Among business being conducted at the June Leadership Days and Educational Forum, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Seboldt as their 2018 Secretary. The members also heard presentations from the following individuals: 

• "New Aftermarket Realities: Strategic Shifts and Where Do We Go From Here" - Presented by: Bill Long, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association 
• "Remote Vehicle Data - Access and Opportunity for the Aftermarket" - Presented by: Jim Dykstra, Innova Telematics Solutions 
• "Embedded Software and the Aftermarket" - Presented by: Chris Blalock, Dorman Products 

The presentations were very informative and well received by the attendees and you can receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentations by emailing [email protected]. In another business matter during the educational forum, CAWA's Chair of the Board, Michael Antonelli gave scholarship awards to three of the eleven 2017 awardees who were in attendance. He also presented Greg Livingston his Chair of the Board plaque for his service to the Association and industry in 2016.

The annual gala dinner and scholarship fundraising event will be held the Sunday night before the AAPEX/SEMA shows art Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Should you or your company be interested in donating cash, raffle or auction prizes, please see the contribution form and solicitation letter from this year's Fundraising Committee Chair, David Wendt of Delphi Products & Service Solutions ( here). More information and registration materials for the gala dinner will be coming in the weeks ahead. For immediate questions, contact [email protected].

CAWA leaders and members mingle with members of the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) who are the current and future leaders of the industry. The Regional Meet-Up was held on the Berkeley Ferry which is docked in the San Diego harbor. This was the second time that CAWA has hosted such an event for YANG members. Thurston Adams of Heri Automotive who addressed the attendees is YANG's representative to the CAWA Board of Directors. For further information, contact [email protected]. Another member benefit.

YANG and CAWA members at Regional Meet-Up

 

The California's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced a series of 28 workshops across California designed to help businesses apply for over $200 million in available California Competes Tax Credits (CCTC). "Our message to business owners is simple, take advantage of this tax credit and create new job opportunities," said Kristen Kane, GO-Biz Deputy Director. "The California Competes tax credit has encouraged hundreds of companies to expand in California and add thousands of good paying jobs. This application is free, it's easy to apply and we want great companies that are expanding to receive these valuable tax credits." For more information and a listing of workshops click here.

As California's tax court, the BOE weighs complaints from residents fighting income tax audits and businesses that are on the hook for sales tax, airline fees, cannabis taxes, and a host of other charges. The elected Board of Equalization will continue hearing appeals through the end of this year. Over the next six months, the state plans to hire administrative law judges who would start work on weighing tax complaints on Jan. 1, 2018. They'd be hired through the Office of Administrative hearings, a department that reports to the Governor's Office. The budget provision that would create the new tax department said tax appeals would be considered by panels of three judges. Taxpayers who want to contest decisions from the administrative judges would have to file lawsuits against the state in civil court. That's how most other states handle tax disputes. Any questions associated with these type matters can be answered by CAWA attorneys, whereby members receive ½ hour FREE legal consultation per month. See www.cawa.org for the attorney in your state. Source: Sacramento Bee

Foreign nameplates are expanding their light vehicle product share, with most gains achieved in the Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) aftermarket. Foreign nameplate cars and light trucks boosted their DIFM product share more than 800 basis points between 2011 and 2016, surging $11 billion in DIFM product volume at user-price. In-depth analysis is presented in the just-released 2018 Lang Aftermarket Annual. See more details here. Source: Jim Lang

Effective January 1, 2018, for employers with 26 employees or more, the minimum wage will increase by another 50 cents this year ($10.50 to $11.00 per hour), before increasing by $1 per year until 2022: 

• Jan. 1, 2018: $11 an hour 
• Jan. 1, 2019: $12 an hour 
• Jan. 1, 2020: $13 an hour 
• Jan. 1, 2021: $14 an hour 
• Jan. 1, 2022: $15 an hour 

Smaller businesses with 25 employees or less will follow the same progression as the larger employers, just one year behind. The $15 minimum wage for smaller businesses will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

Our partner at Wyman & Little, Inc. can provide you with accounting and financial consultation to address issues, such as: 

• Providing quality financial statements 
• Recommending financial direction 
• Operating as a outsourced CFO for your business 
• Focusing your business on the "sweet spot" of sales, profit and cash flow 
• Helping you initiate financial goals and strategies, and 
• Training you and your people in financial understanding for automotive business. 

For further details contact them at 951.734.5558 or [email protected]. Another member benefit.

For sales insights, see the enclosed article by John Chapin ( here).

President Donald Trump has made an example out of global automakers that produce in Mexico for the U.S. But auto parts makers south of the border also have a huge financial stake in the upcoming trade talks. Suppliers here are maintaining a united front with the Mexican auto industry, but the parts community also has strategies for a favorable revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement, industry officials said at a conference this month. See http://www.autonews.com/article/20170626/OEM10/170629844/ for details from Automotive News.

Each posting made on the CAWA Careers Industry Job Board is automatically shared on multiple jobs boards via a broad industry network, including Auto Care Association, Automotive Service Association (ASA), Custom Automotive Network (CAN, formerly PWA), National Independent Automotive Dealer Association (NIADA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). To post your job at a much under-priced rate, visit www.cawa.org/jobs.aspx or email [email protected] for further information. Another member benefit.