The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, headquarters for Auto Value, has announced the official beginning of its annual Winter Shareholder Meeting on the morning of December 8, Sunday.

With a turnout of 150 Auto Value shareholders and over 250 channel partners, the event is being held at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry in Aventura, Fla.

Besides networking and socializing opportunities, the agenda for the event includes closed-door committee meetings, department updates, networking and meals and a joint general session for shareholders and channel partners. The meeting will come to a close on Tuesday, December 10, with an awards banquet in the event. During the banquet, the group will present its supplier award and Channel Partner of the Year award.

“We are excited to come together in Florida this week for our winter shareholder meeting,” said Corey Bartlett, Chairman of the Alliance’s Board of Directors and President and CEO of Automotive Parts Headquarters. “I’m confident this event will be an excellent opportunity for us to reinforce our position as the strongest aftermarket group in the country.”

On Sunday morning, the Alliance held closed-door Information Technology, National Account, Product, and Sales & Marketing Committee meetings. An open session was held by the Operations Committee after which IT and Operations hosted a joint session. Shareholders had the opportunity to attend sessions of their choice from the Alliance’s IT, Product, and Sales & Marketing departments that were held in the afternoon. Following a full day of work, the day ended on a note of merriment with a reception at the resort’s stunning Cascata Pool area.

“I think from the manufacturer’s perspective, we’re very fortunate to be invited,” said Kevin Judge, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for NTN and BCA Bearings. “It’s a very unique environment because it’s business casual, but the first word is business. You have to come here and understand the expectations. You’re not coming here to write orders; you’re coming here to understand the Alliance business plan going forward in the coming years. So, there are really two aspects of these things: Being able to socialize with the members and being able to see what’s coming in 2020.”

President and CEO of the Alliance John R. Washbish presented a headquarters report on the second day of the event. Including on the agenda for Monday were presentations by Alliance and other shareholders on product initiative, IT updates, the forthcoming Heavy Duty program, the Alliance Takes the Hill 2021 Convention, among other things.

Shareholders and channel partners are hosting joint meetings on the final day of the meeting, that is Tuesday. The Alliance reserved the afternoon for fun with activities such as golf, fishing and poker.

“We are excited to once again come together as a group to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and our channel partner’s successes,” Washbish said. “More importantly, we look forward to discussing strategic plans and leveraging our strengths to work toward the future.”