PBEA & AAIA to merge operations

Members of the Paint & Body Equipment Assn. (PBEA) recently approved their board's recommendation to consolidate association operations with the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Assn. (AAIA). PBEA members will likely elect to participate in AAIA's PBE segment, which, under terms of the consolidation agreement, will become known as the Paint & Body Equipment Specialists (PBES) segment. The vote represents

Tim Parry

Nov. 28, 2001

Members of the Paint & Body Equipment Assn. (PBEA) recently approved their board's recommendation to consolidate association operations with the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Assn. (AAIA).

PBEA members will likely elect to participate in AAIA's PBE segment, which, under terms of the consolidation agreement, will become known as the Paint & Body Equipment Specialists (PBES) segment. The vote represents the final action required to bring together the PBE industry's two major associations and caps months of negotiation between the two groups.

"The time was right for PBEA to join forces with AAIA," said PBEA president Bud Beeler. "Our board feels strongly that the challenges and opportunities faced by our industry are best met through a unified association."

AAIA also recently announced it has named Kathleen Schmatz to the newly created position of executive vp, effective January 2.