AAPEX 2025 | Gretzky Shares Wisdom from the Ice, Industry Leaders Call for Action

Weaving in personal stories from his family life and professional career, hockey hall of famer Wayne Gretzky offered words of wisdom on leadership and the importance of family in a question-and-answer session during the AAPEX opening keynote on Tuesday at The Venetian Expo.

“Success depends on where skating to where the puck is going, not where it’s been” is a quote long attributed to Gretzky and his father, Walter. The same is true for business leaders, who need to see where their industry is headed and be ready for what comes, the hockey legend said.

Gretzky also stressed the need to see the value of every member of the team, whether it’s hockey players getting two minutes or 22 minutes of playing time, or every member of a shop crew, from the owner to entry-level technicians.

“Each guy has value to the success of the team or the failure of the team,” he said. “And to me, that’s sort of like business, too. Each and every person you have around you becomes imperative and important to your success.

“When you walk in, check your ego at the door. Never stop learning. Never stop getting advice. And it’s good to nudge other people, also. It’s good to make other people feel confident and encourage them.”

Gretzky offered more pearls of wisdom during the hourlong discussion:

On setting a good example for your team: “It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are. I always tell young guys this when they come in. You be the first guy there, because…it’s a culture that spreads across the room. It’s like an office. If you’re there early, it goes a long way.”

On loving what you do: Gretzky said he is often approached by mothers who ask him to tell their kids how much he practiced as a player. His outlook on those hours spent playing aren’t necessarily what parents expect.

“I said I didn’t miss going to movies with friends. I didn’t miss going to camps with kids. I loved being in my backyard skating. I loved to play box lacrosse. If you love it, like in the business world, you’re going to do it. You’re going to put in the time.”

Industry Leaders Call for Action

Defend. Invest. Advance.

The leaders of the Auto Care Association and MEMA had a simple and direct call to action for the keynote attendees filling the room: Defend the industry against OEM data control efforts , invest in the education of future technicians, and continue to advance the automotive aftermarket as a whole.

“We are facing real threats,” said Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO. “From OEM data control to proposed tariffs, the challenges are real and relentless. Automakers will stop at nothing to lock down repair data and control the customer relationship.”

In welcoming members of the automotive aftermarket industry to Las Vegas, Hanvey and Paul McCarthy, president of MEMA’s Aftermarket Suppliers group, implored the attendees to reach out to their local lawmakers in support of the REPAIR Act, which, if enacted, will give vehicle owners and independent shops the same critical access to diagnostic data, tools, and software as dealerships.

The freedom to repair, fair competition for independent shops, and the right for owners to choose where their vehicles are serviced should be non-negotiable, the duo said.

Investing in the future of the industry is vital, said Hanvey and McCarthy. In particular, the leaders advocated for legislation that would ensure parity for trade schools as college education through equal funding.

“We need to fill the technician pipeline, am I right?” McCarthy said to applause from the audience. “We need to drive lifelong learning at every level.”

Longtime MEMA Leader, Award Winners Honored

Bill Long, president and CEO of MEMA, was recognized during the keynote session, as he is set to retire after more than 40 years in the industry. Long will be succeeded by president-elect Emily Poladian, who was announced as the association’s next leader in October. Poladian has 27 years of supplier industry experience, most recently serving as president of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

The following winners of AAPEX’s sixth annual Service & Repair Awards were also recognized during the session:

• Shop Owner of the Year: Tom Palermo, Preferred Automotive Specialists
• Technician of the Year: Tony Martinez, Silver Lake Auto
• Service Advisor of the Year: Katlyn French, Hillside Auto Group