“Suppliers must have the opportunity to have a common meeting ground to discuss issues of importance to them,” he said. “For the industry, there is a need to connect the dots between all segments. We provide information to the industry as a whole to help their businesses succeed.”
Before joining the AASA in 2012, Mr. Hanvey was vice president of sales and marketing for auto parts manufacturer Schaeffler Group. Before that, he was vice president of marketing for Dorman Products and also held sales and marketing positions with FleetPride and original equipment and aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer and supplier Tenneco Inc.
While he was fortunate enough to hold a variety of positions in the aftermarket, Mr. Hanvey said sales and marketing have always been his special areas of expertise.
Mr. Hanvey began as ACA president and CEO Dec. 1, replacing the retiring Kathleen Schmatz, who declined an interview invitation from Tire Business. Each day as he comes to work, he said, he is more and more impressed with the ACA staff members and their dedication to helping the membership on a daily basis.
“Obviously, I want to do more,” he said. “I want the ACA not just to adapt to future trends, but predict them. We need to be more proactive in predicting changes and providing the tools for members to adjust to those changes.”
Among current industry trends, Mr. Hanvey said, the No. 1 priority is telematics and emerging technologies.
Above all, he said, the ACA and the aftermarket industry need to ensure that original equipment companies don't prevent necessary technological information from being transmitted to independent repair shops and consumers.
“There are pitfalls and opportunities with telematics,” he said. “If we are granted full access, I see telematics as a very good opportunity for good shop owners to create a better relationship with their customers.”
Education and training is also a major issue for aftermarket companies, Mr. Hanvey said.
“How do we as an association provide access to education and training at all levels of the industry?” he asked.