The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the Auto Care Association, presented its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award in Honor of Martin Fromm to Sue Godschalk, president of Federated Auto Parts. The award was presented by AWDA Chairperson Ashlee Arnold on Nov. 3 at AWDA’s 2024 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

AWDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have, over the course of many years, distinguished themselves through their unselfish commitment to, and high level of performance within, the motor vehicle aftermarket industry. The award is named in honor of former AWDA President Martin Fromm.

Starting 52 years ago at the bottom and working her way up to the very top of the organization, Godschalk began in the aftermarket in the inventory control department and this year will go on to become CEO of Federated Auto Parts. She has experienced great success in an industry that has been traditionally dominated by men.

Like many small business leaders, Godschalk wears numerous hats including managing financials, people, meetings, payments, rebates and much more. She’s a consensus builder who listens, contributes, pushes hard for what she believes in and then implements the plan better than nearly anyone else.

Godschalk leads through servant leadership, collaboration and by putting the time in until the job is done. Like all great leaders, she seeks professionalism over popularity. She doesn’t seek the limelight and accomplishes far more than nearly everyone else, and for years has been able to set new standards working alongside her husband Herb.

Godschalk had great mentors in Larry Pavey, Rusty Bishop and Art Fisher, as well as all of the Federated membership. Her team has benefited from being around such a highly capable person who is the perfect combination of a productive manager, worker bee, and intelligent team player.

Great plans can often fail without excellent execution and Godschalk works the plan as well as anyone and deserves credit for all of her successes both personally and professionally. While working long hours, she finds time to support her church as the lector and the secretary of the parish council. She also loves to cook and entertain, and in high school, she was even a starter on her basketball team and the captain of their cheerleading squad.

The independent aftermarket has a world-class “cheerleader” and an expert “player” in award winner Sue Godschalk.