Category Management Summit
New Auto Care Association event dedicated for the promotion of and education towards the evolution of the category management within the automotive aftermarket industry.
June 15–June 16, 2026| Herndon, VA
Thank you for attending!
We look forward to seeing you next year for the 2027 Category Management Summit.
Join the Auto Care Association for its first ever summit offering learning and collaboration opportunities specifically for the category management industry for the automotive aftermarket.
At this inaugural event, the goal is to educate and give professionals the resources and tools they need to be proactive and anticipate the business landscape, building a smarter and more resilient future for the entire automotive aftermarket industry.
If you play a role in deciding which products are sold, how they’re priced, or how they perform, this summit is for you.
The Auto Care Association’s Category Management Summit is built for:
Whether you're optimizing inventory, growing market share, or navigating an increasingly data-driven, omnichannel aftermarket, you’ll walk away with practical insights and strategies to make smarter, more profitable decisions.
The Auto Care Association is excited to bring together premier thought leaders across the aftermarket to elevate the importance of data and category management and share best practices from in and outside of the industry in this new cross-functional summit
Behzad Rassuli, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development for the Auto Care Association
Hyatt Regency Dulles
2300 Dulles Corner Blvd, Herndon, VA 20171
Auto Care discounted rate now sold out. Reserve directly with Hyatt Regency Dulles here.
Additional area hotels (distance from Hyatt Regency Dulles):
Hyatt Place Dulles Airport East - 0.3 miles
Courtyard Marriott Dulles Airport - 0.3 miles
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Hotel & Travel
Area Airports (distance to Hyatt Regency Dulles)
- Dulles International Airport - IAD (4 miles)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National - DCA (27 miles)
- Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport - BWI (56 miles)
Registration
$495
$695
Registration is now closed.
Agenda
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3:00 PM – 3:15 PMCategory Management Summit Welcome
Speaker(s): -
3:15 PM – 3:30 PMUnpacking Category Management in the Automotive Aftermarket
Speaker(s): -
3:30 PM – 4:15 PMPanel Discussion: Unpacking Category Management in the Automotive Aftermarket
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4:15 PM – 5:00 PMAdversity & Opportunity: Macro Trends Impacting Consumer Spending
Speaker(s): -
5:00 PM – 6:00 PMNetworking Reception
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8:00 AM – 9:00 AM[Panel] Fresh Eyes on the Aftermarket: Perspectives from Outside to Inside
Speaker(s): -
9:00 AM – 9:15 AMTransition to Breakout Sessions Round I
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9:15 AM – 10:00 AM[Breakout Session] AI, Analytics, and Finding the Right Story
Speaker(s): -
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM[Breakout Session] Driving Consistency and Speed in Demand Index Categories Through Data Standards*
Speaker(s): -
10:00 AM – 10:15 AMTransition to Breakout Sessions Round II
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10:15 AM – 11:00 AM[Breakout Session] Behind the Counter – Category Management for Application Specific Products
Speaker(s): -
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM[Breakout Session] Using Data Sources to Drive Category Management Success*
Speaker(s): -
11:10 AM – 11:15 AMTransition Back to General Session
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11:15 AM – 11:45 AMIran Impact on Commodity Value Chains
Speaker(s): -
11:45 AM – 1:00 PMSummit Lunch
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1:00 PM – 1:25 PMRepair Shop Buying Behavior and Dynamics of Brand Affinity
Speaker(s): -
1:25 PM – 2:10 PMThe Power of Testing in Category Management
Speaker(s): -
2:10 PM – 2:50 PMUnder the Hood: AI Strategies Driving Real Aftermarket Results
Speaker(s): -
2:50 PM – 3:00 PMSummit Wrap Up Remarks
Featured Speakers
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Category Managment Summit Speaker Companies
You’ll hear insights from leading companies shaping the future of the industry, with additional speakers and organizations being added as the summit lineup continues to grow. Confirmed companies presenting include:
Scroll to see all
Dont miss your opportunity to participate!
Applications to join the Category Management Comittee wil re-open September 2026.
See Committee MembersCategory Management Committee
The Auto Care Category Management Committee works to develop category hierarchies, best practices, education and implementation plans for Category Management in an effort to improve business operations and customer satisfaction.
