Rick Kovalick, National Performance’s Sr. VP or Purchasing & Marketing, hails from a long career with the Specialty Automotive industries leaders Keystone Automotive Operations, Keystone Automotive Warehouse and 10 years with NPW Companies. His career began in retail and installer sales in 1971 and Rick rapidly moved up the ranks in Top Fuel Champion and owner Joe Amato’s Keystone Automotive Warehouse organization to establish and lead a professional purchasing and marketing team for over 25 years.
In the WD business Rick was instrumental in seeing the needs of the distributor to do more for their jobbers than just supply them parts. Rick started the company’s wholesale newsletters, led development of marketing tools used by jobbers, oversaw 24 retail stores and developed many of the various other marketing programs. He always wants to make it easy for customers and vendors to do business with his teams.
Rick has a deep understanding of replacement, performance, truck and aftermarket accessories businesses.
Rick’s career had him grow from managing several speed shop locations for Joe Amato in eastern Pennsylvania to being a buyer, to being the purchasing manager, to VP of Purchasing and finally VP of Vendor Negotiations for the Bain Capital ownership of Keystone. Today he fills many rolls in the NPW Companies primarily in Purchasing and Marketing.
During his career Rick has been involved in industry organizations and events. He has served on the Board of Directors of SEMA, served on various panels and committees for SEMA and PWA (now CAN) and been guest speaker and panelist for many rep and industry conferences.