AARO Elects New Board, President

Members attending the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario annual business meeting on November 22, 2003 in Woodbridge, Ontario, reinstated 10 of their peers, elected two new ones as directors for the coming year, and affirmed Dave Peck (Peck Brothers Limited, Thornhill, Ontario) as president. One of the “new” directors, Wally Clayson, (Wally Clayson Service Centre, Toronto,) is a past AARO president, and another, Denis Poirier, (J & D Auto-Tech, Ottawa,) is a former director. Dave Peck likes the new lineup. “I’ve got a good deal of experience around the table. Their collective industry knowledge, and their familiarity with the business of our association lets me breathe easier about the responsibilities I’ve assumed as president,” he said.

Ed Andrade (Beverly Automotive Specialists, Cambridge), Andy Eaton (AE Auto Plus, Thornhill), Rudy Graf (Graf Auto Centre, Toronto), John Hiemstra (Hiemstra Automotive Service, Kingston), Gino Paccione (4th Line Auto, Oakville), John Sawatsky (MSJ Automotive Services, Windsor), James Shields (Tommy’s Motors, London), Randy Skinner (Skinner’s Automotive Service, Beaverton) and Rex Sarson (Stop ‘N’ Go Services, Burlington) — who continues in the capacity of “immediate past president” — round out the new 12-man board.

Under the association’s “policy governance” format, AARO executive director Bill Burkimsher serves as secretary-treasurer.

“We’ve got a busy, but exciting year ahead of us,” said Peck. “We spent much of the past year deciding policy and setting objectives for AARO, and now comes the real test – trying to implement all of it.”

In addition to electing a new board of directors, members attending the annual meeting were polled for volunteer “industry advocates”. Eight put their names forward:

Bob Anderson (Anderson’s Automotive Services, Thornhill), Lynda Collins (C. Armstrong Motors, Ottawa), Igor Dobric (Performance Concepts, Mississauga), Nizar Mawani (More Than Tires, Mississauga), Carlo Sabucco (Sil’s Auto Diagnostic Centre, Mississauga), Vatche Shahinian (Teknik Auto Service, Markham), Mike Stinson (Stinson Automotive, Mississauga) and Roydon Rump (Roy Rump & Son’s Tire & Auto, Ottawa).

“I think it’s just super that eight members stepped to the plate,” enthused Peck. “Industry advocates are a great resource for us when the need to organize an ad hoc committee arises. They also form a pool of experienced people, some of whom will be elected to future boards,” he added.