Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education

Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education

This annual award, presented in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, recognizes a company or individual for their leadership and commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Winners will be drawn from traditional industry participants including jobbers, distributors, repair shops or manufacturers. Funds from the Art Fisher Scholarship program shall be presented in the name of the award winner(s) to two undergraduate students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University, Midland, MI. Award winners need not be AWDA members.

2024 RECIPIENT: Larry Pavey 

The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the Auto Care Association, presented the 2024 Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education, to Larry Pavey, CEO of the Automotive Products Services Group.  The award was presented on November 3^rd by AWDA Vice-Chair Fletcher Lord III at AWDA’s 2024 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

AWDA’s Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education is presented annually to an aftermarket company or individual that demonstrates outstanding commitment to education and training, either within their organization or throughout the industry. Given in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, the award grants scholarships in the name of the award winner to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University.

Larry Pavey, CEO of the Automotive Parts Services Group, has spent his entire career in the automotive aftermarket, starting in sales at Walker Manufacturing, then on to the BWD division of Echlin. He served as Vice President of marketing for the Borg Warner, Niehoff and Whitaker brands.

With Larry Pavey at the helm, Echlin’s brake business made more than 20 acquisitions, becoming the largest brake supplier in the aftermarket industry. He served as president of Echlin’s North American Operations and later President of Dana’s Under Vehicle Group.

Today Larry Pavey serves as CEO of the Automotive Parts Service Group, a joint venture between the National Pronto Association and the Federated Alliance. He has been active in many industry associations, serving on the boards of ASE, AAPA, MEMA, the Auto Care Association and the AWDA Board of Governors.

In 2016 Larry Pavey was presented with the Martin Fromm AWDA Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2018 Larry Pavey was presented with the Jack Creamer Leader of the Year Award.

Larry Pavey’s commitment to the automotive aftermarket is long and varied. He has worked on both sides of the supply chain. He is a quiet but effective leader and teacher who has had a major impact on our industry.

Larry has the ability to look at the industry as a whole and strive to do what is best for everyone to help them succeed.