AIA Canada announces new YPA Committee members and Chair
Ottawa, April 30, 2026 — AIA Canada is pleased to announce the newly elected members and Chair of the 2026-2028 Young Professionals in the Auto care sector (YPA) Committee. The YPA Committee is a standing committee of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada Board of Directors, which is comprised of representatives under 45 years of age working at AIA Canada member companies in good standing, who act as the leading voice of the YPA Community.
As of today, AIA Canada welcomes 12 new members to the Committee with Hitesh Patel, Director at Transtar Aftermarket Solutions Canada as Chair and Kari Hann of Specialty Sales & Marketing Inc. as Immediate Past Chair.
Hitesh Patel, Director of Canada, Transtar Aftermarket Solutions
Hitesh serves as Director at Transtar Aftermarket Solutions in Canada, a NexaMotion Group company, where he leads all aspects of the business, including sales, marketing, operations, supply chain, human resources, finance, and information technology.
He brings more than 15 years of experience in the Canadian auto care sector, with previous roles at Monaco Group, Carquest Canada/Advance Auto Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Altrom Auto Group (UAP Inc.).
He is committed to authentic leadership and the development of young professionals. A member of the YPA Committee since 2024, Hitesh has contributed to key initiatives, including the Mentoring Roundtable. Following the formalization of YPA’s governance framework, he was appointed its first Vice Chair in 2025, working closely with Chair Kari Hann to support continuity and leadership transition.
As YPA Committee Chair, he aims to build on recent momentum and further strengthen the Committee’s impact.
YPA Committee members
The 12 new YPA Committee members for the 2026-2028 term are as follows:
- Amin Youssef, regional vice president, Fix Network
- Anthony Henderson, district sales manager, Robert Bosch Inc.
- Beverly Kodybka, PBE business development, LKQ Corporation
- Brad Shantz, training and development manager, Leroy’s Auto Care
- Craig Glennie, director, finance and decision support, The Boyd Group
- Curtis Elliott, director of sales, Bumper to Bumper
- Jordan Schlamp, president, BAAN Powertrain
- Joshua Lin, COO, Pacer Dynamics Automotive
- Mathew Mckay, area sales representative, Dorman Products
- Matthew Benson, vice president, franchise and business development, Auto Service Group
- Mike Cherneta, CEO and president, MGM Auto Group
- Shannon Langsford, director, human resources, Mevotech
The following are returning members of the YPA Committee:
- Adam Malik, editor-in-chief, automotive group, Turnkey Media Solutions
- Andrew Harvey, sales representative, PFX Group
- Jennifer Fox, president, Auto Electric Service, Ltd.
- Mark Potts, senior strategic account manager, DRiV/Tenneco
- Nathaniel Willsie, western heavy duty sales manager, Grote Industries
- Zakari Krieger, vice president – Prime CarCare, Fix Network
AIA Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank former Committee members Shannon Tardiff, Devin TerMarsch, Stephanie Cooney-Mann, Derek Suen, and Georgia Ludwig for their commitment and service to the YPA Committee and Community.
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About the Young Professionals in the Auto care sector
Young Professionals in the Auto care sector (YPA) is an Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) community comprising of young executives, of 45 years or younger, in the Canadian auto care sector. They support the career growth of young professionals by expanding their network and assisting them in becoming a thought leader in Canada’s auto care industry.
About the Automotive Industries Association of Canada
We represent, support and lead innovation in Canada’s $37.8 billion auto care sector. With thousands of members from coast to coast, our vision, research, training programs and advocacy supports Canada’s collision and mechanical sectors. Our best practices for the auto care industry help our members keep Canada’s fleet of almost 26.6 million vehicles on the road.
Whether you have been in a collision or require maintenance, our members help vehicles last longer, pollute less, and keep drivers safer by offering Canadians any product or service a vehicle may need after it rolls off the dealership’s lot.
For more information please contact:
AIA Canada Communications
1-800-808-2920 ext. 2285