Toronto, Ontario -- Shannon Nordstrom of Nordstrom Automotive in Garretson, S.D., has been named president of the Automotive Recyclers Association, the organization announced Nov. 3.
Nordstrom was formally confirmed as president Oct. 17 during the association's 82nd annual convention and exposition in Birmingham, Ala.
"I stand here tonight as one of you, a proud automotive recycler," Nordstrom said in his first remarks as president. "I am someone that has benefited from being part of the ARA community since attending my first convention in Denver in 1996."
Nordstrom has been an active ARA volunteer for many years as chair of the certification committee and has served on the executive committee since 2022. Former ARA president David Gold, who tried to convince Nordstrom to join the ARA board during his tenure, praised the selection.
"Shannon's one of a kind — a charismatic speaker who knows the industry well and has been very involved for a long, long time," Gold said. "He runs a very nice operation and will bring fresh ideas to the board."
"It is an inspired pick," Gold added. "The ARA has a bright future with him at the helm — that's for sure."
Nordstrom is vice-president and general manager of Nordstrom's Automotive Inc., which he owns with his wife Tamie. The operation employs 80 people and includes divisions for full-service automotive recycling, self-service used auto parts, repairables, and an installation and diagnostic centre.
The business was started by Nordstrom's parents, Art and Marie Nordstrom, on their family's rural dairy farm. Shannon joined full-time in 1988 when the operation had five employees. The business remains on the original farm land and has grown into a nationally recognized certified automotive recycler.
Nordstrom's Automotive has been an ARA member since 1983. Shannon has chaired the ARA certification committee since 2002 and is a co-founder of the nationally syndicated "Under the Hood Show with the Motor Medics" on radio, podcast and YouTube.
The company won the ARA CAR Star award in 2018. Nordstrom was named ARA member of the year in 2015 and 2021.
"Shannon's passion and enthusiasm for the professional automotive recycling industry is contagious," said Vince Edivan, ARA executive director. "He is a born leader with the skills to bring the best out of any team. I look forward to having him at the helm of ARA and am excited about what we will accomplish together over the next year."
The Automotive Recyclers Association, founded in 1943, represents more than 4,500 auto recycling facilities in the United States and 14 other countries.
