History
The Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association
(OVAAA) is a non-profit trade association representing aftermarket businesses
in
The Ohio Automotive Wholesalers Association was
conceived on
Two of the "motivators" of an open meeting of attending wholesalers were Pete DeGreen, President of Cleveland Automotive Booster Club No. 16, and Maury Mayer, Executive Secretary of the Michigan Automotive Wholesalers Association.
As a result of the meeting, a Steering Committee of John Bakan, Doug Dowdney, Bill Hedges, John Metzger, and Tom Reynolds was chosen to draft a constitution and by-laws for the new organization.
Several meetings later, on
The first officers of OAWA were:
President - Cecil J. Barber
Vice President - John M. Metzger
Treasurer - Thomas H. Reynolds
Secretary - Douglas F. Dowdney
The dinner speaker at this first official meeting
of the Ohio Automotive Wholesalers Association was Woody Hayes, head football
coach at the
During its first year, OAWA investigated the possibility
of adopting a group insurance program but its activities were limited because
there were no staff members. However, on
The first member service inaugurated by OAWA was a monthly Merchandise & Equipment Exchange Bulletin followed quickly by a Freight Bill Audit Service, Collection Service, Business Insurance coverage, and a Group Insurance Plan.
OAWA issued its first annual Yearbook in conjunction
with the 2nd Annual OAWA Convention on
From the start, OAWA cooperated with the Boosters on an annual booth show, held in conjunction with the annual OAWA Convention. From a total of 50 booths at the first event, the show was expanded and improved each year to become the biggest and best attended state automotive wholesalers show in the country. The last show was held in 1990.
For the first few years, the OAWA office was in the basement of the Executive Director's home and there was only one full-time staff member. At present, the OVAAAA office is located in an attractive,member-owned,office building with over 3000 sq. ft. of space.
In 1992 over 700 automotive jobbers in
OVAAA is governed by a Board of Directors composed of members elected from
12 districts within the two state regions. Four standing committees report
to the Board of Directors. Coordinating the work of the Association is a staff
headquartered in
OVAAA has over 50 years of success in representing
its members. OVAAA has as its objectives a cooperative relationship between
the various wholesalers, repair facilities, and manufacturers; and encourages
it's members to adopt and practice high ethical business standards.
OVAAA also helps develop and establish practical methods for the growth of
the independent automotive businesses in both
Board of Directors
District |
Board Member |
||
| 6 |
 |
Mike Washington Washington Auto Parts & Paint 718 W Coshocton St. Johnstown, OH 43031 740/967-2166 |
|
| 6 |
 |
Bryan Menke R & R Engine & Machine 1004 Swartz Road Akron, OH 44319 330/724-5526 |
|
| 12 |
 |
Keith Blankenship Auto Value of Matewan Main Street Matewan, WV 25678 304/426-6621 |
|
| 5 |
 |
Tom Olak Parts Distributors,Inc. 10 Williams St. Norwalk, OH 44857 419/668-8195 |
|
| 7 |
 |
Chip Childress - Treasurer UCI-Midwest 1611 Troy St. Dayton, OH 45404 937/224-8998 |
|
| 12 |
 |
John Hill Willard C. Starcher, Inc. 124 Vandale Ave. P.O. Bx 280 Spencer, WV 25276 304/927-2520 |
|
| 4 |
 |
Craig Speckman Speckman Automotive 415 S. Wayne Ave. St. Marys, OH 45885 419/394-2345 |
|
| 4 |
 |
Mike Krebs Laub Auto Parts, Inc. 1404 South Defiance St. Archbold, OH 43502 419/445-1525 |
|
| 9 |
 |
Chuck Murray Murray's Auto Parts, Inc. 518 E. Main St. Lancaster, OH 43130-3808 740/687-0846 |
|
| 8 |
 |
Jim Smith - Chairman JSC Group, LLC 6180 Clover Valley Rd. Johnstown, OH 43031 740/967-0098 |
|
| 9 |
 |
Mark Lewis - 1st Vice Chairman Mansfield Auto Parts 1092 W. 4th Street Mansfield, OH 44906 419/522-9911 |
|
| 10 |
 |
Robert Washington - Immediate Past Chairman Washington Auto Parts & Paint 718 W. Coshocton St. Johnstown, OH 43031 740/967-2166 |
|
OVAAA PAST BOARD CHAIRMEN |
|
| 1958-1959 | *Cecil J. Barber; J.A. Barber & Sons; Youngstown |
| 1959-1960 | *John M. Metzger; Jobbers Supply; Columbus |
| 1960-1961 | *Bill Hedges; Hedges Auto Parts; Portsmouth |
| 1961-1962 | *Charles J. Boland; Boland Ignition Co.; Cleveland |
| 1962-1963 | *Chet H. Newman; Lewis Motor Mart; Dayton |
| 1963-1964 | Tom C. Igo Jr.; Miles Auto Stores; Cleveland (Retired) |
| 1964-1965 | *Nick Buchman; Dillon Auto Parts; Fostoria |
| 1965-1966 | *Robert E. Thomas; Sanborn Motor Equipment; Painesville |
| 1966-1967 | * Tom M. Toolin; Automotive Parts; Columbus (Retired) |
| 1967-1968 | *E.C. (Bud) Snider; Johnston Auto Supply; Springfield (Retired) |
| 1968-1969 | *Richard A. Franz; F & N Motor Co.; Cincinnati |
| 1969-1970 | *Leonard G. Duncan; Defiance Auto Supply; Defiance |
| 1970-1971 | *Melvin L. Erb; Reliable Auto Parts; Dover |
| 1971-1972 | Robert Goldman; Goldman Car Pts., Bowling Green (Retired) |
| 1972-1974 | *Robert C. Gehring; Wayne Auto Parts; Wooster |
| 1974-1975 | Ed L. Asher; The Asher Bros. Co.; Sandusky (Retired) |
| 1975-1977 | Charles E. Lawrence; B & L Auto Supply; Newark (Retired) |
| 1977-1978 | Tom L. Krupp; Buckeye Auto Parts; Fostoria (Retired) |
| 1978-1980 | Joe H. Wesel; Marietta Ignition; Marietta (Retired) |
| 1980-1981 | Jack N. Thayer; Steego Parts Corp.; Columbus (Retired) |
| 1981-1982 | Ken C. Kopfmann; Toledo Auto Electric; Toledo (Retired) |
| 1982-1983 | *Leonard E. Morse; Medina Auto Parts; Medina |
| 1983-1984 | Rich A. Campbell; Toledo Auto & Truck Supply; Toledo (Retired) |
| 1984-1985 | Dan Dunson; Dunson Supply Co.; Sidney (Retired) |
| 1985-1986 | Charles W. (Bill) Wesel; Marietta Ignition; Marietta (Retired) |
| 1986-1987 | Ralph Coon; Semco Auto Parts; Copley (Retired) |
| 1987-1988 | Ed Occhionero; Crest Motor Parts; Lyndhurst (Retired) |
| 1988-1989 | Paul Brecht, Jr.; Paul's Automotive; Toledo (Retired) |
| 1989-1990 | John Detrick; Springfield Tire & Battery; Springfield (Retired) |
| 1990-1991 | Tom Eden; Lant Auto Parts; Ashtabula |
| 1991-1992 | Ken Washington; Ken Washington Auto Parts; Johnstown (Retired) |
| 1992-1993 | Dan Herrold; Met's Auto Supply; Mansfield (Retired) |
| 1993-1994 | Jim Pullins; Springfield Auto Supply, Inc.; Springfield |
| 1994-1995 | Jim Roe; Midwest Fender; Columbus |
| 1995-1996 | Jeff Erb; Reliable Auto Parts; Dover (Retired) |
| 1996-1997 | John Lawrence; CarQuest of Newark; Newark (Retired) |
| 1997-1998 | Jim Amstutz; Central Ohio Power Tool; Columbus |
| 1998-1999 | H.M. "Chip" Childress; UCI Midwest; Dayton |
| 1999-2000 | Lynn Sinclair: Orlo Auto Parts; Orrville |
| 2000-2001 | John Hill; Willard C. Starcher, Inc.; Spencer, WV |
| 2002-2003 | Lee Menke; R&R Engine & Machine; Akron, OH |
| 2004-2005 | Dan Mader; Mader Motor Mart; Troy, OH |
| 2006-2007 | Keith Blankenship; AutoValue of Matewan; Matewan, WV |
| 2008-2009 | Robert Washington, Washington Auto Parts & Paint, Johnstown, OH |
| 2010-2011 | Jim Smith; JSC Group, LLC; Johnstown, OH |
| *Deceased | |
Staff
|
|
|
|
|
|
Testimonials
LISTEN TO WHAT OVAAA MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY!
Are you currently a company that has been blindly paying your credit card merchant processing fees because they are almost impossible to understand on your monthly statement?..... Then please give QPS (Qualified Processing Services-OVAAA’s credit card processor) a call! Steven Miller at QPS took time to explain to me what I had been paying and how I could cut my costs down on fees simply by explaining to me how to enter a credit card transaction correctly!........ If you want customer service that is unique and refreshing and always a phone call away, then you need to give QPS a try! I also recommend giving their 60 day free trail a chance!
Diane Gains, Engine Machine Service
Niles, Ohio
The Automotive Aftermarket in both Ohio and West Virginia have been strengthened by joining forces into one regional association. I encourage my fellow West Virginia jobbers to support our new regional association, the Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association. There is definitely strength in numbers!
John Hill, Willard C. Starcher, Inc.
Spencer, West Virginia
We are pleased with our membership in OVAAA because of the many services they offer. Our business participates in the Workers' Comp. Savings Plan and a variety of other OVAAA programs.
Gary Pedersen, Bellefontaine Auto Supply
Bellefontaine, Ohio
The benefits of OVAAA are great, the people you meet are great, but most important is being kept informed about current legislation. OVAAA has been instrumental in blocking legislation both at the state and federal level that would have proven disastrous to the automotive aftermarket.
Ken Washington, Washington Auto Parts & Paint
Johnstown, Ohio
4645 Leap Ct.
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(614) 777-7373
(614) 777-7375 Fax
©2003 – 2011 OVAAA
