TEQUESTA, Fla. (March 2, 2015) — The Aftermarket Foundation has hired industry veteran Joel Ayres as its first executive director.
Mr. Ayres, a 30-year industry veteran, previously served as vice president of sales and marketing with TAKIT Inc. of Medford, Ore.
The foundation had been led by a voluntary board of industry leaders, with various members holding the chairman's position throughout its history. The hiring of Mr. Ayres is the culmination of a search for someone to manage the philanthropic activities of the foundation, the charity said.
The organization was founded in 1959 as a charity dedicated to helping industry members and their families either through immediate, one-time assistance or in the form of longer-term support. The board is made up of representatives from across the aftermarket industry.
The foundation had established a search committee and retained the Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm Vetted Solutions L.L.C., to coordinate the search for the charity's executive director.
“The foundation could not be more pleased than to have someone of Joel's caliber lead us into the next phase of our journey providing care and financial assistance to industry people affected by hardship. The need for our services has never been greater,” said Chairman Bob Hirsch, “and this is the first time in our nearly 60-year history that we've had a full-time director solely dedicated to enabling us to help more people and drive more giving. This is an exciting time indeed.”
Mr. Ayres co-founded and served as the first chairman of SEMA Cares, was named the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Person of the Year and was recognized by Trucking Times magazine for his contributions to the truck accessory market.