Research Firm R.L. Polk Extends Aftermarket Symposium Sponsorship

Officials of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) committee have announced that R.L. Polk & Co., a leading global provider of analytic services and marketing solutions to the automotive industry, has extended its corporate sponsorship of GAAS for an additional three years.
More than 400 people attended the eighth-annual GAAS in Dearborn, Mich. earlier this month.
“The organizers of GAAS are excited and extremely grateful that a global corporation of the caliber of Polk has committed generous financial support to our program that offers solutions to the industry and provides scholarships for future industry leaders,” said Mort Schwartz, GAAS Committee chair.
Polk’s Aftermarket Group has served the aftermarket for more than 25 years, offering information solutions for inventory management, parts proliferation and obsolescence, catalog parts coverage, vehicle niche markets, globalization and target marketing. Polk has served the information needs of the entire automotive industry for over 80 years.
“We’re very pleased to be the corporate sponsor of such a prestigious scholarship program,” said Mike Gingell, vice president of Polk North America’s aftermarket group. “It is gratifying to know that we are playing a part in helping today’s students launch their careers in the aftermarket industry.”
GAAS 2004 will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, in Chicago, May 18 and 19.
Proceeds from the symposium are used to fund scholarships for students preparing for careers in the aftermarket.
To date, more than 500 scholarships have been presented to worthy students totaling more than $500,000. The proceeds from this year’s event will assist 100 more students with $1,000 scholarships.