Continental Names Product Manager For Diagnostics And Services
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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 has recognized Truck-Lite and ECCO as its latest suppliers to earn the VIPAR Heavy Duty Strategic Partner (VSP) designation. The two companies, both part of Clarience Technologies, join a group of suppliers that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting the organization’s distributors, fleets and strategic initiatives across the heavy-duty aftermarket. “Truck-Lite and ECCO bring exceptional value to our distributor network through their commitment to innovation, safety, and service,” said Larry Griffin, vice president of program management for VIPAR Heavy Duty. “Their strong support of fleets, investment in data quality, and product offerings that extend across key international markets align closely with our strategic priorities. We are pleased to welcome them as Strategic Partners.”
Designation Criteria and Program Support
Truck-Lite and ECCO earned the designation by meeting key criteria established by
link hidden, please login to view, including active support of fleets through the organization’s National Accounts Program. The companies also contributed product content to PARTSPHERE PIM®, VIPAR Heavy Duty’s product information management system, and delivered comprehensive product programs that serve both VIPAR Heavy Duty and Power Heavy Duty distributors. “We are honored that Truck-Lite and ECCO have been recognized as VIPAR Heavy Duty Strategic Partners,” said Brian Olsen, executive vice president and president, Visibility Solutions, at Clarience Technologies. “This designation reflects our shared commitment to supporting distributors and fleets with innovative, high-quality solutions. We value our partnership and look forward to continued collaboration to deliver value across the heavy-duty aftermarket.”
Benefits of VSP Designation
Suppliers that earn the VSP designation benefit from enhanced visibility and engagement opportunities, including special recognition and priority positioning at the IMPACT Conference. They also receive expanded branding across distributor touchpoints and increased networking and collaboration with the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies team and distributor members.
Truck-Lite and ECCO join the VSP group alongside Baldwin Filters, Donaldson Company, East Penn, Grote, Prestone, Tectran and Tramec.
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By Counterman
The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG), an under-40 community of the Auto Care Association, announced its 2026 Next Step Program scholarship recipients for YANG programming at Auto Care Connect. The Next Step Program offers young automotive aftermarket professionals an opportunity to establish lasting involvement in the auto care industry.
The scholarship recipients will experience and engage in YANG programming at
link hidden, please login to view and Spring Leadership Days, part of Auto Care Connect week, all taking place May 11-14 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. 2026 Next Step Program Scholarship Recipients
Tiffany Auyeung, Genuine Parts/NAPA Shelby McLean, CRC Industries Dina Nikocevic, Parts Authority Samantha Schearer-Higdon, Schearer’s Sales & Service Inc. Joseph Pedorenko, TERREPOWER Scholarship Benefits and Networking Opportunities
The scholarship covers the entire cost to attend the 2026 Auto Care Connect week and provides access to networking opportunities for each of the scholarship recipients. The Next Step scholarship recipients can participate in up to 25 meetings and network with more than 450 veteran industry leaders during this three-and-a-half-day program. “Next Steppers” will experience up-close how the association and various aspects of the industry work.
YANG Programming at Auto Care Connect
The
link hidden, please login to view programming at Auto Care Connect is tailored to young professionals in the auto care industry to facilitate building connections with peers, learning from industry experts and coming together as one collective industry by sharing the best of ideas and solutions for today’s automotive aftermarket industry challenges. This in-person event provides industry-focused programming opportunities to enhance leadership skills and knowledge of the industry. The post
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By Counterman
Thirty years ago, I was full of questions. As a rookie counterman, I was also pretty short on answers. I hadn’t “been there, done that” and I didn’t even know about the T-shirt. I was strictly an order-taker, fumbling my way through a catalog of unfamiliar parts and asking a lot of questions. I asked coworkers what parts were called, I asked customers whatever the computer prompted me to, and I even asked myself (several times) if this was the right job for me. Turns out it was, and I just needed to learn to ask the right questions.
Customers come to us every day for answers, but the search often requires us to ask the right questions before we arrive at the answer to theirs. One of the most difficult types of questions from both sides of the counter involves diagnostics. Ideally, when a customer presents their request, their diagnosis is already complete and accurate. More often, we are also asked to interpret a symptom, translate a printout from a code reader, or offer a solution to a problem we haven’t experienced alongside the customer.
Professional technicians have a distinct advantage over parts specialists in the sense that they get to “experience” a repair from beginning to end, rather than being brought in midway through the process. From taking a test drive to performing pinpoint electrical testing or disassembling a component or assembly, technicians are literally “hands-on” throughout the repair process. On the other hand, we are frequently asked to give assistance without seeing, hearing or touching the vehicle in question.
In Australia and Asia, our job title is often advertised as “parts interpreter,” which is a pretty accurate description of what we do daily. We translate a foreign language for people who might not otherwise understand the information in front of their eyes. In order to perform our function as interpreters, we must be able to mentally perform a “virtual repair,” confirming that the correct diagnostic procedures have been carried out, that we are providing all of the necessary components and supplies to repair the vehicle, and then analyze the results to determine if our interpretation has been successful.
More than just cataloging and identifying parts or selecting boxes from a shelf, the best parts specialists have the knowledge of how these parts coexist within the systems that they are a part of. An understanding of the methods used to test and troubleshoot components is critical when determining what your customer has done (or not done) to arrive at their “diagnosis,” and to help guide them through the appropriate steps to correct any further issues they may have. In those cases when we do have the luxury of seeing the problem firsthand, using visual and audio clues along with our own knowledge of how the affected parts tend to fail gives us yet another opportunity to recommend the most appropriate solution for our customer. On those occasions when the diagnosis doesn’t match the parts request, this approach also helps us to prevent comebacks and “alleged defective” returns.
It’s often said that “there’s no such thing as a stupid question.” Looking back on my career behind the counter, I’m still not entirely convinced that’s true, but now I know that some questions are more important than others. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take you 30 years to figure out which ones those are, and that you aren’t afraid to keep asking until you do!
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By Counterman
Schaeffler announced its LuK TorCon torque converter product line has expanded with the release of the LuK 8L90 TorCon. The company said the 8L90 TorCon is engineered to outperform rebuilt alternatives up to five times longer.
Replacement Process and In-House Manufacturing
Designed to streamline the replacement process, the LuK 8L90 TorCon eliminates the need for model-specific cores that are typically required in torque converter rebuilding. The 8L90 TorCon is in stock and ready for installation.
link hidden, please login to view said it is manufactured to precise standards using all-new components and advanced manufacturing processes and is designed and built in-house from raw material to final assembly. Materials and Testing
Featuring LuK friction materials and INA premium thrust bearings, the LuK TorCon is engineered to withstand extreme operating conditions. Its fully furnace-brazed fins improve heat dissipation, reduce wear, and enhance long-term durability. The contamination-free manufacturing process includes 100% pressure and lockup testing, along with precision balancing, according to the company.
Applications and VIO
The LuK TorCon product line supports a broad range of applications for passenger cars and pickup trucks. Schaeffler said its expertise in manufacturing OE torque converters allows it to capture several applications through a single SKU.
The TorCon (TC0020) is compatible with select 2015 to 2022 General Motors trucks, vans and SUVs equipped with 8L90 transmissions. It covers multiple engines and has a current VIO of over 700,000, offering versatility when choosing a new torque converter.
link hidden, please login to view plans to release additional SKUs in the coming months.
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