July 11, 2012—PartsTrader, a Web-based parts sourcing, quoting and ordering platform for the collision repair industry, has created an industry advisory council.
PartsTrader said its intent of establishing the advisory council is to ensure that each of the core market segments using the PartsTrader platform—repairers and parts suppliers—has regular and structured opportunities to provide direct input on the system in order to maximize its value.
"Creating an industry advisory council is both necessary and appropriate,” said Rob Cooper, CEO of PartsTrader. "While we spoke with many collision repairers and parts suppliers during our first two years of research and initial building of our U.S. product offering, it is only through an ongoing, open engagement with our primary customer groups that we can ensure our product truly meets the needs of those using it."
PartsTrader’s advisory council will consist of representatives from both the repair and parts segments of the industry—including multi-location and single location shop operators, and OEM, aftermarket and recycled parts suppliers. PartsTrader said the advisory council will be large enough to represent the interests of both large and small businesses within each industry segment, but small enough to be an effective working group.
PartsTrader’s initial advisory council will be comprised of the following industry professionals:
• Michael Quinn, chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and vice president of industry and community relations for Caliber Collision Centers
• Steve Tomaszewski of Alpine Collision Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Michael LeVasseur of Keenan Auto Body in Clifton Heights, Pa.
• Lou DiLisio of Automotive Industry Consulting in Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
• Amber Elenbaas of Pete's Auto Parts in Jenison, Mich.
• Christopher Northup of General Distribution Consultants in Glendora, Calif.
Additional council members will be named in the near future, PartsTrader said. The council’s first meeting will be held this month.
"We were very careful in choosing who to invite to participate in this initial group," said Dale Sailer, vice president of business development for PartsTrader. "It was critical that we assemble a group of individuals who will not be shy about expressing their opinions and are willing to hold us accountable for our stated commitments to the industry, while also being forward thinking and business savvy. We think we've put together a group that will be very demanding of PartsTrader on behalf of their peers, to the ultimate benefit of both user groups."
