Multi Parts today announced the SPARK2016 selectees. All selected students will attend the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (“AAPEX”) being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 1 – 3, 2016. This year’s selection process was hyper-focused on students who demonstrated interest in pursuing professional careers in the core business areas of the automotive aftermarket, including product development, marketing, sales, finance, entrepreneurship, information technology and human resources.
“Industry growth is predicated on recruiting and retaining these positions,” says Multi Parts President Brian Cohn. “This is especially important in our narrow corner of the automotive industry. We know that when students experience the aftermarket from the inside out, interest follows. There is no better place than AAPEX for aspiring aftermarket professionals to see the reality and potential of this industry and explore its near endless career opportunities.”
The brainchild of Multi Parts Chairman Barry Cohn, the SPARK Initiative has grown from just six participants in 2014’s inaugural year to 14 this year. A dynamic one-of-a-kind introduction to the aftermarket, the SPARK Initiative delivers SPARK2016 selectees specifically designed and developed programming at the AAPEX show, meet and greet opportunities with key industry leadership and in-show outings orchestrated and hosted by Multi Parts’ team members. Among the various activities planned for this year, the Luminary Lunch promises to include some of the biggest names in the aftermarket.
“Each year that we are able to connect more talented young people to the industry icons in manufacturing, distribution and the associations, is a win for the aftermarket,” comments Barry Cohn. “When they see our industry presented on full display at AAPEX, they really get it and want to be a part of it. That’s the power of SPARK.”
Among this year’s selectees are present and former Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship recipients and U.S. Military Veterans and members. All SPARK2016 participants will wear Multi Parts’ shirts adorned with the U.S. flag, veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces will also have their branch of service embroidered on the sleeve.
SPARK2016 Selectees
Melina Amico
Northwood University
Charles Bennett
Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering & Computer Science
Rachel Berbert
Chipola College
Austin Beyer
Northwood University
John Coolidge
Indiana University Bloomington
Alesandra D’Agostino
Northwood University
Antonio De La Torre
Northwest Nazarene University
Katherine Dooley
Northwood University
Ryan Hower
Palm Beach State College
Garrett Meyer
Boise State University
Brooke Peckham
Grand Rapids Community College
Jordan Renkas
Northwood University
Marcus Santillana
Irvine Valley College
Adam Wolfe
Southern Illinois University—Carbondale
