The event, themed “Accelerate: Investing in Tomorrow,” drew more than 800 attendees, setting a conference record. Attendees included more than 90 percent of VIPAR Heavy Duty stockholders and over 130 suppliers. More than 1,500 one-on-one meetings between suppliers and distributors also took place during the conference.
“It’s a good time to be in the truck parts business and this year’s conference was another chance for us to demonstrate to our stockholders and suppliers that we are committed to helping them grow their business,” says Jeff Paul, vice president of marketing, VIPAR Heavy Duty. “Small business optimism is at an all-time high and VIPAR Heavy Duty, along with our G3 management team, is committed to accelerating our key initiatives to deliver solutions that will support our stockholder and supplier business.”
At the conference, VIPAR Heavy Duty announced that it has formed an exclusive relationship with Falcon Affiliates, an equity investment firm with significant experience working with entrepreneurial-led and family-owned businesses and proven expertise within the heavy-duty aftermarket. The relationship with Falcon Affiliates will provide VIPAR Heavy Duty stockholders with an experienced, growth-oriented partner that can support stockholders’ long-term growth, succession plans and exit strategies.
The annual business conference included a keynote speech from former NFL and college football coach Jimmy Johnson. His presentation focused on the concept that in order for teams to be successful, team members must support each other with respect and understanding of the role of each person.
John Blodgett of MacKay & Company presented to the group about the strong state of the aftermarket and economic conditions and their role in the heavy-duty aftermarket.
Matt Trentacosta of IHS Markit addressed changing vehicle technologies, the impact on the market and the predicted strong outlook for the future, based on the IHS Markit study.
Jim Pancero, a sales leadership strategist, presented at the Distributor Educational Session. Pancero noted key changes in the commercial distribution industry including, a changing workforce, the role of the sales team in the buying process and changes in how customers view competitive advantage, and how to best work with these changes.
The Young Leaders Forum and Lunch featured a presentation from experienced corporate training professional, Ray White. White presented on how to inspire teams to perform at their peak levels. The Young Leaders programming was also highlighted with a mentor panel session and reception, organized with GenNext.
The 2019 VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference will be held Oct. 20-25, 2019, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country.
