A new chairman and two new directors have been appointed to the board of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). On behalf of the board, David Parde, president of CARE, stated that Ted Wise, co-president of O'Reilly Auto Parts, has been elected as the new chairman. He replaces Art Lottes III, president of CARQUEST, who is retiring from the company and CARE after serving for the past three years as chairman of the CARE board. 

Ted Wise has been with O'Reilly's for 35 years. In addition to being co-president, he is also chief operating officer, focusing on store operations, real estate and marketing.

Joining the CARE board are William C. Rhodes, III, president & CEO of AutoZone, and O. Temple Sloan, III, president and CEO of General Parts Inc. Said Parde, "Rhodes has been with AutoZone for 12 years, where he has served in a variety of executive-level roles. Sloan joined General Parts, Inc. (GPI) in 1993 and is the son of O. Temple Sloan, Jr., the founder of GPI. Both Rhodes and Sloan have high caliber backgrounds in the automotive aftermarket, and understand what it takes to lead effectively. We welcome the expertise they bring to the table," said Parde.

Parde paid special tribute to Art Lottes for the significant role he has played in the formation and development of CARE over the years.

Parde said, "Art is one of the original founding fathers of CARE, helping to establish the organization back in 1991. From 1991 to 2002 he served as secretary-treasurer of the board, coming on as chairman in 2003. He's been a stalwart contributor to the achievements we've experienced legislatively in the auto aftermarket during the past decade."

According to Parde, Lottes plans to stay involved with CARE. "Art's input will always be valued," he said.

Other members of the CARE board include: Marc Graham, president and CEO, InstallerEDGE, secretary/treasurer of the board; Tom Gallagher, president and CEO, Genuine Parts Corporation; Maynard Jenkins, chairman and CEO, CSK Auto; Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association; and Jim Wade, president, Advance Auto Parts.