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CARQUEST, University of the Aftermarket Announce Successful Launch of CARQUEST School of Business

Published on 12/11/2008 12:53:21 PM
CARQUEST and the University of the Aftermarket have partnered in the development and successful launch of the CARQUEST School of Business, a unique, innovative university-level business educational experience.

Midland, MI -- CARQUEST and the University of the Aftermarket have partnered in the development and successful launch of the CARQUEST School of Business, a unique, innovative university-level business educational experience.

The inaugural CARQUEST School of Business session was November 9-14 in the Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies on the campus of Northwood University in Midland, Mich., with 20 CARQUEST independent store owners and managers in attendance. Sessions will be offered throughout 2009 and beyond. Content will be expanded to serve the owners and managers of TECH-NET Professional Auto Service centers and other key CARQUEST customers.

Developed and presented in conjunction with the University of the Aftermarket and the Northwood University Richard Devos Graduate School of Management, the CARQUEST School of Business is designed to help participants drive their businesses forward by exploring and implementing the latest proven, industry-specific competitive strategies. The four-and-a-half-day sessions are co-facilitated by Devos Graduate School faculty members, and CARQUEST instructors.

"The CARQUEST School of Business is an important competitive tool that will help support the long-term growth and success of every CARQUEST Independently owned store and TECH-NET Professional Auto Service member location," said Mike DeSorbo, MAAP, vice president for General Parts, Inc. and CARQUEST. "We're providing real-world solutions that help our business partners drive sales, increase operational efficiency and enhance profitability."

Topics covered in the session included Processes Development, Strategy & Vision, Brand Management, Financial Management, Sales Management, Employee Management, and Customer Retention. Content is customized to address the specific interests and concerns of participants. The daily schedule features lectures, group assignments, roundtable discussions and networking sessions.

"Collaborative projects of this nature are integral to our role as the industry's premier education provider," said University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank, AAP. "We congratulate Mike DeSorbo and the CARQUEST organization for the success of this innovative program and thank them for choosing the University of the Aftermarket and Northwood University as their education partners."

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE AFTERMARKET

The University of the Aftermarket is an educational alliance of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association and is an operating unit of Northwood University. The University of the Aftermarket provides business, management and leadership education to professionals in the motor vehicle aftermarket through on-line, custom, conference, and partnership educational opportunities. Through these programs, the University awards CEU credit that can be applied toward completion of the aftermarket's Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) certifications.

ABOUT NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY

Northwood University is a private, nonprofit, accredited university specializing in managerial and entrepreneurial education offering four-year degrees in a variety of enterprise fields. The Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management's Full-time, Evening, and Switzerland MBA programs make Northwood's free market-based degree offerings in management and enterprise the most complete anywhere. The university emphasizes the importance of free enterprise and is dedicated to the preservation of the free market and the important relationship between business and the arts.

Northwood operates a residential campus in Michigan, Florida and Texas; the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine; University College outreach centers and locations in eight states in the U.S. including a Distance Education on-line program; and several international study programs abroad.

About CARQUEST Auto Parts

CARQUEST Auto Parts has more than 3,400 locations throughout North America. It is the premier supplier of replacement products, accessories, supplies and equipment for virtually all makes and models of automobiles, as well as light and heavy-duty trucks, off-road equipment, buses, recreational vehicles and agricultural equipment. Additionally, CARQUEST distributes and sells tools, equipment, chemicals, paint and accessories. For more information, please visit CARQUEST.com.