With the exception of one full-time and one part-time staff positions, AACF is run entirely by volunteers from the Automotive Aftermarket industry. These compassionate leaders give of their time, skills and energy to minimize overhead-ensuring that the donations we receive make it into the hands of individuals and families who desperately need it.
Driven to make a difference.
Foundation Leadership
Board of Trustees
Jon Owens
President
About Jon Owens
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee (Chairperson) and Revenue Growth Committee
Jon Owens, MAAP, is a senior level sales and marketing executive with more than 34 years of experience in the automotive parts and service industry. He began his career as a sales trainee with The Timken Company and spent 15 years there culminating with him leading the successful re-emergence of Timken’s automotive aftermarket division in 1997.
Upon joining trade magazine and digital publisher Babcox Media in 2000, Jon was named Publisher of Counterman magazine. Owens left Babcox in 2008 when he accepted a role as president of Auto 7, an importing company specializing in platform-specific, original equipment parts for Korean vehicles.
In May of 2010, Jon joined Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. as Vice President of Sales and Market Development. That led to an opportunity with consumer-based automotive service website AutoMD in 2015 as Vice President of Business Development. Then, in February of 2017, Jon joined Epicor Software as National Sales Manager of the newly created Industry Data Analytics solutions business serving automotive parts manufacturers.
Throughout his career, Jon has been an active industry participant having served on the Board of the Auto Care Association for eight (8) years and as a member of their Executive Committee for four (4) years. He is a past President of the Automotive Communications Council, and served as Chairman of both AWDA’s Marketing Committee and YES (Young Executive Society) organization. He also served a four-year term as a member of the AWDA Board of Governors, and is also the newly elected Chairman of the Auto Care Association’s Events Committee.
In 2002, Jon was the 36th recipient of the prestigious AWDA Pursuit of Excellence Award, and was also recognized by Northwood University for his many contributions to automotive aftermarket education with the Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Education Award.
Jon holds a Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) degree from the University of the Aftermarket, and is a graduate of Defiance College in Defiance, OH.
Luanne Brown
Vice President
About Luanne Brown
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee, Marketing Committee, Finance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
Luanne Brown, an accomplished ecommerce specialist, is the founder and president of eTool Developers LLC. The company, established in 2001 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, specializes in the development of websites, dealer portals, shopping carts, product-information-management systems (data on-boarding tools), and eLearning platforms for the automotive aftermarket.
A recognized authority in her field, Luanne is actively involved in the automotive aftermarket industry. She previously served three consecutive terms on the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board of Directors, is a past chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, and is presently serving the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees Executive Committee.
As one of the industry’s leading experts, Luanne has conducted numerous seminars on Internet marketing and ecommerce. In recognition of her accomplishments and contributions to the growth and progress of the aftermarket industry, she was named the 2007 recipient of the Athena Award, presented by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network, and in 2015 was honored with the Spirit of Leadership Award by the Women’s Automotive Association International.
George Afremow
Treasurer
About George Afremow
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee, Finance Committee (Chairperson)
Afremow was Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), and brings a cross functional (Operational, Accounting/Finance & Technology) background to his AACF Board duties. “It is a distinct honor to be on the AACF Board where I hope to utilize my experience in managing complex business initiatives through my work at the Association to support the objectives of the AACF Board,” stated Afremow. In his role as VP/CFO, Afremow is responsible for overseeing day-to-day accounting, HR and administrative activities for SEMA.
Prior to joining SEMA, Afremow was the Southern California practice leader of Business Performance Improvement initiatives for Grant Thornton LLP, the 5th largest public accounting and consulting firm. His areas of expertise include finance function transformation, operational efficiency enhancement, streamlining and automating accounting, finance and operational processes. He is also a board member and President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Beach Cities Chapter.
Marc Blackman
Trustee
About Marc Blackman
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee and Marketing Committee
Blackman is CEO, of Gold Eagle Co.
Marc has been actively involved in volunteerism for many years. He recently served as the Chairman of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and received MEMA's Aftermarket Suppliers Member Advocacy Award for 2023. Marc also proudly serves on the University of the Aftermarket Foundation Board as a Lifetime Trustee. Previously, Marc served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). He has also held leadership roles in various industry associations, including Chairman of the Category Management Committee for the Autocare Association and positions at the Automotive Specialty Products Alliance (ASPA) and the Automotive Sales Council. Marc is the founder of the Global Automotive Network of YPO, a global leadership organization for chief executives.
Hans Blatter
Trustee
About Hans Blatter
AACF Committee(s): Golf Committee and Recipient Review Committee
Hans Blatter is the 2nd generation President and Owner of Castle Products, Inc. headquartered in Rochester, New York. Hans graduated Niagara University in 1993 with a BA in Business Administration. He was a Division 1 Baseball Academic All-American and received the Student-Athlete of the year in 1993. He then went on to get his MBA from the University of Buffalo in 1995.
Since graduation he has been working in the family business and took over as President in 1997. Castle manufactures and distributes lubricants, additives, cleaners and degreasers that are safer for the worker, workplace and world. He has a passion to continue the company’s slogan of “We Service Service”. He credits all the success to his many employees, distributors and most importantly loyal customers.
Hans has been a Faith Formation Teacher for 25 years, volunteers on the “Future of our Parish Committee”, AD for CYO Basketball, coached Soccer–Basketball–Baseball and continues to Coach in the Interstate Collegiate Baseball League during the summer.
Castle is a proud supporter of the AACF and is a strong believer in what the foundation does for the families in our industry.
John Chalifoux
Trustee
About John Chalifoux
AACF Committee(s): Marketing Committee
John Chalifoux is the Chief Sustainability Officer for MEMA - The Vehicle Suppliers Association and the
Chief Operating Officer of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. He is responsible for launching and leading the
MEMA Center for Sustainability – dedicated to building a collaborative community and helping MEMA
members comply and build advantage wherever they are on their sustainability journey. Chalifoux also
leads the operations of MEMA’s automotive and commercial vehicle aftermarket membership group. He
was most recently President and Chief Operating Officer of MERA - The Association for Sustainable
Manufacturing, a former MEMA division.
Chalifoux earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Stony Brook
University and an MBA from Michigan State University. He is also a graduate of the NADA Dealer
Academy. In 2022, Northwood University recognized Chalifoux with their Automotive Aftermarket
Management Education Award and he was named a Notable Leader in Sustainability by Crain’s Detroit
Business.
Mike Dever
Trustee
About Mike Dever
AACF Committee(s): Marketing & PR Committee
Dever is with the General Parts Company and Vice President of NAPA Major Accounts, and has been in the automotive aftermarket for 30 years.
Prior to joining NAPA, Dever spent many years in the industry with Exide Batteries, NASCAR, Inc., and Bulldawg Marketing.
Andy Dudash
Trustee
About Andy Dudash
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee and Golf Committee
Before retirement, Andy worked his entire 50 year career in the automotive aftermarket. He started at Montgomery Ward while attending college, after graduating accepted an offer as a Service Center Manager, where he was promoted to larger volume service centers, then again promoted to the corporate offices in Chicago, IL.
Andy “climbed the corporate ladder” holding several corporate management positions within automotive operations & purchasing and eventually became Director Auto Service Field Operations. In 1998 Andy decided on a new career with Monro Muffler & Service in Rochester, NY as VP Merchandise.
In 2001 TBC Corporation, then headquartered in Memphis, TN. pursued him as their VP Logistics. He shortly after was promoted to SVP Tire Purchasing. In late 2012, Andy was promoted to Executive VP Purchasing Parts & Equipment, and moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL., TBC’s current corporate headquarters.
During Andy’s entire career he has generously donated his time in support of various corporate and community charity organizations; in 1993 he joined the Automotive Aftermarket Charity Foundation, where he has served for 27 years as a Board Trustee, and currently on the Executive Board; actively involved in making the Foundation into what it is today.
Bill Hanvey
Trustee
About Bill Hanvey
AACF Committee(s): Revenue Growth Committee
William J. “Bill” Hanvey is president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, which represents the entire $392 billion independent U.S. automotive aftermarket.
Hanvey has spent his entire 35+ year career in the aftermarket. He began his career as a field sales representative with Tenneco Automotive and progressed through increasingly more responsible positions in product management and marketing and business development. Hanvey then furthered his career by working for FleetPride as their first director of marketing, Dorman Products as their Vice-President of Marketing and Schaeffler where he was The Vice-President of Sales and Marketing in North America.
Prior to joining the Auto Care Association, he served as senior vice president of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), a division of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).
Hanvey was awarded the Northwood University Educator of the Year Award in 2014, and serves on The University of The Aftermarket Foundation, The Coalition for Automotive Repair Equality (CARE), and the St. Bonaventure University boards.
Jeff Helfrich
Trustee
Compass Health, Inc.
About Jeff Helfrich
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee, Golf Committee (Chairperson)
Jeff has been in the automotive industry my whole career with the last 23 years in the tire industry. 10 years with Cooper Tire and the last 13 years with TBC Corporation. He was previously VP Purchasing – Tires, with TBC Corporation.
Jeff has been on the AACF board since 2013.
Marko Ibrahim
Trustee
About Marko Ibrahim
AACF Committee(s): Recipient Review Committee
Marko Ibrahim is the vice president of store operations at Bridgestone Retail Operations (BRSO). Ibrahim has served as an executive for many large retail chains over the past 18 years.
“I’m incredibly honored to serve AACF as a board member,” Ibrahim said. “Our company has been a long-time supporter of AACF, and some of our employees have been helped through AACF grants. I’m especially looking forward to helping AACF achieve its goals because of that, and will contribute in any way I can.”
Andrew Johnson
Trustee
About Andrew Johnson
AACF Committee(s): Marketing Committee & PR Committee and Recipient Review Committee
Andrew Johnson is the Associate Publisher in Endeavor Business Media's Vehicle Repair Group. He oversees three national media brands, including Ratchet+Wrench (auto care and service industry), FenderBender (collision repair industry), and National Oil and Lube News (fast maintenance/quick lube industry). In addition to oversight of the print magazines, websites, webinars, video productions, podcasts, and many other media channels for each of those brands, Andrew also oversees 4 annual events including the Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference, FenderBender Management Conference, NOLN QUICK, and ADAPT: Automotive Technology Summit. Andrew has represented these brands for the past 13+ years in editorial, sales, and publishing positions with dedication to the audiences and advertisers that make up all segments of the automotive aftermarket industry.
Scott Krinsky
Trustee
About Scott Krinsky
AACF Committee(s): Revenue Growth Committee
Scott is a senior level executive with more than a quarter century of experience in the automotive aftermarket. Scott has held senior leadership roles with Tire Kingdom, Inc., Sears Tire Group, AutoZone, Carquest Auto Parts/Advance Auto Parts, and is a partner at Tirescantech.
Scott has consulted and interacted with the automotive aftermarkets top retail, commercial, and fleet companies including national, regional, independent dealers, industry associations, and mso’s for the past 25 years in developing strategies and delivering products, training and technology solutions.
Scott specialization has been strategic advisory with emphasis on sales, and market development.
Throughout his career, Scott has been an active industry participant and currently serves on the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation as a Board Trustee for the last 15 years. Scott resides in Johns Creek, GA., with his wife Kathy. When Scott is not busy with work, you can find him traveling and spending time with family.
Jacki Lutz
Trustee
About Jacki Lutz
AACF Committee(s): Marketing & PR (Co-Chair) and Revenue Growth Committee
Lutz is the new Director of Content with Auto Care Assocation and previously was Global Head of Communications, Training & eCommerce, Auto at Sensata Technologies, and brings 14 years of marketing experience and nine years in the automotive aftermarket. Lutz sits on several other association boards including Young Auto Care Network Group, Women in Auto Care and was the past president of the Automotive Communications Council.
Larry Magee
Trustee
About Larry Magee
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee, Golf Committee, Recipient Reveiw Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
Magee served as President, CEO and Chairman of Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC with oversight responsibilities for the largest network of tire and automotive retail stores in the world. Later he also was President of the consumer tire group in Nashville. His career with Bridgestone span over 38 years.
Magee was President and CEO of Heartland Automotive based in Dallas. Later he became Interim CEO for the Magnolia Enterprise Group in Waco, Texas
Currently Magee serves on several public, private and charity foundation Boards as well as serves as President of Magee Ventures Group a private consulting and investment firm.
Jim Merle
Trustee
About Jim Merle
AACF Committee(s): Marketing Committee & PR Committee
Jim Merle has been with Babcox Media since 1993 and currently serves as VP and Group Publisher of ShopOwner, AftermarketNews, and several other Babcox brands serving the automotive aftermarket. Jim served as President of the Automotive Communications Council (2020-2021) and as a board member of the Automotive Communications Council (2014 – 2020). Jim participated as a member of Auto Care Association’s Marketing & Advertising Committee for several years.
To acknowledge his efforts on the industry educational front, Jim was recognized by Northwood University in Nov. 2018, as a recipient of the Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award. He also stays up-to-date on industry issues and trends, and actively solicits feedback from industry participants to help tailor the content of the brands he oversees to better inform and educate the constituents they serve.
Mike Peace
Trustee
About Mike Peace
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee and Revenue Growth Committee (Chairperson)
Mike is the VP National Accounts and Business Development for the National Pronto Association.
Most recently he held the position of National Sales Manager for the Automotive Aftermarket Mobile Industries business segment of The Timken Company. During his 11 years at Timken, Mike was responsible for driving double digit sales growth for their light vehicle automotive division, launching a Canadian aftermarket program, and setting strategic policy to ensure the company’s success.
Peace began his automotive career with TRW and later Federal Mogul and has over 35 years experience in the automotive industry with experience in OEM, OES and aftermarket channels.
Prior to Timken, he was a principal partner in Strategic Marketing Incorporated, a manufacturer’s rep agency covering eight states representing eleven supplier partners.
He received a bachelor degree in business administration from Northwood University. He also holds the Automotive Aftermarket Professional and Masters Automotive Aftermarket Professional certification.
Tom Rafferty
Trustee
About Tom Rafferty
AACF Committee(s): Revenue Growth Committee
Tom’s passion for the automotive aftermarket industry began early, growing up in his family’s NAPA store in Central Illinois. He worked through high school and college in various roles, from stocking shelves to sales, before earning a Bachelor of Business from Western Illinois University and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. His career spans over four decades, including leadership roles at Walker Manufacturing, Carquest, BWD Automotive, Exide Batteries, Brake Parts Inc., and ZF Services.
In August of 2016, Tom joined Enersys/Odyssey Batteries as Senior National Sales Manager.
Committed to giving back to the industry, Tom has served in various leadership positions, including on the AWDA Board of Governors & Executive Committee, the Automotive Sales Council Board, and as Chairman of several committees within the AutoCare Association. He and his wife Kathy, married for 47 years, have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Kathryn Reinhardt
Trustee
About Kathryn Reinhardt
AACF Committee(s): Marketing Committee (Chairperson) and Revenue Growth Committee
Reinhardt is Senior Vice President Marketing & Events at Hemmings. She brings over 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and has a track record of delivering unique and effective content and her history of planning and executing marketing campaigns.
Reinhardt serves on the SEMA Board of Directors and was awarded SEMA’s Person of the Year and the Top 35 under 35 award, along with a number of other industry accolades.
Todd Sanders
Trustee
About Todd Sanders
AACF Committee(s): Revenue Growth Committee
Sanders is the Senior Vice President of Professional Sales for the Advance enterprise brands.
Prior to the Advance Auto Parts acquisition, Todd served as Vice President of Professional Markets for Carquest, overseeing the TechNet Professional Program, Carquest Technical Institute, B2B e-commerce and the company’s national accounts.
Sheldon Silverman
Trustee
About Sheldon Silverman
AACF Committee(s): Marketing & PR Committee
Sheldon is the Founder & Chairman of Liquid Marketing and the Founder and CEO of SmartBomb Media Group. ... As part of his work with the DSF, Sheldon Silverman created the DSF Global DOOH Council, launched in 2017 at the DSE Conference.
Mike Spagnola
Trustee
About Mike Spagnola
Mike Spagnola is Presdient & CEO at SEMA and oversees the SEMA Garage Product Development Center as well as the SEMA Data.
Added to his role, he will serve as co-CEO for the Association beginning February 1, 2022, and will oversee the Government Affairs, SEMA Data, Human Resources and Accounting departments until a new CEO is hired for the Association.
Spagnola’s experience includes leadership positions in retail, distribution and manufacturing. Prior to joining SEMA he logged over 40 years in the specialty auto parts arena, including more than 20 years of ownership in several automotive companies.
His experience working with OEMs building concept and project vehicles has led to more than a dozen design awards from OEMs and extensive media recognition. Spagnola has also completed six years of service on the SEMA Board of Directors. Spagnola is raced competitively in SCCA and off-road. He has been active in several charities and has built several cars for SEMA Cares and SEMA Scholarship program as well as other charities. Mike collects and restores cars for a hobby. He is married with three children and four grandchildren.
Shane Willis
Trustee
About Shane Willis
AACF Committee(s): Golf Committee
Shane Willis is a true 4th generation Floridian. He studied marketing and communication at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and exemplified his passion for “People First” fundamentals, while playing quarterback for the UCF Knights.
Shane still holds true to those same fundamentals and has used them to create a successful resultsoriented track record in the automotive after-market for more than 25 years. During that time, he ran his family’s manufacturing and distribution business as President/CEO for over 10 years before co-founding his current company, ACEL, LLC.
Shane’s extensive network of individuals, industry principles, and disciplines have helped create a very successful business model for ACEL. He welcomes everyone he meets to learn more about his personal vision when it comes to business, which is summed up best by Jack Welch, past President & CEO of General Electric: “Management is doing things right, but true leadership is doing the right thing.”
Wes Wise
Trustee
About Wes Wise
AACF Committee(s): Recipient Review, Revenew Growth & Marketing / PR Committee
Wes joined O’Reilly in 1991 as a Merchandising Specialist at store 4039-Springfield, MO. Over the next several years, Wes worked in various Springfield stores as a Merchandiser, Parts Specialist, and Night/Weekend Manager while attending college. In 1997, following graduation, he relocated to Kansas City, MO. After participating in the O’Reilly Manager Development Program, he went on to manage several stores in the Kansas City area. Wes relocated back to Springfield in 1999 as Store Manager of 4036-Springfield, MO, while obtaining his Master of Business Administration from Drury University. In 2001, Wes transferred to the corporate office as the Installer Marketing Coordinator in the Advertising/Marketing Department.
In 2002, he was promoted to Installer Marketing Manager, and then Director of Marketing in 2004. In 2013, Wes moved to the Professional Sales Department as the Director for Integrated Parts Operations. In 2015, Wes took on the leadership role for our business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platforms and solutions and in 2018, he became responsible for our professional programs, promotions and marketing. In 2021, Wes added responsibility for professional sales administration and training as Senior Director of Professional Sales. In January 2022, Wes was promoted to his current role as Vice President of Professional Sales.
Jay Woodall
Trustee
About Jay Woodall
AACF Committee(s): Revenew Growth & Marketing Committee
Jay Woodall’s career encompasses more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the automotive aftermarket and technology segments. His career has included sales and operational leadership roles in the automotive parts distribution and the Reverse-logistics technology industry. Jay currently manages a national account sales team at Interstate Batteries that produces one fourth of the company’s entire sales volume. Prior to Interstate Batteries, he fulfilled various leadership roles at Xerox, Unisys, RetroBox, and Sims Recycling Solutions. His success has been attributed to his passion to meet customer requirements while leveraging a high level of engagement.
David Young
Trustee
About David Young
AACF Committee(s): Executive Committee and Recipient Review Committee (Chairperson)
David Young is Vice President of Valvoline LLC and oversees the US Light Duty National Account, Heavy Duty, and Canadian businesses. Over his 3?decade career, David has held leadership roles with Valvoline’s channel partner, national accounts, marketing, and Valvoline Instant Oil Change businesses.
John Kairys
Executive Director
About John Kairys
AACF Committee(s): All Committees
John Kairys was most recently Vice President, Parts and Service Group for TBC Corporation, a recognized leader in the replacement tire and automotive service industry. He currently manages a team within the Purchasing Group, that sources all automotive parts, fluids, tools and equipment for TBC’s retail and wholesale business entities.
His passion for automobiles and racing fueled his interest to enter the Automotive Aftermarket
industry, where he has thrived for the last 37 years. During the past 9 years, while at TBC
Corporation, he also served as Vice President and General Manager of their franchise
organization, Big O Tires, and as Vice President and General Manager of one of TBC’s
wholesale business units, Carroll/NTW Tire.
John has served on multiple executive committees and has been highly engaged in many
philanthropic efforts, particularly those that make a difference, by giving back to local
communities in support of youth; their education and well being.
He received a B.S. in Business Management from Robert Morris University and studied
Executive Leadership at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame. John
resides in Stuart, Florida with Becky, his wife of 36 years. T hey have two adult children, Alex
and Nick, who share in their interest of sports, boating and virtual family game nights!
Misty Walker
Operations Manager
About Misty Walker
Misty has worked as an administrative assistant for the past 15 years. She has a degree in Graphic Communications, and started her career as a Graphic Artist for a small gifts manufacturer in Oklahoma City. She then moved to Texas and worked as an assistant for a signage firm. After relocating to Northern California she worked as a Project Manager for a web design firm and then as an Executive Assistant for an electronic discovery company.
Although she is new to the aftermarket industry, and non-profit sector, she is thrilled to be working with such an amazing foundation.