Northwood University will recognize seven prominent supporters of educational initiatives and learning within the automotive aftermarket industry with its prestigious Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award.

Recipients will receive their honors during a ceremony on Nov. 1 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The event will be held during AAPEX 2016, in conjunction with the Automotive Aftermarket Professional/Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional graduation luncheon. These designations were developed in partnership with the Auto Care Association, Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), MEMA and Northwood University.

The Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award is given to industry leaders, throughout the country, who have made noteworthy contributions to education, on any level, inside or outside of the industry. Their names and notable activities have been recorded in an awards book that will be distributed throughout the industry.

“Recipients of this honor are people of stature, and the award is recognition of their substantial dedication over a number of years to the educational process and the field of automotive aftermarket,” said Keith Pretty, Northwood University president and CEO. “Our honorees devote notable time and energy to education, making a worthwhile contribution within their industry but also outside of it.”

This year’s winners include:

• Joel Ayres, executive director, Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation, Sacramento, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the aftermarket industry, Ayres brings an extensive understanding and knowledge of the industry to his current position as executive director of one of the industry’s leading charitable foundations. He was recruited last year to become the organization’s first full-time director and lead the foundation’s activities, which a voluntary board of industry dignitaries previously managed. .

• Brian Cohn, president, Multi Parts, Jupiter, Florida. Committed to advancing education in the industry, Cohn led Multi Parts in developing and implementing the SPARK Initiative, a multi-day industry immersion symposium conducted annually at AAPEX. Cohn helped conceive the Spark Initiative to introduce the next generation of aftermarket professionals to the industry at its largest single event.

• Paul Louwers, CEO, Automotive Video Innovations Inc., Fort Myers, Florida. Louwers is the founder of the successful and highly regarded Automotive Video Innovations (AVI). Founded in 1994, the company’s concept to create and deliver powerful automotive educational training and web-based content was welcomed and well received by the aftermarket industry. AVI’s involvement extends support to several aftermarket manufacturers, including Bosch, Delphi and DENSO, where it has provided more than 40 consecutive live-stream broadcasts from its in-house studios. The company also provides educational resources to The Group Training Academy, a part of Pronto and Federated Auto Parts, as well as training for Advanced Auto Parts and its e-learning program.

• Mario Recchia, senior vice president –­ marketing, WORLDPAC, Dayton, New Jersey. Under Recchia’s leadership, the WORLDPAC Training Institute assists customers in growing and increasing the profitability of their businesses through education. Classes are created explicitly for the independent shop and are designed and taught by experienced automotive professional instructors. The Institute aims to establish and maintain relationships with WORLDPAC customers that will, in turn, generate long-term, mutual sustainable value.

• David Segal, MAAP, president, Automotive Supply Associates Inc., Sanel Auto Parts Co., Concord, New Hampshire. Under David Segal’s leadership, Sanel Auto Parts created an annual training program for automotive, heavy-duty vehicles and paint and body segments with hands-on technical and business classes for external customers and internal company use. The company strategically located its satellite training centers in areas near its customer base, making it easier and more convenient for them to participate.

• Robert Segal, MAAP, CEO, Automotive Supply Associates and Sanel Auto Parts Co., Concord, New Hampshire. With a strong commitment to education, Robert Segal helped to create a company culture that encourages continuous learning for all of its personnel, including the sponsorship of 10 of its team members to attend the University of the Aftermarket and AWDA University educational programs.

• Steve Thorne, founder and CEO, Eastern Warehouse Distributors, Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Steve Thorne understood the basics that to provide great service you need highly trained people, as well as the importance of creating a “partnership” in information and education with the customers. In the early years as a young company, educational opportunities for training staff and customers were fairly limited locally. Thorne contracted the “best of the best,” had them train the staff internally and created manufacturer-led clinics for customers on best repair practices. As his business grew, and in joining the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance in 1998, he was able to incorporate many more educational opportunities into the program.

For more information about the Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Awards or Northwood University, visit northwood.edu, or call 800-622-9000.