Early bird registration for the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) ends Monday, March 24. By registering now, attendees save $200 and can hear an exciting lineup of speakers and industry leaders as they discuss "Shift Forward" on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.
Registration fees are $745 for the sponsoring associations’ members’ first registrant and $645 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees increase to $945 for an association member company’s first registrant and $845 for each additional representative.
Early registration for individuals whose firms or organizations are not a member of any of the sponsoring associations is $945 for the first registrant and $845 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees are $1,145 for the company’s first registrant and $1045 for each additional representative.
GAAS program registration information is available from the sponsoring associations or online at www.globalsymposium.org.
Speakers for the event include:
- Tony Cristello, vice president, BB&T Capital Markets
- Neil De Koker, president and CEO, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA)
- Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia
- Steve Handschuh, president and COO, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (ASAA)
- Mike Hanley, partner, automotive industry leader, Ernst & Young
- Fotios Katsardis, managing director, TEMOT International Autoparts GmbH
- D. Bruce Merrifield Jr., president, Merrifield Consulting Group Inc.
- Ron Pyle, president, Automotive Service Association (ASA)
- Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
- William A. Strauss, senior economist & economic advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
- Bill Wade, managing partner, Wade & Partners
Panel discussions on important industry issues include:
- "Let’s Know Them Before We Need Them" — Moderated by Ray Pohlman, vice president government relations, AutoZone
- "Decision Makers – What Drives Today’s Independent Repair Shop Owner to Choose One Parts Source Over Another?" — Moderated by Gary Molinaro, editor/publisher, The Greensheet/Automotive Week
- "Family Affair" — Moderated by John Washbish, president, CRM and Under Vehicle Group, Affinia Group
- "Private Equity and the Aftermarket" — Moderated by Dan Smith, president, Capstone Financial Group
- The fourth annual Polk Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Award will be presented by R. L. Polk & Co. during this year’s Symposium and is designed to recognize and reward outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency.
- The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and University of the Aftermarket.
- R. L. Polk & Co. is the corporate sponsor of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium.
