The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) has announced the recipients of the 2023 AIA Canada Distinguished Service Award and the Young Professionals in the Aftermarket (YPA) Young Leader of the Year Award.

The award presentations took place during the AIA Canada National Conference held on April 25-26, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario.

Brad Cochrane of NAPA Auto Parts is this year’s recipient of the YPA Young Leader of the Year Award. Brad Shaddick of Tenneco/DRiV received the AIA Canada Distinguished Service Award.

Young Professionals in the Aftermarket Young Leader of the Year Award

The YPA Committee presents the Young Leader of the Year Award annually to an outstanding young aftermarket professional in recognition of their leadership, innovation and dedication to the industry.

AIA Canada presented the 2023 Young Leader of the Year Award to Brad Cochrane, Director of Sales Operations and Business Analytics, NAPA Auto Parts.

Brad Cochrane has been passionate about cars his entire life, so it was natural for him to become an auto care industry professional. He began his career 17 years ago with a marketing position with Gates Canada before moving to NAPA Auto Parts in 2011. He has been with NAPA in a number of positions since then, currently serving as director of sales operations and business analytics. 

Brad has been a member of the Young Professionals in the Aftermarket Committee since 2013, serving as chair from 2018 to 2020. He remains an active volunteer with AIA Canada.

AIA Canada Distinguished Service Award

The AIA Canada Distinguished Service Award is the highest award presented by AIA Canada to an individual member. It recognizes outstanding service and leadership that contributes to the growth and development of Canada’s automotive auto care industry.

AIA Canada has awarded the 2023 Distinguished Service Award to Brad Shaddick, Director of Sales Canada, Tenneco/DRiV.

Brad Shaddick comes from a family of auto care professionals, following in his father Fred’s footsteps. He began his career with Fram Canada Ltd. in 1981, before moving to Specialty Sales and Marketing where he served as territory manager for Southern Ontario. He then joined Cooper Automotive, which, through a series of mergers, was acquired by Tenneco, where Brad currently holds the position of director of sales for Canada.

Among his other charitable efforts, Brad is the current chair of the Shad’s R&R annual industry golf event, a charity tournament founded by his father in 1973. To date, the event has raised over $5.3 million dollars for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Brad is married to his loving wife Angie and has a daughter, a son, two stepdaughters and one granddaughter.

About the Automotive Industries Association of Canada

AIA Canada represents, supports and leads innovation in Canada’s $37.8 billion auto care sector. With more than 4,000 members across the country, its vision, research, training programs and advocacy supports Canada’s collision and mechanical sectors. AIA Canada’s best practices for the auto care industry help its members keep Canada’s fleet of almost 26.6 million vehicles on the road.

Whether you’ve been in a collision or require maintenance, AIA Canada 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.

Visit www.aiacanada.ca