Organizers of the seventh annual Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week announced the leadership team for the conference, to be held January 23-26, 2012, at The Mirage in Las Vegas, with the theme "Corporate Culture: The Foundation for Success."


Ken Duval, president of Canadian Wheel Industries, and Mike Betts, president of Betts Spring Company, have been name co-chairs. Tom Stewart, president and CEO of Carolina Rim and Wheel, was selected as vice chair. The three HDAW chairs are responsible for the overall leadership of the event and the volunteer and staff program planning teams, consisting of more than 30 individuals.

The HDAW leadership team focuses on the strategic conference elements including distributor education, pre-scheduled supplier/distributor one-on-one meetings, the HDAW product expo and the numerous networking opportunities.

"We are focused on corporate culture this year," said Duval. "The HDAW '12 theme will resonate throughout the conference, from the upbeat opening session and all new education sessions, to networking events and the who's who of suppliers."

"HDAW's continued strategic objectives have become a cornerstone for our industry's aftermarket," said Betts. "The forethought and focus on planning a program that responds to last year's attendees' evaluations will pay meaningful benefits for the 2012 attendees. It's the single best place to be to advance the aftermarket industry."

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week is the largest North American gathering of the independent heavy-duty industry. More than 1,700 managers and executives from 17 countries - including distributors, manufacturers, service providers, educators and media - attended the 2011 conference in Las Vegas.

HDAW is presented by a joint operating committee composed of industry leaders from American Council of Frame and Alignment Specialists (ACOFAS), Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS), Automotive Electric Association (AEA), Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), HDA-Truck Pride, Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), APRA's Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG), International Truck Parts Association (ITPA), Overseas Automotive Council (OAC), Power Heavy Duty, Service Specialists Association (SSA), Truck Frame and Axle Repair Association (TARA) and Vipar Heavy Duty.