University of the Aftermarket

AFTERMARKET 101 goes on the road to Dallas TX. New to the motor vehicle aftermarket or in a new role? Looking to improve your performance through a broad understanding of the industry? Join us Sept 17-18, 2024 at the Embassy Suites, DFW North in Grapevine, TX for #Aftermarket101. Examine every link in the value chain, compare various channels of distribution, identify key players, evaluate the viewpoint of different industry segments, meet industry thought leaders, and network with peers. Register today: https://lnkd.in/e6AZ7TvK

'LIVE' from #UofALeadership 2.0. Today we hear from Jesse Kaplan, District Manager, The Parts Authority. "Thursday started at breakfast. After sitting down, an unfamiliar person asked to join our table. The coffee hadn't started, yet this person instantly grabbed our attention. I noticed his ability to make everyone feel good. He genuinely complimented our waitress and made her feel valued. I knew I was with a leader. The day started out feeling different. We entered the building for our 8am start and realized that the room wasn't set up yet. As true leaders do, we made it happen! Without hesitation we all set up tables and chairs for our group. It happened the room was double booked so we pivoted to another room. Those 15 minutes provided insight into my Leadership 2.0 class. We are connected and definitely people of influence. Our opening discussion on reducing warranty, a topic close to my heart, was hosted by Ryan Kooiman, Director of Training at Standard Motor Products. With the entire distribution chain in the room, we discussed factors to reduce unnecessary warranty and its adverse effect on profitability. We challenged each other with ways each segment could approach this age old issue. We may differ on approach, but we all agreed this is an industry issue that requires resources to process, handle and measure. Checkthepart.com was introduced to educate us on our opportunity to impact this "reverse supply chain" issue. I encourage everyone to share this site with your aftermarket family. Thank you Ryan for leading this session. We continued into an inspiring session from Dr. Clint Longenecker on "How to get Better Results". The unfamiliar man at breakfast was now on stage and immediately made us all feel special. His educational approach was underway from the first minute he spoke. We were all in for a "transformation". We worked in small groups that challenged us to look in the mirror, become better leaders and people of influence. His clear message had us listening with intent. He shared stories of leaders, personal experiences that shaped him, the nightly affirmations he does with his wife to stay connected, and beautiful stories of impacting people's lives globally. Dr. Clint gave us tools to deliver great results professionally and personally. I left today understanding my mission as a leader. Thank you Dr. Clint Longenecker and the Leadership 2.0 program. So here is my "Thank You Fest". Thank you to my Leadership 2.0 cohort. We join a prestigious team that can inspire us throughout our careers. Thank you to all the presenters, staff at Northwood University, Dr. Thomas Litzinger, MAAP and James O'Dell, AAP. Thank you to Randy Buller, Bill Maggs, Eric Schwartz, Ryan Prasad, AAP and Jake Barr for allowing me this opportunity. Thank you to Robert Roos and the staff at The Pronto Network. This experience has recharged me as a leader. I look forward to how all of us in Leadership 2.0 grow before our next session in March 2025!"

'LIVE' from Leadership 2.0 - Wednesday Summary This week the University of the Aftermarket is pleased to present #UofALeadership 2.0 from the campus of Northwood University. Today we hear from Angela Dzickowski, Business Unit Director, Flexfab, LLC. "Bright eyed and bushy tailed, Day 3 of leadership 2.0 started with just as many smiles as day 1 and 2, but maybe a bit more coffee. Laughing from the conversations and collaboration from the last two days we started with networking with someone we had not yet connected with. It was hard to believe that as well as this cohort instantly bonded, that I didn’t know each and every person in the room for years already. Moving into the morning curriculum, while most may dread the conversation of finance, I was more than excited to hear from Steven Gorham, CPA MBA MSA, Professor of Accounting & Automotive Management here at Northwood University. Steve had a colorful way of guiding his audience through best practices and applications to each area of expertise. The conversations were insightful and comforting as an industry we all seem to have a pulse on top risk factors both present and future. Next on the agenda brough in Dr. Philip L. Fioravante, Ph.D, FCIM, FISROSET, Managing Partner, Greenrock Holdings. Dr. Phil guided us through key attributes of adaptive leadership and the importance of 3 simple yet complex actions; Look, Listen, Learn. His presentation highlighted key action items for leaders which are critical for high performing organizations. Final presenter of the day brought forward arguably one of the smartest men in the room, Mark Seng, Vice President Business Development, Predii speaking to Generative AI. Mark’s segmented and detailed explanation of the current and future layers of artificial and generative intelligence engaged the whole room and brought forward some great discussions. As the team disclosed their final project topics the room was full of anticipation and competitive banter. We were sent off for the evening and enjoyed a relaxing dinner with my project team as we began to plan our winning strategy. For me personally, Leadership 2.0 is the kickoff to my AAP journey and WHAT A WAY TO START. This cohort brings so many words to mind; empowered, humbled, inspired. I huge thank you for the companies that sent us – special shout out to my very own Flexfab family who made this all possible for me – the leaders that are inspiring us, Northwood University for making it all possible. Watch us shine! Here is to this amazing group of people, those we get to share this experience with, and the future ahead!" Thank you to all those who support this class, these participants, and the University of the Aftermarket by investing in the future leaders of the industry! Thank you to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) and #AWDA for providing scholarships for participants to attend.

Tremendous day at #UofALeadership 2.0. The Speakers are driving participant engagement is so high the decibels are rising. Thank you to Amanda Bischoping, Brooks Cochrum, Philip L. Fioravante, Steven Gorham, Jonathan Larsen, Marc Pappas, Michael Rukov, Cheryl Scaglione, Mark Seng, Luke Smith, and Tammy Tecklenburg, for sharing their expertise and engaging these industry leaders. Thank you to those who sponsored and enabled these participants to attend. University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) | #AWDA | Dr. Thomas Litzinger, MAAP |

'LIVE' from Leadership 2.0 - Tuesday Summary This week the University of the Aftermarket is pleased to present #UofALeadership 2.0 from the campus of Northwood University. Today we hear from Missy Goodpaster-Stephens, community engagement manager, Auto Care Association. "Today was another insightful day, starting with an introduction to the newest automotive aftermarket acronym, PBJS- the dynamic team of Marc Pappas - MAAP, ACP, Brooks Cochrum, Jonathan Larsen AAP, ACP, DTM, and Luke Smith. PBJS delivered a compelling presentation on Data in the Aftermarket. They skillfully guided us through the complexities of Aces & Pies, Pitfalls of Pies, Business Intelligence, and the Single Source of Truth. Jonathan Larsen then took center stage with an interactive and highly entertaining session on Public Speaking. Several classmates practiced their newfound skills where Logan Stoeffler gave an impromptu explanation of how having a tail could be a superpower? After a refreshing lunch, networking guru Michael Rukov, MAAP, MBA shared his expertise in the art of networking. We honed our skills with practical and engaging networking exercises, learning how to build meaningful connections. Cheryl Scaglione then inspired us with her session on Supercharged Team Performance. We explored how to foster connections in a multi-generational workforce, lead effectively through communication, and master difficult conversations. We ended the day with the news we were all eagerly awaiting—learning who our teammates for the group project are! Our team project will tackle an industry-relevant topic that holds personal significance for each of us and will be presented in the second session of #UofALeadership 2.0. We’re excited to get started!" Thank you to all those who support this class, these participants, and the University of the Aftermarket by investing in the future leaders of the industry! Thank you to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) and #AWDA for providing scholarships for participants to attend.

'LIVE' from Leadership 2.0 - Monday Overview This week the University of the Aftermarket is pleased to present #UofALeadership 2.0 from the campus of Northwood University. Today we from Dhruvil Soni, ACP, Automotive Aftermarket Catalog Manager, Alliant Power. "Day 2 at LEADERSHIP 2.0 was exciting and filled with AMAZING PEOPLE AND SPEAKERS. Our vast industry is a close-knit community with immense power. Lisa Foshee, Auto Care Association, did a stellar job of explaining how we can continue to support and protect it. She highlighted its strength and significant role in the US economy. The Right to Repair (R2R) movement - advocating for the freedom to repair purchased items at preferred locations using preferred parts - is important to protect it and requires public awareness and and our participation in legislative efforts. Mike Mohler, MAAP covered a wide range of topics, including sustainable global competitive advantage, competitive advantage in various fields, chaos theory, FIGIEFA, competitive advantage in business, the competitive advantage ecosystem process, an update on Section 301 China tariffs, shipping issues, and personal competitive advantage. And to think that nothing can top off Mike here comes… Tammy Tecklenburg, AAP with her presentation "The ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM" covering women's influence in consumer spending, the importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in business, and its impact on performance and customer experience. Her strategies for self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management were helpful to improve EI. Then came my favorite person at Auto Care Association, Jacki Lutz (don't tell anyone I said that, I am trying to get some new Standards and parts terminology with the help of Thomas Schiavo, AAP, ACP at Autocare), who emphasizes the importance of personal branding and the power of people in business. It highlights the need to build trust and strong connections with others, particularly on social media platforms like LinkedIn. One of my favorite takeaways is "self-branding requires self-belief, self-belief leads to self-promotion, self-promotion builds your brand, and brand builds your career," connecting it all together. Rob Wright, a specialist in sustainability consulting, highlighted the importance of sustainability reporting. This practice, driven by investors, banks, and government entities requires complex, auditable data. Reporting your emissions, corporate carbon footprint, and carbon neutrality all rely on dependable and transparent data. This underscores the importance of considering sustainability in financial assessments and projects. Northwood University supports the Automotive Aftermarket and professionals like me working toward AAP for the class of 2024-2025. Let's help these fantastic people. Business is made of people, and people drive the wheels of the economy. Let's share support and keep pushing for growth and continuous learning – Dru Soni “The DATA WEAVER”

#UofALeadership 2.0 is off to a great start. Thank you to our participants and their organizations for supporting their attendance. Thank you to University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) and #AWDA for providing scholarships to attendees. And thank you to Lisa Foshee, Mike Mohler, MAAP, Tammy Tecklenburg, AAP, Jacki Lutz, Rob Wright, Theo Lamperis, Stefan Feder, and Mike Allen for investing in the leaders of the aftermarket.

'LIVE' from Leadership 2.0 - Sunday Overview This week the University of the Aftermarket is pleased to present Session I of Leadership 2.0 from the campus of Northwood University. This class in tactical leadership for the aftermarket is a tremendous learning experience, with excellent presenters and supporters, and a robust cohort of aftermarket leaders. Today we hear a 1st person perspective of our Sunday sessions from Jennifer Cothran, AAP, ACP, Director of Content, The Pronto Network. “I am beyond excited to see what this week has in store for us. We kicked off today’s event with meeting our colleagues and opened with an exciting and inspiring conversation with two of Northwood’s best - Dr. Thomas Litzinger, AAP who encouraged us to be open this week and from James O'Dell, AAP and what we could look forward on having an engaged class – on our own or with his help.   They saved the best for last as we heard from Lisa Foshee from the Auto Care Association. Her unique take on leadership and relating them to the game of basketball – Show up and BE present, DO bold things, and DO what you say you’re going to DO – were some of the takeaways. I can’t say I’ve talked about basketball that much before and based on her stories I’m glad I’m not a fan of her team’s rival! Hearing from other colleagues also sharing their perspectives from making all interactions personal, to a good/bad “Dad” joke, a coloring book to a just simple “hi, how are you?” can be bold moves to show presence and create those important relations and moments.   Not all of us can show up for their family to build a kitchen before we left for Leadership 2.0 as one of our attendees did, but taking time away from family and work to attend this “life changing” event is definitely a bold adventure for all of us. I’m looking forward to learning other unique experiences from the lineup of amazing speakers and from my fellow colleagues in attendance.   Thank you to AWDA for this amazing opportunity as a scholarship recipient and to The Pronto Network and the team left at home to take care of business. And lastly, to my family who I’ve left at home – Thank you for taking on additional responsibilities for me to take advantage of this opportunity as learning never stops!   #AWDA #Northwood #UofALeadership 2.0 #LearningNeverStops #TheProntoNetwork #AutoCare” Thank you to all those who support this class, these participants, and the University of the Aftermarket by investing in the future leaders of the industry! Thank you to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) and AWDA for providing scholarships for participants to attend.

JOIN US for INFUSION Executive Development Series Sept 22-26, 2024. Register today: https://lnkd.in/etTdR237 The INFUSION Executive Development Series builds upon Leadership 2.0 and will significantly enhance your strategic impact within your organization. This program is designed for high-impact leaders and executives who are driving significant progress within their organizations and will be called upon to set its strategic vision. It helps leaders consider how to address the issues that will face your business in the next 3-5 years. Who in your organization or network has an exemplary track record and history of leadership, and you believe would be an invaluable addition to the cohort? The INFUSION Executive Development Series offers a unique opportunity to: 👉 Challenge Your Current Strategic Direction: Engage with cutting-edge strategic theories and practices that will empower you to lead with confidence and insight in areas outside your day-to-day responsibilities. 👉 Network with Global Industry Executives: Foster deep relationships with a group of global executives and thought leaders who possess diverse expertise. These relationships can become a trusted group of collaborators and lead to professional growth. 👉 Develop a Break Thru GAMEPLAN: Take the time to step back and think bigger. Learn from renowned experts, practitioners, and your industry executive peers who will share actionable strategies and help you develop a GAMEPLAN to Break Thru in your business. Program Highlights: 👉 Comprehensive Curriculum: Covering critical and emerging topics such as strategic innovation, technology and digitalization, international supply chain, global investment strategy, and more. 👉 Interactive Learning: Combining expert presenters, case studies, and peer-to-peer coaching to create an engaging and dynamic learning environment. 👉 Industry Specific Site Visits: Visit relevant global aftermarket facilities and see strategic practices in action. Testimonials: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6G9GZfP 👉 https://lnkd.in/eP-PSqy7 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVkYkGvz 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5xvqTXj 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMvBg-Pn To learn more about the program contact Dr. Thomas Litzinger, AAP or James O'Dell, AAP. Secure your spot by registering today: https://lnkd.in/etTdR237

Leadership 2.0's class of '24-'25 is less than a week away! Very excited to get back on campus with tons of industry professionals and friends for an amazing opportunity with University of the Aftermarket! Thank you Wheeler Fleet Solutions for continually supporting my growth professionally and in the industry. Looking forward to being joined by my other amazing co-workers (Ariel Loza, David Stem, & Adam Marsh) for a fun knowledge packed week on campus! T-5 days until class!! 😎 🚗 📚 😁 👏 #UofALeadership #Wheelerfleet #UniversityoftheAftermarket #WFS