The Outdoor Power Parts & Accessories Association (OPPAA) held its Annual Meeting Feb. 1-3, 2025 in Hilton Head, SC, and announced its election of 2025-2026 Board of Directors. The leadership represents OPPAA membership of over 40 leading organizations across the outdoor power parts and accessories supply chain including manufacturers, parts companies, and distributors. According to the news release detailing the event, OPPAA remains focused on protecting the interests of outdoor power equipment parts and accessories manufacturers and distributors, ensuring a healthy dealer network for today and beyond. Officers elected include:
- President: Jim Depolo, VP Racing Fuels
- Vice President: Carissa Gingras, Oregon Tool
- Secretary/Treasurer: Rick Jackson, Gardner, Inc.
- Immediate Past President: Scott Rutledge, Medart Engine
- Director: Chris Roessler, Rotary
- Director: Craig Smith, Stens Corporation
- Director: Darold Dunham, Power Distributors
- Director: Jamie Esser, Rehlko
- Director: John Walker, Dometic
- Director: Shawn Carothers, The Toro Company
- Observer: Dave Johnson, Constellation Dealership Software
The organization offered a snapshot summary of additional highlights of the event, which focused on building high performance teams. It noted that Fortune 500 marketing consultant and author Rick Barrera shared key leadership techniques for attendees to immediately implement within their relative businesses in a double-feature presentation. The rest of the meeting’s speakers delivered industry resources such as data, trends, and insights that included upcoming regulatory challenges. All invited speakers included: Marketing Consultant and Author Rick Barrera; Global Marketing Leader at Oregon Tool, Carissa Gingras; Dan Mustico, Senior Vice President of Government & Market Affairs at Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI); as well as Dave Johnson and Eric Johnson, Dealer Insight experts at Constellation Dealership Group.
Networking among industry colleagues complimented the sessions, and included the annual Lee Woodcock/Wayne Roger Memorial Golf Tournament and inaugural Cornhole Tournament that supported the OPPAA Scholarship Program.
Originally established in 1986 as OPEAA, the organization reports that it promotes the quality of replacement parts and accessories as an equivalent and economical means for the maintenance and repair of power equipment. OPPAA’s ultimate purpose is to facilitate the growth and availability of quality replacement parts and accessories for outdoor power equipment.
