Northwood University President to Moderate Keynote Breakfast at AAPEX
The Keynote Breakfast, titled “Getting into the Hall of Fame: What it Takes,” will also feature NHL great Wayne Gretzky…
The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) announced that Northwood University President Dr. Kent MacDonald will moderate the AAPEX 2025 Keynote Breakfast. The session, which is titled “Getting into the Hall of Fame: What it Takes,” will feature the professional hockey legend Wayne Gretzky this year.
MacDonald will facilitate a discussion centered on lessons Gretzky learned during his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). Principal among them is the notion that Gretzky used his intelligence to outperform “bigger, stronger, faster” competitors.
Rather than merely chasing after a hockey puck against opponents who had the athletic speed to reach it faster, Gretzky strived to “skate to where the puck is going.” That idea has become a widely recognized metaphor for business leaders and is especially relevant in times of uncertainty.
The automotive aftermarket, a $2.3 trillion market globally and a $435 billion U.S. market, has faced increased uncertainty over the last few years, event officials stated in a press release. That ambiguity stems from a variety of trends, including a persistent shortage of skilled labor, supply chain disruptions and technological innovations.
MacDonald’s Leadership & Northwood University’s Focus on the Automotive Sector
For his part, MacDonald, who is currently in his second term at the helm of Northwood University, also has a unique background that’s tightly related to this theme. Despite the global pandemic, which upended academia, and a devastating flood that wreaked havoc on the school’s campus, enrollment has grown under his leadership, noted the release. Notably, this has occurred during a time when many higher education institutions are facing declining enrollment.
In addition, the Michigan-based institution has deep roots in the automotive industry. Many of its academic programs have a unique focus on the automotive sector. The school offers an undergraduate degree in automotive aftermarket management and an automotive & mobility MBA. It’s also home to the University of the Aftermarket, which offers aftermarket-focused management and leadership education for motor vehicle aftermarket professionals. The school also recently announced a three-part motorsports-focused workshop series.
AAPEX says that it has developed a close relationship with Northwood University over the years. The school brings a group of students to the show as part of the AAPEX Student Program. Students gain first-hand exposure to the industry through sessions, training, exhibitor engagement and networking events.
Registration & Show Information
AAPEX 2025 will be held at the Venetian Expo & Caesars Forum in Las Vegas from Nov. 4-6, 2025. Registration for the show is open exclusively to automotive aftermarket professionals. The Keynote Breakfast is a ticketed event and will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, from 6:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. at The Venetian Hotel, Palazzo Ballroom.
