Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium 2006
To Examine ’Thriving in a World of Change’

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Thriving in a World of Change is the theme for the 2006 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, Mich.

GAAS is a must-attend event for anyone conducting business with the automotive aftermarket including: advertising, communications, marketing and PR professionals, attorneys, business developers, consultants, electronic commerce providers, export management companies, financial analysts, investment bankers, market researchers, product developers, research and development specialists, and venture capitalists.

Speakers confirmed for the 2006 event thus far include:

• .John Passante, president and CEO, The Organizational Development Group.A frequent presenter for the University of the Aftermarket, Passante will discuss leadership and management issues.
• “Who Will Fix The Cars?” a panel discussion of service dealers. Moderated by Ron Pyle, president, ASA, panelists will include: Lynn Beckwith, Beckwith’s Automotive, Humble, Texas; Aaron Clements, C & C Automotive, Augusta, Ga.; John Cochrane, Cochrane Automotive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Denny Kahler, Kahler’s Werkstatt, Dublin, Calif.
• Dennis Welvaert, president, North American Aftermarket Division, of Dayco Products LLC, a division of Mark IV Industries, will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to GAAS.” A 34-year veteran of the automotive industry, Welvaert will share how he came to realize that successful e-business implementation can make significant differences to companies that take the time to do them right.
• “Who Needs Marketing?” a panel discussion of automotive aftermarket experts on effective collaboration on marketing programs. Moderated by Tom Marx, president and CEO, The Marx Group with panelists: Steve Marks, senior vice president of marketing and advertising, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance; Lisa Kranc, senior vice president of marketing, AutoZone, and Mario Recchia, vice president of marketing and business development, WorldPac.
• Industry Leaders Panel, featuring moderator, Kathleen Schmatz, and panelists: Jacques Landreville, president and CEO, Uni-Select; Dick Morgan, president and CEO, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, and others to be confirmed.

GAAS sponsor R.L. Polk & Co. also will present its Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Award during the 2006 event. Designed to recognize and reward outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency, the award was initiated at the 2005 GAAS.

In addition, GAAS 2006 also will feature a Wall Street presentation by a leading analyst. More program details will be available at the Symposium Web site, www.globalsymposium.org.

All of the net proceeds from the event go toward funding industry scholarships. The GAAS scholarship fund awarded a total of 145 students $1,000 GAAS scholarships in 2005, pushing the awards to over 1,000 students and more than $1 million in funding in its 10-year history. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available at www.automotivescholarships.com.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA)and University of the Aftermarket.