AACF Elects Marc Blackman as Board President

Gold Eagle Co. chairman and CEO Marc Blackman will succeed Jon Owens as president of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation starting January 1, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Auto Parts

AACF Elects Marc Blackman as Board President

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) board of trustees elected Marc Blackman, chairman and CEO of Gold Eagle Co., as its board president. Blackman succeeds Jon Owens, who served three years in the role, and his presidency takes effect January 1, 2027.

Why it matters

The AACF provides emergency financial assistance to automotive aftermarket employees and their families facing unexpected hardship, so leadership changes shape how the organization sustains and expands that support. Blackman brings prior leadership experience, having served as AACF secretary, an executive committee member, chairman of MEMA, and on the board of governors of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

Owens served three years as AACF board president before the transition. Gold Eagle Co., a 94-year-old family-owned manufacturer, has been a Champion Donor to the foundation for more than 20 years.

The players

Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF)

A nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance to automotive aftermarket employees and their families facing unexpected hardship.

Marc Blackman

Chairman and CEO of Gold Eagle Co. and former chairman of MEMA, who previously served as AACF secretary and an executive committee member.

Jon Owens

Outgoing AACF board president who served three years in the role before Blackman's election.

John Kairys

AACF executive director overseeing the foundation's day-to-day operations and assistance programs.

The details

Blackman, who is chairman and CEO of Gold Eagle Co., a family-owned maker of premium engine additives, specialty cleaners and protectants, will draw on his experience to strengthen partnerships, engage supporters and reach more families facing unexpected hardship. The AACF board said it will continue supporting aftermarket employees and their families under his leadership.

November 4, 2026: AACF announces Blackman's election as board president.
January 1, 2027: Blackman's presidency of the AACF board takes effect.

Roadmap

The AACF's emergency assistance for aftermarket workers reflects the industry's long-standing practice of supporting its own workforce through a dedicated charitable body. Blackman's elevation from secretary and executive committee roles to board president continues an internal succession path within the aftermarket sector's leadership ranks.

Aftermarket employees and their families facing unexpected hardship can rely on the AACF's emergency financial assistance, and leadership continuity under Blackman aims to keep that support in place. Donors and partners can expect the foundation's programs to continue during the transition from Owens to Blackman.

The takeaway

Leadership succession within the AACF reflects a steady commitment to supporting aftermarket workers in crisis. Readers working in the industry can track the foundation's work as Blackman takes office in 2027.