Multi Parts announced the SPARK2016 luminaries. In this, the SPARK initiative’s third year, seven automotive aftermarket executives will share their expertise and insights with 14 SPARK student-participants from across the U.S. SPARK2016 again takes place at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo Nov. 1-3 in Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, November 1st, Mort Schwartz, Founding Partner of Schwartz Advisors LLC and former Chairman and CEO of Strauss Discount Auto, Import Parts of America and Chanslor & Lyon, and Bret Jordan, Managing Director, Jefferies, LLC kick off SPARK at a breakfast meet and greet designed to formally introduce student-participants to the aftermarket and all its opportunity.
“The investment these aftermarket icons make in our SPARK participants is very special,” commented Multi Parts President Brian Cohn. “These are busy people at arguably the busiest time of their year. That they make time for these student-participants says far more than we ever could about how much our industry recognizes the importance of this next generation.”
On Wednesday afternoon, SPARK participants hear from four panelists about aftermarket career opportunities. The four will provide perspective from their decades of experience in the industry, having played numerous roles – both domestically and internationally – in sales and marketing, supply chain management, and manufacturing.
Luminary panelists include:
• Jason Best - Sr. Vice President, Aftermarket at Spectra Premium Industries;
• Brian Cohn - President, Multi Parts;
• Kathy Jorge - Vice President North America, Delphi Product & Service Solutions; and
• Jens Schueler - President, Automotive Aftermarket – Americas at Schaeffler Group USA.
Following the luminary panel discussion, Howard Kesten from APA Search will draw on nearly three decades as a global recruiter to numerous aftermarket companies in their search for great talent. His topic: “How to Differentiate Yourself from Your Peers.”
Wednesday ends with a session hosted by Brent Windom, President and Chief Executive Officer of Auto Plus and Pep Boys. His topic: “The Changing Landscape of the Aftermarket – What the Industry Needs from You.”
Now in its third year and completely underwritten by Multi Parts, SPARK2016 is a three-day industry immersion, delivering student participants a front row seat to experience the business of the automotive aftermarket. Through specifically designed and developed programming at the AAPEX show, meet and greet opportunities with key industry leadership and in-show outings orchestrated and hosted by Multi Parts’ team members, the SPARK Initiative continues to ignite passion among the auto care industry’s next generation. To learn more about the SPARK Initiative, visit http://spark.multiparts.net/.
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