Motion Industries Wins Sales Training Excellence Award from Progressive Distributor Magazine

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Jan. 31, 2003--Motion Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company has received the 2003 Sales Training Excellence Award from Progressive Distributor magazine. According to a January 2003 article in Progressive Distributor, the award is in recognition of Motion Industries' long-standing commitment to training and education.
    This is the fourth year the magazine has recognized a single distributor for ongoing training of employees. The award is given to a company that exhibits a dedicated effort to training. Companies are nominated by distribution peers and by suppliers in the industry.
    Ralph Buntyn, Motion Industries senior vice president of marketing noted that, "Our people are our greatest asset. Keeping employees informed and technically current in the marketplace requires a training commitment. At Motion Industries, training is more than an expense, it's an investment."
    Formalized in 1988, the Motion Industries training program evolved into The Motion Institute of Industrial Education offering product training, industry-specific process training, industrial certification programs, sales/management training, customized and in-plant classes, and continuing education classes. Motion Institute offers 12 classes that are college accredited by the American Council on Education. Curriculum includes courses in fluid power; electrical power; mechanical and bearings; core products; and sales, personal development and leadership. The Motion Institute has trained more than 10,000 people in the last five years alone.
    The Motion Institute offers the Eagle Program for key inside salespeople to provide a broad spectrum of training. Working in teams, the trainees go through a 12-month program of sales, product and industry specific training. Eagle Teams also work to develop new and innovative ways of serving customers.
    The Motion Institute also offers a sales and management trainee program that develops well-rounded and well-trained employees who will be capable of filling leadership positions within the company in the future. Recruits to the management trainee program must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The formal 15-month training consists of classroom and on-the-job training.
    In addition, the Motion Institute provides an industrial certification program showing that a person has demonstrated a level of mastery in a particular field. Certification courses include Fluid Power, Electrical Power, Mechanical Power and Bearings. Motion Industries' certified product experts have more than 36,000 hours in formal classroom and hands-on training. Additionally, Motion Industries has over 220 hose, electrical and fluid power field specialists who specialize in 24-hour solutions and on-site product and system troubleshooting.
    Progressive Distributor is a bi-monthly publication serving owners, executives, salespeople, customer service representatives, and other personnel of industrial, construction hose and accessories, power transmission and safety distribution firms. The publication is a trusted source for distribution sales, sales management, marketing, and technology information.
    With 2001 sales in excess of $2.2 billion, Motion Industries, is the world's largest distributor of bearings; mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic power replacement parts; and hose products. Motion Industries has more than 500 operations including nine distribution centers throughout North America and serves more than 150,000 customers including automotive, chemical, food, beverage, wood/lumber, iron, oil, pulp and paper, steel and textile industries.
    Visit our website at www.motionindustries.com. Contact us toll-free at (800) 526-9328.