It's a GAAS in Chicago!

That's right, mid-May is the time for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, this year held in Chicago. The GAAS (as it's known) has been a huge provider of scholarship funds to students wishing to enter the aftermarket. Over the past 12 years, proceeds from the Symposium have funded more than $1.5 million worth of scholarships!

I've attended this Symposium probably 8 out of the last 12 years, and I have to admit, sometimes, the agenda has gotten a little stale. Not this year though. The first day included a presenter from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago discussing the winners and losers in a global economy. Typically, a lot of numbers and charts would put me to sleep. But his information was very good. Other presenters discussed the global aftermarket from a multinational perspective (people who actually do business outside the U.S.) and technology standards across the market. All strata of our business was represented, from the technician, shop owner, and distributor, up to the CEOs and Presidents of manufacturing companies.

I will be commenting more specifically next week, but right now I've got to catch a flight to Florida.