ACC Excellence Award
ACC Excellence Award
The Automotive Communications Council (ACC) EXCELLENCE Award (formerly the ACC IMPACT Award) is a prestigious recognition designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the aftermarket industry, particularly in marketing and communications.
The ACC EXCELLENCE Award stands as a testament to excellence, leadership, innovation, and the profound influence that one individual can have on the industry and community.
Application Deadline has passed
Application Deadline: Feb 27, 2026
Winner awarded at Connect 2026
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Open to Visionaries in Automotive CommunicationsThe ACC Excellence Award is open to professionals from all automotive industry sectors, including marketing, public relations, advertising, and more. Nominees are required to be a current member of the ACC. If you are not a member, you can join for free here.
JUDGES
ACC Selection Committee members and former award winners are invited to judge and vote entries.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITION
Winners will be notified in March.
Award recipients receive recognition at Auto Care Connect in front of nearly 1,000 automotive aftermarket executives and promotion across the association website, member newsletters to over 10,000 readers, social media, Auto Care Insider Magazine as well as industry media. Recipients are also featured at AAPEX and in the Auto Care ON AIR Podcast.
Once you're a recipient, you hold this distinction for the lifetime of your career. Professionals may be nominated multiple times, but the award can only be garnered once during your career.
NOMINATION CRITERIA
To be eligible for the ACC EXCELLENCE Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Innovative Approach: How they have introduced new ideas, strategies, or technologies to the field.
- Leadership and Mentorship: They lead by example, inspire their teams, and mentor the next generation of aftermarket communications professionals.
- Contribution to Industry Growth: They advance the aftermarket communications sector and contribute to its overall growth and success.
- Recognition by Peers: Achievements and accolades received from colleagues and industry peers.
WHO CAN NOMINATE
You can nominate anyone who is an Auto Care Association member. If your company is a member, you are a member!The nomination form asks for a few simple details, and our staff will reach out to the nominee to solicit more information directly from the nominee.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO NOMINATE
Basic information about the nominee including the company they work for, years of service, and describing how they demonstrate each of the previously mentioned nomination criteria including examples is required in the nomination form.
You may also attach supporting documentation that can strengthen your nomination, but this is optional.
There is no fee to apply for this award.
WHY NOMINATE
Nominating someone for the ACC EXCELLENCE Award is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of those who have significantly contributed to the automotive communications industry. It’s a chance to spotlight the individuals who inspire us, drive change, and help shape the future of our field.
News & Updates
Automotive Communications Council (ACC) Announces 2026 ACC Excellence Award Winner
ATLANTA – May 13, 2026 – The Automotive Communications Council (ACC),a community of the Auto Care Association, today announced its 2026 ACC Excellence Award winner at the annual Auto Care Connect event currently taking place in Atlanta, Georgia. This distinguished award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and dedication in the automotive communications sector. The ACC Excellence Award, formerly the ACC Impact Award, recognizes an individual each year who excels professionally while contributing meaningfully to automotive communications.
The 2026 ACC Excellence Award recipient is Lance Boldt, vice president, production development, AutoNetTV Media Inc.
“ACC was my baptism into the industry,” said Boldt. “As I sought mentors and associations, Tom Marx suggested ACC. I went to the 2006 meeting. Barry Harris was the president and took me under his wing. At the end of the conference, he asked me what I was doing that weekend. I told him that we were leaving for my son's ‘Make a Wish’ trip to Disney World. When he passed a few months later, ACC flooded me with love and support. It has been a second family ever since. It is an association that continues to engender connection along with our professional development. ACC has my heart. This award is treasured. Thank you.”
Boldt spent the first 20 years of his work life helping wealthy individuals to identify and articulate the financial aspects of their family goals and then to devise a plan to make them happen. He worked in massive multinational companies and smaller businesses, including some he founded. Boldt holds a degree in financial planning and counseling.
Twenty years ago, Boldt co-founded AutoNetTV, which develops Business-to-Business (B2B)and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) communications materials for consumers and automotive professionals, focusing on sales, marketing, education, training and business development. He is responsible for the financial aspects of these projects, is part of the creative team and writes video scripts.
A former ACC board member, Boldt also served as president of the organization. In the aftermarket, he has become a focused student of DEI best practices and can frankly and compassionately address DEI issues. Boldt’s family has helped shape his understanding of why these issues are essential, as his children include three races, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ and mental well-being concerns.
To learn more about the Auto Care Association’s awards and other industry recognition opportunities currently open, visit autocare.org/awards.
Past Winners
2025
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Tom Marx, MBE Group LLC
Tom Marx, partner at Hart Marx Advisors, an M&A advisory firm serving the aftermarket, is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience in B2B and consumer marketing. As Co-Founder, and Former Chief Strategist and Head of Client Services at The Marx Group (now MBE Group), he brought expertise across industries such as automotive, heavy-duty parts, motorsports, technology, real estate, property management, and industrial products and services.
A former Porsche service center owner and race car driver, Tom combined hands-on industry knowledge with strategic insight. He was president of the Automotive Communications Council (ACC) and was active in key industry organizations including SEMA, AAIA, and AASA.
Friend to the industry and to clients old and new, Tom’s favorite place to be is wherever he can help others succeed.
2024
Georgianne Dickey, NTN Bearing Corporation
Georgianne Dickey has over 20 years of marketing experience in the automotive aftermarket. She is currently the Director of Marketing at NTN Bearing Corporation, where she oversees all outbound communications for NTN’s five business units and three core brands. In addition, with a creative approach and firm understanding of customer needs, she develops and executes marketing and product development strategies for NTN’s Automotive Aftermarket business unit overseeing the marketing, product management, catalog and engineering teams.
Georgianne is very active in the automotive aftermarket and enjoys mentoring and developing newcomers to the industry. This dedication to development and education was recognized by Northwood University in Nov. 2018, as she was a recipient of the Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award. Additionally, Georgianne was the President of the Automotive Communications Council in 2019/2020, and continues to be an active ACC member since 2005.
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