Research Triangle Park, NC — Research Triangle Park, NC — Early bird registration for the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) ends Monday, March 24. By registering now, attendees save $200 and can hear an exciting lineup of speakers and industry leaders as they discuss "Shift Forward" on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Registration fees are $745 for the sponsoring associations' members' first registrant and $645 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees increase to $945 for an association member company's first registrant and $845 for each additional representative.

Early registration for individuals whose firms or organizations are not a member of any of the sponsoring associations is $945 for the first registrant and $845 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees are $1,145 for the company's first registrant and $1045 for each additional representative.

GAAS program registration information is available from the sponsoring associations or online here.

Outstanding Program

Over its 13-year history, GAAS has become the leading industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. The Symposium also is a must-attend event for anyone conducting business with the automotive aftermarket including: advertising, communications, marketing and PR professionals, attorneys, business developers, consultants, electronic commerce providers, export management companies, financial analysts, investment bankers, market researchers, product developers, research and development specialists and venture capitalists.

Speakers for the event include:
• Tony Cristello, vice president, BB&T Capital Markets
• Neil De Koker, president and CEO, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA)
• Steve Ganster, managing director, Technomic Asia
• Steve Handschuh, president and COO, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (ASAA)
• Mike Hanley, partner, automotive industry leader, Ernst & Young
• Fotios Katsardis, managing director, TEMOT International Autoparts GmbH
• D. Bruce Merrifield Jr., president, Merrifield Consulting Group Inc.
• Ron Pyle, president, Automotive Service Association (ASA)
• Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
• William A. Strauss, senior economist & economic advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
• Bill Wade, managing partner, Wade & Partners

Panel discussions on important industry issues include:
• "Let's Know Them Before We Need Them" -- Moderated by Ray Pohlman, vice president government relations, AutoZone
• "Decision Makers - What Drives Today's Independent Repair Shop Owner to Choose One Parts Source Over Another?" -- Moderated by Gary Molinaro, editor/publisher, The Greensheet/Automotive Week
• "Family Affair" -- Moderated by John Washbish, president, CRM and Under Vehicle Group, Affinia Group
• "Private Equity and the Aftermarket" -- Moderated by Dan Smith, president, Capstone Financial Group

The fourth annual Polk Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Award will be presented by R. L. Polk & Co. during this year's Symposium and is designed to recognize and reward outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and University of the Aftermarket.

R. L. Polk & Co. is the corporate sponsor of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium.

GAAS Proceeds Invested in Industry Future
The GAAS scholarship program awarded 154 scholarships in 2007. Including the 2007 awards, GAAS has presented more than 1,300 scholarships and more than $1.3 million since it was formed. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available here.