Auto Service World Conversations

Autumn Lamb’s LinkedIn description might tell you all you need to know about her: Professional pivoter of all things marketing. She’s all about opening the various doors that she comes across in the automotive aftermarket. Autumn pivots from one challenge to another, one association group to the next. In this conversation, we learn more about the marketing manager for GSP Americas, from her journey through the aftermarket to the value of mentorship to opening yourself up to opportunities that present themselves.

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Tune into the Enhanced Media portion of the December 2024 issue of CARS magazine to hear more from Craig and Heather Maidens, from Maidens Family Auto Care, winner of the 2024 Shop of the Year Award, sponsored by Milwaukee Tool.

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On the job for a few short months, Emily Holtby has been thrown into the fire. AIA Canada’s new vice president of government relations joins the aftermarket at a critical juncture: Getting right to repair for the automotive aftermarket front and centre of Canada’s politicians. During her first visit to AAPEX, she sat down to talk about her journey to the industry and how she’s ready to advocate for it to ensure consumers and professionals have access to repair and maintain vehicles.

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At a global event, J.F. Champagne, president and CEO of AIA Canada, was also thinking local. While Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas is highlighted by AAPEX and the SEMA Show, it was important for Champagne to connect with his global partners on challenges that continue to hit the auto care sector. But in a sit down conversation during the event, he highlighted the local struggles his group is trying to alleviate. From talent challenges to training to right to repair, Champagne touches on all that and more in this episode of Auto Service World Conversations.

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Tune into the Enhanced Media portion of the November issue of Jobber News to hear more from Shannon Black, manager of Motorcade’s St. Catharines, Ont. branch and winner of the 2024 Jobber of the Year Award.

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Electric vehicles are increasingly growing on Canadian roads, meaning there’s more of a chance an EV owner will come through your doors looking for service. Scott and Bruce Eccles at Eccles Auto Service in Dundas, Ontario, have been growing their EV services over the last few years. They share how they grew this part of the business, found training, educated their customers, tips for success and more.

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Movember is a time to raise awareness for men’s health and Nhu Nguyen, a classic Porsche technician, has dedicated herself to the cause. What started as baking cookies to raise money has grown into an event called “Nhuvember” — a fundraising event benefiting Movember, sponsored by Canaweld. In this episode of ASW Conversations, we chat with Nhu about why she supports the cause, what she does and how you can help the movement. Contact her on Instagram at @dear_nhu to help out. Canaweld will donate 5% of the total purchases from the Canaweld website using the promo code ‘Nhuvember’ through the month of November.

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After a year at the helm, we catch up with Nick Brunet, president of Bestbuy Distributors. He joined the company after a stint outside the aftermarket but spent years before that with 3M. He’s no stranger to the aftermarket and is now taking on the challenge to growing Bestbuy’s place in the market. The distributor’s shareholder base has grown over the last year and looks to go even higher. He discusses growth, challenges like inventory management, using new tools like predictive analytics and the changes taking place in the automotive aftermarket.

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The priorities of those working in the automotive aftermarket vary widely by generation, according to the Defining Culture Survey, put out by the Modern Industry eXpertise (MiX) Council, part of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. Just what do these generations value — and what do they have in common? MiX chair Jeff O’Hara chats about what the survey found, what jumped out to him and what the industry can learn from the results.

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Rui Silvestre has been a technician for a long time. But things change. Due to circumstances beyond his control, his home at Master Mechanic High Park had to close down. Silvestre knew he wanted to open up his own shop — and he finally did on August 1. Join us for a conversation about how he got there, moving from tech to owner, and what it’s like to have the support of the community.

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