the highly acclaimed awards, announced by Tony Perticari, AIA chairman of the board, and director of sales, import market at CARDONE in Philadelphia:
Young Executive of the Year — J. Scott Huston, R.L. Polk & Co.;
Lifetime Achiever — Bill Guinard, Olympus Imported Auto Parts Corp.;
Barry Breslow AIA Person of the Year — W. Michael Brown, Olympus Imported Auto Parts Corp.;
Hall of Fame — Tom Babcox and Bill Babcox, Babcox Publications; and Tom O’Hare, WORLDPAC.
NAPA Brakes Expands ‘Adaptive One’ Brake Line
NAPA Brakes held a press conference during AAPEX to detail its new Adaptive One hybrid ceramic disc brake pads. The line, currently comprised of 197 part numbers, represents the top of the line of the NAPA Brakes range of friction offerings for 1997 and newer vehicles. An additional 100 part numbers will be rolled out by February 2008.
Adaptive One takes the best features of semi-metallic and ceramic friction and combines them into one set of disc brake pads through the use of dual hybrid ceramic formulations. Adaptive One’s inboard pad is specially formulated for optimal stopping performance, while its outboard pad is formulated to reduce noise and dusting, according to the company.
“This unique formulation provides long-lasting, dust-free, quiet performance that’s seemingly tailored to each driver’s style,” explained Dave Gonzales, vice president of product for NAPA Brakes/Rayloc. The complete line uses backing plates with mechanical retention from NUCAP Industries called the NRS Noise Abatement System. This technology projects teeth (or hooks) from the disc plate into the friction material, locking the two components together and eliminating any chance of edge lift and pad shear between the disc plate and friction — a key design element in providing safe and quiet braking performance.
Zurich Hosts 5th-Annual Industry Conference Zurich, one of the world’s largest property-casualty insurance companies, held its 5th-Annual Aftermarket Industry Conference during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. Each year, Zurich brings industry leaders together and offers attendees the opportunity to network, learn from each other and address key industry issues.
Bob Tschippert, senior vice president for Automotive Specialty Markets, opened the conference with a brief overview of the Universal Underwriters Group (UUG) integration with Zurich in 2007 and the re-launch of Unicover VI, an enhanced coverage program for independent shop owners and small business owners. Zurich provided increased capabilities to the U.S. team, and during the transition, Zurich grew its connection to the consumer and the automotive market.
One of the ways Zurich shows its commitment to the automotive business is by continuing to provide association leaders and other industry professionals with a forum to discuss and share best practices. Another exciting announcement Tschippert made was Zurich’s $10,000 commitment to GAAS, to support the continuing education of technicians and to encourage people to join our industry. “This initiative with the scholarship allows us to partner more closely with the associations. We can help educate the shop owner. We built our reputation by being a trusted advisor. It is important to us, that we continue to remain actively involved in providing solutions for various issues,” said Tschippert.
Tom Bradley, president and CEO of Zurich Direct Underwriters added, “We want to continue to build on our relations, and be a part of this industry. Our contribution to GAAS is not only important to the industry, it is extremely gratifying on a personal level.”
This year, the conference was divided into two parts: the first part featured guest industry leaders discussing recent developments within their associations, and the second featured a dynamic keynote speaker.
Ron Pyle, president of ASA, briefly discussed the changes coming to CARS. For 25 years, CARS has been held in conjunction with the NACE show, but at a separate, smaller venue. The inaugural combined event will be held Nov. 5–8, 2008, Pyle announced, with CARS being co-located with NACE at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. This change creates an umbrella “Automotive Service and Repair Week” to generate a robust education, training and network event for the industry.
Dr. Roy Littlefield, TIA, spoke briefly about the recent merger at TIA and its continuing push for technician training.
The third speaker was Sandy Blalock, new president of Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA). ARA is currently working with U.S. Senator Trent Lott to improve salvage title branding and developing a national standard regarding safe use of used air bags.
The second half of this year’s conference featured keynote speaker Walter Bond, first rookie free-agent ever to start opening night with the Dallas Mavericks. At 6’4” and 240 lbs, Bond strode down the aisle, booming out “No One Can Stop You But You,” and promised to challenge the way the audience thought. His presentation focused on confidence, and what it takes to be a leader. “Confidence is arrogance under control,” he said. And, “there’s nothing you can do in your life well, without confidence.” He closed his presentation with this thought, “a great leader can lead you and you’ll never feel you’ve been led.”
For more information about Zurich’s annual conference or any of its programs, contact Stacey Singer at 913-339-1385 or [email protected].
