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| SEMA Chairman Rick Rollins (left) and PWA President Donnie Eatherly (right) recognize PWA Persons of the Year Chris Thomson (second from left) and Adrian Murray. Below, Rollins, Eatherly and SEMA President Chris Kersting (far right) honor PWA Manufacturers of the Year K&N Engineering and AIRAID Filter Company, with Steve Rogers and Thomson accepting on behalf of both, respectively. | |
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The Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) presented its awards for Person of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year during the Industry Awards Banquet at the 2009 SEMA Show.
PWA Persons of the Year—Chris Thomson and Adrian Murray
In recognition of their outstanding contributions to warehouse distributors and in appreciation of their conscientious dedication as members of the specialty-equipment industry, PWA named Chris Thomson and Adrian Murray as its Persons of the Year.
Thomson, a Phoenix native, has broad industry experience, including tenures with companies such as Mr. Gasket, Flowtech and Holley Performance, to his current position as national sales manager for AIRAID Filter Company. Thomson has helped AIRAID grow from fledgling manufacturer to winning back-to-back titles of Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC) Sales Team of the year in 2004 and 2005.
Murray is a 25-year auto industry veteran, starting as a salesman for Federal-Mogul in 1978, first in Los Angeles, then later in Dallas. A nearly 11-year stay at Edelbrock followed, first as national sales manager, then as vice president of sales. A desire to move back to Texas resulted in Murray joining Painless Wiring, now Painless Performance, in Fort Worth. Murray has overseen the company’s emergence as a key player in the performance aftermarket.
PWA Manufacturers of the Year—AIRAID Filter Company and K&N Engineering
The Manufacturer of the Year Award recognizes AIRAID's and K&N Engineering's contributions to the industry and their support of warehouse distributors and merchandise distribution.
Since 1997, AIRAID Filter Company has been manufacturing and distributing a complete line of cool air intake systems, premium air filters, modular intake tubes and throttle body spacers for pickups and SUVs.
K&N Engineering, meanwhile, pioneered the reusable high-flow cotton air filter in 1969. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the company now sells more than 5,000 products in more than 30 countries.