News – 01-OCT-07

National Association Names Presidential Successor

Long-time Automotive Industries Association of Canada executive Marc Brazeau has been tapped to succeed Ray Datt in the role of president.

Brazeau will officially take on the role of president January 1, 2008. The presidency is the association’s top full-time position. Brazeau takes over as the fourth president in the 65-year history of the association, but has been in increasingly responsible roles for the past 12. He is currently executive vice-president, and has worked closely with many facets of the membership.

While Brazeau had been regarded as the front-runner for the position, the association performed a wide search nonetheless.

“An exhaustive and thorough national executive search process was completed by the AIA Search Committee, which was comprised of members of the AIA Executive Committee as well as senior industry leaders.

“The committee reviewed over 60 applications and interviewed 12 potential candidates before unanimously agreeing that Marc was the most qualified and capable candidate to lead the AIA when Ray completes his duties at the end of this year,” says John Cochrane, chairman of the board.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to continue working for a progressive association that is comprised of so many dedicated and motivated industry leaders, and alongside a professional and committed group of employees at AIA,” states Brazeau.

Prior to joining AIA in 1995, Brazeau worked with both the Transportation Association of Canada and the Canadian Advanced Technology Association. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Humber College in Toronto. He resides in Ottawa with his wife, Chantal, and two sons, Jonah and Nicolas.

Current AIA president Raymond Datt announced earlier this year that he would be completing his term as president at the end of this year.

“I’ve worked closely with Marc since joining AIA in 1998 and I believe that his selection to succeed me will allow the association to continue to grow and prosper,” says Datt. “I look forward to working closely with him during this transition.”

Fun At Ballpark Nets Charity $4,000

Some two dozen members of the aftermarket took in some baseball and raised more than $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

The inaugural “Evening at the Ballpark” event, organized by Eric Liebovitz, Fenwick Automotive Products, with the assistance of John Pederson, Toronto & Hamilton Auto Electric, and Andrew Ross, publisher and editor of Jobber News Magazine, brought members of the aftermarket to Buffalo for a minor league baseball game between the Syracuse Chiefs and the Buffalo Bisons (and more than a few chicken wings).

While rain dampened some of the play, the success of the event as a fundraiser means that the event will happen again in 2008.

“The idea was to raise some money for a worthy charity and to have some fun, do something different. Golf tournaments are great, but we have enough of them,” says Liebovitz. The fact that the entire excursion takes place in a single afternoon and evening also means that the time commitment from participants was easily managed.

Luxury coach transportation and refreshments were provided as part of the $150 ticket price. All participants were picked up in late afternoon and returned to designated pickup locations in Toronto and Burlington following the game.

Ticket quantity for next year’s event is limited. Please contact Eric Liebovitz at eliebovitz@fencoparts.com.

E.R.I 2007 Scholarship Winners Announced

The E.R.I. Group has announced the winners of the 2007 Richard Miller Education Awards.

Recipients are: Trevor Schulz of Kamloops, B.C.; Jeri-Lynn Winters of Lethbridge, Alta.; Christopher Drager of Saskatoon, Sask.; Nicole Gawthrop of Stony Mountain, Man.; Jansen Lipps of Richmond Hill, Ont.; Felix Pepin of Granby, Que.; and Martha Gallagher of Burton, N.B. Each was awarded $1,000 to help them further their education.

Schulz is attending Joe Mondello Technical School in St. Paso Robles, Calif. to further his education in high performance cylinder head rebuilding. Winters is attending her second year of study toward her degree in mathematics at the University of Lethbridge. Drager is attending his second year specializing in Civil Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Gawthrop is attending her first year of study in Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Lipps is attending his third year of study at the University of Ontario, Institute of Technology in the Automotive Engineering program. Pepin is in his first year of study towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning at the University of Montreal. Gallagher is attending her third year of study towards her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communications, at the University of Calgary.

Edmonton Jobber Announces New Warehouse

Edmonton-based Warehouse Services Inc. has announced an aggressive expansion into an 80,000 square-foot warehouse facility.

“The new facility is four times the size of our current warehouse,” announced Zara Wishloff, sales manager.

The south side Edmonton location will be moving before year-end.

It was also announced that a tool and equipment expo would be held at the new location on November 17, 2007.

This trade show will feature two clinics by Delphi and Hickok/Waekon, as well as booths featuring the newest technologies needed by automotive service providers to ensure their shops are equipped for the future.

Funds Raised for Rick Gibson Award

The annual Rick Gibson Memorial Golf Tournament at Raven Crest Golf and Country Club in Edmonton raised $3,600 for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) award for second year parts apprentices.

Several of Rick’s friends and family participated this year, including his window Bev, father Ray, and son Brent.

The Rick Gibson Award is awarded three times a year at NAIT.

Tenneco Program to Target Students

The Tenneco Drive program, developed in 2005 by the Monroe and Walker brands, will target several new automotive vocational and high school programs this fall.

Now in its third year, Drive continues to help enhance the preparation and education of the next generation of undercar technicians. Drive, an interactive training program, offers hands-on materials to enhance classroom instruction and technical training.

More than 1,400 students have participated in the program since its inception.

OBITUARIES

Paul Jersak

Paul Jersak, former president of Hastings Inc. and long-time member of the automotive aftermarket, passed away in July at the age of 79.

Jersak, who was a career aftermarket executive, devoted time and effort to a number of industry efforts, including working on issues with the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and serving as president of the Automotive Service Marketers Association (ASMA).

Al Relecom

Al Relecom, a retired member of Blue Streak-Hygrade Motor Products, passed away in August in his 90th year.

With the company for 38 years, much of it as a territory manager, Relecom spent the seven years prior to his retirement on special projects as an advisor in training and market research, while continuing to represent the company at industry functions until age 75.

APPOINTMENT

Spectra Premium Industries has announced that Troy Tingling has joined the company as representative for parts of the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario. Tingling brings with him more than six years of experience in the sales area. He will be based at the Mississauga offices of Spectra Premium.