Uzzardo Appointed To CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council

Vinni Uzzardo of Standard Motor Products (SMP) has been appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council.

“We are pleased to have Vinni join our leadership team and contribute to our discussions of current and future industry issues,” said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. “We look forward to his participation and contributions which will assist the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive aftermarket industry organization.”

Uzzardo has 38 years of automotive aftermarket experience. He started his career working at his family’s jobber store in the south suburbs of Chicago. After graduating from Northern Illinois University in 1992, he went to work for All Products Automotive, an Auto Value Warehouse, in Chicago. He was the marketing manager for six years and served on the Auto Value Marketing Board for two years. In 1998, Uzzardo went back to the family business. They expanded to three stores while his main focus was on controlling inventories and managing store personnel.

In 2004, he had an opportunity to join the Standard Motor Products sales team. He spent the first 10 years of his SMP career as a territory manager covering Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 2014, he moved to Las Vegas and became a division manager responsible for Advance/CARQUEST. The team he managed covered Nashville to Hawaii. Since 2022, he has been the western regional sales manager responsible for traditional sales. The team he manages covers Colorado to Hawaii.

Source: CAWA travel times double compared to normal.

“With lower fuel prices and more travelers on the road compared to last year, drivers should expect long delays this holiday weekend, especially in and around major metros as commuters mix with Memorial Day travelers,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic. Our advice is to avoid driving during peak hours or use alternative routes.”

Top Destinations

AAA booking data for the Memorial Day weekend shows tourist hotspots like Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas are top domestic destinations. Cruise port cities in Florida and Alaska, as well as Seattle, are high on the list given the 50% increase in domestic cruise bookings compared to last year. Other popular U.S. cities this Memorial Day include Denver, Boston, Anaheim and Canton, OH— home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“We are seeing a demand for iconic cities, international vacation packages and cruises with included amenities that provide more value for the price,” Twidale added.

Travelers are paying more for Memorial Day trips this year, in large part due to the rising cost of airline tickets. AAA booking data shows a 40% increase in airfare to this year’s Top Destinations.

But that’s not stopping travelers from booking flights abroad. International travel is surging with bookings 250% higher this holiday weekend compared to 2022. European cities are the most popular, including Rome, Paris, Dublin, London, Barcelona and Athens.

International car rentals are up more than 80% over 2022. AAA reports strong sales for International Driving Permits this year, almost double what they were last year.

The passport courier service RushMyPassport is also seeing an unprecedented number of applications for expedited passport and visa services this year.

Source: AAA

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