(Sacramento, CA. - March 9, 2017)   CAWA Chair of the Board, Michael Antonelli of Vantage Marketing Global, has appointed Don Keeling of Sunsong North America and Erick Esparza of Idemitsu Lubricants to the Association's Manufacturers' Advisory Council (MAC). When Chair Antonelli announced the appointments he commented: "Mr. Keeling and Mr. Esparza are welcomed additions to the Association's leadership and we are pleased they have stepped forward and volunteered their service. Also, we are further pleased they will join our leadership team and get more involved with CAWA". 

Mr. Keeling has over 23 years of experience in sales, sales management, marketing and customer service management. His experience spans the spectrum of the distribution channels in the automotive aftermarket. He is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing at Sunsong North America. Prior positions include Director of Sales at AMS Automotive, National Sales Manager for the GENQUEST (a division of NA Williams Company), Director of Sales and Marketing at Perfection Clutch, District Sales Manager at Gates Rubber Company and Regional Sales Manager/Area General Manager for APS, Inc. 

Mr. Keeling is an active industry volunteer with 8+ years of Auto Care Association committee involvement. He is currently a member of the Auto Care Association MAC Committee and past Chair of the Auto Care Leadership Development Network. Mr. Keeling earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University. Mr. Esparza is currently the Western Region Division Manager for Idemitsu Lubricants, Aftermarket Division. He started with the Company in October 2013 to help the brand be introduced into the US Aftermarket. Idemitsu is the world's 8th largest oil company and has for a long time only been an OE supplier in the US, mainly with Japanese auto manufacturers. However, the Company has grown to include some domestic manufacturers. Mr. Esparza holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Business Economics. He is happily married to his wife Sabrina of 12 years and they have a son Erick Jr. and daughter Sophia. They live in Lake Elsinore California and outside of family time his personal hobbies include golf and off-road motorcycle riding.

CAWA is a regional automotive aftermarket trade association, which represents auto parts jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives and program groups. The Association provides education, legislative, regulatory and business support to the industry and its membership. It is one of the largest trade associations of its kind in the United States and recognized as a leader in the automotive aftermarket industry.

Contact:
Rodney Pierini 
CAWA President & CEO 
  [email protected]
 

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