Sometimes you just have to toot your own horn.
After more than a year of planning, hundreds showed up for the Automotive Parts Associates (APA) Annual General Meeting, packing the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead in Atlanta, for three days. From receptions and dinners, product updates and one-on-one meetings to electing a new chairman and announcing the TruStar acquisition, this year’s event had everything.
“Of course, a good time was had by all,” APA said in a news release. “After having to cancel in 2020 and a virtual meeting in 2021, many saw this year’s meeting as a homecoming – of sorts. We promised networking, innovation and camaraderie. And thanks to our shareholders, suppliers and staff, it was easy to deliver.”
With the youngest shareholder only 21 years old, APA also is changing the landscape of the automotive aftermarket. Furthermore, it only helps to have an astute board of directors lending their leadership and business acumen, and they are: Randall Swedlove (chairman); Jim Holmquist (vice chair); Merle Bever (treasurer/secretary); and Doug Squires, Brian Cantagallo, Edward Harake, Suzanne Koudsi Walker, Shane Sleek and Harris Steinberg. Leading the APA team is Steve Tucker as president.
On March 17, APA presented its annual awards and announced the 2021 new shareholders. The winners and new shareholders are:
- Supplier of the Year – FCS
- Distinguished OE Partner – Bosch/Denso
- Outstanding Marketing Partner – DRiV
- Cornerstone Award – KYB
- Linebacker Award – Factory Motor Parts
- New Supplier Award – DFC/Arnott
- 2021 New Shareholders – Elite Automotive, JR Auto Parts, New Detroit Auto Parts, Pit Stop and V.I. Enterprises
“Laurels are good, but with APA’s 50th anniversary next year, there’s no time to rest,” APA said. “Our staff at headquarters are already working to make it even better than this one.”
Automotive Parts Associates is a shareholder-owned cooperative made up of more than 475 independent auto parts distributor locations throughout North America. For more information about APA or about membership opportunities, visit www.APA.parts.
