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From legislative advocacy to training to offering member benefits and value, CAWA had a very full and successful year in 2015. Here are some of the major highlights of the year:
Legislation, Regulation and Legal Consultation
- Worked in coalition with Chambers of Commerce and other business groups to speak out against unnecessary regulations and legislation that impedes the growth of business.
- Continued to support the Quality Parts Coalition and the Right to Repair Memorandum of Understanding between the car manufacturers and the aftermarket.
- Opposed the Nevada business license fees as proposed by the governor.
- Distributed association political action funds to legislators deemed friendly to the auto care industry.
- Commissioned its attorneys to provide FREE legal consultation to members for a variety of legal issues.
- Performed "due diligence" for the introduction of a battery bill in Arizona and a Magnusson Moss notification bill in California and Arizona.
- Continued work on the "Auto Care Advocacy Program" designed to create an aftermarket network throughout the 50 states to assure the industry is promoted and protected through the government affairs processes and to speak with one voice.
- Held in district meetings with legislators on issues of importance to our membership and the auto care industry.
- Spoke out against the west coast port congestion and work slowdown issues that impaired the importation and exportation of auto parts by writing our concerns to the President of the United States and congressional representatives.
- Maintained vigilance on behalf of the industry in the state capitols --- Sacramento, Carson City, Phoenix and our nation's capitol Washington D.C. in partnership with our national colleagues at the Auto Care Association.
- We were represented on the Auto Care Association's Government Affairs Committee to assess what was occurring nationally that could impact our members in California, Nevada and Arizona.
- Meet during the California legislative session with executives and lobbyists of other aftermarket associations to assure the industry would speak with one voice in the legislative process.
- Communicated to members regarding new laws, case law, compliance alerts and regulations that impact their business.
Training and Scholarships
- Awarded 13 scholarships ($11,500) to deserving students either currently employed or seeking careers in the auto care industry.
- Held training programs for our members. Examples include: "Considering Consolidations and Mergers", "Preparing for Digital Distribution in the Aftermarket", "The Car Companies Perspective Regarding Telematics", "Can Your Commercial Customers Be More Productive and Successful", and "Digital Marketing in an Attention Economy", to name a few.
- Supported career technical training in the states we represent.
- Promoted "best practices" of human resource issues to the membership.
- Created an industry specific online job board for companies and individuals.
Speakers at Association Meetings
- Hosted nationally recognized guest speakers to present to our members including Chris Kersting, the President & CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Steve Handschuh, Chief Executive Officer of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).
- Engaged the Executive Vice President of Merchandizing, Marketing and Supply Chain from Advance Auto Parts, Charles Tyson, as the keynote speaker for our annual dinner meeting.
Participated in Member and Other Association Events
- Participated in the following events: National Performance Warehouse customer show, CARQUEST Owners Meeting, Levin's Auto Supply customer event, NAPA business owners' conference.
- Developed a plan to reach out to members of the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) to encourage them to participate in Association training sessions and added a Board of Director's position for a YANG representative.
- Attended and participated in the Auto Care Association's leadership days.
- Our President & CEO served as the President of the national association called the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA).
- Established a partnership with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation and promoted its mission to the industry.
Endorsed Programs and Services
- Continued to provide quality and competitive business services including FREE legal services, insurance programs, cash advance program, credit card processing, financial services consultation and business forms, as examples.
- Offered the deepest discounted workers compensation and general liability insurance to the membership.
- Provided access to an electronic human resource library to answer members' questions regarding employment issues, personnel policies and practices, etc.
Miscellaneous Achievements
- Added representatives to the Board of Directors from more program groups, e.g., PRONTO, Federated Auto Parts and the Automotive Distribution Network,
- Continued to endorse the "American Jobs for American Hero's and Vets" Program which seeks to integrate veterans back into the business sector.
- Conducted another successful scholarship fundraising effort at the annual dinner meeting, exclusively sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America (MPA).
- Created a Hispanic Recruitment Task Force to encourage more Hispanic business owners to join and participate in the Association's leadership.
- Retained a consultant to develop an active presence in social media to become a clear voice for the auto care industry.
- Answered many questions from the membership and directed them, as appropriate, to where their issue or questions could be resolved quickly.
Our success as an automotive aftermarket trade association comes from an active and contributory leadership made up of the Board of Directors and the Manufacturers Advisory Council. The Association thanks them for their time, effort and commitment to CAWA and the industry we represent. Our general membership, too, gave the Association the capability to make the industry's voice heard throughout the west, as the industry's "first line of defense".
We look forward to another productive year in 2016 and wish our members the best in business. CAWA thanks them for their membership and support.
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