AWDA Announces Industry Awards Winners
The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the Auto Care Association, has presented its annual AWDA Industry Awards, according to a press release.
Award winners were named on October 29 during the 2023 AWDA General Session in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Outstanding Leadership Award, created in honor of former AWDA President, Jack Creamer, was awarded to Mauro Cifelli, president and CEO of Vast-Auto Distribution.
For the past quarter century, Cifelli has been a driving force in the Canadian aftermarket and has taken on a dominant role in the U.S. aftermarket as well. He helped lead AWDA through the COVID-19 pandemic, has advocated for Right to Repair legislation, and has helped expand Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. in Canada.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, created in honor of former AWDA President, Martin Fromm, was given to Fred Bunting, co-founder and chairman of Auto-Wares Group of Companies.
Bunting has been in the industry for the past half-century, and in that time has created one of the Midwest’s most renowned warehouse distributors, helped found Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., and has served in different industry leadership positions. He has won several industry accolades for the work he has done with his company.
The winner of the Pursuit of Excellence Award is awarded exclusively to AWDA members, with it going to Jennifer Tio, president and CEO of Maximum Marketing, this year.
First joining Maximum Marketing Services, Inc. in 1985 as an account executive, Tio is now president and owner of the agency. Throughout her career, she has supplied communications and consulting services for the motor vehicle aftermarket. She is active in many professional organizations, including acting as the executive director for the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.
The Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education, created in honor of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, was awarded to Paul Louwers, president of Automotive Video Innovations (AVI) and The Group Training Academy.
Since 1994, Louwers has been supplying modern and detailed training videos to service and repair centers, parts manufacturers, parts distributors, and automotive schools. AVI has earned several awards for its training content and has been recognized by automotive industry leaders.
Scholarships in the winner’s name will be awarded to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University.