As part of the nationwide effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) has “made the difficult decision to transition the AASA Vision Conference to a digital experience.”
AASA made the announcement on March 12. Since then, the steady drumbeat of coronavirus news, warnings and restrictions has intensified greatly.
“Given the current environment of health advisories, travel bans and speaker cancellations, AASA would be unable to host an on-site Vision Conference that meets the expectations of the premiere automotive aftermarket executive gathering,” AASA said. “We regret that this shift may introduce uncomfortable complications for your organization, but we believe this is the responsible course of action at this time.”
The digital AASA Vision Conference is scheduled for March 25-27.
In the online format, all speakers and panelists will still be on the “Vision Stage,” along with the announcement of the AASA Channel Excellence Award presented by Epicor, enriching video content and the ability to interact with thought leaders and event participants, AASA noted.
The theme of the conference is “Collaborating for a Vibrant Aftermarket Future.” A few of the agenda highlights include:
- “Hybrid Distribution: Traditional Meets Online” – Randy Buller, president, Parts Authority
- “It All Starts with the Repair Shop” – Derek Kaufman, managing partner, Schwartz Advisors
- “Electrification: Aftermarket Headwind or Tailwind?” – Mark Kaufman, global director – electric vehicle marketing & distribution, Ford Motor Co.; and Brian Daugherty, chief technology officer, MEMA
- “Your Car as a Computer: The Future of Repair” – Gary Silberg, partner, strategy, KPMG
- “Talk from the Top” – Paul McCarthy, president and COO, AASA
- Customer Spotlight: NAPA – Scott Sonnemaker, group president, North American automotive, Genuine Parts Co.
For more information about the 2020 AASA Vision Conference, click here.
