Pep Boys’ Jeff Rachor to Present Aftermarket Retail/Service Chain Outlook at AASA Vision Conference 2008 in Orlando

January 10, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Jeff Rachor, president and chief executive officer of Pep Boys Auto, will present the automotive aftermarket industry outlook from the retail and service chain perspective as one of the keynote presentations at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference on Friday, Feb. 29, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Fla.

The AASA Vision Conference 2008 – slated for Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 1, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Fla. – will feature presentations, panel discussions and three Vision Workgroup sessions. The conference is exclusive to AASA member companies.

In addition to his leadership position at Pep Boys, Rachor also is a member of its board of directors. He has more than 20 years of experience in automotive retailing, including extensive experience with multi-unit service center operations.

Prior to joining Pep Boys, Rachor served as president, chief operating officer and a director of Sonic Automotive Inc., a fortune 300 company and the third largest automotive retailer in the United States. He joined Sonic Automotive in 1997 and served in a variety of key operations positions with them.

Rachor is the latest addition to a stellar agenda for the AASA Vision Conference, which also includes an opening keynote address by Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO of Robert Bosch LLC.

Other presentations will include:

* A panel discussion of the aftermarket’s global outlook presented and moderated by Ernst & Young;
* “Lessons Learned from Other Industries,” featuring a panel of noted industry leaders moderated by SAS Institute Inc.
* The Technology Forum: “The Impact of Automotive Technology on the Aftermarket,” led by Neil De Koker, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) with a panel of experts
* Member Spotlights: brief presentation on a variety of aftermarket key issues by select AASA member companies

The Vision Conference also provides three work group sessions. Attendees will select from one of three open discussions groups, which will examine the most important issues to the aftermarket supplier community. Sessions and facilitators include:

* “Education/Training” – “Mac” McGovern, KYB; Doug Vidler, Delphi Corp.
* “Cataloging a Better Way” and “Collaborative Purchasing for Indirect Items” – Dil Kulathum, CARDONE Industries, and Susan Ulrey, Tenneco
* “Global Selling and Sourcing” – Jeff Brekke, president, Gates North American Automotive Aftermarket Division, and Jeff Stauffer, senior vice president, global group marketing, Affinia Group Inc.

Early bird discounts save members $100 off the regular registration fees, and all member company attendees can take advantage of the discount. The first registrant from a member company will pay $595 ($100 off the regular $695 fee) and each addition attendee will pay $495 ($100 off the regular $595 fee for each).

Members have two options for registration: complete the online registration form or download the fax-back form, both available online at the AASA Vision Conference Web site, www.aasavision.org. Hotel reservations also can be made at the AASA Vision Conference Web site.

The AASA Vision Conference activities begin on Thursday, Feb. 28, with meetings of AASA councils and the Board of Governors. The conference opens at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 29, and continues through 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

About AASA

AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products. It is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is a market segment association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, Leadership in the Global Automotive Aftermarket”

Source: MEMA

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