Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association Announces Three Officer Appointments

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Counterman - Babcox Media
Counterman has been serving auto parts jobbers, retailers and distributors since 1983.
Distribution

Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association Announces Three Officer Appointments

The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) announced the election of several new officers to the association’s executive committee.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

Related Articles

BETHESDA, Maryland – The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) announced the election of several new officers to the association’s executive committee.

The new officers began their terms on Nov. 3.

Mauro Cifelli, vice president of sales and marketing for Vast-Auto Distribution of Montreal, has been named AWDA’s vice chairman. Previously, Cifelli served as secretary of AWDA and as a member of the Council of Governors. Cifelli replaces outgoing vice chairman Don Bickle Jr., president of Warehouse Inc. in Hays, Kansas.

Moving into the position of secretary is William (“Henry”) Slack, CEO of Gainesville, Georgia-based Slack Auto Parts Co. Slack served a three-year term on AWDA’s Council of Governors and is active on the Auto Care Association’s Emerging Technology Committee.

Tim Trudnowski, president of Spokane, Washington-based Automotive Jobbers Supply, has been named AWDA’s in-coming treasurer. Trudnowski, a former AWDA chairman, follows in the footsteps of long-time treasurer Richard Beirne of Automotive Parts Headquarters. Beirne will remain on the AWDA Executive Committee as treasurer emeritus.

AWDA Chairman Bobby Segal, CEO of Concord, New Hampshire-based Automotive Supply Associates, will continue in this position and complete his two-year term in November 2018, at which point Cifelli will step into the chairman’s position. In order to provide long-term consistency within AWDA’s leadership, both the secretary and treasurer positions are appointed by the board to open-ended terms.

“All these individuals have a deep commitment to AWDA and the Auto Care Association, having served in many diverse capacities,” said Larry Northrup, AWDA’s executive director, community engagement and liaison. “The vast institutional and industry knowledge they bring to the table will be invaluable as AWDA deploys its many resources for the benefit of traditional distribution and the auto care industry at large.”

For more information about AWDA and to view the complete list of AWDA leadership, click here.

You May Also Like

Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

Read Full Article

More Distribution Posts
SEG Automotive Expands Coverage to Independent Aftermarket

SEG’s aftermarket portfolio of starters and alternators is reaching 1,300 SKUs.

By Counterman Staff
AirSept Announces Distribution Partnership with Transtar

With the partnership, Transtar will stock AirSept’s products for the mobile air-climate market.

By Counterman Staff
BendPak Opens New Distribution Center on Alabama Campus

The expansion has enabled the company to dramatically increase its inventory capacity and call-center staffing.

By Counterman Staff
5 Tracks Vie for $50K in ‘Advance My Track Challenge’

Final round of voting took place May 9-15; track receiving most votes wins grand prize.

By Counterman Staff

Other Posts

MEMA Launches At-Home REPAIR Campaign

The next step in the campaign to get the REPAIR Act passed is to get aftermarket suppliers involved.

By Emma Henderson
Shaw Assumes Leadership of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

Collin Shaw succeeds Julie Fream who served 10 years in the position.

By Emma Henderson
AACF Launches 65th Anniversary Fundraising Initiative

The campaign aims to raise $65,000 through 1,000 donations of $65 each.

By Counterman Staff
AAPEX Named One of 50 Fastest-Growing Shows in 2023  

This is the second consecutive year that AAPEX earned a spot in TSE’s Fastest 50 Class. 

By Josh Cable
AAPEX 2023