A Varied and Exciting Life

During the Meet-A-Member segment of the conference, Rich White, vice president of marketing and communications for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, gave a funny and insightful look at his years in the aftermarket, and what led him to this industry in the first place.

The glass is always half full, according to White, who entertained attendees with stories about growing up and playing baseball in a small upstate New York town to working in the jungles of West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

His presentation then followed his varied career in communications, including stints as a top-40 country radio disc jockey, a newspaper reporter in New Mexico, Texas and New York, PR/communications department head for several associations, including AAA and ASE, and a year on the "dark side" in agency life.

White shared some of his philosophies and anecdotes, formed from his experiences living and working in Africa and being inspired by civil rights leader Rosa Parks. He has a strong interest and a spiritual appreciation of native peoples' history, beliefs and culture as a result of attending college in New Mexico. Speaking to what he referred to as the most powerful emotion, fear, he challenged the group with the question: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

Saving the best for last, Rich concluded with a testimonial to his wife Nancy and children Jaime and Ricki - his real priorities - whom he lives with in Leesburg, Virginia.

4600 East-West Hwy.
Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone:
240-333-1089

Fax:
301-654-3299

E-mail:
acc@aftermarket.org