Meet a Staffer: Ted Hughes

Title: Executive Director, AWDA; Senior Director, Community Engagement Department 
Years at the Association: 1
Email address: ted.hughes@autocare.org 
Favorite apps: NHL, CBS Fantasy Sports, USGA GHIN, MLB Ballpark, The Masters, Twitter
Words to live by/motto:
“Don’t worry about the world ending today, it’s already tomorrow in Australia.” – Charles Schulz
“I’d rather die while I am living than live while I’m dead.” – Jimmy Buffett
“A glass half empty, still gives me something to drink.” – Ted Hughes

How did you get your start at the Auto Care Association?

I came to the association after working more than two decades working for a manufacturer within the aftermarket; and have been an association volunteer for nearly the entire time.

What are your work duties at the association? Can you describe a typical day?

My primary responsibility as executive director of AWDA is to make sure that my AWDA members are happy, taken care of, and that they know that I have their back. Switching gears to the community engagement side of my role, I work directly with our team of community liaisons to make sure that all of the activities surrounding our communities are as productive and efficient as possible. Everyone recognizes communities like YANG, Women in Auto Care and ACPN; but we have many other communities (both individual- and company-based) designed to maximize the value they receive from their association.

In which department do you work? What are the key responsibilities of the department?

Community engagement falls within the meetings and events department. As what I think is the biggest department within the association, we carry the responsibility of making sure that the association is delivering the value needed to all of our members. I want to make sure that our members know that I am a resource for any of their questions or concerns regarding our industry.

Where did you go to college? What did you study?

I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with my BBA in marketing.

Where else have you worked (what jobs/positions/locations)?

Right out of college I went to work for the Clevite Engine Parts division of Dana Corporation. In March of 2007, Dana divested our division to MAHLE where I worked up until October 2022, when I joined the association.

Where did you grow up and what are some interesting details about your life before working at the association?

I am born and raised in Detroit, it is still my hometown and I love everything about it. My passion has always been sports and I played multiple sports growing up, and still carry that passion today. While my playing of hockey, football and baseball has transitioned to a lot of watching, I still try and play as much golf as possible.

What is your favorite part about working at the association? What are the biggest rewards?

The best part about working at the association is that it gives me a place to channel my passion for this industry; and do so with the intent of helping not just one company succeed and reach goals, but the entire industry so it benefits so many different companies.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment at the Auto Care Association so far?

My time at Auto Care has been very limited before putting this together, but in this brief time, my proudest moment has definitely been taking the stage at the 75th Annual AWDA Conference and standing in front of all of our AWDA distributor, manufacturer and manufacturers’ representative members with the opportunity to communicate the vision that I want to build as we move forward in this new world.

What unique qualities do you feel you bring to the Auto Care Association?

This industry is full of many wonderful and unique personalities, all of them have their own priorities and desires, and all of them have their own vision of how we should operate as an association. I feel that my best quality that I offer is the ability to focus in on the needs and wants of each of these personalities to arrive at a common platform that works for everyone.

What are your long-range professional goals for both you and the Auto Care Association?

As I continue to settle into this position, I look forward to a long tenure at Auto Care Association where we work together to bring this wonderful industry forward, and at the forefront of the mobility community.

What do you feel are the biggest rewards of working in the auto care industry?

The biggest reward is the feeling of truly making a difference. Knowing the amount of vehicles in operation, and that every vehicle owner depends on this association for one thing or another, and being able to deliver on their needs, makes our work extremely rewarding.

Tell us about your life outside of work (family, hobbies, home, etc.).

I have been a Detroiter my whole life, and the spirit within this city runs through my veins. Whether it is the sports, the outdoors, the action, there is always something to do and it is typically done with attitude. I grew up in a blue collar family, and that spirit still drives me today. With a daughter in college and a son in high school, our time is pretty well spent still involved with our children.

Tell us a few fun facts about you that would surprise people (special skills, awards, accomplishments, etc.).

• Former marathon runner
• Started playing hockey when I was two
• Former high school varsity baseball coach
  
• Played a lot of bad golf on great golf courses
• Have attended 90 Jimmy Buffett concerts going back to 1992