VIPAR Heavy Duty Announces Alex Rodriguez as Keynote Speaker for the 2026 IMPACT™ Conference

From the baseball diamond to the boardroom, Alex Rodriguez has built a career defined by high performance, transformation, and a relentless drive to succeed. During this fireside chat, Rodriguez will share lessons from more than two decades competing at the highest level of professional sports and his subsequent journey as an entrepreneur, investor and business leader. The discussion will explore leadership, building winning teams, preparation, mentorship, navigating change, and applying a championship mindset to business and life. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Alex Rodriguez to the IMPACT Conference," said Jeff Paul, Executive Vice President, VIPAR Heavy Duty. "Alex's experiences as an elite athlete, successful entrepreneur, and respected business leader provide valuable perspectives that extend far beyond the game of baseball. From leadership and teamwork to resilience, preparation, and navigating change, he can cover a lot of bases when it comes to building winning teams and achieving sustained success."

The conversation will be moderated by Mariluz Cook, sideline reporter and host for the San Diego Padres Television Network. 

Rodriguez is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm that backs world-class startups and partners with leading global companies across real estate, sports, and entertainment. 

While best known as one of baseball's greatest athletes, including 14-time MLB All-Star and 2009 World Series Champion with the New York Yankees, Rodriguez has successfully transitioned into business leadership as Co-Chairman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.

He is also an Emmy Award-winning MLB analyst for Fox Sports, has appeared as an investor on ABC's Shark Tank, and co-hosts The Deal with Bloomberg Originals Chief Correspondent Jason Kelly, featuring conversations with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and sports legends. His interactions inspire audiences to embrace challenges, push their limits, and make the next move that matters most in their personal and professional lives.

The IMPACT Conference is a weeklong event that brings together the heavy duty aftermarket industry's leading distributors, suppliers, industry associates and aftermarket professionals. In addition to the keynote presentation, attendees will participate in business and industry updates, distributor roundtables, focus groups, a trade show, networking opportunities and more than 1,600 one-on-one distributor-supplier partner meetings. Designed to foster collaboration, strengthen relationships and spark new opportunities, the conference serves as a premier forum for advancing the future of the heavy duty aftermarket industry.