Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85612
Management Developin W alk around any aſt ermarket convention or trade show and you will see a lot of gray-haired people. But sprinkled in will be some bright young faces — the future leaders of aſt er- market businesses. However, leadership skills are not neces- sarily something that spontaneous develop; they have to be taught. Capitalizing on the strengths of its school of business, Northwood University is launching an intensive weeklong educa- tional experience. Heavy Duty Leadership is designed to foster the development of the next generation of heavy-duty parts distribution, manufactur- ing, service, association and fl eet management professionals. According to Brian Cruickshank, director of Northwood University's University of the Aſt ermarket, "We expect to attract folks who have been identifi ed by their organization as someone who is going to lead that organization at some point in time. It could be somebody early in their career. It could be somebody mid-career, but it also could be somebody late career who has been identifi ed as some- body who is going to take over the business." Th e inaugural class will be held July 8-13, 2012 in the Sloan By Denise L. Rondini, Executive Editor drondini@randallreilly.com Aftermarket Leaders Program will focus on strategic leadership skill development. Having success with Leadership 2.0, an automotive aftermarket program, North- wood University's University Of The Aftermarket is launching Heavy Duty Leader- ship to foster the development of the next generation of leaders in the heavy-duty aftermarket. Pictured here is a recent Leadership 2.0 class. combination of heavy-duty market leaders and Northwood's PhD faculty who teach in the De Vos Graduate School of Management. "Th e chassis for what to include in the program was a col- Family Building for aſt ermarket Studies at Northwood University's Midland, Mich. campus. Class size will be limited to 25 students. "We think 25 is the sweet spot to have a really meaningful academic experi- ence, " Cruickshank says. "Th is is not a sit in the classroom and have somebody talk at you. Th is is a discussion-based educational forum." Th e program is patterned aſt er Northwood's MBA program, in which professors give students reading assignments, or give short lectures, that then turn into conversations with the class. Th e faculty for the Heavy Duty Leadership program will be a laborative discussion between our faculty and leaders in the heavy-duty market," Cruickshank says. "We looked at what we off er in our automotive leader- ship program, what we off er in our MBA program and what are those market-specifi c topics that should be discussed in a heavy-duty leadership program." Subjects to be covered include: global competition in heavy- duty technology; succession planning; OEM dealers as customers and competitors; industry supply chain trends and challenges; team management and development; strategic management of internal assets; developing a unique business strategy in multi-channel mar- kets; industry case studies and mentoring and leadership. 20 TRUCK PARTS & SERVICE | March 2012