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MEMA Honors Todd Young With Industry Champion Award
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By Counterman
Since its inception in 2011, the NAPA Partnership Event (formerly known as the NAPA Vendor Summit) has recognized outstanding suppliers through its Supplier Awards Ceremony. NAPA said the event provides an opportunity to honor the exceptional contributions of NAPA’s valued supplier partners—those who champion innovation, quality and excellence in everything they do.
link hidden, please login to viewadded that the Spirit of NAPA award, in particular, has a rich history and is awarded to a trusted supplier that embodies NAPA’s values. This year’s Spirit of NAPA award winner, Dorman, stood out for its dedication to innovation, commitment to quality and lasting impact on the industry. Below is the complete list of winners:
Innovation Award: Milwaukee Tool Quality Award: East Penn Manufacturing Cataloging Award: Old World Industries Sales Award: TERREPOWER Service Award: Weitron Indirect Supplier Award: Pricefx Spirit of NAPA Award: Dorman Partnership Award: Neal Williams The post
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By Counterman
AIT announced the addition of five professionals to its team. The company said these individuals bring a wealth of expertise and proven success, further strengthening its mission to deliver exceptional value to its customers and partners.
Rick Stempien, Vice President of Sales – Retailers
Stempien joins
link hidden, please login to view with over 20 years of leadership experience in sales and business development while at First Brands, Hopkins Manufacturing and Trico. Known for his exceptional ability to drive market share growth and cultivate strong customer relationships, Stempien will lead retailer-focused sales initiatives and deepen engagement with our retail partners, according to AIT. Mark Roach, Marketing Director
Roach brings nearly a decade of experience in the automotive aftermarket, with a strong background in brand strategy, digital marketing and content development. Before joining AIT/TrakMotive, he held key marketing roles at Schaeffler and International Lubricants, where he played a pivotal role in driving brand growth and market engagement. His strategic vision and expertise will be instrumental in elevating
link hidden, please login to view’s marketing initiatives and strengthening industry presence, the company said. Tracy Beecroft, Senior Key Account Manager
Beecroft joins AIT/TrakMotive with a proven track record in managing high-profile accounts while employed at Dana, BorgWarner/Delphi and Lumileds Philips. Her extensive experience in developing strategic partnerships, executing successful product launches and driving revenue growth will be instrumental in advancing retailer relationships, according to AIT.
Stephen DiSorbo, Key Account Manager
DiSorbo brings a diverse background in sales and category management, with experience at organizations like GKN, BorgWarner/Delphi and Eaton. His expertise in product launches, line expansions and bridging sales with category strategy gives him a unique ability to drive growth, strengthen retailer partnerships and translate market needs into actionable opportunities, AIT said.
William Zhu, Strategy and Business Intelligence – Manager
Zhu brings a strong background in operations transformation and management consulting. Before joining AIT/Trakmotive, he was part of Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting practice, where he specialized in generative AI, risk and compliance, and business process optimization. His experience within the automotive aftermarket began in 2013 when he spent the summer as a factory worker at Ningbo Wonh Industries Co., Ltd., part of the AIT/TrakMotive family of companies. This unique blend of industry experience and functional expertise positions him to drive impactful initiatives that will support AIT/TrakMotive’s continued growth, the company said.
With AIT/TrakMotive’s continued growth, the company said it is expanding its sales, marketing and strategy operations to better serve its customers. Its traditional aftermarket accounts will continue to be led by Vice President of Sales Kent Talley and his team, ensuring the same trusted support and expertise our partners rely on. Meanwhile, Vice President of Retail Sales Rick Stempien and his team will focus on strengthening relationships with retail partners, enhancing AIT/TrakMotive’s ability to serve this important segment.
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By Counterman
In partnership with NAPA,
link hidden, please login to view the Babcox Media brand serving professional independent automotive shop owners, is seeking to recognize and celebrate the vital role of mentorship in the automotive service industry. The ShopOwner Mentorship Award sponsored by NAPA will honor exceptional automotive shop owners, service advisors and technicians who are actively investing in the future of their profession by mentoring the next generation of automotive professionals.
link hidden, please login to view are open now. “The automotive industry faces a significant skills gap,” said Emily Schneider, Senior Director of Marketing at NAPA. “Experienced professionals are critical to guiding and supporting young technicians and students entering the field. This award is our way of recognizing and celebrating those individuals who are making a real difference. We are excited to partner with proponents of industry partnerships – ShopOwner and Tomorrow’s Technician – to encourage ongoing mentorship programs.”
The Mentorship Award celebrates automotive professionals dedicated to mentoring and developing future technicians in-house as well as through partnerships with vocational and technical schools. It is open to automotive shops of all sizes and affiliations in the 50 United States, recognizing mentorship’s vital role in fostering talent and strengthening the industry.
Two nominees will be recognized each month in print, digital and video formats. One nominee will be named the 2025 winner, and will be recognized by NAPA and ShopOwner at a special event to be held later in the year.
“Many shop owners struggle to find good people at any time, let alone during an ongoing labor shortage,” said Doug Kaufman, editorial director of ShopOwner. “Even when they do find an ideal candidate, they don’t have any guarantee of a good fit. Instead of perpetuating a revolving door of transitory ‘jobs,’ we are looking to celebrate a commitment to building careers through training and mentoring.”
For more information about the award and nomination process or to enter, visit
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By Counterman
FleetPride, Inc. announced its annual supplier awards during its recent Supplier Summit at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Resort in Grapevine, Texas. These companies were selected for their outstanding support and partnership with FleetPride over the last year, the company said.
“
link hidden, please login to view values our strategic supplier partnerships. Our annual supplier awards are an opportunity to recognize those who consistently provide exceptional support to us through field work, supply chain, digital or strategic initiatives,” says Michael Keller, FleetPride vice president of category management and strategic sourcing. “Congratulations to all of our award winners. We greatly appreciate your partnership.”
link hidden, please login to view named Dana Spicer Inc. as its Supplier of the Year, noting the company’s excellence in communication, partnership, innovation, training and growth. This included fielding thousands of customer calls via a real-time call center; driving product innovation while supporting program enhancements, special initiatives and marketing opportunities; and supporting FleetPride’s digital efforts using scorecard reporting to drive continuous improvement. “Dana Spicer excelled in all areas of partnership,” Keller says. “Their efforts were consistent through their support of our programs, marketing opportunities, field work, and other initiatives such as data management, and they committed to building strong working relationships. FleetPride values their partnership and we are pleased to name them as our supplier of the year.”
“We are honored to receive the supplier of the year award, recognizing our dedication to our strategic partnership with FleetPride,” says Bill Nunnery, senior director, aftermarket sales and marketing for Dana Spicer. “This award underscores our commitment to our customers, product innovation, superior marketing, and progressive digital solutions. It’s a testament to the hard work of our entire team. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration and delivering outstanding results together.”
FleetPride awarded several other suppliers for consistently driving communication, partnership, innovation, training and growth throughout the year:
Atmus Filtration: Focused on collaboration, strategic alignment and program management to deliver strong sales growth. Consistently aligned with FleetPride objectives by focusing on increased brand awareness and customer engagement. Conducted business reviews and provided field support, product expertise, training, hands-on assistance and marketing support. Baldwin: Delivered exceptional customer support as FleetPride’s most front-facing supplier in 2024. Worked closely with the Supply Chain team to ensure consistent shipping performance, and with our marketing team to create a strong digital program. Bendix: Provided valuable guidance related to product assortment and effective stocking strategies. Increased field engagement and created customer-specific training sessions with consistent focus on continuous improvement. Continental Battery: Focused on communication across the FleetPride organization to create value-add programs and drive high levels of internal and external customer satisfaction. DA Lubricants: Supported FleetPride’s sales team by creating and filming training videos while working closely with the supply chain team to ensure consistent and reliable on-time delivery and high in-stock rates. Dayton: Focused on mutual growth and building product assortment while supporting initiatives tied to providing data, supporting FleetPride’s digital platforms, and expanding various product categories. Grote: Launched innovative technology in the warning and visibility spaces, making roadways safer. Ensured FleetPride branches were equipped with new product displays by supporting restock efforts. Helped capture new business with ride-along opportunities. MAT: Supported FleetPride in reducing manual processes at the branch level to improve productivity. Managed a nationwide, dedicated training program, which supported customer-facing certifications and showed commitment to successful partnerships with sales teams. Focused on effective communication at every level of the organization. Muncie: Prioritized continuous improvement by identifying and overcoming challenges to ensure evolving supply chain and manufacturing processes. Supported our front lines by making numerous branch visits, conducting training and fieldwork, and fielding thousands of calls regarding sales opportunities, application requirements and technical support. Odyssey: Created new programs to gain incremental volume. Built strong partnerships at the strategic account and customer levels. Proactive approach with large customers produced unique, tailored solutions that underscore commitment to innovation and customer success. Ranger Brake: Actively collaborated with the field sales teams to meet special program and customer needs. With a “win-win” mindset, consistently proved their ability to keep pace with FleetPride’s sales growth, maintaining overall service levels, on-time delivery rates and first-fill rates. Stoughton Parts: Executed an assortment strategy that added thousands of products specifically for strategic accounts. They also focused on building relationships throughout FleetPride, helping drive year-over-year incremental growth.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced “The 3 Dragons: Aftermarket Outlook” session returns to the 2025 Vision Conference, April 2 in Chicago. “This annual favorite will set the stage for the conference, enabling attendees to understand where the industry currently stands with a 360-degree view of the economic, financial and industry factors shaping the aftermarket,” MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers said.
link hidden, please login to view for the event is now open. 3 Dragons, 3 Perspectives
Kristin Dziczek, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – The macroeconomic forces impacting consumers, manufacturers and the aftermarket Simeon Gutman, Morgan Stanley – Wall Street’s perspective on the health and future prospects of the aftermarket Todd Campau, S&P Global Mobility – The latest data on vehicle population and driving trends that will shape demand Why It Matters
The 3 Dragons session frames everything that follows at the Vision Conference, explained
link hidden, please login to view. Sessions like Talk from the Top, A Landmark Study from McKinsey and Associates, and the O’Reilly keynote—to name a few—will build on insights from our 3 dragons, helping you translate today’s realities into tomorrow’s strategies. The post
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