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[Podcast] Bill Long MEMA CEO – Advancing The Business Interest of Our Industry [RR 499]


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Bill Long is president and chief executive officer of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA)

Which represents the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the US through its four divisions, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), the MERA -the association for sustainable manufacturing and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

Long is a respected and highly recognized industry leader with more than 30 years of automotive experience in all sectors of the automotive industry. Long joined MEMA in 2012 to lead its AASA division before taking the top spot as MEMA President & CEO February 2019. Prior to joining AASA, Long served as president of Long Strategies LLC and as managing partner of BC Partners LLC, providing strategic planning, brand relevance and leadership services to the automotive industry. Long is most recognized for his 25 years at Echlin/DANA leading the company’s Engine Management Division and as Executive Vice President, North American Operations for Proliance International, a leading manufacturer of temp control and heat exchange products.

Long is also well-known in motorsports circles where he served as a corporate officer for NASCAR in Daytona Beach and as a top executive for the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Long served on the boards of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Advisory Board, Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation and the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation. Board. Long is also a past chairman of the National Car Care Council.

Long was awarded the prestigious MEMA Triangle Award during his time at DANA and Northwood University’s Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award, both recognizing his work in educating federal lawmakers and serving as a technical expert on issues concerning the industry’s access to vehicle on-board diagnostics and repair information. Long was honored with the Jack Arute Sr. Excellence in Motorsports Award for his contribution and dedication to the motorsports industry.

Talking Points:
  • MEMA- Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association  115th Anniversary 
  • MEMA advances the business interest of our industry
  • Created trade association to move industry forward
  • Challenges-rate of accelerated change in the industry, vehicle data access 
  • Vehicle parts manufacturers represent the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the USA- we have a powerful voice 
  • 77% value new car is generated by MEMA members 
  • OE suppliers are members
  • Bill met with the Vice-President of the United States in the White House this year 
  • A great economyUncertainty with tariffs but hopeful
  • Supports the right to own your data
  • It is getting tougher to get aftermarket parts brought to market because of encrypted software in many parts
  • EcommerceNeed qualified technicians to diagnose issues and problems 
  • Parts sales will continue to grow 
  • Link to http://www.mema.org

 

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Gold Certification recognizes top tier NAPA AutoCare's with a high level of participation in the AutoCare program. The program was built by AutoCare Centers for AutoCare Centers to provide a consistent consumer experience, maximize technology leverage, and reward NAPA’s most committed partners. In other words, Gold Certified AutoCare Centers are the standard-bearers for the AutoCare brand nationwide. Simply put, the Gold Certified NAPA AutoCare program, powered by your local shop brand, will separate you from the rest helping you boost your bay counts and your average repair orders. Learn more about NAPA AutoCare, Gold Certification, and the hundreds of other benefits the NAPA family has to offer by talking with your servicing NAPA store or visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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