One Thing We’re Talking About: Aftermarket education gets boost at Northwood University

Northwood University in Midland, Mich. continues to bolster its aftermarket education program.

James O’Dell, who most recently was business development manager for Fisher Auto Parts in Ann Arbor, Mich., was hired by the university as the assistant director of aftermarket education. His hiring comes about five months after Northwood named Thomas Litzinger as the executive director of the University of the Aftermarket.

O’Dell’s “professional experiences and network, along with that of our new University of Aftermarket executive director, will usher in an age of growth for our aftermarket programs, which will benefit the entire automotive industry,” said Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president and provost of Northwood University.

The pair’s “strong associations and ability to form new relationships across the industry will allow Northwood to collaborate with all segments to produce even more career-ready students,” Stehouwer said.

With the average age of vehicles on the road surpassing 12 years and the number of miles increasing, “opportunities in the automotive aftermarket continue to grow at a rapid pace,” O’Dell said.

Litzinger, with O’Dell’s help, will develop a new curriculum for the University of the Aftermarket.

“The investments Northwood is making in aftermarket education shows the university is responsive to the industry’s feedback, and it is stewarding its resources well for the good of the industry,” O’Dell said.