MEMA

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 18, 2008 – ABeam Consulting will sponsor the third annual MIS Council Supplier Forum, hosted by the MEMA Information Services (MIS) Council from noon until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

The event is free and open to individuals who work for suppliers/manufacturers and who are responsible for information technology, information services, e-commerce, cataloging, business process support, networks, web services, finance and plant floor computer support.

Research Triangle Park, N.C., May 6, 2008 – Panels featuring aftermarket industry veterans and experts will discuss a wide range of topics focusing on the conference theme of “Shift Forward” at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

“Let’s Know Them Before We Need Them,” moderated by Ray Pohlman, vice president government relations, AutoZone, and featuring panelists Leslie Waters, former legislator, Florida House of Representatives and Randel K. Johnson, vice president, Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The panel will examine the importance of government affairs and political action as a part of a company’s annual business planning.

March 17, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO of AutoZone Inc., will address the Executive Breakfast presented by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, the kick-off event at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, Nev.

Rhodes will be the featured speaker at the fourth annual event offered by AASA on the opening day of AAPEX. The breakfast is sponsored by Ernst & Young.

“We are pleased that Bill is joining us for the 2008 AASA Executive Breakfast. AutoZone is one of the leading retailers in the automotive aftermarket, and Bill’s insights will be of particular interest to our members,” said Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA.

March 17, 2008, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Early bird registration for the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) ends Monday, March 24. By registering now, attendees save $200 and can hear an exciting lineup of speakers and industry leaders as they discuss “Shift Forward” on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Registration fees are $745 for the sponsoring associations’ members’ first registrant and $645 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees increase to $945 for an association member company’s first registrant and $845 for each additional representative.

March 10, 2008, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia, will present “Developments in China’s Aftermarket” at the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on Tuesday, May 20, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Steve Ganster, who lives and works in Shanghai, will characterize trends in the most dynamic auto market in the world, highlighting recent developments in vehicle growth, aftermarket size and segmentation, distribution dynamics, quality issues and sourcing. He will also present a perspective on opportunities and challenges for western auto suppliers.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., February 12, 2008 – David O’Reilly, chairman, O’Reilly Automotive Inc., Springfield, Mo., was presented the prestigious Triangle Award by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) during the O’Reilly Auto Parts National Sales Conference on February 11, in Dallas, Texas.

For more than 30 years, the MEMA Triangle Award has been presented periodically to that person, persons or organization whom the association’s members choose to honor for selfless contribution to the automotive industry.

February 4, 2008, ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Nearly 1,800 heavy duty aftermarket executives and professionals attended Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week ‘08 (HDAW) held in January at The Mirage, Las Vegas. In its third year, this annual business conference is the industry’s largest gathering of the independent heavy duty aftermarket.

Although primarily North American in focus, HDAW drew attendees from 17 different countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Mexico and Russia.

January 24, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute (TSEI) and the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) jointly submitted a petition asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider certain changes made to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, which specifies requirements for motor vehicle lighting.

Meeting Set at AASA Vision Conference 2008 in Orlando

January 21, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) is establishing a Technicians Advisory Council to work cooperatively with the Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) at the AASA Vision Conference 2008, slated for Thursday, Feb. 29, through Saturday, March 1, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Fla.

January 21, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — The Overseas Automotive Council (OAC) recently inducted four new members into its Quarter Century Club, which honors members on the 25th anniversary of their enrollment.

The inductees for 2007 are:

* Andres R. Angulo, international sales manager, Heavy Duty - Stemco LLC, Enpro, Miami, Fla.;
* Giora Bsor, director, G.B.I. Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel;
* Michael R. Flad, president and owner, DanCor Sales Co., Levittown, Penn.;
* Gilberto Gonzalez, president and owner, Gilberto Gonzalez C., Medellin, Colombia;
* Edward V. Heath, Honorary Life Member, Heath Automotive Appraisals Inc., Centennial, Colo.; and
* F. Carl Smith, vice president and general manager, Intraco Corp., Troy, Mich.

January 16, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The member work session slated for Saturday, March 1, at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference will feature open discussions of “Global Selling and Sourcing.”

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 two additional Vision Workgroup sessions. The conference is exclusive to AASA member companies.

Competition Recognizes Success in a Unique Industry

January 15, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The seventh annual “Excellence in Automotive PR” award recognizing outstanding automotive-related public relations campaigns is now accepting entries.

Sponsored by the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC), the Excellence awards honor those who have approached an automotive-related PR issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The annual award also recognizes complete PR programs that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation.

January 15, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – To address the rapid expansion of the Chinese aftermarket, the China Aftermarket Forum (CAF) of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) worked with TecDoc, the leading electronic parts cataloging provider in Europe, to develop an electronic parts catalog system for China’s aftermarket.

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.

January 7, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The member collaboration work session slated for Saturday, March 1, at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Vision Conference will feature open discussions of “Cataloging a Better Way” and “Collaborative Purchasing for Indirect Items.”

The AASA Vision Conference 2008 – scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 1, at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Fla. – will feature presentations, panel discussions and two additional Vision Work Sessions. The conference is exclusive to AASA member companies.

December 13, 2007, ORLAND PARK, Ill. – The deadline for the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) special Mirage Hotel rates and the early registration fee discount deadline are nearing. The All-Industry HDAW ’08, Monday, Jan. 21 through Thursday, Jan. 24, at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, will be North America’s largest gathering of senior heavy duty distributor and supplier executives.

HD Hall of Fame Award to be Presented

December 10, 2007, ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) ’08 will again recognize the industry’s best and brightest at its second annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 24. HDAW is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21, through Thursday, Jan. 24, at The Mirage, Las Vegas.

All HDAW ’08 registered attendees are invited to attend. Details on the awards program, as well as the complete HDAW program and registration, are available online.

The awards will include:

December 5, 2007, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Stephen R. Kratzke, the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be a featured speaker at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association’s (HDMA) Heavy Duty Dialogue ‘08. HD Dialogue, HDMA's annual conference for executives and leaders in the heavy duty industry, is set for Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 at the Danny Gans Theatre, The Mirage, Las Vegas.

“With many significant regulations pending and several “re-writes” currently underway, a good relationship between the supplier community and NHTSA has never been more crucial,” said Dennis Kline, ArvinMeritor and board chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA).

December 5, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the nation’s oldest and largest association representing automotive and heavy duty suppliers, calls on Congress to pass legislation extending and strengthening the federal research and development (R&D) tax credit. The credit, which will expire on Dec. 31, 2007, is available for certain qualified R&D expenditures incurred by corporations located in the United States.

November 30, 2007, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) has launched a Web site, hdma.org/events/dialogue08, that features complete conference details and speaker information for Heavy Duty Dialogue '08. HD Dialogue, HDMA's annual conference for executives and leaders in the heavy duty industry, is set for Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 at the Danny Gans Theatre, The Mirage, Las Vegas.

"HD Dialogue Web site visitors will find the speaker information and program content highly informative and valuable," said Dennis Kline, ArvinMeritor and board chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA). "The site also makes registering online a very simple process," he added.