Tim Lee, president of Lang distributing, kicked off the second session of Northwood University’s Leadership 2.0 class with a keynote address this week at Northwood’s West Palm Beach campus. Session I was held at Northwood’s Midland, Mich., campus in Sept. 2011.
According to Northwood, Leadership 2.0 serves as a cornerstone in the industry’s efforts to foster the development of a new generation of visionary aftermarket executives. The program includes a blend of industry research and market analysis, discussion and debate of new challenges and competitive strategies, individual skills training in communication, negotiation and conflict management, and insight to supply-chain solutions and issues.
Northwood says participants in this year’s program represent a wide array of aftermarket companies at all levels of the industry. Significant financial support comes from the independent University of the Aftermarket Foundation.
“The aftermarket is constantly debating how to find and retain the next generation of industry leaders. This program is a perfect example of how the industry is addressing that issue,” says Brian Cruickshank, University of the Aftermarket director. “Leadership 2.0 helps aftermarket leaders of tomorrow gain valuable skills that are necessary to move their organizations forward within a highly competitive and ever-changing business environment. And because we have participants from every level of the aftermarket–shop owners, distributors and manufacturers — Leadership 2.0 truly becomes a collaborative, top-to-bottom environment for debate and discussion about a variety of critical aftermarket issues.”
Participants receive 6.0 credits toward completion of their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.
Members of the 2011-2012 class are:
- Nikki Ayers Ayers Automotive Repairs
- Christopher Battershell Federal-Mogul Corp.
- Courtney Carbone Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
- Steve Chetwood NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.)
- Ben Devlin Halton Automotive
- Dean Dibley Uni-Select
- Rudy Epp Rudy’s Auto Service
- William Flaherty Stant USA Corp.
- Jennifer Gilbertson Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association
- Chris Hillestad NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.)
- Tracie Howerter Gates Corp.
- Dan Humphrey The Timken Company
- Rob Jones Epicor Software Corp. (formerly Activant)
- Jeffrey Koviak Tenneco
- Brent Kulcsar Auto Electric Service
- Adam Lee Lang Distributing
- Jon McSweeney GPI/CARQUEST
- Michelle Menendez MacKenzie Warehouse
- Dwayne Myers Dynamic Automotive
- Doug Rockefeller Tenneco
- Corey Roppel Roppel Industries
- Greg Sharrar The Tire Mart
- Patricia Spierling R.L. Polk & Company
- Adam Stranik Midas
- Sean Tucker Accessories Marketing/Slime
- Kent Van Oort Gates Corp.
- Jeffrey Walter Zimmerman’s Auto Service
- Blake Ward Southeast Automotive Warehouse
- Wesley Ward Wes Ward Auto Repair
- Mike Whiteis Automotive Parts Headquarters
