Source Interlink Media Publisher Ed Zinke (second from left) is presented with
the MPMC Media Person of the Year Award, flanked by MPMC Chairman Lisa Chissus (left),
MPMC Chair-Elect Bill Floyd and SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (right).
Source Interlink Media’s Ed Zinke was named the 2008 MPMC Media Person of the Year. Presented by the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) during last week’s MPMC Media Trade Conference, the award recognizes individuals from the media who have made a recognizable positive impact on the motorsports industry and the MPMC during the past year.
In addition to serving as publisher of Chevy High Performance, Camaro Performers, Super Chevy and GM High-Tech Performance, Zinke is a true enthusiast who has shown great support for the industry. He is credited with improving the Engine Masters Challenge and having arranged the Project 57 Chevy giveaway for soldiers.
“Ed is enthusiastic and always makes time to help the industry,” said Lisa Chissus, MPMC chairman. “His support of the industry and our council are greatly appreciated, and we’re happy to be able to present him with the MPMC Media Person of the Year award.”
The MPMC is one of eight SEMA councils. Details about the council are available at www.sema.org/mpmc.
More Movers & Shakers
- The Tennessee State Senate approved a resolution honoring former SEMA Chairman of the Board Joseph “Corky” Coker, president of Coker Tire Company, on his exemplary career in antique car restoration and meritorious service to the Chattanooga community. SEMA salutes Corky on this deserved recognition. For full text of Tennessee Senate Resolution 206, go to: www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SR0206.pdf.
- New Jersey Motorsports Park appointed Ken Grammer as managing director and Donald Fauerbach as general manager. Both bring a wealth of competitive racing, team ownership and operational experience to the company’s management team. Grammer is the former Director of Operations for SCCA Pro Racing and its World Challenge, North American Championship and Miata Cup series. Fauerbach is the founder of the New Jersey Motorsports Park Green Flag Committee, and has been part of the team since the beginning.
- Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) announced that John K. Gamauf—president of consumer replacement tire sales, vice president of BFNT, and member of the Board of Directors of BFNT—has elected to retire May 1. Succeeding Gamauf is John Baratta, currently the vice president of BFNT North American consumer tires sales. Baratta’s successor will be named at a later date. Gamauf will continue to serve on BFNT’s Board.
- Advance Auto Parts named Michael Norona executive vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Michael Moore, who resigned from the company (effective February 1) to pursue other business opportunities. As CFO, Norona will be responsible for all financial aspects of the company, including accounting, internal audit, investor relations, treasury and tax, budgeting and financial management and risk finance and claims. Judd Nystrom was named vice president of finance and investor relations, effective February 11. Nystrom is responsible for investor relations, budgeting and finance decision support. In addition, the company named Kevin Freeland executive vice president, supply chain and information technology, effective February 13. Freeland is responsible for overseeing the supply chain, logistics and information technology.
- ArvinMeritor appointed Sherry Welsh to vice president of sales and marketing for the company's Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business group. She is responsible for leading the group’s global sales and marketing strategy. Welsh's prior experience includes 20 years with Robert Bosch LLC, most recently serving as senior vice president of sales.
- Mode Auto named Ahad Mirza as its business development manager. Mirza will manage, develop and implement strategic sales and marketing programs. Prior to joining Mode Auto, Mirza held a market management and national sales account management position with Auto Meter Products. He is currently a select committee member of SEMA’s Sport Compact Council (SCC).
- MagnaFlow named Darron Shubin the national sales manager for its performance division and Richard Ahn Trinh as assistant manager for performance sales. Shubin and Trinh were both promoted from within the company. Shubin will oversee MagnaFlow’s accounts and sales staff for its performance division, and will serve as primary contact for the company’s marketing reps. Trinh’s new role will have him overseeing the sales tech line staff and acting as a key link between the sales tech line and MagnaFlow’s quality control department.
- MBRPinc announced its title sponsorship of the 2008 National Hot Rod Diesel Association Drag Racing Series. The NHRDA brings diesel drag racing, dyno events and sled pulls to the United States and Canada in five divisions. The NHRDA series consists of numerous points races that begins on February 16, at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington.
- Mitchell 1 established a marketing partnership with National Pronto Association as part of Mitchell 1’s ongoing effort to further extend its national network of connectivity to automotive parts suppliers. This network offers greater flexibility and increased efficiencies in ordering parts when using Mitchell 1’s Manager and ManagerPlus shop management systems.
- The Truck Accessories Group LLC’s Century Truck Caps division recently attended an annual leadership conference sponsored by the Radco Truck Accessory Center. This year’s theme for the annual conference was “Perspective,” which focused on team building and emphasized how working together fosters an organization that values collaboration. As part of the event, participating teams assembled a monster truck go-kart, complete with decals. Once the assembly was finished, the five teams were required to race laps around the Radco Corporate Campus—a quarter-mile LeMans-style loop. Each team member was required to do a lap. Team Century took first place in the go-kart assembly category with a three-hour, two-minute time, just under the wire of second place Putco, with three hours, five minutes. Team Century, with Sheryl Noblitt, Century’s national sales manager at the wheel, passed a number of competitors giving them a first-place win in the road race, as well as first place in the overall competition.
- Bosal Group member Bosal International North America opened a new 183,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The $25-million production facility combines two former Bosal operations in the Detroit area—the Warren production site and Ann Arbor technical center. The facility is designed to operate with world-class efficiency and quality standards in conjunction with lean manufacturing principles throughout for the development, test and production of OE exhausts.