GAAS attendees can now earn AAP and MAAP credits

This year's Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), which is scheduled to take place May 20-21 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago, has been approved for continuing education credits (CEU) by Northwood University's University of the Aftermarket. GAAS attendees will earn 1.0 CEUs toward the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) certifications if they attend the event.

"The University of the Aftermarket is pleased to recognize the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium as one of the essential educational events of the year," says University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank. "Attendees will gain valuable insight into the global aftermarket, while at the same time getting a little closer to earning their AAP or MAAP professional certifications."

Speakers for this year's symposium include:

- Tony Cristello, vice president, BB&T Capital Markets;
- Neil De Koker, president and CEO, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA);
- Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia;
- Steve Handschuh, president and COO, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (ASAA);
- Mike Hanley, partner, automotive industry leader, Ernst & Young;
- Fotios Katsardis, managing director, TEMOT International Autoparts GmbH;
- D. Bruce Merrifield Jr., president, Merrifield Consulting Group Inc.;
- Ron Pyle, president, Automotive Service Association (ASA);
- Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association;
- William A. Strauss, senior economist & economic advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; and
- Bill Wade, managing partner, Wade & Partners.

Panel discussions on important industry issues include:

- "Let's Know Them Before We Need Them," moderated by Ray Pohlman, vice president government relations, AutoZone;
- "Decision Makers — What Drives Today's Independent Repair Shop Owner to Choose One Parts Source Over Another," moderated by Gary Molinaro, editor/publisher, The Greensheet/Automotive Week;
- "Family Affair," moderated by John Washbish, president, CRM and Under Vehicle Group, Affinia Group; and
- "Private Equity and the Aftermarket," moderated by Dan Smith, president, Capstone Financial Group.

The fourth annual Polk Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Award will be presented by R. L. Polk & Co. during this year's symposium and is designed to recognize and reward outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency.

For more information about the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, visit the event's Web site.