AMN Drivetime

When you’ve worked for a company for more than 40 years, you certainly know “where the bodies are buried,” as they say. But more fascinating, you’re a walking history book, seeing the company through its ups and downs, successes and flops and stellar innovations that have defined the next generation of the aftermarket.

Jeff Kritzer, president and CEO of BendPak, is one of those guys.Kritzer started at BendPak, a California-based company best known for its car lifts and wheel service equipment, when he was a 20-something recent college grad. As he describes it, he found out about the job thanks to family connections: Owner Don Henthorn’s daughter was best friends with Jeff’s sister at the time. He knew Jeff was in search of a job, and Jeff soon started in the company’s shipping and receiving department. Thanks to his innovative thinking and hard work, Jeff worked his way up in the company, seeing through dozens of brands, products and industry firsts over the years.

In the latest episode of AMN Drivetime, sponsored by AISIN, Jeff delves into:

• His “rags to riches” career trajectory at BendPak (1:10)
• Advice and good business practices Jeff has learned from his mentors, including Henthorn (2:54);
• How BenPak’s product lines have evolved over time to meet market demand (4:52);
• How the BendPak name was born and its offerings for the aftermarket today (6:00);
• Innovations around BendPak’s CoolBoss product line (11:51);
• Why BendPak recently opened an industrial complex in Alabama and how it feeds into the company’s strategy (14:17);
• Potetial growth Jeff sees for BendPak and its aftermarket brands (15:51);
• Reasons why the company purchased a new California HQ and wants employees to come into the office each day (17:13);
• How EVs are affecting lifts and wheel service equipment (20:03)
• Rapid Fire Questions (22:23)

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN. Find more episodes here.

As a 30-plus-year automotive aftermarket veteran, Ted Hughes has seen change after change in the industry. He's experienced countless technological improvements. During his almost 24 years as head of marketing for MAHLE, he charged head-first into the digital era -- embracing digital media, e-commerce and a "data is king" mindset. Yet despite the evolution of the industry, one aspect has remained true: nothing beats the solid relationships that form long-lasting business partnerships and make this industry strong.

About a year ago, he joined the Auto Care Association as executive director of the Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) and also took on the role of senior director of community engagement for the association, putting his love for the industry and his expertise for creating industry engagement to work. Although challenges abound, Ted looks at them as opportunities.

In this episode of AMN Drivetime with Bill Babcox, presented by AISIN, Ted delves into:

• Making the change to association work and its biggest rewards (0:54);
• How he was fitted for skates at a young age and what playing hockey and other sports taught him that he takes into his career (3:13);
• Ted's career trajectory and how he found the automotive aftermarket (6:54);
• Shifts in the overall business that impacted Ted's roles and how he and his team addressed them (10:36)
• The future of AWDA (15:47);
• The importance of face-to-face interaction (18:39);
• Rapid Fire Questions (24:40)

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN. Find more episodes here.

The Schwartz name is synonymous with the automotive aftermarket. It started with Mort Schwartz, an engineer by training who served as chairman and CEO of four different automotive aftermarket companies from the 60s to the 90s. Mort's service to the aftermarket, including as a member and chair of various aftermarket committees, spans more than 40 years, and now his son, Rick, is following in his footsteps to make the Schwartz name a leader in M&A advising and business growth strategies in the industry.

Rick received his MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business, and while his father grew and ran companies in the aftermarket, Rick's career spans multiple industries working in management positions for the likes of Macy's, Nestle and The Upper Deck Company early in his career. He gained C-suite level experience as the COO of a health and fitness company before joining forces with his dad to create Schwartz Advisors, an M&A and growth consultant for companies in the automotive aftermarket.

In 2006, Schwartz Advisors was born, and since then, the firm has added 12 industry experts from different segments to consult on various deals and strategies. In this episode of AMN Drivetime, sponsored by AISIN, Rick delves into:

• The reasons why he initially studied international relations (1:00)
• Lessons he learned from working at large companies in different industries early in his career (1:44)
• How Schwartz Advisors was born (2:54)
• The breadth and depth of Schwartz Advisors' expertise (4:02)
• Trends in M&A in the macroeconomy and the automotive aftermarket (8:02)
• The types of business that are a good fit for the "buy-side" and "sell-side" of acquisitions (10:22)
• Lessons Rick learned from his father, Mort (12:42)
• Rapid Fire questions (14:18)

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN. Find more episodes here.

Michael Ceritano's resume includes an array of positions from around the aftermarket: marketing manager, car wash consultant, owner of an auto accessory business, aftermarket sales director and now COO. With a career spanning 30-plus years in the automotive aftermarket, Ceritano has used his industry expertise combined with his business savvy and willingness to learn new skills to grow GSP North America's business exponentially in the almost six years he's been with the company.

In this episode of AMN Drivetime, presented by AISIN, Ceritano describes how he worked his way up in the industry, the ways he has helped grow the GSP North America team and what he feels has been integral to the company's success.

Ceritano delves into:

• His forray into the automotive aftermarket with Chrysler (0:30)
• GSP's key product offerings and its history in North America (3:13)
• Why GSP has been "one of the most rewarding places" he has worked and how he has helped build the current team at GSP North America (5:36)
• The four P's that are driving factors of GSP North America's growth (9:37)
• The lessons he and his team learned during COVID with a majority of their production in China (11:32)
• Why GSP has launched value-added services like training for technicians who use its products (14:56)
• Rapid Fire Questions (16:11)

Find more AMN Drivetime episodes here: https://www.aftermarketnews.com/tag/amn-drivetime/

This episode is sponsored by AISIN. Learn more about AISIN here: https://www.aisinworld.com/

Upon celebrating his 80th birthday and 64 years in the automotive aftermarket, Jim Franco is as energized as ever about the business opportunities he sees in the market today. As president and CEO of Autologue Computer Systems, Jim has been in the software industry since the mid-80s and has seen a huge technological evolution–not only on the parts side but also the hardware and software side. While some may lament the changes that have been made, especially over a 64-year-career, Jim approaches it with gusto and believes others should, too.


While Jim boasts that he is building a “rocket ship” with the great people at Autologue, he is quick to acknowledge that the root of this industry is in relationships–buying and selling parts from your local shop and getting them delivered in 30 minutes or less.“Nobody can compete with that,” Franco says. “Amazon is trying to, but they don’t even come close.” In this episode of AMN Drivetime Quick Hits, sponsored by AISIN, Franco delves into:

• Reflections on his 80th birthday and how his business has evolved (0:46)
• His thoughts on the market today including technology and EVs (4:02)
• His plans for Autologue, including how he and his team are taking PartsWatch to a whole new level and building a “rocket ship” (6:06)
• The “Win the Day” Dashboard and why every auto parts distribution manager should use a tool like it (8:13)
• How Jim creates a culture of taking pride in your work at Autologue (10:32)
• Rapid Fire questions (12:53)

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN. Find more episodes here.

For many in this industry, the automotive aftermarket is in their blood. They grew up in the business, whether it was wrenching in the summers in high school or hanging out with their parents at their place of work. This was the case for Travis Roffler, who has been the director of marketing of Continental Tire the Americas for almost 18 years and is a tire guy through and through.
Growing up, Travis remembers wrenching with his dad in their garage and being fascinated with cars and racing at a young age. Little did he know that after graduating with a marketing degree from Florida State in 1992, his first job would be with Michelin North America as a customer service representative. He worked his way up at Michelin to become the company’s marketing manager. Soon after, he was recruited by Toyo Tire USA to be its director of marketing. Travis credits his following his passion for automotive and the people in the industry for his “blessed” career.

Travis has worked as the director of marketing for Continental Tire for almost 18 years and manages a team that is responsible for marketing for both the Continental and General Tire brands, including brand development, programs and promotions, product planning, communications and more.

In this episode of AMN Drivetime, hear Travis discuss:

• How Travis’ got his start in the ‘s passion for automotive led him to a career in automotive (0:29)
• Key mentors that helped Travis learn the tire business (4:40)
• Changing moments in Travis’ career, including one that would affect his family (9:00)
• The meaning Continental’s new taglines for its Conti and General brands and the process and research Travis and his team did to change them and make them meaningful (14:27)
• What Travis sees as a few key trends in the tire industry today, from manufacturing to retail (20:54)
• Travis’ proudest career moment (26:50)

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN. Find more episodes here.

Continuous improvement, known as “lean” in the manufacturing world, has been a guiding force for Ben Pryor, vice president of commercial for the Coats Co.

Earlier in his career at Hennessy Industries (parent company of Coats), Pryor spent four months learning lean principles by going to the “gemba” – a Japanese term that refers to the place where the work is done.

Pryor, appearing on “AMN Drivetime” with Bill Babcox, says the four-month lean immersion was “a rich experience” that continues to inform his thinking and decisions. The experience built on his previous exposure to lean while working for a manufacturing business in the St. Louis area earlier in his career.

In this “AMN Drivetime” episode, Ben and Bill also talk about:

• 00:36 – Ben’s path to the automotive aftermarket

• 2:14 – People who have influenced Ben the most during his career

• 4:00 – Life-changing, momentous moments in his career

• 8:16 – Process of company rebranding

• 10:38 – Branching into other service categories

• 11:59 – Coats’ shop-productivity software

• 15:18 – How tire equipment likely will evolve

• 17:25 – The Lightning Round!

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN.

In the last three years, Aisin World Corp. Of America has experienced its fair share of changes. As a result of the pandemic, the company expanded its operations. In 2021, it merged two business units to create Aisin Corp. to better foster synergies within the group and address future challenges like electrification. That same year, the company rebranded, and now, it’s ready for the mobility challenges that await the aftermarket.

“We’re putting ourselves in a place where we're not only going to be known for our timing belt kits and water pumps, but also for future product categories as well,” explained Larrow Kaufman, senior sales manager for the North American Aftermarket at Aisin World Corp. Of America. “That is going to allow us to be relevant now and in the future for installers and WDs.”

In this AMN Drivetime episode, Dwayne, Larrow and Bill discuss:

• The career paths for Dwayne and Larrow and how both found their way to Aisin (0:29)
• How Aisin expanded its operations and implemented new warehouse software because of the pandemic (4:30)
• The history behind the Aisin Seiki merger with Aisin AW Co. and how the move brought the “best of both worlds” together (7:03)
• Reasons for Aisin’s rebrand in 2021 and how it unites all of Aisn’s business units (11:20)
• Larrow describes Aisin’s biggest growth opportunities (14:17)
• Dwayne explains how Aisin is looking outside the box to service EVs now and in the future (15:57)
• Dwayne and Larrow dig into the marathons and races they’ve participated in (23:09)
• Larrow talks about his collection of Datsun vehicles (28:23)

More AMN Drivetime: https://www.aftermarketnews.com/category/podcasts/amn-drivetime-podcast/

More from Aisin: https://www.aisinworld.com/

At the helm of one of the automotive aftermarket’s leading remanufacturing firms, GB Remanufacturing President and CEO Michael Kitching says he’s proud to see remanufacturing getting the attention it deserves as a key player in the growing sustainability conversations taking place today.
GB Remanufacturing was founded by Mike and his father Bill Kitching in 1986. The company remanufactures and distributes premium gasoline and diesel fuel system related products to its customers around the world and is based in Long Beach, California.

“Remanufacturing is the ultimate environmentally friendly type of business,” said Kitching. “We take units that are previously deemed either defective or just used and remanufacture that to OEM specs or better sometimes. It saves the environment, it saves the consumer a lot of money, so yeah, we're proud to be in this industry.” Kitching recently joined Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox in the AMN Drivetime podcast studio to talk about changes in the industry, the story of building a family owned and operated business and much more.

During the interview, Bill and Mike talk about:
0:10: A bit of history about the family business, what the “GB” in the company name stands for and why
01:37 What Mike originally set out to do as a career before joining the family business
03:42 The renewed interest in reman today as a key element of sustainability efforts
06:48 The importance of keeping GB Remanufacturing jobs in the U.S.
08:40 Other critical industry and business issues the company is watching closely right now
11:55 Mike’s diehard love of the Long Beach Grand Prix and how that got started
14:30 Mike’s favorite hobbies (skiing and golfing) and where he enjoys them
16:59 The ever-popular Lightning Round

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN.

In this latest episode of AMN Drivetime, Babcox Media CEO Bill Babcox sits down with Daryl Benton, vice president, sales and marketing automotive aftermarket, North America, MANN+HUMMEL, to discuss a wide range of topics, including Daryl’s own career path from consumer products to the aftermarket, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Purolator brand and the way MANN+HUMMEL’s mission contributes to the health and safety of motorists and the environment today.

Starting out his career with a Mechanical Engineering Degree, early on Benton said he decided he would rather work on the growth side of the business than the supply side of the business. This took him on a career transition from working in manufacturing to marketing. Through this professional journey, Benton says he’s accrued skills and experiences he’d like to bring more of to the automotive aftermarket.

As MANN+HUMMEL’s highly regarded Purolator brand celebrates its Centennial this year, Benton shared some helpful insights he gleaned about what customers really value in a brand while working on another well-known name: Guinness.

“I was actually working on the Guinness brand when it crossed over 250 years of Guinness and one of the things that I learned back then from an agency perspective is that people don't mind you patting yourself on the back for reaching a milestone, but what they really want to know is what that means for them in the future and what you're going to do for them now,” said Benton. “One of the important things we want to make sure we're doing is to continue to develop and innovate on this brand for the future of Purolator and also make sure that we are supporting activities to engage our consumers and customers in a meaningful way. That helps them to understand the value that having those 100 years brings …”

Also in the interview, Bill and Daryl talk about:

02:50 His very first job as a young man growing up in Chicago
04:08 The insights Daryl brings to MANN+HUMMEL from his consumer products background
06:11 What it was like joining the company at the height of the pandemic
08:55 Celebrating the Centennial anniversary of Purolator
10:09 The genesis of the Purolator brand name
11:29 Celebrating brand reputation and what it means for the future
15:06 MANN+HUMMEL’s mission and its role in sustainability
19:14 As an avid traveler, some of Daryl’s favorite trips
22:04 The fun and fast Lightning Round!

AMN Drivetime is sponsored by Litens.