GAAS Announces 2010-2011 Officers

CHICAGO, IL –  December 20, 2010 – The board of directors for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) has elected officers for 2010-2011. Dave Caracci was selected to serve another term as GAAS chairman, a position he has held since 2007. A retired vice president of sales at Robert Bosch LLC and past chairman of both AAIA and the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, Caracci serves as the executive director of the National Engine Parts Manufacturers Association and an aftermarket business coach.

Brian Cruickshank, director, University of the Aftermarket, Northwood University was elected vice chairman and Pete Kornafel, chair of the GAAS Scholarship Committee, was elected secretary-treasurer. 

Before joining Northwood University in 2008, Cruickshank worked in various roles at Babcox Publications during his 15-year automotive journalism career including his last post as editor-in-chief of Counterman magazine. During his career, he has received numerous industry awards for his writing, including the Northwood University Automotive Education Award in 2006 and multiple awards from the Automotive Communications Council and the American Society of Business Press Editors. In 2009, he was named the AIA Young Executive of the Year.

Kornafel has been the vice chairman of CARQUEST since 2001. He served as president of the group from 1996-2001, managing the CARQUEST Headquarters Office in Lakewood, Colorado. From1970 to 1996, he was president and owner of Hatch Grinding Company in Denver, an automotive parts distributor and CARQUEST member. The company had distribution centers in Denver and Albuquerque, serving 100+ CARQUEST Auto Parts stores, including eight company owned stores.
In other news, Caracci announced that Northwood University has agreed to become a financial sponsor of GAAS 2011 to be held May 18-19 in Rosemont, Ill. at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.  Northwood joins R.L. Polk & Co. and Automotive Week/The Greensheet as 2011 sponsors. 

GAAS 2011 will focus on the theme “Aftermarket Fast Forward: What You Need to Know to Stay Ahead.” The annual two-day Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the worldwide automotive aftermarket and influencing its future. For more information on GAAS 2011, visit www.globalsymposium.org or phone (301) 654-6664.