Building The Better Business Person

It’s a tough time to be a business leader, and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s Automotive Conference for Executives is focused on tools aftermarket leaders can use to help them succeed.

The Tool Kit for Executives offers a no-nonsense program of presenters who will address both the business and personal challenges that go with the responsibility of being in a high-level management position.

Experience is a great teacher, but relying only on your own experience is limiting, to say the least. Everyone can benefit from the experience of successful executives.

Don Bell, co-founder of WestJet, is a professional who has been there at the beginning of a business venture.

Recently retired as executive vice-president, he was instrumental in perpetuating the culture that continues to make WestJet an outstanding example of a corporate culture that works. Bell believes that the culture of WestJet was set at the very beginning. In his presentation, Bell will communicate his beliefs in the power of eople and creating a conducive environment that will provide any executive focused on building a successful organization a great takeaway.

Of course any business leader knows that you can’t run a business on warm feelings and good intentions alone. You need some real data to help you know which direction your customers are going, and where you should be going, too.

J.D. Power and Associates senior manager, research, Ryan Robinson will bring a briefcase full of important trends of which aftermarket executives should take heed.

The percentage of vehicle service occasions claimed by traditional aftermarket players is on the ise, but it is driven by an increase in penetration among three-year-old vehicles. What has previously been perceived to be the captive market of the original equipment service sector is no more; aftermarket providers are making significant inroads in this space.

Robinson will present data and analysis that will help aftermarket players understand how they can make the most of this trend and maintain a competitive edge in this space.

Naturally the economy plays a tremendous role in how businesses are operating, and Jim Allworth, portfolio manager, RBS Asset Management, will focus on understanding the forces at work in Canada and globally and how things can be expected to shake out over the near future. His talk will help execs understand what the impact will be on interest rates, currencies, and the investment environment over the next several years.

Finally, we know that none of us is getting any younger. Are you looking to retire? How about your customer base?

In the coming decades, the 30% of Canadians born between 1945 and 1965 will be looking to retire. Or will they?

Andrew Ramlo, director of The Urban Futures Institute, asks what we will do with our golden years: work or play? And what will we consider our golden years?

As one of Canada’s most esteemed demographers and planning consultants, Ramlo will offer his forecast on the demographic and economic change in Canada’s diverse regions and markets.

Overall, the ACE conference looks to offer a top-to-bottom and inside-out set of experiences that is sure to provide aftermarket members with some real tools to help them work on their business better.

For more information or to register, visit www.aiacanada.comor call 800-808-2920.