National Account Manager

Sharing experiences. 11 August 2026 In sharing his own experiences as a shop owner Mike Urban's columns, are resonating across the aftermarket. Credit: Mike Urban Knowledge and communication in its industry can make a real difference Not long ago, Autosphere columnist Mike Urban, contacted Autosphere Media Inc. regarding an email he received from Gilles Michaud, retired Vice President of Product Management and Market Development for Uni-Select. This followed on from Mike's article entitled "The Owner's Curse," which Autosphere published and is featured in this issue of the magazine. Autosphere Media Inc. felt it would be good to share the correspondence from both Mike and Gilles, to illustrate how documenting and sharing experiences can have a significant impact on the lives and businesses of others. At Autosphere, its goal has always been to inform and inspire and Autosphere Media Inc. hope that, by continuing to look for the stories and issues that matter, Autosphere Media Inc. can continue to provide content that helps make a difference. I would like to say a big thank you to both Mike and Gilles for providing Autosphere Media Inc. an opportunity to share the below messaging with Autosphere Media Inc. - Ed. First a little word from Mike himself... I wanted to share something with all of you because it honestly made my day. This morning, completely out of the blue, I received the email below from Gilles Michaud, the retired Vice President of Product Management & Market Development for Uni-Select Inc. I've never met Gilles, so receiving a message like this from someone who spent so many years as a respected leader in the Canadian automotive aftermarket really caught me by surprise. As I read through his email, it dawned on me that he wasn't complimenting the writing itself. He was talking about the impact the articles are having on people in its industry. The line that really struck me was when he said the articles help business owners realize they are not alone. That has been my goal from the very beginning. When Shirley Brown approached me about writing for Autosphere, I knew I didn't want to write technical articles about repairing vehicles. There are already plenty of people who do that exceptionally well. I wanted to write about the human side of owning a business - the responsibility, the difficult decisions, the self-doubt, the pressure, and the lessons that don't come from a service manual. To know that someone of Gilles' calibre read those articles and felt they were making a difference... I have to admit, that one hit me differently. It also reminded me how many people have helped me get to this point. Amy Lynn Urban, you've lived every one of these stories with me. You know better than anyone that every article comes from something Autosphere Media Inc. has experienced together. Shirley, thank you for believing I had something worth saying and for giving me the opportunity to become an Autosphere columnist. None of this would have happened without you opening that door. Brad Gosse, thank you for your friendship over the years and for helping me find my voice long before Autosphere. Your guidance while Autosphere Media Inc. worked together on You Auto Know gave me the confidence to tell stories instead of simply sharing information. Kevin Allen and Geoff Berman, you've both challenged me to become a better business owner and leader. Many of the ideas I write about today were shaped through conversations Autosphere Media Inc. has had over the years. Derek Elliott, thank you for everything you do at Urban Automotive. Having someone I trust to help lead the business allows me to step away for a few hours and put these thoughts onto paper. Those articles wouldn't exist without your support. I don't often stop and reflect because I'm usually focused on the next project, the next article, or the next challenge. But this email reminded me why I started writing in the first place. If one shop owner reads an article and thinks, "That's exactly how I've been feeling," then it's worth every minute. Receiving that validation from someone who spent decades helping shape the Canadian automotive aftermarket makes it even more meaningful. I thought all of you would appreciate this because each of you has played a role in this journey, whether you realize it or not. Thanks for believing in me. From Gilles... Good Morning Mike I just want to CONGRATULATE you for your columns in Autosphere You convey convincing messages for all stakeholders in the Industry and more specifically for the owners/shareholders of businesses. Times fly but challenges remain constant and it seems that they are more and more difficult to deal with as speed of change is in Turbo mode. Thank you for sharing your perspective and reminding Autosphere Media Inc. all of the real life of entrepreneurs whatever the size of their business. One said - "It feels lonely at the Top" You help others understand they are not alone... Thanks and Keep on Going Gilles Michaud Retired - Vice President, Product Management & Market Development Uni-Select Inc. Mike's reply to Gilles... Hi Gilles, Thank you very much for your email. I truly appreciate you taking the time to reach out. I have to admit, receiving a message like yours from someone who has spent so many years in its industry really means a lot to me. When I started writing for Autosphere, my hope was simply to write about the realities of owning and running a repair shop. The victories are easy to celebrate, but it's the challenges, the self-doubt, and the difficult decisions that often shape Autosphere Media Inc. the most. If sharing those experiences helps another shop owner realize they're not alone, then I feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do. Although Autosphere Media Inc. has never had the opportunity to meet, I'm really glad you reached out. Now that Autosphere Media Inc. has each other's contact information, if you ever find yourself in the Oakville area, I would genuinely enjoy meeting you in person. Please don't hesitate to stop by the shop anytime. The coffee is always on, and I'd be happy to give you a tour and continue the conversation. Thank you again for your encouragement, Gilles. It truly means a great deal, and you've given me even more motivation to keep writing. All the best, Michael Urban, RSE Founder - Urban Automotive Inc. Best-Selling Author | Podcast Host - You Auto Know

Velan announces senior leadership appointments. T.VLN | 1 hour ago MONTREAL, July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) ("Velan" or the "Company") today announced a series of senior leadership appointments as part of the implementation of a streamlined organizational model of global corporate functions and regional business units designed to support the Company's next phase of strategic growth: * Laurent Pefferkorn has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer. * Daniel Velan has been appointed Chief Product Officer. * Victor Apostolescu has been appointed Vice President, Global Quality. * Max Rogan, who previously held roles as Chief Legal Officer for Polycor and Uni-Select, has joined Velan and been appointed Chief Legal, Human Resources and Administrative Officer. * Bryant Holt has been appointed Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, Americas. * William Toqueboeuf has joined the executive team and been appointed Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa. As a result of these appointments, the Company's executive team is now comprised of the above-listed corporate officers and regional business unit leaders, in addition to Rishi Sharma, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Imran Gibbons, as Chief Financial Officer, whose appointments were previously announced in connection with the closing of the sale by Velan Holding Co. Ltd. of its controlling interest in the Company to funds managed by Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc. "These organizational changes represent an important step as we focus on the next phase of Velan's strategic growth," said Rishi Sharma, President and Chief Executive Officer. "By simplifying our structure, strengthening accountability and bringing decision-making closer to our customers and markets, we are creating a stronger foundation for operational excellence. With the support of our dedicated employees around the world, we are focused on enhancing execution and delivering value to our customers." About Velan Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan Inc. (www.velan.com) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial valves, with sales from continuing operations of US$296.4 million in its last reported fiscal year. The Company employs 1,273 people and has manufacturing plants in 9 countries. Velan Inc. is a public company with its shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VLN. Imran Gibbons Chief Financial Officer Velan Inc. +1 438 817 9874 [email protected] Featured news links. Follow STOCKHOUSE Today MustGrow Biologics Expands U.S. Reach as Demand Outpaces Supply | MustGrow Biologics (TSXV: MRGO) Play Episode HotCopper Wire #52 A big, juicy gold megamerger Grizzly Discoveries Expands Large Copper-Gold Porphyry Target at Sappho | Grizzly Discoveries (TSXV: GZD)