The Board of Directors of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) presented President and CEO Steve Handschuh with the association’s highest honor, the MEMA Triangle Award, at its meeting in Southfield, Mich., on Nov. 28. Handschuh is retiring as MEMA’s top executive on Dec. 31.
“Steve’s leadership, his vision and his passion for our association and the industry truly exemplify the MEMA Triangle Award’s mission of honoring selfless contributions to the motor vehicle supplier industry,” said Daniel E. Sceli, chairman of the MEMA Board of Directors and CEO of Peterson American Corporation. “While we will miss Steve’s guidance at MEMA, we are proud to add his name to the list of industry legends who have received the MEMA Triangle Award.”
Handschuh joined MEMA in 2006 as the president and chief operating officer of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), MEMA’s light vehicle aftermarket division, and was appointed president and chief executive officer of MEMA in October 2013. In that position, Handschuh led MEMA and its four divisions: AASA, the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), MERA – The Association for Sustainable Manufacturing and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).
Much of Handschuh’s 40-year career was dedicated to the automotive aftermarket industry. He worked for NAPA AUTO PARTS/Genuine Parts Co. for 18 years, including serving as NAPA president from 1998-2004. He also served as senior vice president, commercial, at AutoZone. Handschuh began his career as an outside salesman for Mighty Auto Parts where he rose to vice president, sales and marketing.
The Triangle Award has been presented by MEMA and its divisions since 1974. It is awarded periodically to that person, persons or organization whom the membership of MEMA and its divisions choose to honor for their contributions to the supplier industry.
Past recipients of the MEMA Triangle award include Marc Fleischaker, chairman emeritus of Arent Fox; Michael Cardone Jr., director, owner and chief strategy officer, CARDONE Industries; Bob McKenna, retired president and CEO of MEMA; David O’Reilly of O’Reilly Automotive Inc.; the late Joseph M. Magliochetti of Dana Corp.; Tom Gallagher of Genuine Parts Co., Bill Long, president of AASA ( then of DANA/Echlin); the late Frederick J. Mancheski of Echlin Inc.; John M. Riess (then of The Gates Rubber Co.); the late Larry McCurdy (then of Moog Automotive); and Jack Reilly (then of Tenneco Automotive).
About MEMA
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its four specialized divisions comprise a leading international trade association in the fast-changing mobility industry. Representing vehicle suppliers that manufacture and remanufacture components, technologies, and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy trucks, MEMA serves as a critical bridge between high-tech capabilities in new vehicles –such as autonomous vehicles and vehicle connectivity -- and the “nuts and bolts” of vehicle manufacturing. MEMA works at state, federal, and international levels to ensure that the marketplace and public policy support the development of advanced, transformative technologies that enable safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles. By directly employing more than 871,000 Americans and generating a total employment impact of 4.26 million jobs, MEMA’s member companies are the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. MEMA’s members are represented through four divisions: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on how MEMA is leading transformation in the mobility industry, visit www.mema.org.
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