Fueling the Future: Jordan Schlamp and the Power of Young Professionals in Auto Care

Jordan Schlamp, president of BAAN Powertrain, brings a lifelong connection to the auto care industry — one that began in his family’s transmission parts business. With hands-on experience and early exposure to industry events, Jordan developed a deep respect for the people and processes driving the sector. Now, as a member of the Young Professionals in the Auto care (YPA) community, he is focused on fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the continued evolution of the industry.

At a glance

Name: Jordan Schlamp

Title: President, BAAN Powertrain

Years in the YPA community: One year

What inspired you to work in the auto care sector?

Honestly, I was born into it. My grandfather started a transmission parts company, and I was working there by the time I was ten years old, earning ten bucks a day stripping transmission cores and tossing around torque converter cores. On top of that, I was regularly dragged to Canadian and global transmission parts industry seminars and trade shows from a young age. Between the hands-on work and early exposure to the business and networking side of the industry, the auto care world became a part of who I am. It gave me a deep respect for the people behind the repair shops and the parts side of it — and inspired me to build something of my own when I had the chance to.

You are involved in the Young Professionals in the Auto care community — what does it mean to you?

Being part of the YPA community means staying connected with other driven, forward-thinking professionals who are shaping the future of our industry. It is about learning from one another, sharing ideas, and building a stronger, more collaborative auto care sector together. I have met some incredible people through the YPA, and it has quickly become a big part of my professional growth.

What advice do you have for someone starting out in the industry?

Be curious and be consistent. I approach this business like a detective — if you have the right parts, with the right quality and a competitive price, the rest comes down to digging in and finding the people you need to connect with. It is about being like a dog after a bone—relentless in your follow-up, always chasing down opportunities, and building real relationships. Do not be afraid to ask questions, listen more than you talk, and put in the work. This industry rewards persistence, trust, and people who genuinely want to help others solve problems.

About the Young Professionals in the Auto care sector Community

Young Professionals in the Auto care sector (YPA) Community is an Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) community comprising of young executives, of 45 years or younger, in the Canadian auto care sector. They support the career growth of young professionals by expanding their network and assisting them in becoming a thought leader in Canada’s auto care industry.