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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
The curtain has closed on
link hidden, please login to view’ 2026 Annual General Meeting, which was held March 20-23 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville. The successful event brought together nearly 300 APA shareholders, TruStar members, and supplier partners for several days of collaboration, strategic discussion, relationship building and recognition. The meeting opened with a lively welcome reception that gave attendees the opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues and set the tone for a productive weekend, APA said. Date Night followed, providing suppliers with the opportunity to host shareholders and members for dinner and continue conversations in a more relaxed setting, helping strengthen relationships across the APA community.
Throughout the weekend, attendees also participated in scheduled one-on-one sessions featuring fast-paced, 20-minute meetings between shareholders, members, and supplier partners. This structured format encouraged productive discussions and allowed participants to connect with multiple partners while making the most of their time together.
In addition to these networking opportunities, attendees heard valuable updates on the state of the automotive aftermarket from Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association and Simeon Gutman, managing director of Morgan Stanley. Jason Popillion of Cyphernova also delivered a presentation exploring the expanding role of artificial intelligence and its growing influence across the automotive aftermarket.
APA President Steve Tucker welcomes the almost 300 attendees to the group’s annual conference and awards program. Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO, was a featured speaker at the APA event. The meeting concluded with the annual awards dinner, recognizing outstanding performance and long-standing commitment across the organization. The award winners are as follows:
Supplier Awards:
APA Supplier Champion Award – Gina Williams of Bosch
APA Supplier of the Year Award – FCS
Distinguished OE Partner Award – Denso
Outstanding Marketing Partner Award – DRiV
Cornerstone Award – Mevotech
Technology Award – Autologue
Content & Catalog Excellence Award – DRiV
Shareholder Awards:
Ambassador Award – Brown & Sons
Milestone Award – 50 Years – JR Auto Parts
Milestone Awards – 40 Years – H&H Wholesale Parts, Metric Auto Parts
Milestone Award – 30 Years – POJA Warehouse
New Member Recognition – Lang’s Auto Parts, Atlantic British, Prime Auto Parts, DEPSI Auto
“Bringing nearly 300 attendees together in Nashville created a tremendous environment for collaboration, meaningful conversations, and celebrating the strength of APA and TruStar,” said Steve Tucker, president of
link hidden, please login to view. “Meetings like this don’t happen without a great deal of planning behind the scenes, and I want to thank our APA staff, especially Jan Larson, our director of marketing, for delivering such a successful and engaging event for our shareholders, members, and supplier partners.” APA extends its sincere thanks to all attendees, presenters, and sponsors who contributed to making the 2026 AGM a resounding success. The organization looks forward to building on the momentum from this event as it continues to support its network throughout the year.
APA/TruStar’s 2027 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for March 12-16, in Charlotte, NC.
Supplier Partner Awards
Evening Reception – Entertainment
One-On-One Sessions
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By Counterman
The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) announced that
link hidden, please login to view has once again pledged its support to the CIF Annual Donor Program at the Urgent Care level, the second-highest tier of giving. Introduced in 2021, the Annual Donor Program was designed to bring needed recurring resources to the
link hidden, please login to viewso it can deliver on its mission to “answer the call” when those in the industry have been impacted by catastrophic events such as accidents, flooding, hurricanes, tornados or wildfires. For over two decades, through the generous support of corporations and individuals, CIF has been able to assist hundreds of collision repair professionals in need after disaster.
To learn more about the tax-deductible donations for the program, click
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view is tuning up for its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place March 20-23, 2026, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Each year, APA/TruStar’s AGM brings together shareholders, TruStar members and supplier partners for several days of collaboration, strategic planning and relationship building. In true Music City fashion, the 2026 meeting will strike the right chord between business and connection, offering meaningful networking opportunities, key business updates, and forward-looking discussions designed to strengthen partnerships and drive growth across both networks.
“The Annual General Meeting is one of the most important events of the year for our organization,” said Steve Tucker, president of
link hidden, please login to view. “It’s an opportunity to align on our vision, share insights, and ensure we’re positioned to support our shareholders and members in an evolving marketplace.” The meeting will kick off with a lively welcome reception, setting the tone for a productive and engaging weekend. The popular Date Night will follow, giving suppliers the opportunity to host a shareholder or member for dinner and build stronger, more personal connections.
Industry Insights
Attendees will also hear valuable insights from respected industry leaders. Bill Hanvey of the Auto Care Association and Simeon Gutman of Morgan Stanley will provide updates on the current state of the industry. Jason Popillion of Cyphernova will deliver a timely presentation on artificial intelligence and its growing impact on the automotive aftermarket. Complementing these sessions, scheduled one-on-one meetings between shareholders, members and suppliers will allow for focused business discussions and strategic planning.
The meeting will conclude with an awards dinner at the hotel, where APA/TruStar will celebrate outstanding achievements across its network. With Nashville as the backdrop, guests can expect an evening of recognition, celebration and just the right amount of Southern charm.
From business conversations to Broadway evenings, APA/TruStar’s Annual General Meeting remains a cornerstone event for strengthening the relationships that keep the organization moving forward.
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By Counterman
Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. (APH) welcomed more than 500 store owners, managers, sales representatives, supplier partners and support staff to its
link hidden, please login to view, held under the theme “All In!” A highlight of the three-day event was the awards banquet, which celebrated key accomplishments and recognized team members whose leadership and performance helped drive the company’s success in 2025.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize the team members who live the ‘All In’ mindset every single day,” said Corey Bartlett, CEO of APH. “Their dedication to serving customers, supporting one another and strengthening our company is evident in the way they show up and lead by example. They inspire those around them, and having the opportunity to pause and celebrate their achievements together makes the moment especially meaningful.”
Award recipients were selected through a comprehensive review process evaluating overall performance, leadership and contributions to sales, operations and team success across the organization. Members of APH’s leadership team presented the awards.
The evening’s top honor, the 2025 Store Manager of the Year award, was presented to Chelle Desmond of Thorp, Wisconsin. Desmond has been part of the Thorp location since 2019 and has served as store manager since 2023.
“Chelle is a tremendous advocate for her customers and her team,” said Jarvis Ruthven, regional manager for east central Wisconsin. “She approaches every challenge with a solutions-first mindset and a genuine desire to help. Her leadership, perseverance and positive attitude make her incredibly deserving of this recognition.”
In addition to Desmond,
link hidden, please login to view recognized the following individuals for outstanding contributions in 2025:
• Impact Player of the Year: Dustin Kremer, Sioux Falls, SD
• Regional Manager of the Year: Mark Tangen, Northern Minnesota Region
• Outside Sales Representative of the Year: Tabitha Parker, Tomah and Sparta, WI
• Counter Sales Representative of the Year: Ben Blackmon, Minot, ND
• Driver of the Year: Loren Vandervilet, Central City, SD
• Support Person of the Year: Tim Neumann, St. Cloud Store Support Center
• BENCO MVP of the Year: Matt Kubasek, St. Cloud, MN
• Refinish Supply Co. MVP of the Year: Tom Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD APH’s annual conference serves as both a strategic planning session and a collaborative forum, bringing together supplier partners and store teams to align on goals and initiatives for the year ahead. The “All In!” theme underscored the company’s shared commitment to partnership, performance and continued growth across APH’s family of stores.
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