By SEMA News Editors
TechForce Foundation Appoints New Chief Growth Officer, Board Members
The TechForce Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the technician workforce, has appointed Jennifer Bergeron as its first chief growth officer. Additionally, Dave Smith, Bill Willetts and Matt Hartford have joined its Board of Directors.
Bergeron brings more than 20 years of experience in technical education and organizational management to TechForce and spent 13 years as the campus president of NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Hartford is the president and CEO of Total Seal Piston Rings, and first joined Total Seal Piston Rings as Lead Engineer in 1998. Hartford also started a drag racing career in 1988 and currently races in the NHRA PRO STOCK category.
Willetts, vice president of Snap-on Industrial, has spent his career with the company since first joining as a sales rep in 1994. He also served as chairman of the board of NC SkillsUSA from 2010 through 2022.
Smith, principal at DGS Group, also joins the board, and previously served as senior vice president, supply chain strategy at Caliber Collision.
For more information, visit techforce.org.
Racing & Performance Holdings Announces Appointment of Mark Finnie as CEO
Racing & Performance Holdings (R&P Holdings) has announced the appointment of Mark Finnie, a seasoned automotive industry veteran, as its new CEO. R&P Holdings is a Taglich Private Equity portfolio business, and its brands include Vortech Superchargers, RaceTec Pistons, PROCAR Custom Seating, Air Flow Research and SCAT Crankshafts.
Finnie held various leadership positions within the automotive industry with notable roles, including the founder of Forge-Tec Wheels; vice president of WELD Racing; president and CEO of Pertronix; and division president for both Vance & Hines and Performance Machine.
"We look to further enhancing SCAT, AFR, Vortech Superchargers, RaceTec Pistons and PROCAR Seating leading positions in the market by leveraging the company's engineering expertise, coupled with our team's automotive aftermarket experience and network," said Finnie.
For more information, visit airflowresearch.com.
LKQ Corp. Announces Executive Leadership Succession Plan
LKQ Corp. has selected Justin Jude, the company's current senior vice president and president of its wholesale-North America segment, to succeed Dominick Zarcone as the president and CEO of the company. Zarcone announced his intent to retire from his role effective June 30, 2024.
Jude will serve as the company's executive vice president and COO from January 1, 2024, until he officially succeeds Zarcone as president and CEO on July 1, 2024.
An LKQ employee since 2004, Jude has held various leadership roles across the company's North American sales, supply chain and information systems departments. From June 2014 to July 2015, he served as president of the company's specialty segment, and as president of the wholesale-North America segment since July 2015.
For more information, visit lkqcorp.com.
RNR Tire Express Names Trish Deschenes as Director of Franchise Sales
RNR Tire Express (RNR), the Tampa, Florida-based tire and custom wheel retail franchise, has named Trish Deschenes as its new director of franchise sales.
In her new role, Deschenes will be responsible for educating prospective franchisees on RNR, elevating sales practices and capabilities and executing on the franchise's multi-unit ownership directive, the company said.
"Our team has some incredible milestones on the horizon, such as welcoming our 200th location in the new year," said Larry Sutton, founder and CEO of RNR. "Trish's introduction to the RNR family is meant to do so much more than help us get there, but to ensure it’s another milestone in a long line of those to come."
For more information, visit rnrtires.com.