Person of the Year Award
Purpose
The Person of the Year award honors an individual for his or her outstanding contributions during the past 12-month period preceding the selection of the current year’s award recipient. There shall be no more than one individual per year honored as the Person of the Year.
Qualifications
2021 Person of the Year Award
Steven Hughes
President and CEO, HCS International
Steve Hughes started in the automotive aftermarket industry in 1972 working at a parts store. During this time, he was deeply involved in building, maintaining and racing cars on the west coast.
In 1980, Hughes was recruited to work for IMPAC (now Worldpac) and eventually became a senior program manager and buyer.
In 1986, Hughes founded HCS International, a consulting and sales firm focused on the import parts industry.
In 2003, Hughes was recruited by Advanced Engine Management to manage operations and purchasing. A few years later, Hughes accepted a position at Centric Parts as vice president of supply chain, international logistics and government affairs.
In 2017, Hughes restarted HCS International, specializing in consulting on supply chain, international shipping and government affairs.
Over the years, Hughes has been the leading voice for the automotive aftermarket industry on ocean transportation issues. He is deeply committed to the international automotive aftermarket community in their efforts to promote free and fair trade.
Hughes is involved in a number of industry groups, including current chairman of the Import Vehicle Community, member of the Auto Care Association Government Affairs Committee, and chairman of the CAWA Public Affairs Committee.
Hughes previously served on the Automotive Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC 2) advising on trade policy for the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative. He has led multiple industry coalitions in antidumping duty investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. He is also a past participant of the Federal Maritime Commission Supply Chain and Demurrage/Detention Innovations Teams.
Hughes was recently appointed to the Federal Maritime Commissions’ National Shipper Advisory Committee, representing the Auto Care Association and Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association.
Hughes lives with his partner of 20 years, Indalicia May, in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. When time permits, he enjoys traveling, motorsports and reading history.
2023 Person of the Year Award Winner
Julian Hentze
President, Global Parts Distributors, llc
Julian Hentze is President of Global Parts Distributors, a warehouse distributor specializing in automotive aftermarket HVAC products, headquartered in Macon, Georgia. Hentze’s journey in the automotive field began at the young age of 17 as an apprentice mechanic in Australia. Equipped with valuable hands-on experience and a passion for the automotive industry, Hentze’s career quickly accelerated into product management and sales in the automotive sector. Working for Australia’s largest importer and wholesaler of Automotive Aftermarket Products, Hentze facilitated new value-delivery approaches which proved successful in increasing market share and penetration.
Hentze developed a national training program for installers, successfully grew market share with a national sales team and launched two new brands as well as new product lines. In 2008, Hentze immigrated to the United States and joined Global Parts Distributors as a marketing and sales executive. Hentze has remained an integral part of the Global Parts Distributors team for the past 15 years.
Hentze’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the industry are evident in the substantial contributions he has made within the company and as an advocate for the automotive aftermarket taking volunteer leadership roles with the Auto Care Association’s Government Affairs Committee, Import Vehicle Community and Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), as well as the Mobile Air Climate Systems Association and locally, the Central Georgia Technical College Automotive Industry Advisory Committee. Beyond his professional career, Hentze enjoys spending weekends in his workshop, where he works on restoring and fixing classic cars, including his beloved XD Falcon.
Hentze says, “My journey in the automotive aftermarket has been a thrilling ride and I am proud to be in a position where I can invest and advocate for the longevity of this trade. My time with the Import Vehicle Community’s Executive Leadership Committee has been the most valuable and memorable.”
Previous Award Winners
Person of the Year Award
- Randy St. John (1985)
- Stephen Herrick (1986)
- Peter Neuwirth (1987)
- Hank Allessio (1988)
- Mike Spagnola (1989)
- Fred Olefson (1990)
- Marty Gold (1991)
- Steve Kirby (1992)
- Barry Breslow (1993)
- Brad Glazer (1994)
- Chris Kersting (1995)
- Mike Spagnola (1996)
- Fred Olefson (1997)
- Ira D. Davis (1998)
- Steve Holt (1999)
- ** (2000)
- Kathleen Schmatz (2001)
- Tony Perticari (2002)
- Ira D. Davis (2003)
- Gary Garberg (2004)
- Stephen Bearden (2005)
- Dan Lelchuk (2011)
- ** (2012)
- ** (2018)
- John Treece (2019)
- ** (2020)
- Steven Hughes (2021)
- **(2022)
Barry Breslow AIA Person of the Year Award
- Lee Kadrich (2006)
- W. Michael Brown (2007)
- Brian Cohn (2008)
- Mary DellaValle (2009)
- Martin T. Gold (2010)
Peter Klotz Person of the Year Award
- Stephen Bearden (2013)
- James "JD" Bailey (2014)
- Steven Hughes (2015)
- Andres Castrillon (2016)
- Thomas Beer (2017)
**Award not presented.