The Alliance Hosts Winter Shareholder Meeting in Aventura, FL
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By Counterman
Automotive Parts Associates (APA) is pleased to announce that Midwest Parts Hub, a division of Kelley Automotive Group based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has joined the group as a shareholder.
Founded in 1952 by Jim Kelley, Kelley Automotive Group is a family-owned dealership group representing multiple vehicle brands and serving customers throughout northeastern Indiana and beyond. Midwest Parts Hub opened in 2025 and services customers throughout the surrounding region through its extensive inventory of genuine General Motors OEM, ACDelco and aftermarket parts, along with daily delivery routes and advanced technology systems. The company emphasizes inventory availability, experienced staff, technology integration and reliable service as key drivers of its continued success.
“In today’s market, if you want to stay competitive, you need to be part of a program group,” said Mike Smith, parts director for Kelley Automotive Group. “Operating completely on your own is no longer effective. After evaluating our options, we knew
link hidden, please login to view was the right choice.” “We are excited to welcome Midwest Parts Hub to APA,” said Steve Tucker, president of APA/TruStar. “Their long-standing commitment to service, innovation, and operational excellence makes them a tremendous addition to our shareholder family.”
For more information about Kelley Automotive Group, visit
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By Counterman
The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. announced Christen Vasquez has been promoted to Events and Hospitality Manager, effective May 2026. In her expanded role, Vasquez will lead the planning and execution of Alliance events and hospitality initiatives, enhancing shareholder engagement and customer experiences while supporting industry partnerships.
“Christen has made an immediate impact on our organization through her professionalism, creativity and ability to execute exceptional events,” said John C. Washbish, president and CEO of the Alliance. “She has demonstrated outstanding leadership and brought a level of experience and strategic thinking that elevates every event and interaction. We are excited to see her continue to grow in this new role.”
Vasquez joined the Alliance in May, 2025 as events and marketing specialist, bringing more than 20 years of experience in event planning, hospitality, marketing strategy and brand development. Throughout her career, she has successfully planned and executed high-impact corporate events, conferences, trade shows, experiential activations and customer engagement programs ranging from intimate executive gatherings to large-scale events hosting thousands of attendees.
Since joining the Alliance, Vasquez has played a key role in managing event strategy and execution, including logistics, hospitality experiences, vendor partnerships, and branded marketing initiatives. She will collaborate in hosting Alliance meetings and shareholder events, customer experiences and other large-scale meetings like the upcoming Automotive Parts Services Group National Conference.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing with the Alliance,” said Vasquez. “Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside an amazing team and supporting events that deliver tremendous value to our members and partners. I look forward to continuing to create meaningful experiences and building on the momentum we’ve established.”
Vasquez will continue working closely with Alliance leadership, members, and industry partners to support the organization’s event and hospitality initiatives.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view proudly presented link hidden, please login to view (GPD) with the 2026 Receiver’s Choice Award at the Auto Care Association’s Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) Knowledge Exchange Conference, held May 11–14 in Atlanta. The award recognizes GPD’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accurate and complete product content, along with its dedication to continuous improvement and industry best practices. The Receiver’s Choice Award honors organizations that provide exceptional content, including ACES, PIES, digital assets, and customer-specific formats. Recipients are selected by content receivers who support ACPN and are evaluated based on accuracy, timeliness, completeness, consistency, and overall data integrity.
The 2026 award was presented by Lance Brierley, director of technology solutions, and Jimmy Golden, director of eCommerce solutions at Alliance Headquarters.
“GPD’s commitment to maintaining clean, accurate, and timely content has made a measurable impact across our data ecosystem,” said Jimmy Golden. “Their team consistently demonstrates a strong understanding of the standards and responsiveness required to support our distribution and sales efforts.”
“What set GPD apart is not only the quality of their data, but also their proactive approach to collaboration and continuous improvement,” added Lance Brierley. “They’ve shown a clear dedication to advancing content excellence in a way that benefits the entire network.”
Global Parts Distributors was recognized for its outstanding performance in content delivery and for playing a key role in strengthening the digital foundation of product representation across the Alliance network.
link hidden, please login to view congratulates Global Parts Distributors on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to continued collaboration and success. Pictured from Left to Right: Lance Brierley, John Johnson, Kassandra Dore, Natalie Houseman and Jimmy Golden.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Giving Rally brought together more than 850 distributor members, suppliers, and industry partners for a week of connection, collaboration, and industry advancement, while raising $70,000 for the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF). “The generosity and engagement we saw this week was truly inspiring,” said Tina Hubbard, president and CEO of HDA Truck Pride. “Raising $70,000 for AACF reflects the powerful heart of this network—coming together to support our own when it matters most.”
Tina Hubbard, president and CEO, HDA Truck Pride. The event kicked off with a welcome reception, live auction, and the annual Giving Rally Cornhole Tournament, setting the tone for a week centered on purpose and community. Proceeds from activities throughout the week directly benefit AACF, which provides critical support to families within the aftermarket industry facing hardship.
“Spending time with the
link hidden, please login to view Truck Pride community at their Annual Meeting was incredibly meaningful,” shared John Kairys, executive director of The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF). “The conversations, the willingness to help, and the genuine care for others in our industry really stood out. That kind of support allows AACF to step in quickly and make a real difference for families facing difficult moments.” Trade Show And Breakout Sessions
Monday’s agenda featured a trade show where attendees connected on new product innovations to drive business forward. A series of breakout sessions delivered actionable insights on key topics including artificial intelligence adoption, cybersecurity preparedness, digital visibility, operational efficiency and workforce development.
USS Midway And Cornhole Tournament Finals
An evening aboard the historic USS Midway brought attendees together for laughter, friendship, patriotism, and a tribute to veterans. The cornhole tournament finals were held onboard, with Joe Brooks and Dan Harbut of Acme Truck Brake & Supply taking home the championship title.
Network Growth, CVL Warehouse, And Right-To-Repair
Tuesday’s general session highlighted the continued strength and growth of the HDA Truck Pride network, which now includes more than 220 member companies, more than 1,000 distributor locations, and more than 550 service affiliates across North America. Leadership emphasized ongoing investments in the new HDA Truck Pride CVL Warehouse with expanded product access, digital transformation, and workforce development.
Advocacy efforts included Right-to-Repair initiatives and building future talent pipelines.
HDA Truck Pride EDDY Awards
The meeting recognized excellence across the network through several HDA Truck Pride EDDY Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to education, leadership, and professional development.
“HDA Truck Pride is a great place to be—because of our people,” Hubbard said. “Every member who chose to invest in us. Every supplier who chose to partner with us. Every staff member who chooses to show up every day. We built this. And we are only getting started. We’re especially grateful to our supplier partners, including our Annual Meeting Valor sponsors — Gates, Milwaukee, Old World Industries, Valvoline, and Bendix, without whose support we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Pictured above (from left): Jon Owens, president, AACF Board of Trustees; Tina Hubbard, president & CEO, HDA Truck Pride; John Kairys, executive director, AACF.
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By Counterman
Automotive Parts Associates (APA) announced that Cereal City Auto Parts of Battle Creek, Michigan, has joined the organization as its newest shareholder.
Owned by Frank Marz and his business partner, Matt Green, Cereal City Auto Parts brings more than two decades of industry experience and a strong commitment to growth, service, and strategic inventory expansion to APA/TruStar. Marz began his career in the automotive aftermarket 24 years ago working in tires at Pep Boys and later joined Cereal City Auto Parts in 2010 as general manager before purchasing the business in 2023. Today, he owns the company and its three locations in partnership with Green and continues to guide its development and expansion.
Joining APA will allow Cereal City Auto Parts to further diversify product offerings, strengthen supplier relationships, and improve inventory availability. Marz said he was particularly interested in the opportunity
link hidden, please login to view provides to expand line acquisition and accelerate access to inventory, as well as the value of the organization’s data analytics resources to support informed business decisions and long-term growth planning. “APA offers the flexibility and insight we were looking for as we continue building the business,” said Marz. “The ability to add lines more efficiently and take advantage of the data analysis tools available through the group made becoming a shareholder a natural next step for us.”
“We’re excited to welcome Cereal City Auto Parts to the
link hidden, please login to view family,” said Steve Tucker, President. “Their commitment to growth and their community will make them strong addition to our shareholder base. We look forward to working with them and helping them buy better!” The post
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