Susan Hitchon has joined the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd. (AAEC) as a Business Development Manager for AED (Aftermarket Education & Development Division of AAEC) and a Licensee of AAEC for the Province of Ontario.

Hitchon will provide personal business coaching and on-going business development for automotive service providers in Ontario.

During her 20+years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket industry Susan has held several key positions progressing from a technical support advisor in the industrial power transmission division at Gates Canada, to product manager in the automotive division. She later accepted a position of Canadian national sales manager with Schrader International introducing TPMS sensors to the Canadian aftermarket. Susan played an integral role in assisting her distribution customers with introducing a quality product for sale within their distribution channel and implementing high standards for the service and installation of TPMS at their service centres and retail stores.

Susan was promoted to Director of Sales, Canada and then to Head of Global New Business Development, Auto Aftermarket for Sensata Technologies, the company that acquired Schrader International in 2014. In April 2015, Susan was elected to the AIA Board of Directors (Automotive Industries Association of Canada) and in 2018 appointed to the executive as the second vice-chairman.

In 2019 she served as first vice-chair and in April 2020 she will become the first female to serve as chairman in the 75+year history of the Association.

As much time as she spent in the board room selling her program to her customers, Susan has spent even more time in automotive service repair shops training technicians, service advisors and owners how to make TPMS a successful part of their business. According to Susan, “My passion for the automotive aftermarket industry comes from a sincere desire to help an independent shop owner grow a successful and profitable business that they can be proud of. A business where they can provide for their family and the families of their employees, and hold their head up high in the community in which they live by offering honest, value-added services. Joining AAEC as the Ontario Licensee and having access to all their business tools, allows me to truly execute my passion.”

Susan HItchon can be reached by email at s.hitchon@aaec.ca or call her at her Brantford office at 519-770-6483.