In this episode of AMN Drivetime, Sue Godschalk, president of Federated Auto Parts, shares her journey being included in the founding of one of the nation’s leading program distribution groups – Federated Auto Parts, which was established in the mid-1980s.
Not necessarily a “car gal” per se, Godschalk says she was more intrigued by the business side of the aftermarket industry. That curiosity has served her well in her career. Over the years, she rose through the ranks at Federated, from her start serving as secretary and administrative assistant, to office manager, general manager, then corporate secretary and treasurer, then serving as VP before being named president of the organization in 2020.
“I was more interested in the inventory and operations aspect of the business,” she said. “I always found it challenging to understand which manufacturer sold which parts. I wanted to know what the function was of each of those parts for each vehicle. I basically wanted to learn everything – from how the part was ordered, and how the part traveled until it got to the end-users. That started my interest.”