RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Mark Saxonberg, manager, environment, health, safety and service support, industry and government relations for Toyota Motor Sales, USA Torrance, Calif., will engage participants at the AASA Vision Conference – set for Wednesday, March 18, at the InterContinental O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. – in an open discussion regarding vehicle service technologies following his presentation, “Building Brand Loyalty through Outstanding Service Support in the Aftermarket.”

“Vehicle technology and associated service technologies are becoming increasingly complex and proliferating across all vehicle systems commonly supported in the aftermarket,” said Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA. “The need for information in the independent aftermarket has never been greater. Mark will share his views of the current independent aftermarket service business model and what Toyota is doing to provide ‘an ownership experience worthy of the product itself.’ ”

Following his comments, Saxonberg will engage with members in an open discussion of how automakers, aftermarket suppliers, industry trade groups, educators and the aftermarket repair community are working together to rebuild a 21st century business model. Saxonberg has 45 collective years of experience in the OEM and aftermarket automotive service industry. His positions have included technician, service manager, independent shop owner, technical instructor, instructional designer, service engineer, compliance engineer, industry liaison and technical manager.

His current responsibilities include:

• Toyota/Scion/Lexus Environment, Health, Safety, Hazmat and Service Compliance
• End of Life Vehicle Recycling
• Government, Industry and Aftermarket relations

He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and a graduate of the University of Denver (1974) where he earned his BSBA in finance and economics.

AASA Vision Conference 2010 event registration is available by clicking here. On this page, visitors have the option of registering electronically or downloading a fax-back form. AASA full service supplier members who register before Friday, Feb. 12, will be entered in a drawing for one of three iPod Touches.

Hotel reservations at the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill., can be made by clicking here. The AASA Vision Conference 2010 room rate of $129 per night and guaranteed room availability expire on Friday, Feb. 22, 2010.

AASA Vision Conference 2010: “Know Your Parts,” exclusive to AASA member companies, will kick-off with a Welcome Reception on the evening of Tuesday, March 16, following meetings of the AASA Board of Governors and AASA councils.

The program will begin on Wednesday morning, March 17, with keynote addresses by aftermarket channel partners, best practice presentations by members and panel discussions of trends and challenges affecting automotive aftermarket suppliers.

Other Conference highlights include:

• Sale Force panel discussion, “What Channel Partners Expect:” Moderator – Jack Cameron, AASA vice president; panelists – David Barbeau, vice president global independent aftermarket business unit, Delphi Product & Service Solutions; Jeff Brekke, president, N.A. automotive aftermarket, The Gates Corp.; Jim Duckworth, president, Quaker City Motor Parts (NAPA); Tim Lee, president, Lang Distributing; Roger McCollum, president, N.A. Williams Co.;
• Customer presentation: Larry Magee, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC and executive vice president of Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM), the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,100 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care™, Tires Plus™, ExpertTire™ and Wheel Works™ store locations;
• Keynote Presentation, Economic Outlook: Eric Hurst, Ph.D., professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and top-rated speaker from AASA Vision Conference 2009;
• “Driving Business Success in these Dynamic Times:” Mike Hanley, global automotive leader, Ernst & Young;
• Panel of AASA member executives discussing why they support OptiCat, the supplier-centric electronic catalog model: Moderator – Chris Gardner, AASA vice president; panelists – Jay Burkhart, Federal-Mogul; Dennis Welvaert, Dayco; Jeff Alexander, Affinia Group;
• Government affairs discussion led by Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA);
• “Your Association at Work:” AASA council update presented by Jeremy Denton, director, AASA; and

“Member Spotlights,” featuring innovative business solutions at AASA supplier member companies.

The AASA Vision Conference 2010: “Know Your Parts” will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. on March 17 with a Networking Reception. Additional AASA council meetings are scheduled for Thursday, March 18, at the InterContinental following the conference.

Ernst & Young is the AASA Vision Conference 2010 premier sponsor.

Details about the AASA Vision 2010 Conference, including keynote speakers, panelists, Vision Workgroup Sessions and online registration, are at the Conference Web site: www.aasavision.org or by contacting Chris Gardner at cgardner@mema.org.

About AASA

AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products. It is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is an affiliate of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, Leadership in the Global Automotive Aftermarket”

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