Inside the Aftermarket Executive Exchange: An Evening in Chicago

Chicago has no shortage of industry events, but our inaugural Aftermarket Executive Exchange set out to do something a little different.

A small group of senior leaders met ahead of the Sweet 16 games for a short, focused discussion, then spent the evening together at the United Center. The idea was simple: start the conversation properly, then give it room to continue.

Leaders from Vermeer, International Motors, Slate Auto, and Manitowoc were joined by representatives from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Red Zone Strategies, and Capgemini, bringing together a mix of OEM, association, and advisory perspectives in one room.

A Room Built for Real Talk

The opening discussion, led by John Somers from AEM with Mark Dabe and Josh Weiss from Syncron, focused on how channel models and customer expectations are shifting. Right to Repair came up early, alongside a broader set of questions about how OEM and dealer relationships are changing.

Attendees were generous with their experience, open about their challenges, and willing to get into details that rarely come through in formal sessions, with conversations rooted in the real work of running parts and service operations.

What emerged wasn’t a list of problems, but a shared recognition of pressure points that look remarkably similar across organizations, even when markets, fleets, and channel structures differ. Leaders compared how they approach trade‑offs, where bottlenecks appear, and how they keep teams aligned when the variables shift faster than the systems built to manage them.

Beyond the Agenda

Once the games tipped off, the pace of play, the crowd, and the energy in the arena gave the group a chance to enjoy it together and carry the conversation forward in a more relaxed setting.

No presentations, no formalities — just quality time with a group of peers who don’t often get that kind of room to talk.

Our first Aftermarket Executive Exchange brought together the right people, focused on the right issues, and left enough room for the discussion to develop naturally. By the end of the evening, it was clear that the format worked.

If you’re interested in joining a future Aftermarket Executive Exchange, get in touch.