Latin America. Since December 13, Abner Dominguez has been the new Regional Sales Manager for the Western United States of Walker Products. The company will be present at AutoAméricas from March 7 to 8 in Miami as a corporate sponsor.
Although he was born in the state of San Marcos de Guatemala, near the border with Mexico, Abner has lived in the United States since he was ten years old. There he completed his primary and secondary education.
After finishing his studies, Abner decided to take a year off, in which he started working in construction with his father. One of the projects they were working on was the home of Michael Weaver (RIP), then president of Walker Products, one of the largest manufacturers of fuel system components and engine management devices for the automotive aftermarket since 1946.
Mr. Weaver asked him if he was interested in learning about the automotive industry. Abner opened up to him that, despite his fondness for cars, he didn't really know anything about it. However, when asked to work in the company, he immediately accepted with the intention of learning. He was about 20 years old.
"If it doesn't work out, at least I'll learn how to have good relationships with people; good friends, people who can have a positive impact on my life," he says, before mentioning different leaders such as the company's current CEO, Grant Kitching, as well as colleagues at work, in charge of the export area for Latin America, such as Alejandro Hernández and Ruben Yaver.
"For the past five years, Abner has been an instrumental force in our journey of growth and success since joining Walker Products in 2018. His exceptional dedication and remarkable contributions have played a pivotal role in expanding our business and enhancing our brand presence in Mexico and Central America," the company said in a recent statement.
"Abner's strategic initiatives have not only boosted our position in the market but have also fostered meaningful connections with our valued customers," the company added, highlighting its commitment to providing "exceptional" service and results, which it said "has contributed significantly to the success of our operations in existing markets and opened doors to exciting new opportunities."
From his new position, he sees great growth not only for the United States, but also for Latin America. In particular, it refers to products for heavy goods vehicles in classes 7 and 8. Likewise, he highlights the brand's leadership in the NOx sensor, as he points out that they are the only ones with the performance of the original equipment.
Finally, when asked about the electrical transition of the sector, he highlights the tire pressure monitoring system or TPMS, an electronic system to monitor air pressure in the tire that they have already designed and developed for Tesla vehicles. However, he indicates that they continue with the review of new sensors, because "what an electric vehicle uses is pure sensor".
And while he acknowledges that the electricity market is more advanced in the United States, he alludes to developments in this field in Latin America: "I know it's going to reach that stage."
