The Michigan Automotive Parts Association (MAPA) honored Ron Dannis of BMP Distributing located in Ferndale, Michigan as recipient of its 2022 MAPA Lifetime Achievement Award on September 14, 2022 during MAPA Industry Day 2022 held in Lansing at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West hotel. Ron is the former owner of Black Magic Products in Ferndale, known as BMP Distributing today where Ron can still be found. A little about Ron, as told by Ron's nominator Ron Gray of Ron's Auto Parts in Capac: Ron Dannis has been around the automotive aftermarket for many, many years from being a factory rep. at Henkel to starting Black Magic Products (BMP) as a chemical company and now a rep. for the company he once owned. Now 85 he still makes his regular sales calls. I honestly believe that is why he is still here today. His love for the business and helping owners and managers succeed. From my first year as a store owner he has been there with advice and suggestions to improve even though I went years without buying after changing program groups. Ron has been a great supporter of Scouting and many other youth groups always buying popcorn and tickets to the raffle of the day, then dontating the winnings back. He ran many programs years ago also giving back to the community. Never asking for anything, always there if you needed anything. I can not say enough about Ron and his wife Diane who drives him around. More about Ron, as told by Robert Blank and Scott Schoch: Ron is one of three children born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to Charles and Lilian Dannis. In the 50's Ron's family moved to Warren where he was surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and his grandparents who lived next door. Family gatherings were frequent and full of fun. Ron's mother, Lilian ran for several elections becoming a City of Warren Council Woman and later Treasurer for the City of Warren. Ron was active in politics from a young age. He helped several candidates run for office and continues to follow political events and elections. Summers for Ron were spent in Port Austin. His family helped build a cottage that was used by everyone in the family. Ron attended high school at Warren Fitzgerald High School. There he played sports. He was captain of the varisty baseball team and a tight end for the varsity football team. After high school, Ron went on to community college for two years. He soon found a job working for Diversity Corporation in sales. He mostly serviced restaurants and hospitals. In the meantime, Ron married and had three children. He was president of the Homeowner's Association, and he coached his son's soccer team and daughter's softball team. Ron loved playing sports with his children and helped develop their love for sports too. After three years, Ron left Diversity Corporation and went to work for Pennwalt Corporation again as a saleperson. His work took him around the central part of the United States, selling chlorine, automotive chemicals and farm products. Ron's success earned him another position, this time for Henkel Corporation. Henkel Corporation recognized Ron's talents and offered him the position of National Salesperson. Ron sold adhesives in territories all over the United States. Living in Michigan his whole life, Ron was interested in the automotive business. While at Henkel, he met Frank Rosenthal and Allen Spector and they decided to go into business together selling Black Magic Products and other car related parts. Black Magic Products was renamed to BMP Corporation. The company prospered. Ron later sold his shares of BMP Corporation to his partner and moved to Florida where he met his wife Diane of 35 years. Ron has four children, one deceased child and four grandchildren. In 1992 Ron and Diane moved back to Michigan. Ron reconnected with BMP Distributing and resumed representing BMP as their Salesperson. Ron has spent 52 years in the automotive aftermarket industry. Congratulations Ron!
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