Innovators Honored at MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers 2026 Aftermarket Technology Conference

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - (October 23, 2026) - MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers presented its annual MEMA Aftermarket Startup Challenge (MASC) as well as the Business Technology Council's (BTC) Technology Innovation Award and Think Tank Award during the Aftermarket Technology Conference, held October 4-6 in Frisco, Texas. The Conference brings together forward-thinking professionals from the automotive, commercial vehicle, and remanufacturing sectors to explore technologies reshaping the industry. This year's awards recognized emerging startups, breakthrough technologies, and collaborative problem-solving across the aftermarket.

"Each year, the Tech Conference showcases the ingenuity that keeps the aftermarket moving forward," said Chris Gardner, senior vice president, programs and technology at MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. "The MASC, Technology Innovation Award and Think Tank Award winners and attendees from across the industry brought real-world insights that elevated every session and underscored the strength of the technology on display. The caliber of solutions and collaboration we saw this week indicates we are moving in the right direction for our members and their customers."

This year's winners included:

MEMA Aftermarket Startup Challenge (MASC): Startups pitched their innovations during the conference and attendees and judges voted, with two startups tying for the win:

• Shift Automotive - Pitch was presented by and award accepted by Tristin Sweeney, Co-Founder & CEO, and Nabeel Asghar, Co-Founder. Shift provides SAAS shop management systems that identify missing parts, labor and unaddressed customer concerns.
  
  (Photo: From left, Asghar, Sweeney, and Gardner)
• Supply Veins - Pitch was presented by and accepted by Charles Masters Rodriguez, Co-Founder & CEO. Supply Veins helps manufacturing teams improve supplier communication, automate email follow-ups and track purchase orders in real time.
  
  (Photo: Rodriguez and Gardner)

Technology Innovation Award: This award recognizes a new or enhanced solution that augments, supports, and advances processes within the industry.

• Winner: MobyTrade, an AI platform designed to help streamline international trade by connecting buyers and suppliers and proactively prepare for anticipated changing tariff rates. The award was accepted by Jeb Pierce, CEO & Co-Founder during the Innovation Showcase on Monday, October 5.
  
  (Photo: Pierce and Todd Campau, senior director, member content and engagement, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers)

BTC Think Tank Award: This award honors the BTC Think Tank whose proposal best addresses a high-impact industry challenge.

• Winner: Repair Shop Automation
  
  (Photo: Campau presenting on behalf of Gardner)
  
  The Repair Shop Innovation Think Tank identified technologies that can connect suppliers with SMS providers and shops, including automated scheduling, DVI, AI-driven diagnostics, e-commerce, SMS tools, AI-collected technician sentiment, aggregated RO data, AR/VR/MR/XR, and CRM tools.
  
  2026 BTC Repair Shop Automation Think Tank members:
• David Beyer (Walker Products)
• Kavya Chandra (PhaseZero)
• Jon Clements (Experian)
• Bryan Crawford (WAI Global)
• Chris Gardner (MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers)
• Dan Gesacion and Don Landrum (Epicor)
• Ken Hrabe and Jeremy Nesemann (Wells Vehicle Electronics)
• Scott Huston (Mobility Global)
• Kyle Johnson (TecAlliance)
• Ralph Kolber (Hella Gutmann)
• Claudine Moll Solomon (Schaeffler)
• Jim Ohlmeier (Peterson Manufacturing Co.)
• Eric Snow (Brembo)
• Derek Suen (Dorman Products)
• Chris White (Gates Corporation)
• Chun Zhao (Freudenberg Sealing Technologies)

Learn more about the MEMA Aftermarket Startup Challenge here; the BTC Technology Innovation Award here; and the BTC Think Tanks here.

The 2027 Aftermarket Technology Conference will be held in partnership with Advance Auto Parts on October 4-5, 2027 in Raleigh, N.C. Learn more about the Aftermarket Technology Conference here.

About the Business Technology Council (BTC)

The Business Technology Council (BTC) is the aftermarket's leading business technology forum. Members network and exchange best practices related to current and emerging technologies that support their efforts to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and pursue new business opportunities. For more information on how you can get involved and upcoming events, visit mema.org/networking-groups/BTC.

About MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers exclusively serves manufacturers of the parts, chemicals, tools, diagnostics, and technologies that keep vehicles running safely and affordably across their lifetime. We are an important part of the vehicle supplier industry which is the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S, present is in all 50 states. MEMA Aftermarket is a recognized industry change agent-promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing forums to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members across the light vehicle, commercial vehicle and remanufacturing aftermarket.

MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, is the trade association in North America for vehicle suppliers, parts manufacturers and remanufacturers. MEMA has been the voice of the vehicle supplier industry since 1904. Its more than 1,000 members are Strong by Association.

Our members meet and enhance society's transportation needs and are committed to safety, sustainable businesses, innovation, and the people who rely on us.

MEMA has offices in Washington, D.C.; Southfield, Mich.; and Research Triangle Park, N.C. Learn more at mema.org/aftermarket-suppliers.

Contacts: Frank Buscemi or Tom Eisbrenner
MBE Group, on behalf of MEMA
[email protected]