ONE Northwood University

Jan 18, 2008

The University of the Aftermarket

Northwood Colleagues:

The University of the Aftermarket (U of A) is an integral part of Northwood. With the opening of the Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies on the Michigan campus, we will see increased visibility for this program, not only within Northwood, but also to the public and the industry. To that end we are very pleased to announce the following appointment.

Brian Cruickshank, Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP), has been named director of Northwood University’s U of A, effective Feb. 4. He was selected after a four-month national search and will be a key member of our staff, helping lead Northwood to national prominence.

Cruickshank, an award-winning automotive journalist and editor, spent the last 14 years at Babcox Publications where he served in a number of editorial and leadership roles. Since 1999, he has worked as the editor of Counterman magazine, as well as directing the editorial content of all of Babcox Publication’s AAPEX properties, including AAPEX Today, the official daily magazine of the AAPEX Show in Las Vegas. Previously, he helped launch and manage Underhood Service magazine and numerous other primary and ancillary Babcox aftermarket titles. Over the years he has become a supporter of industry initiatives and education through his writing and volunteer work on several industry association committees. In 2006, he received Northwood University’s Automotive Education Award and earned his AAP designation from the U of A in 2003.

Dr. Tim Nash is excited to have Brian directing the U of A. “He is an industry leader who will bring great insight and passion to the position. We are very excited about the future, given Brian’s leadership of the U of A and The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies opening early in 2008.”

While Cruickshank will work from a home office in Philadelphia, he will also maintain an office at The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies on our Midland campus which will house our Automotive Aftermarket Program and the U of A.

Cruickshank previously served in the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of Ohio State University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism and French. He is married to Dr. Poornima Rao.

For those of you who are not familiar with Northwood’s partnership with the aftermarket industry, you may find the following information, taken from our web site, interesting.

In a move that created the nation’s leading industry-specific university, the U of A became an operating unit of Northwood on January 1, 2000.

We are the only institution of higher learning in the nation with a degree program in Automotive Aftermarket Management. By combining the talent and alliances of both entities, Northwood's U of A will continue to serve the membership of its sponsoring associations, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), and the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). With the value-added contributions of the our Automotive Aftermarket faculty and advisory board, the existing quality programming of the U of A has been enhanced to meet the ever-growing and changing needs of the industry.

Through a landmark educational alliance in 1998 with the Automotive Parts & Accessories Association (APAA), the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA), the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and the AWDA University …the U of A was created.

The goal of the U of A is to develop and provide Aftermarket business management education to the employees of association member companies and their customers. The mission is to:

Strengthen the aftermarket to face the demands of the future by developing and providing continuous education. Establish, support and promote professional designations/certifications throughout the aftermarket.

From 250 students participating in education programs in 1985 to more than 8,000 students to date, members' response to and participation in the U of A has been overwhelmingly positive. The U of A is continuously expanding its scope of offerings to satisfy the needs of the membership. Courses are designed for the warehouse distributor, manufacturer, jobber/retailer and service dealer. As the U of A has grown, it has become increasingly able to serve more segments of the aftermarket.

The U of A is the premier career education resource for professionals in the vehicle parts manufacturing, distribution and service categories. Our industry-specific curriculum is designed to help automotive and heavy duty professionals of any age or skill level to enhance their success – and their organizations' competitive advantage – in this exciting business.

Leadership 2.0 plays an important part in the aftermarket's signature executive development experience and is a cornerstone of the industry's efforts to develop the next generation of visionary executives.

The Leadership 2.0 experience consists of two intellectually stimulating five-day sessions conducted in Troy, Michigan, as well as off-site research and team assignments. Each year, projects completed by the top two class teams are presented during the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS).

"Leadership 2.0 provides the knowledge you need to become a true leader – not simply a manager – in our industry," explains 2006-07 program graduate Michael Schwab, general manager of sales and marketing, NGK Spark Plugs.

On-Line Programming is also an important component. The U of A is committed to offering professional development opportunities to all its members. The U of A is pleased to offer its members a unique opportunity to harness the power of the Internet. Courses and seminars are offered 24/7 on-line.

Through on-line programming, companies can often train more people with measurable results for less dollar and opportunity cost (thirty courses are now available on-line). Course content ranges from programs designed to introduce new hires to the complex Automotive Aftermarket to courses designed to improve management, supervision and leadership skills.

Please join me in welcoming Brian Cruikshank to Northwood University.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)

pretty@northwood.edu

Jan 18, 2008
	The University of the Aftermarket Northwood Colleagues: The University of the Aftermarket (U of A) is an integral part of Northwood. With the opening of the Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies on the Michigan campus, we will see increased visibility for this program, not only within Northwood, but also to the public and the industry. To that end we are very pleased to announce the following appointment. Brian Cruickshank, Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP), has been named director of Northwood University’s U of A, effective Feb. 4. He was selected after a four-month national search and will be a key member of our staff, helping lead Northwood to national prominence. Cruickshank, an award-winning automotive journalist and editor, spent the last 14 years at Babcox Publications where he served in a number of editorial and leadership roles. Since 1999, he has worked as the editor of Counterman magazine, as well as directing the editorial content of all of Babcox Publication’s AAPEX properties, including AAPEX Today, the official daily magazine of the AAPEX Show in Las Vegas. Previously, he helped launch and manage Underhood Service magazine and numerous other primary and ancillary Babcox aftermarket titles. Over the years he has become a supporter of industry initiatives and education through his writing and volunteer work on several industry association committees. In 2006, he received Northwood University’s Automotive Education Award and earned his AAP designation from the U of A in 2003. Dr. Tim Nash is excited to have Brian directing the U of A. “He is an industry leader who will bring great insight and passion to the position. We are very excited about the future, given Brian’s leadership of the U of A and The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies opening early in 2008.” While Cruickshank will work from a home office in Philadelphia, he will also maintain an office at The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies on our Midland campus which will house our Automotive Aftermarket Program and the U of A. Cruickshank previously served in the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of Ohio State University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism and French. He is married to Dr. Poornima Rao. For those of you who are not familiar with Northwood’s partnership with the aftermarket industry, you may find the following information, taken from our web site, interesting. In a move that created the nation’s leading industry-specific university, the U of A became an operating unit of Northwood on January 1, 2000. We are the only institution of higher learning in the nation with a degree program in Automotive Aftermarket Management. By combining the talent and alliances of both entities, Northwood's U of A will continue to serve the membership of its sponsoring associations, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), and the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). With the value-added contributions of the our Automotive Aftermarket faculty and advisory board, the existing quality programming of the U of A has been enhanced to meet the ever-growing and changing needs of the industry. Through a landmark educational alliance in 1998 with the Automotive Parts & Accessories Association (APAA), the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA), the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and the AWDA University …the U of A was created. The goal of the U of A is to develop and provide Aftermarket business management education to the employees of association member companies and their customers. The mission is to: Strengthen the aftermarket to face the demands of the future by developing and providing continuous education. Establish, support and promote professional designations/certifications throughout the aftermarket. From 250 students participating in education programs in 1985 to more than 8,000 students to date, members' response to and participation in the U of A has been overwhelmingly positive. The U of A is continuously expanding its scope of offerings to satisfy the needs of the membership. Courses are designed for the warehouse distributor, manufacturer, jobber/retailer and service dealer. As the U of A has grown, it has become increasingly able to serve more segments of the aftermarket. The U of A is the premier career education resource for professionals in the vehicle parts manufacturing, distribution and service categories. Our industry-specific curriculum is designed to help automotive and heavy duty professionals of any age or skill level to enhance their success – and their organizations' competitive advantage – in this exciting business. Leadership 2.0 plays an important part in the aftermarket's signature executive development experience and is a cornerstone of the industry's efforts to develop the next generation of visionary executives. The Leadership 2.0 experience consists of two intellectually stimulating five-day sessions conducted in Troy, Michigan, as well as off-site research and team assignments. Each year, projects completed by the top two class teams are presented during the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). "Leadership 2.0 provides the knowledge you need to become a true leader – not simply a manager – in our industry," explains 2006-07 program graduate Michael Schwab, general manager of sales and marketing, NGK Spark Plugs. On-Line Programming is also an important component. The U of A is committed to offering professional development opportunities to all its members. The U of A is pleased to offer its members a unique opportunity to harness the power of the Internet. Courses and seminars are offered 24/7 on-line. Through on-line programming, companies can often train more people with measurable results for less dollar and opportunity cost (thirty courses are now available on-line). Course content ranges from programs designed to introduce new hires to the complex Automotive Aftermarket to courses designed to improve management, supervision and leadership skills. Please join me in welcoming Brian Cruikshank to Northwood University. Keith A. Pretty, J.D. President and CEO Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 989.837.4203 (phone) 989.832.9590 (fax) pretty@northwood.edu