More than 500 members, vendors and guests attended the National Pronto Association Fall Shareholders Conference in Chicago Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
Pronto President and CEO Bill Maggs provided an update on Pronto’s progress throughout the year with Federated Auto Parts in the Automotive Parts and Services Group or simply “The Group.”
Maggs announced The Group had appointed Larry Pavey as CEO, and Roy Kent, Mike Mohler and Murray Sullivan as Executive Vice Presidents. The night concluded with Pronto awarding their annual supplier awards. The winners included:
2015 Category Management Award – Epicor
2015 Manpower Award – Tenneco
2015 Marketing Excellence Award – Gates
2015 Partnership Award – Standard Motor Products
2015 Latin American Suppler of the Year - Denso
2015 Private Brand Supplier of the Year – MAS Chassis
2015 OE Supplier of the Year – Ford/Motorcraft
2015 Supplier of the Year – Denso
Maggs also presented the 2015 Pronto Executive of the Year award to Yvan Domingue of Monaco Group Automotive from Montreal, Canada. Maggs said Domingue was chosen “...for his tireless efforts in helping to promote and improve the Pronto organization.”
The meeting continued with a members only session Wednesday morning followed by the Pronto members attending a vendor booth show featuring more than 120 exhibitors.
Thursday’s activities were highlighted by a morning Executive Industry Panel discussion with Omer Wesemael and Thomas Vollmar from AD International in Europe, Bill Long from AASA, and Dan Risley of ASA. This event featured individual presentations on the European markets and perspectives from the supplier and service center segments of the industry. A question and answer session concluded the presentation.
Larry Pavey, CEO of The Group, presented an Industry Overview filled with information about the state of the auto care industry. The afternoon finished with private member only sessions covering various topics including product, sales and marketing, and technology. To close the meeting, Pronto held a private farewell party at Buddy Guy’s Legends blues bar.
Maggs said, “I really believe this is the best meeting we have had in many, many years. There is a genuine high level of enthusiasm among our membership for everything we are doing. I am as excited about Pronto and The Group as I possibly could be.”
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