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New Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Debuts

20 July 1999

New Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Debuts; Al Melillo Will Serve as First Chairman of Organization

    BETHESDA, Md., July 20 -- This month marks the historic
beginning of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).  The
organization, based in Bethesda, Md., is the result of a consolidation between
the Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) and the Automotive
Service Industry Association (ASIA).  Members of both organizations
overwhelmingly approved the consolidation in late April, 1999.
    Al Melillo, President, Harold Schnair Sales Company, Arlington, Texas, has
been selected as the first Chairman of new association.  Melillo most recently
was Chairman of APAA.
    "I am honored to serve as the first volunteer chairman of this new
organization," said Melillo.  "AAIA is committed to providing leadership in
the automotive aftermarket industry.  We believe this new organization will
have an important influence on the way our members, legislators, regulators,
and consumers look at our industry."
    Other members of the AAIA Executive Committee include:

    *  First Vice Chairman -- Ron L. Pyle, President, National Pronto
       Association, Justin, Texas.
    *  Second Vice Chairman -- Marc Graham, President, Jiffy Lube
       International, Houston, Texas.
    *  Third Vice Chairman -- Louis R. Merz, Global Director of Sales and
       Marketing Aftermarket, Delphi Automotive Systems Aftermarket,
       Troy, Mich.
    *  Secretary -- Michael Moshontz, President, Blue Magic, Inc.,
       Cleveland, Ohio.
    *  Assistant Secretary -- J. Richard Fairbanks, Jr., President, Orleans
       Auto Supply, Inc., Hyannis, Mass.
    *  Treasurer -- E. James Lane, Jr., Vice President & General Manager,
       Snap-on, Kenosha, Wisc.
    *  Past Chairman -- Mort Schwartz, Chairman, Thermo King of Northern
       California, Alamo, Calif.
    *  General Counsel -- George Keeley, Partner, Keeley, Kuenn, & Reid,
       Chicago, Ill.
    *  President -- Gene A. Gardner, Bethesda, Md.
    *  Executive Vice President -- Alfred L. Gaspar, Bethesda, Md.

    AAIA will be comprised of eight membership segments, including:
Automotive, Retail, Automotive Electric (AEA), Heavy Duty, Manufacturers'
Representatives, Paint & Body Equipment (PBE), Tool & Equipment, and Trim.
The heavy duty segment will continue as the Heavy Duty Distribution
Association.  Members of APAA and ASIA will automatically become members of
AAIA.
    The AAIA office is located at 4600 East-West Highway, Suite 300, Bethesda,
MD 20814-3214.  The office phone is 301-654-6664; fax 301-654-3299; e-mail:
aaia@aftermarket.org; or visit the organization's Web site at:
http://www.aftermarket.org.
    The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) is a Bethesda,
Maryland-based association whose member companies manufacture, distribute and
sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and
supplies.  The organization is comprised of manufacturers, distributors,
jobbers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers' representatives, and other
companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket.  AAIA formerly served
the automotive aftermarket as ASIA and APAA.