BETHESDA, Md. (Sept. 5, 2013) — Several member organizations of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) have signed on as contributing sponsors of the 2013 AAIA Town Hall breakfast at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
The Town Hall, hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and sponsored by automotive information and marketing solutions provider Polk, will be at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the Palazzo Ballroom in the Venetian Hotel.
Kathleen Schmatz, Bethesda-based AAIA's president and CEO, said without the support of primary sponsor Polk and the AWDA contributing sponsors, the AAIA "could not deliver the high quality production Town Hall is known for each year. We are making a number of visual enhancements to this year's program and even have a couple of surprises for attendees."
AWDA member organizations that are Town Hall contributing sponsors are:
• Auto Value;
• Automotive Distribution Network;
• Bumper-to-Bumper;
• CARQUEST;
• Federated Auto Parts;
• NAPA; and
• National Pronto Association.
Kicking off the upcoming Town Hall with be Polk's "Five Trends in Five Minutes" by Mark Seng, global aftermarket practice leader. The AAIA describes the session as a "rapid-fire presentation of fact-based challenges and opportunities facing the industry."
Janet Schijns, vice president of medium business and channels for Verizon Enterprise Solutions, will deliver the feature presentation, previewing future technology trends of specific relevance to the entire distribution channel.
She "will deliver a pragmatic, informative, entertaining, eye-opening view and encouraging predictions about how the independent auto care industry will be communicating and doing business in the very near future," according to Ms. Schmatz.
Tickets for the AAIA Town Hall include a full buffet breakfast. To register, visit the AAIA's website and click on "Town Hall." Individual tickets are $100 for AAIA members and $115 for non-members; a table of 10 is $850 for AAIA members and $1,000 for non-members.