CCPN Facts Archives
AAIA Introduces AAIA SmartBrief, New Electronic Newsletter for Members
AAIA Elects Jerry O’Pry Chairman of the Board
AAIA Elects New Officers and Board of Directors
AAIA Introduces AAIA SmartBrief, New Electronic Newsletter for Members
AAIA members will begin receiving a new electronic newsletter on Thursday, April 24, called AAIA SmartBrief. The newsletter, which will replace the segment FACTS newsletters, will be sent twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday, and will be coming from the e-mail address aaia@smartbrief.com. In addition to AAIA news, each issue will contain news on current developments impacting the industry, technology trends, business leadership, sales and marketing best practices, and government and regulatory news, as featured in Capital Report. Individual segment news will be conveniently accessed from each SmartBrief.
AAIA Elects Jerry O’Pry Chairman of the Board
AAIA elected Jerry O’Pry chairman for the AAIA Board of Directors for 2008-2009 at its Spring Leadership Days in Bonita Springs, Fla. O’Pry is president of Blue Magic, Inc., headquartered in Conroe, Texas.
O’Pry began his automotive career with Union Carbide Corporation in 1973, and then joined Turtle Wax in 1983, where he was the director of sales and national accounts and managed international business. Six years later, he became vice president of sales and marketing for ARA Automotive Group. In 1991, O’Pry moved to Blue Coral serving as vice president of sales, where he was directly involved with the development and implementation of new programs and products. From 1996 to 1999, he worked with Radiator Specialty Company as their national sales manager, where he was responsible for sales and marketing for the $200mm automotive chemical manufacturer.
Before joining Blue Magic in 2006, O’Pry was director of sales of the automotive products division of Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific, he served as executive vice president for Harold Schnair Sales Company.
O’Pry has been active serving as committee chairs with the Automotive Parts & Accessories Association (APAA) and AAIA. He has served on the AAIA Board of Directors since 2001 and the AAIA Executive Committee since 2002. He graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1973 with a bachelor of arts in business management and marketing. O’Pry resides with his family in Irving, Texas.
AAIA Elects New Officers and Board of Directors
AAIA elected its new officers and board of directors for 2008-2009 at its Spring Leadership Days in Bonita Springs, Fla.
AAIA’s elected officers of the Executive Committee are:
- Chair, Jerry O’Pry, Blue Magic, Inc.
- Vice Chair, Gary D. Perman, RPS Marketing, LLC
- Vice President, Larry Easterlin, TCC (Technical Chemical Co.)
- Vice President, Jon Owens, AAP, Babcox Publications
- Vice President, Kenneth D. Walker, AAP, MAAP, Meineke Car Care Center
- Vice President, John Washbish, AAP, Affinia
- Secretary, David W. Scheer, Inland Truck Parts Co.
- Treasurer, Timothy A. Lee, AAP, Lang Distributing, Inc.
- Past Chairman, Richard H. Morgan, AAP, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.
Five new individuals were elected to the AAIA Board of Directors, including:
- David Barbeau, Delphi Corporation
- Curtis Draper, United Components Inc.
- Robert F. Egan, AAP, Federal-Mogul Corporation
- F. Scott Pletz, Marketing & Promotion, Inc.
- Tony Zanders, Heritage Auto Repair
Continuing board members are:
- J. David Bell, Erie DriveTrain, Inc.
- Todd D’Angelo, A. D’Angelo & Sons/Angel Warehouse
- Martin T. Gold, S-G Imported Car Parts, Inc.
- Manny Grijalva, Gold Eagle Co.
- Greg Henslee, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
- Richard J. Jago, Old World Industries, Inc.
- Kevin Judge, Brenton Productions/Two Guys Garage
- Lisa R. Kranc, AutoZone, Inc.
- Pamela A. Krebs, Robert Bosch, LLC
- Michael Lambert, Automotive Distribution Network
- Odis Lloyd, NASCAR
- Norman Matthew, Custom Accessories, Inc.
- Bill Murray, Jr., Bill Murray & Associates
- Rodney K. Pierini, California and Nevada Automotive Wholesalers Association
- Malcolm Sissmore, UltraFit Exhaust Systems
- Sean Stanic, IPC Global Solutions
- Charles Walker, AAP, Trico Products
- Douglas R. Washbish, AAP, Moog Louisville Warehouse Inc.