Industry Leaders Honored at AAIW
Cooper Acquires Regent Lighting

INDUSTRY LEADERS HONORED AT AAIW

Industry leaders from all aspects of the aftermarket were honored during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas. Some of the winners and their honors included:

1999 Industry Leadership Award: E. James Lane Jr., vice president of Snap-On. The award, presented by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, honored Lane’s "years of enthusiastic service to the automotive aftermarket, including dynamic leadership in AAIA and ASIA and the manufacturing segment of the industry." Lane is based in Wadsworth, IL.

1999 SEMA Person of the Year Award: Jeffrey Thompson of Edelbrock.

SEMA Chairman’s Service Award: Jacques Nasser of Ford Motor Company.

SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees: Pete Chapouris, Dick Moroso, Steve Woomer, and Bob Patteri.

SRMA Lifetime Achievement Award: Chuck Lombardo Sr. of California Street Rods.

SRMA Hall of Fame Inductees: Jerry Slover of Pete & Jake’s, Ralph Lisena of Engineered Components Inc.

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Athena Award: Rainer Willingham, Flex-a-Lite.

SEMA WD of the Year: Performance Warehouse.

SEMA Manufacturers Rep of the Year: Scafidi-Bolio & Associates.

Goodguys Award Winner: Troy Trepaner of Rad Rides.

NSRA Award Winners: Skip and Debbie Walls of Lokar.

ARMO Person of the Year: Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products.

ARMO Hall of Fame Inductee: Gary Anderson, A&M Soffseal.

PWA Person of the Year: Bob Bruegging, Mr. Gasket.

PWA Mfg. of the Year: Flex-a-Lite

PWA Pioneer Award: H.G. Smith, AAM Parts Pro.

Young Executives Network’s Young Executive of the Year: Scott Lazarus, Summit Racing Equipment.

Product Awards (where California companies swept virtually every category):

Best New Product for a Pickup/Van/SUV: 1999 Center Carrier Bearing Adjustment Slide by Belltech of Fresno.

Best New Accessory: Slam Guard Hedder Protector by Hedman Manufacturing, Cerritos.

Best New Packaging Design: Powertrax No-Slip Traction System by Powertrax of Costa Mesa.

Best Engineered New Product: Nitrous Flow Adapter Nitrous Injection Plate by Nitrous Oxide Systems of Costa Mesa.

Best New Product for Use In Racing: Pro Bandit Race Shifter by B&M Racing & Performance, Chatsworth, CA.

Best New Merchandising Display: Husky Liners Flexible Floor Mat Display Rack by Winfield Consumer Products, Winfield, KS.

Best New Performance Product for Street Use: Honda Civic Electric Fan by Flex-a-Lite Consolidated of Fife, WA.

Best New Product for Off-Road and 4-Wheel Drive: 2WD Light Truck 3" Lift Spindles by Fabtech Motorsports of Brea.

COOPER ACQUIRES REGENT LIGHTING

Cooper Industries, Inc. has acquired Regent Lighting of Burlington, NC. Regent, a manufacturer of outdoor security lighting fixtures, will become part of the Cooper Lighting Division.

With 1998 revenues of $99 million, Regent has manufacturing operations in the United States, Malaysia and China and employs approximately 650 people.

"Regent is a great strategic fit with Cooper Lighting," said H. John Riley, Jr., chairman of Cooper Industries. "Our acquisition of Regent dramatically increases our presence in the high-volume retail lighting market and complements our strong commitment to our dealers and distributors."

Originally published in the February/March 2000 issue of Automotive Booster Magazine.
Copyright 2000 by KAL Publications Inc.