AASA Vision Conference Keynote Presentation to Spotlight O’Reilly

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Attendees at the 2016 Vision Conference presented by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from O’Reilly Executive Vice President Greg Johnson how the company delivers unmatched growth and performance.

“O’Reilly Automotive is one of the consistent leaders in the automotive aftermarket supply chain, recently posting four consecutive quarters of double-digit earnings and revenue growth for 2015,” said AASA President and COO Bill Long. “AASA supplier members will benefit from Greg’s perspective as a 32-year veteran of the aftermarket, including 15 years with O’Reilly as it grew to be one of the top four aftermarket retailers”

Johnson joined O’Reilly in 2001 when the company purchased Mid-State Automotive. He began his career as a part-time stocker in the Mid-State distribution center in Nashville, Tenn., and advanced to retail systems manager and director of information systems. During his tenure with O’Reilly, he has served as warehouse management system development manager, director of distribution, vice president of distribution, and senior vice president of distribution operations. Johnson was promoted to his present positon in 2014.

The 2016 AASA Vision Conference is slated for Tuesday, April 5 through Thursday, April 7 at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, Rosemont, Ill. It includes three days of ground-breaking thought leadership organized around the theme of “Connecting the Aftermarket” and featuring matter experts, value-added take-aways, interactive demonstrations by solution providers and networking with industry partners and peers. 

The Conference will open with a Networking Reception on Tuesday, April 5 with leading members of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). AASA President and COO Bill Long will kick off the joint Conference session with AWDA on Wednesday, April 6, with his presentation, “Shaping Our Industry: 100-Year Partnership,” connecting the strong tradition of aftermarket supplier-customer relationships to how critical they will be in addressing emerging and disruptive challenges. Following the joint AASA / AWDA networking luncheon, the conference will continue with afternoon sessions for suppliers and conclude with a networking reception. 

In addition to Johnson, featured presenters and panelists will include: 

• Nat Beuse, associate administrator vehicle safety research, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Rob Infantino, CEO of Openbay
• Marcus Jadotte, assistant secretary of commerce for industry & analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) International Trade Administration
• Bret D. Jordan, CFA, managing director – research analyst, Jefferies, LLC
• Xavier Mosquet, senior partner and automotive practice Americas leader, Boston Consulting Group
• Mark Saxonberg, Manager, Advanced Fuel Vehicles & Environment, Toyota USA, Inc.
• Donny Seyfer, chairman, Automotive Service Association (ASA)
• Gary Silberg, partner, national industry leader automotive, KPMG LLP
• Jason Schenker, CFP, ERP, CVA, president, Prestige Economics, LLC
• Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, MEMA
• Peter Yorke, CEO and co-founder of Voyomotive LLC

Vision presentations and panel discussions will focus on:

• Shaping Our Industry: 100-Year Partnership
• New Vehicle Technology: Where We Are Headed
• From D.C. to Silicon Valley
• DMCA, Cybersecurity & Telematics: Threats to the Independent Aftermarket?
• What’s in Store for Our Industry
• A Third Party View of the Independent Aftermarket
• Leadership and Perspective: POV from Supplier Executives

The 2016 AASA Vision Conference also includes meeting of the association’s peer and product groups: the Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC), the AASA Technology Council (ATC) and the AASA Marketing Executives Council (MEC).

Details about registration, the agenda, council meetings and hotel accommodations are available at www.aasavision.org.

About AASA

AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products which support 710,000 employees in the United States. AASA is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, The Voice for the Automotive Aftermarket Supplier Industry”