The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association is gearing up for its Information Services Council Annual Fall Conference, kicking things off with Tim Kraus, president and chief operating officer of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association
, the conference's keynote speaker. Kraus will focus on "The Strength of the Heavy Duty Aftermarket" during his speech at the conference, which is slated for Oct. 11-13 in Marco Island, Fla.

The conference gathers automotive aftermarket professionals who use technology, including those whose responsibilities involve customer service, business support, e-commerce, information services, cataloging, forecasting and supply chain.

Kraus has served at HDMA and as vice president of MEMA since 2007. He has been a member of both associations since 2004. HDMA is MEMA's heavy-duty affiliate association that exclusively serves the suppliers of components to the commercial vehicle industry. He is responsible for the overall business operations of the association and acts as its primary spokesperson to the industry.

Other presentations during the conference include "Turning on the Data Spigot," where representatives of AutoZone, O'Reilly and CARQUEST will address how to simplify and quicken the flow of data from suppliers to channel partners. Brad Duncan, CEO of MindQuest, will speak on the new OptiCat e-catalog application, which will be owned by the industry and driven by suppliers. Customer roundtables with suppliers will also be held throughout the conference, featuring O'Reilly, ADN and National Pronto.

For more information, visit
www.miscouncil.org.