Wall Street Is Back at Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium

Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Wall Street returns after a one-year hiatus to the sixth annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) - scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 17-18, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill.

The annual Wall Street presentation, a GAAS tradition, was omitted from the GAAS 2000 program.

Besides the Wall Street perspective, other popular returning speakers are Derek Kaufman, Kaufman Peters LLC, and Dr. Roger Blackwell, Ohio State University professor of marketing and Blackwell Associates president, both of whom are making repeat appearances as GAAS speakers.

Innovative entrepreneur Donald E. Panoz, founder of Panoz Motor Sports and pharmaceutical companies Mylan Laboratories and Elan Corp., is the Thursday luncheon speaker.

The automotive aftermarket’s premier educational conference, GAAS provides industry professionals with information vital to success in the aftermarket. Its proceeds fund scholarships for students seeking automotive aftermarket careers.

Outstanding Speakers Scheduled

Blackwell, who spoke at the 1997 and 1999 GAAS programs, kicks off the 2001 seminar at 8:15 a.m., Thursday, with his discussion, "Global Economic Trends - Customers Rule."

John F. Smith, General Motors Corp. Service Parts Operations, follows at 9:30 a.m. with his forward-looking presentation, "A 2005 Year-End Review."

Steve Handschuh of NAPA is next in Thursday’s lineup with his 10:45 a.m. presentation, "An Aftermarket Vision - How NAPA Sees Industry Opportunities and Challenges."

As the Thursday luncheon speaker, Panoz will discuss the entrepreneurial spirit which led him to the diverse fields of pharmaceuticals, automotive performance technology, wine, racetracks, and luxury resorts. His company, Panoz Motor Sports, owns the Road Atlanta track in Brazelton, Ga.; Sebring International Racetrack, Sebring, Fla.; and Mosport, Canada.

Charles Germano of IBM Global Medium Business Distribution will address distribution and e-commerce trends and directions in his 1:30 p.m. presentation on Thursday.

Bill Gager, Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA) president, is moderator of "The Winning Product Line," a panel discussion of automotive parts remanufacturing, at 2:30 p.m., Thursday. Panelists include Michael Cardone Jr., president, Cardone Industries; Joe Felicelli, aftermarket group vice president, Delco Remy America; Gordon Fenwick, Fenwick Automotive Products; and Pete Putnam, Precision Machine Service.

J Ferron, theater leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ America’s Automotive Consulting Practice, will discuss international markets at 4 p.m., Thursday.

Thursday Program
Thursday’s program concludes with the Wall Street panel discussion at 4:45 p.m. The discussion between panelists Darren Kimball, chartered financial analyst (CFA) with Lehman Brothers, and Matthew Stover, SalomonSmithBarney director, will be one of the highlights of the 2001 GAAS program.

Friday Program
Kaufman, who was featured in the 1996, 1997, and 1999 GAAS programs, will open Friday’s program at 7:45 a.m. with his presentation, "E or Be Eaten: The Future of the Internet in the Automotive Market."

Buck Mathews, marketing professor and past chairman of The Ohio State University marketing faculty, will discuss the university’s current automotive research in his presentation, "Vehicle Service Trends and Outlook," at 8:45 a.m. Friday.

The GAAS 2001 program concludes with a panel discussion of the automotive service sector, "Where Do We Go From Here?" at 10:15 a.m. Friday. Moderated by Jack Creamer, Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) president emeritus, the panel includes warehouse distributor - Fred Bunting, Auto-Wares Inc. Group of Companies; manufacturer - Tom Elmer, Cardone Industries; wholesaler spokesman - Tom Morrison, Florida Automotive Industries Association (FAIA); and service provider - Ken Walker, Meineke Discount Muffler Shops Inc.

Registration Fees
Registration fees for GAAS 2001 are $895 for sponsoring associations members’ first registrant and $795 for each additional representative.

Registration for individuals whose firms or organizations are not members of any of the sponsoring associations is $1,095 for the company’s first registrant and $995 for each additional representative.

Program details and registration forms are online here.

GAAS Invests in the Future
The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium scholarship (GAASS) fund awarded 69 scholarships to students in two-year technical college programs or in four-year college programs in 2001. GAAS has provided a total of 248 scholarships since 1996.

Scholarship program details are online here.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Association of North America (TANA), and University of the Aftermarket.


Sixth Annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS)

Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18, 2001
Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, Rosemont, Ill.

Sponsored by:
Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA) Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Tire Association of North America (TANA) University of the Aftermarket.

Chairman: Mort Schwartz
Chairman, Jarmms Associates

Registration
Association members: $895 for company’s first registrant

Second & subsequent people from same organization:
$795 each for additional employees

Non-members
$1,095 for company’s first registrant
Second & subsequent people from same organization:
$995 each for additional employees

To Register
http:// www.globalsymposium.org

For GAAS program registration information, phone 301/654-6664, fax 301/654-3299, or visit: www.globalsymposium.org.