ACC Fall 2007 Meeting Registration Now Available

Mark your calendar for the fall ACC Conference, which will be held at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston, Mass. The diverse and exciting program launches Monday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. and completes Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. For Board members, the Board meeting starts at 11 a.m. and will end shortly before the start of the conference.
 
Register before Aug. 17 and save $100 off your registration fee. Click here for the registration form, which includes contact information for the special AAIA rate at the Omni Parker House Hotel. 
 
Speakers will include Luanne Brown, eTool Developers, discussing e-learning tools and Web site implementation; Rick Thomas, Media Rich, addressing product integration and media placement; Kevin Judge, Brenton Productions, with an update on multi-media opportunities; and a service dealer roundtable discussion plus much more. The fall meeting will also include the usual fabulous ACC networking reception and dinner in beautiful Boston. For more information on ACC and the 2007 fall Conference, visit the ACC Web site at http://www.acc-online.org/ or call 240-333-1089.

ACC Spring 2007 Meeting a Tremendous Success

The ACC 2007 Spring Meeting provided terrific education and networking opportunities for attendees. Held at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Chandler, Ariz., April 26-28, an enthusiastic group of nearly 40 aftermarket communications professionals spent two and a half days learning about the latest in the industry.

Ron Cates, Constant Contact, kicked off day one with a presentation on effective e-mail campaigns, followed by Michael McCartney, Quality Logistics Management, who educated the group on the up and coming use of RFID technology. Local repair shop owners joined the group in a roundtable discussion which provided conference attendees with a unique opportunity to gain a new perspective on the service side of the industry. Day one was capped off by an evening reception under the warm desert sky. 

Day two started with Ruth Wagner, XM Satellite Radio, giving an overview of the newest in radio technology and advertising, while Richard Laermer, RLM Public Relations, taught the group about “full frontal PR.” The afternoon provided attendees with the opportunity to enjoy Phoenix on their own by playing golf or enjoying one of the hotel’s nature trails. A good time was had by all during the group dinner at Rawhide restaurant. 

Arlene Davis, AAIA, and Theresa Spera, AASA, began day three with a discussion on how to enhance the AAIW experience while at AAPEX. Lance Boldt, AutoNetTV, rounded out the conference by presenting the group with “Communagonametrics: Break Through the Clutter.”

Photos are now available by clicking here. 

ACC 2007-2008 Board of Governors Announced

ACC is pleased to announce its Board of Governors and officers for 2007-2008.

Officers

President – Tom Marx, The Marx Group
First Vice President – Katie Noga, SKF Automotive Division
Second Vice President – Neal Zipser, The Catevo Group
Treasurer – David Kobuszewski, NASCAR
Secretary – Tony Molla, ASE
Immediate Past President – Barry Harris, The Timken Corporation

Board of Governors

2008 Term
Tim Bellagamba, Bell Litho, Inc.
Steve Boguski, Newbury Partners
Jeff Stankard, Babcox Publications

2009 Term
Bob Barstow, ADN
Scott Howat, Affinia Group
Laura Sullivan, Akebono

ACC would like to extend a sincere thanks to outgoing president Barry Harris, Timken, immediate past president Dave Wheeler, Wheeler & Associates, LLC, and retiring board members Bill Hanvey, Dorman Products, and Brian Tarnacki, Federal-Mogul.

Automotive Communications Award Entries Now Being Accepted

The Car Care Council Women's Board and the Automotive Communication Council acknowledge companies and advertising and PR agencies that provide breakthrough marketing messages to consumers and the trade professionals who interact with them on a daily basis. The annual Automotive Communications Awards recognize and reward outstanding advertising, marketing, merchandising and/or effective PR.

Entries for the 2007 Automotive Communications Awards are due by Friday, Sept. 7. Click here to download the entry form.

Also, if you are a current ACC member and interested in potentially serving as a judge for the 2007 ACA awards, e-mail womensboard@carcare.org.

For more information on the 2007 ACA awards or judging, contact Emily Baxter at 301-654-6664 or e-mail emily.baxter@aftermarket.org.

ACC Web Site Members-Only Section is Here for You!

The Members-Only section of the Automotive Communication Council (ACC) Web site, http://www.acc-online.org/, was launched earlier this year and is a fantastic benefit for members. In an effort to better serve ACC, this section of the site contains an online membership directory, job postings, meeting presentations and more.

To visit the new section, visit http://www.acc-online.org/ and click “Members Only Section” in the “What’s New” box on the home page. The universal user name, exclusive to ACC members, is acc; password is acc2007.

Your input and contributions are needed to make this section great. To make changes or additions to the members-only section of the site, call 240-333-1089 or e-mail acc@aftermarket.org.

ACC Meet-A-Member

To help members learn more about the other aftermarket professionals in ACC, Spin is pleased to introduce a new regular feature, ACC Meet-A-Member. If you are interested in participating, contact Alexis Walters at 240-333-1089 or e-mail alexis.walters@aftermarket.org.  

Profile on Neal Zipser
ACC Second Vice President

Currently: 
Vice President, Catevo Aftermarket
Catevo is a global integrated communications, marketing, technology and management consultancy based in Raleigh, N.C.

Summary of My Career:
Sixteen years of experience in the light and heavy vehicle OE and aftermarket industries. Prior to Catevo, Zipser was vice president of marketing and communications for MEMA. Before that, he was marketing communications manager for Visteon and helped launch the company into the independent aftermarket.

Goals as ACC Second Vice President:
“My goal is to increase membership with manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Obviously there is strength in numbers and greater collaboration among channel partners can be generated as our membership becomes more diverse.”

Greatest Value of ACC Membership:
“The networking is awesome. You get to touch base with others in the industry and share war stories. Relationships are very important for the aftermarket and you can never know enough people. Oh yeah, you learn things at the meetings too.”

Thought on the Industry:
“I’m concerned that many, if not most, aftermarket products are in jeopardy of becoming commodities. Unfortunately, the train has already left the station. As this happens, the industry becomes price driven, brand equity is lost and value-added programs are no longer valued. The end result may be a cheaper product but quality, training, image and much more are compromised. As marketers, it’s up to us to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

Education:
Central Michigan University

Family:
Married for 12 years to Cheryl; no kids but three Scottish Terriers and a cat

What I Do For Fun:
Sleep, “socialize,” watch TV, play baseball (not softball), play with my dogs

Pet Peeves:
The “Reply All” button, single ply toilet paper, unmarked police cars, meetings to schedule other meetings, mixed drinks with only the mix, “gawker” slowdowns on the freeway, Rosie O’Donnell, any politician, Nicole Ritchie…the newsletter isn’t long enough
 
The Old Stomping Grounds:
Ferndale, Mich., just north of Detroit.
“My childhood was something to forget. Let’s just say I can totally relate to Corey Feldman and Todd Bridges and leave it at that.”

People I’d Like to Have a Drink With:
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nolan Ryan, Dick Vitale, Mohammad Ali, Shakira, Barry Sanders, Larry the Cable Guy

ACC Tip of the Month

During the 2007 spring meeting Ron Cates, Constant Contact, provided attendees with valuable information on how to create an effective e-mail campaign. A useful Web site suggested by Cates can be found by clicking here. This link can also be found by visiting the “Tips and Tricks” section in the new Members-Only section of the ACC Web site. 

If you have any useful tips or tricks that you would like to include, contact Alexis Walters at 240-333-1089 or e-mail alexis.walters@aftermarket.org.  

ACC Member Testimonial

Why should you be at ACC’s 2007 fall Meeting this year? Tony Molla, vice president, communication, ASE, and ACC Board member has the answer to that question:

"One of the great things about attending an ACC meeting is that I always walk away with at least one nugget that I can use in my marketing plan immediately. It's a great source of information on trends, best practices and marketing ideas." 

ACC Mission

To provide a sophisticated, beneficial and supportive networking forum for marketing professionals engaged in public relations, advertising, branding and other communication practices in an effort to help them manage ideas, information and resources about issues, challenges and trends impacting the automotive aftermarket industry.