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Petra Automotive Products

News

October 25, 2022 by Melea Nieto

PETRA AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES PETRA CARES, A NEW NON-PROFIT TO HELP YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE 

Cypress, Texas – Petra Automotive Products, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of Petra Cares, our new non-profit organization dedicated to helping young adults aging out of foster care by providing job training and placement in the auto repair industry.

Every year, hundreds of youth age out of the foster care system in the Houston area. The statistical outcomes for many of these young adults are bleak, with homelessness, incarceration, and extreme poverty in many of those emancipated from state oversight and care.

Petra Cares intends to change these outcomes by providing free auto mechanic training and job placement for up to 20% of those youth, starting with our inaugural class in January 2023. Our eight-week course will provide transportation, course materials, tools, childcare, technical training, and life skills to ten students at a time. Upon completion, students are matched with employers via the Petra Automotive Products, Inc. car dealership and repair shops business network. “Education breaks the cycle of poverty. Petra Cares wants to be a conduit of quality education and meaningful employment to this marginalized group of young people,” says Arnold Gacita, President of Petra Automotive Products and Petra Cares board member.

THE BACKSTORY

I have always believed that we need to give back. When I was a young child, I saw a TV special with Bob Hope. It was Christmas time, and Bob Hope was entertaining the troops and was asked why he did this? He responded that he had to do it and felt that he had been blessed so much throughout his life that giving back was the least he could do. That resonated with me - even as a child. I have been blessed throughout my professional career; I believe we're distributors of God's wealth. I think that it's essential to give back. So, throughout my career, I have always given in some way. I was heavily involved (and still am) with Giving Hope out of New Orleans; in fact, in 2019, we built an orphanage together in Brazil. My intent was to duplicate that. To build an orphanage around the world every year. However, when we put our Petra Cares board together, God led us in another direction. We were shown a need here in Houston that nobody was attending to or, in our case, even knew existed – help for foster kids aging out of the system. These kids have never been adopted and have hopped from house to house; they feel they have no purpose. They feel unwanted. We know they are God's children and have a purpose. Of the kids that exit the foster care program, 80% of those that do not attend college will be dead, in jail, or homeless within three years. This is unacceptable! Staggering!

These young people have been dealt an awful hand. They need somebody to hold them and show them that they have a purpose, to teach them how to live a fulfilled life and be good citizens of our society. Petra Cares will change generations. Lord willing, and with your help, we will revise the statistics. We will not allow 80% of foster kids exiting the program to die, be homeless or end up in jail. We are not!

We will take 60 of these kids next year and bring them to Petra's Headquarters in Cypress, Texas. We will teach them how to be a Level 1 Mechanic. This eight-week program also includes two weeks of life skills training. After graduation, we will work with local dealerships to get them job placement, earn a substantial income, and begin their life’s purpose. If needed, we will provide transportation and daycare through partnerships with many foster care housing charities like the Tejano Center.

Nobody is doing what we’re doing. Great charities counsel foster kids, house them, transport them, and encourage them. But, as far as we know, no organization will take them, love them, move every excuse out of the way to train them, and help them find their career path and purpose as Petra Cares does. – Arnold J. Gacita

ABOUT

Established in 2021, Petra Cares is the charitable arm of Petra Automotive Products, Inc. Our mission is “unlocking purpose for the vulnerable,” and is achieved by removing barriers to educate and empower parentless and parenting young adults. For more information, contact Arnold J. Gacita or visit petra-cares.org.

Click to view Press Release

Filed Under: Press Releases

October 4, 2022 by Melea Nieto

Newsletter – Edition 4, 2022

We are pleased to provide you with our latest Petra Impact Newsletter. It’s great to get stories from distributors, dealers, and international customers. Enjoy!

>>Click here to download

Filed Under: Corporate News

September 1, 2022 by Melea Nieto

International Spotlight – Peru

Miguel Cabezas, Owner
Abba Soluciones Integrales Lima, Peru

International Spotlight - Peru

Q Tell us a little about yourself and your company?

A Since I was a child, I was very interested in the automotive industry and I wanted to become a good technical-mechanic. During my high school years, I began to study automotive mechanical training and at the age of 20 I started working in one of the largest workshops in Peru, Mitsui Automotriz. Then in the year 2008 I entered another workshop of the Toyota Grupo Pana family, where I was then able to develop a business model that the workshops needed.

Q How did you start in the automotive business?

A While working at Grupo Pana, one of my clients had his spare tire stolen and he asked me if I had any security system to protect his tire, at that time I had nothing to offer him, it left me thinking and I decided to develop a system that could protect your tire from theft.

We developed several systems for different car models and workshops in Lima began to call us, they began to know us and that gave us the opportunity to present other lines of business such as PETRA additives.

Q What do you enjoy most about your business?

A What I enjoy the most is that I continue in the field that I have been excited about since I was a child, at another level and in another position, but I am still in the Automotive world and bringing my clients high-quality products.

Q What has been one of your most notable business achievements?

A Sincerely being able to work with the largest workshops in Lima and seeing your brand positioning itself and that my former home Grupo Pana and Mitsui use PETRA products

Q What do you enjoy most about working with Petra?

A What I enjoy the most is the wide variety of products, the support that the brand gives, knowing that I represent one of the best brands in Peru.

Q Why would you recommend Petra Automotive Products to others?

A First for the number of products Petra has, for the innovations the company makes, and for the good price offering.

Q What is your favorite Petra product and why?

A My favorite product is the 9007 (Auto AC Evaporator Odor Eliminator), it is super effective, it fulfills its function well.

Q What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in our business?

A Be persevering and believe in your business because you have a great brand in Petra that supports you.

Q What thoughts or ideas do you have about the automotive industry in the future?

A We should be working to develop new products for advancing technology and continue to innovate on current and future products and service models.

Filed Under: Corporate News

August 4, 2022 by Melea Nieto

Newsletter – Edition 3, 2022

We are pleased to provide you with our latest Petra Impact Newsletter. It’s great to get stories from distributors, dealers, and international customers. Enjoy!

>>Click here to download

Filed Under: Corporate News

May 10, 2022 by Melea Nieto

Newsletter – Edition 2, 2022

We are pleased to provide you with our latest Petra Impact Newsletter. It’s great to get stories from distributors, dealers, and international customers. Enjoy!

>>Click here to download

Filed Under: Corporate News

March 3, 2022 by Melea Nieto

Petra Automotive Announces New VP of Operations / Research and Development

Rob Richardson joins Petra Automotive underscoring the Company’s mission to formulate and provide the most advanced automotive products in the industry.

CYPRESS, TEXAS March 3, 2022 – Petra Automotive Products, Inc. (Petra) is proud to announce and welcome Robert C. (Rob) Richardson to the company. Rob will be responsible for Technology (R&D, technical training, new product development) and Operations (Manufacturing, HS&E, and Quality).

Rob is an industry veteran who joins Petra after a successful 22-year career at Lubrizol, in which he held a range of technical, marketing, and management positions. Before working at Lubrizol, he worked for BG Products, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. He also served for six years as Director of R&D and Vice President of Technology for Wynn Oil Company. In addition to core R&D experience, he brings practical experience in quality (Six Sigma, QFD) and innovation (Agile Innovation, Open Innovation). He is a proven leader and a subject matter expert in tribology, cooling systems, grease, and fuels. He has membership credentials with SAE, ASTM, NLGI, and other relevant industry groups. His experience in global markets, both direct and through sales channel partners (distributors), spans all corners of the world, from the U.S. to Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. He brings significant experience with automotive OEMs (light and heavy-duty), know-how in sales, marketing, and business development, and brings expertise in identifying market opportunities and differentiated product performance. This competence will enable Petra to provide solutions for these opportunities and further the company’s position as a global market leader.

Rob attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas majoring in chemistry and biology, and studied polymer science at the MSc level at the University of Akron through their renowned polymer science program. Rob is also the holder of eight patents in the U.S. and abroad.

“Rob’s ability, intellect, and accomplishments are without argument. He is hands down one of the best chemists and leaders in our industry and will make a great addition to our team. But what makes Rob’s addition so compelling is that he fits our culture. He is one of us, his morals, characters, and beliefs. His way of thinking, a family man – those are things that matter in a culture like we have at Petra. We are excited to have Rob on board,” says Petra President Arnold Gacita.

Petra Automotive offers a complete lineup of over 300 premium automotive service and car-care products available through over 1,900 automotive dealerships in the U.S. and distributes to 37 countries worldwide.

For more information about Petra Automotive Products, visit www.petraautoproducts.com.

About Petra Automotive Products

Petra Automotive Products is family-owned and headquartered in Cypress, Texas, just outside Houston. Since 2010, the company’s mission has been to create automotive maintenance products and services that facilitate superior vehicle performance and provide world-class customer service through automotive dealers, auto chains, and independent vehicle repair facilities. To date, Petra has created over 300 offerings and is the fastest growing premium automotive products distributor in the world, delivering Petra branded products to 37 countries worldwide. Since its inception, Petra has continued to build product strength and value by offering innovative warranty programs and vehicle maintenance training. To learn more, visit www.petraautoproducts.com or call 1-888-Petra-61.

Filed Under: Corporate News, Press Releases

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