Auto Care Association Leaders Visit Northwood University

MIDLAND, Mich. – February 21, 2024 – Leaders from the Auto Care Association, the only automotive aftermarket trade association that represents the entire supply chain, recently visited Northwood University to meet with students enrolled in automotive aftermarket courses. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, guest lectured several Northwood University automotive aftermarket courses at its Midland, Michigan, campus, alongside several Auto Care Association team members.

“One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is preparing the next generation of leadership for our industry,” said Hanvey. “Northwood University students are engaging, intelligent and care deeply about their career potential. The entire university staff is fully invested in their success and opportunities for industry leaders to share their experiences with the students are invaluable for the students and the executive as well. We are thrilled at the level of collaboration between Northwood and Auto Care to bring necessary training and education to the men and women both in the industry now, and those considering a career in the future.”

Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association (pictured on the right), teaches an automotive aftermarket course during a recent visit to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.

Hanvey was joined by Ted Hughes, senior director, community engagement, Auto Care Association and executive director, Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA); Amanda Bischoping, director, education, Auto Care Association; and Jonathan Larsen, vice president, standards and digital products, Auto Care Association.
The Auto Care Association team met with students enrolled in the following courses:

• Aftermarket Manufacturing Management, which explores the role manufacturers play in the aftermarket and what business functions they employ;
• Category Management, which prepares students for the role of product manager through inventory modeling techniques and data analysis; and
• aftermarket management research, which teaches students research techniques to form a hypothesis and sample the data to reject or not reject the hypothesis.

“Northwood University is beyond grateful for the Auto Care Association team,” stated Dr. Thomas Litzinger, executive director, University of the Aftermarket and Northwood University aftermarket industry chair. “We appreciate the team coming to campus and interacting with our students. It is very beneficial and meaningful for our students to meet industry executives, learn about the aftermarket on such a high level, and discover their passion and dedication to our industry. Experiential learning opportunities like this are what set our students apart and help them become the future leaders of our industry.”

The global market value of the aftermarket industry currently exceeds $400 billion. Northwood’s aftermarket management program is very unique — the only one of its kind. Students in this program are fueled by their passions for cars, the aftermarket, and turning their passion into a future career. The program has a nearly 100% employment rate for all graduates in the program. James O’Dell, assistant director, aftermarket education, Northwood University, notes part of its students’ success is because Northwood helps them engage in real-world experiences and to network with industry leaders like Hanvey, Hughes, Bischoping and Larsen.

To learn more about Northwood University’s automotive aftermarket program, visit https://www.northwood.edu/programs/automotive-aftermarket-management/.