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CAWA
4030 Lennane Drive | Sacramento, CA
(800) 332-2292
CAWA, Representing the automotive parts industry

CAWA Connections (01/23/14)

From legislative advocacy to training to another Industry Summit, CAWA had a very full and productive year in 2013. Here are some of the major highlights of the year:  

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Legislation and Regulation  

  • Worked in coalition with other automotive groups to develop an educational component for the industry so the new brake pad reformulation regulations would be complied with, i.e., the reduction of copper in the brake pad. 
  • Worked in coalition with the Arizona and California Chambers of Commerce and other business groups to speak out against unnecessary regulations and legislation that impedes the growth of business. 
  • Continued work on the "Legislator Education and Awareness Program" designed to inform policy makers about the benefits of a robust automotive aftermarket. 
  • Held in district meetings in California and Arizona with legislators on issues of importance to our membership and the industry we serve. 
  • Maintained vigilance on behalf of the industry in the state capitols --- Sacramento, Carson City, Phoenix and our nation's capitol Washington D.C. in partnership with our national colleagues at the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). 
  • We were represented on the AAIA Government Affairs Committee to assess what was occurring nationally that could impact our members in California, Nevada and Arizona. 
  • Lead an industry task force examining an automotive aftermarket grass roots and call to action program to assure the industry's voice is heard in unison and throughout the country. 
  • Met during the legislative session with executives and lobbyists of other aftermarket associations to assure the industry would speak with one voice in the legislative process.
  • Provided the membership with regulatory, legislative and parts purchasing scam alerts throughout the year to assure compliance and to alert them of issues that might impact their business.  
  • Fortunately, there were no direct automotive aftermarket industry major legislative or regulatory issues that we have seen in the past emanating out of our state capitols in 2013.

Training and Scholarships  

  • Awarded scholarships to deserving students either currently employed or seeking careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. 
  • Raised over $20,000 to add to the Association's  scholarship fund. 
  • Held training programs for our members including: "Trends Impacting the Industry"; "The Distribution of Parts on the Internet"; "The impact of Telematics on the Industry"; "The State of the Aftermarket Industry; "The Importance of an Internet Presence".  
  • Added career center information to the Association's website to encourage recruitment into the industry.  
  • Supported career technical training in all the states the association represents.
  • Provide the membership with our partners at Armstrong & Associates with webinars explaining the rules and other issues of ObamaCare.  

Speakers at Association Meetings  

  • Invited nationally recognized guest speakers to present to our members including: Mike Lambert of the Automotive Distribution Network; Dan Askey, President of NAPA; Gary Molinaro, Editor of the Greensheet; Skip Potter, Executive Director of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF); and Mark Seng of POLK.   

Industry Summit  

  • Held the fourth annual Industry Summit with members of the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA - the mechanical repair garage owners association) to discuss contemporary issues and seek solutions on behalf of our respective memberships. Discussion issues included: "Right to Repair "legislation, grass roots advocacy; purchasing of parts decisions, the recruitment of employees into the automotive aftermarket.   

Endorsed Programs and Services  

  • Continued to provide quality and competitive business services including FREE legal services, insurance programs, cash advance program, credit card processing, financial services consultation and business forms, as examples. 
  • Offered the deepest discounted workers compensation insurance in the recent history of the Association. 
  • Partnered with a new insurance provider for our members in the state of Nevada, Benefit Resource Group. 
  • Answered many questions from the membership and directed them, as appropriate, to where their issue or questions could be resolved quickly.   

Miscellaneous Achievements  

  • The Alliance and Federated Auto Parts joined CARQUEST and NAPA as program group members of CAWA. Furthermore, CAWA received the commitment of PRONTO to join in 2014, as well. 
  • The Association participated in member customer events including Star Distributing Company, Levin's Auto Supply and NAPA - Los Angeles Distribution Center. 
  • Membership growth, particularly in the manufacturing segment of the aftermarket, was seen in 2013. 
  • Improved the quality and quantity of the Association's primary communications piece, the electronic newsletter called "Connections".
  • Revamped the leadership meetings to include guest speakers and training segments to make it attract and of value to all members of the Association.  

Our success as an automotive aftermarket trade association comes from an active and contributory leadership made up of the Board of Directors and the Manufacturers Advisory Council. The Association thanks them for their time, effort and commitment to CAWA and the industry we represent. Our general membership, too, gave the Association the capability to make the industry's voice heard throughout the west, as the industry's "first line of defense".  

  

We look forward to another productive year in 2014 and wish our members the best in business. CAWA thanks them for their membership and support. For those of you who are not members, see the application (view) and welcome to CAWA.  

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