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| Visit PRO's website. |
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The Inaugural PRO Technical Skills and Training Conference a Home Run
After nearly a year of planning, the Technical Skills &
Training Conference (TSTC) took place this past week on the University
of Northwestern Ohio Campus in Lima, Ohio. The one-day event provided a
great forum for installers and students to learn from industry leading
manufacturers.
Participants received valuable insights into installation safety and
techniques and were allowed to experience first-hand how products are
installed. With nearly 100 attendees and the university's
top-of-the-line facility, PRO is excited about the future of TSTC and
looks forward to building generations of restylers who will help the
industry to grow and thrive.
Keep your eye out for more details…
PRO Column in SEMA Member News
Read PRO's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about PRO, contact Zane Clark.
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| Visit ARMO's website. |
Alex Tainsh is a founding member of ARMO and has been an active member for
12 years. His accomplishments begin with a combined 16-year stint at P.U.I and
Soffseal, and he is currently the sales and marketing manager for TrimParts.
Throughout his many years with ARMO, he has worked passionately to
promote the "Take a Kid to a Car Show" program and, most notably,
headed up the Colton Camaro project. When asked about future projects,
Tainsh reiterated the importance of young enthusiasts and the
preservation of the restoration market.
As Tainsh begins his two-year term as chair-elect, Laura Bergan will assume chairwoman duties July 1.
ARMO Column in SEMA Member News
Read ARMO's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about ARMO, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit HRIA's website |
2010 HRIA Education Day a Huge Success
Working in conjunction with the 12th Annual Hotrod & Restoration trade show in Indianapolis, HRIA-member companies are provided a platform to educate and train dealers on the specifics of their products and key selling points. Dealers are better at selling products they're more knowledgeable and comfortable with, resulting in higher sales and less returns.
This year’s Education Day boasted 40 seminars which were attended in record numbers. With more than 4,000 pre-registered for the event, it quickly sold out, creating a buzz within the industry. HRIA Education Day did not fail to deliver. The manufacturers represented a broad spectrum of industry experts and covered diverse and tangible subject matter. Manufacturers included GM, Meguiar’s, Flaming River Industries, Steele Rubber Products, Vintage Air Inc. and Classic Instruments. The all-day event included a hosted breakfast and attendees received a certificate of completion for each seminar they participated in.
As a SEMA council, HRIA is committed to the betterment of its members and promoting the industry as a whole. Events such as Education Day are made possible because passionate individuals volunteer their time and resources. An active and strong membership is critical in assuring that important initiatives such as education, youth awareness, and legislative issues are addressed and directed accordingly.
For more questions on Education Day or to get involved with HRIA, please contact Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org.
HRIA Column in SEMA Member News
Read HRIA's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about HRIA, contact Zane Clark.
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| Visit TORA's website. |
Action Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The Action Group of Companies (Action Truck Caps & Accessories and Action Van & Truck World Ltd.) is celebrating its 30-year anniversary with the opening of their 30th location. The new 15,000-sq.-ft. facility is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Construction will also begin this summer on a new 10,000 sq.-ft., state-of-the-art retail facility for Action’s Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, location and a new warehouse facility in Moncton.
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| The Action Group of Companies is celebrating its 30-year anniversary with the opening of their 30th location. |
“It feels like it’s been a short 30 years,” said Action’s president, John Chamberlaine. “I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish during this period, and I’m looking forward to the next 30 years!”
To keep pace with the company’s continued growth, Action recently added Craig Crossman as chief operating officer to their dynamic team. Crossman has held a number of senior management roles with regional and international organizations and brings with him a wealth of growth-focused experience.
“I am excited to be joining a dynamic company in an exciting industry with tremendous growth potential. John and his team have built a great company based on a customer-focused culture and solid values.”
For more information on the Action Group of Companies, visit them online at www.actiontrucks.com or www.vanandtruckworld.com.
TORA Column in SEMA Member News
Read TORA's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about TORA, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit MPMC's website. |
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| The MPMC Select Committee voted Vic Wood of Hedman Performance Group as its new Chair-Elect of the council. |
MPMC Select Committee Chooses Vic Wood as New Chair-Elect
The MPMC Select Committee voted Vic Wood of Hedman Performance Group the newest chair-elect of the council. Vic has spent the majority of his career in or around the specialty-parts industry, including appointments to the board of directors of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association and the Australian National Drag Racing Association.
He started drag racing at 16, and drove all types of vehicles through 2004, when he clocked 234 mph in a modified roadster at Bonneville.
When not working, Vic is busy with his '64 Chevrolet pickup, and crew chiefs a nostalgia funny car that competes in the NHRA Heritage Series.
“It is a great honor to be elected Chair Elect of MPMC,” said Wood. “SEMA has been a part of my life in some form or another for nearly 30 years. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the members of this historic SEMA Council, and I look forward to supporting our current Chairman over the next two years as we address challenges of our market sector.”
Take a Friend to a Race Fan Page
The MPMC Motorsports Awareness campaign, highlighted by the Take a Friend to a Race program, now has its very own Fanpage on Facebook. If you’re not a fan yet, you should be!
MPMC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MPMC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit MRC's website. |
MRC Volunteer Opportunities
Have you ever wondered how to get more involved in the MRC?
What exactly do the council leaders do throughout their term? Very simply, the Select Committee is elected by the members of the council to serve a two-year term. They participate in monthly conference calls and meetings that are held at various trade events throughout the year. Each Select committee member volunteers for at least 20 hours throughout the year and some volunteer even more. Some share their experience and vision, others provide creative solutions to the challenges that member companies face and others get their hands dirty and get it done. Each Select Committee member is supported by their company in their MRC efforts and for that we say “thank you” to those companies!
The leaders of the MRC gathered at the 2009 PWA Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, for its annual long-range planning meeting. This meeting focused on bringing value to the MRC-member companies. The last 18 months have been extremely challenging for all of our companies, and the council is dedicated to utilizing SEMA’s resources to further benefit each MRC member.
Guiding the group’s effort was the council’s mission statement to provide market information, education and support to members concerning new and emerging trends. A handful of exciting objectives are being developed for the council for 2010. If you are passionate and have interest in being involved, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for a Task Force with a limited investment of time, but provides a great way to network and share your ideas. Please reach out to the Task Force Chair if you want to participate or have comments.
Awards Task Force
Irv Cohen (SS Sales & Marketing) chairs this task force and can be reached at irvco@msn.com or you can contact the SEMA MRC Liaison, Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org. The Awards Task Force was formed to review the criteria for the MRC Hall of Fame and STAR Award (Sales Team Annual Recognition). The MRC Hall of Fame Award was designed to honor outstanding persons in the segment of the automotive industry known as manufacturers’ representatives. It is the most prestigious award presented by the council to dedicated individuals who enhanced the stature of, or significantly contributed to the manufacturers’ rep profession or the council’s growth. The MRC STAR Award will be presented to the most outstanding manufacturer’s sales team voted upon by the general membership of MRC.
Elections & Scholarship Task Force
The council chair-elect chairs this task force. The Elections Task Force reviews and approves the council nominations submitted, conduct interviews with perspective candidates and creates the final slate of candidates. The Scholarship Task Force creates the criteria and selects the recipient for the MRC sponsored SEMA scholarship.
Membership Task Force
Bunyan “Les” Rudd (Bob Cook Sales) chairs this task force and can be reached at lesrudd@bobcooksales.com or you can contact the SEMA MRC Liaison, Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org. The importance of knowing our members and what industry challenges each member is very important. The Membership Task Force was formed to enhance the value for the MRC member. The Membership Task Force is slated to research, identify and/or produce three new member cost-saving benefits, work to develop programs that enhance the professionalism of the rep industry, develop a plan to improve the value of becoming a member of the MRC and engage members at large to get involved with the MRC.
Rep Conference & LRP Task Force
Chris Fairless (Fairless Sales & Marketing) chairs this task force and can be reached at cfairless@FairlessSalesMarketing.com or you can contact the SEMA MRC Liaison, Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org. The Rep Conference Task Force researches and selects industry specific topics and speakers that would appeal to all manufacturers, WDs and reps. The LRP Task Force works closely with the MRC chairman, Membership Task Force chairman and SEMA staff liaison to develop long-range planning format and subject matter.
There are so many other things the council leadership does throughout the year, including host the annual MRC Rep Conference and General Membership Awards Ceremony at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, present industry awards to our manufacturers' rep colleagues and elect council leadership. Feel free to visit the MRC Rep Center at SEMA Show for more information on the council. You are the expert at what your business needs and this council wants to deliver. Feel free to get in touch with us, or come to one of our MRC events. Our hope is that if you haven’t been a part of MRC yet, you will be in 2010 and beyond.
MRC Rep Conference Coming to Vegas!!
The 9th annual MRC Rep Conference moves to Las Vegas at the 2010
SEMA Show. Bryan Shirley, President and CEO of the Manufacturers’
Agents National Association will host an open and interactive session
titled “Survival of the Fittest! Is that You?” The Economy has
Redefined the New Automotive Aftermarket…Now It’s Time to Redefine
Yourself!
The MRC Rep Conference will convene at the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday,
October 31, 2010, from 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. The early-bird price for
SEMA members is $49 ($69 for non-members). Online event registration is now available! For additional information, contact SEMA Council Liaison Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or stacib@sema.org.
MRC Names Chris Fairless New Chair-Elect
The
MRC Select Committee has named Chris Fairless of Fairless Sales &
Marketing to the position of chair-elect. Fairless is a current MRC
Select Committee member and will take over duties as chair-elect on
July 1. Fairless stated, “I’m honored to be selected as MRC’s chair-elect. I’m looking forward to the future challenges and the
opportunities. I’m excited to be involved with SEMA and MRC and hope to
inspire more people in our industry to get involved. There are great
opportunities ahead!” When Fairless assumes chair-elect duties on July
1, current chair-elect Wade Cobb of HAPCO will become chairman of MRC,
when Joel Rosenthal’s two-year term as MRC chairman ends. At that time,
Rosenthal will assume his new role as the MRC immediate past chairman/advisor.
2010 MRC Long-Range Planning Meeting at PWA
MRC will be conducting its annual Long-Range Planning meeting in
conjunction with the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Conference. All reps
are welcome and encouraged to participate in this open forum and
address issues faced daily by reps in all segments of the automotive
industry. Bring your ideas and suggestions to raise the bar for all
manufacturers' reps.
For us to be able to accommodate attendees
with food and beverage, we ask that you take a moment and contact Staci
Bostock at 909/396-0289, ext. 6693 or e-mail stacib@sema.org.
Read MRC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock.
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| Visit SBN's website. |
“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker
Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s
Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your
questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information
for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a
new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.
“Ask A
Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA
mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related
questions.
Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a
specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the
expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with
your project.
Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing
your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired
with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and
assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.
So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to
cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by
the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help
from our friends.
Visit the SEMA Mentoring Program now.
SBN Column in SEMA Member News
Read SBN's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SBN, contact Nathan Ridnouer.
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| Visit SPC's website. |
Have you ever wondered what exactly do the council leaders do throughout their term? Very simply, the Select Committee is elected by the members of the council to serve a two-year term.
Each Select
Committee member volunteers for at least 20 hours throughout the year
and some volunteer even more. Each Select Committee member is supported
by their company in their Street Performance Council (SPC) efforts, and
for that we say, “thank you!"
The leaders of the SPC gathered together earlier this year at SEMA
headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. This meeting focused on
bringing value to the SPC-member companies and utilizing SEMA’s
resources to further benefit each SPC member. Guiding the group’s
effort was the council’s mission statement “to provide market
information, education and support to members concerning new and
emerging trends.”
If you are passionate and have interest in being involved, there are
plenty of opportunities to volunteer for a task force with a limited
investment of time. Please reach out to the task force chair if you
want to participate or have comments.
Membership Task Force
Ed “Blake” Burgy from Mr. Gasket chairs this task force and can be reached at eburgy@mrgasket.com.
The importance of knowing our members and what industry challenges each
member has is very important. The SPC membership task force is
responsible for communicating directly with our members, keeping them
up to date on SPC happenings and making sure that we are meeting their
needs.
Communications Task Force
Baadal “Bottle” Deliwala from Titan Motorsports chairs this group and can be reached at bottle@titanmotorsports.com. Regular submissions to SEMA Member News and eNews
will contain relevant street performance market information written or
researched by the SPC council membership. If you want to contribute
your ideas, drop an e-mail to Bottle. Better yet, draft an article on a
topic pertinent to the mission and focus of the council and we’ll see
that it gets published with your byline.
Research Task Force
Albert Reda from Vibrant Performance chairs this group and can be reached at areda@vibrantpower.com.
Several key factors are changing significantly due to the economy:
consumer buying habits, distribution channels and vehicles. The council
has hosted several focus panels in the past with jobbers and consumers
answering questions about current trends. The data is compiled and
distributed to members, illustrating the differences between what is
perceived as current buying trends and what is actually happening.
RASR (Racer’s Against Street Racing) Task Force
Regis Finn at B&M Racing and Performance Parts chairs the groups and can be reached at rfinn@bnracing.com.
RASR is an SPC initiative that exists to provide leadership and support
to promote the anti-street racing message. We need plenty of industry
support and passion to reignite this message to our local communities.
Technology Task Force
Gigi Ho at Digital Performance chairs this group and can be reached at gigiho@digitalperformance.com.
The Business Technology Symposium has been successfully developed and
hosted by the SPC for the last three years as the Internet Symposium.
The 2010 SPC Business Technology Symposium will be held on July 23, in
Pasadena, California, as part of the 2010 SEMA Leadership Days with
some very exciting educational sessions. The group will also define and
develop relevant educational webinars and articles to help our members
take advantage of new opportunities.
There are many other things the council leadership does throughout the
year: host the annual SPC Mixer at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, present
industry awards to our street-performance colleagues and elect council
leadership. You are the expert at what your business needs, and this
council wants to deliver. Feel free to get in touch with us or come to
one of our SPC events. My hope is that if you haven’t been a part of
SPC yet, you will be in 2010.
Find the Business Possibilities Through the SPC
Participate in the automotive aftermarket at a whole new level by joining the SPC.
The purpose of SEMA councils is to help our member companies succeed and prosper. In the SPC, our mission is to provide market information, education and support to our members concerning new and emerging trends. Whether it’s the latest business technology, forecasting sales, future marketing solutions or up and coming vehicle platforms, we give you and your company the chance to see what’s on the horizon.
Then we’ll help you understand and acquire the skills, tools and
technologies to lead the way. The SPC has the most diverse membership
of any SEMA council, and that will allow you to network with other
professionals from every facet of our industry and gain insights into
areas you may not have previously considered. Find out about the parts,
people, technologies, strategies, trends and, most important,
possibilities.
This is your chance to give something back to the industry, your
profession and to grow personally along the way. Join the SPC today and
become an active member of the specialty equipment and automotive
market — Tracie Nuñez, Advanced Clutch Technology, SPC Chairman
SPC Column in SEMA Member News
Read SPC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SPC, contact Nathan Ridnouer.
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| Visit WTC's website |
Wheel and Tire Council Learning Track Goes Live…
WTC Special Edition of In-GEAR: Intro to Selling
Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, this course has something for everyone.
This online learning tool focuses on three critical areas:
- Introduction to the Industry
- Effective Selling Techniques
- Successful Customer Service
“Please take a look at our new training aid created to help all retail salespeople sell wheels easier and more effectively. The WTC has
pooled information and past experience from all our Select Committee
members with help from the SEMA Education Institute to create this
program. If you can give the training program a small amount of time,
you will be rewarded with a simple and effective process that will make
selling AFTERMARKET WHEELS much easier and less time consuming.”
—Kelly Austin, WTC IPC/Advisor, Ultra Wheel Company
A) To Use:
- Go to www.sema.org
- Login to your account (upper right-hand corner).
- Scroll over “Education” Tab on top of page.
- Select “Online Learning Center (OLC).”
- Once there, look to the lower left of the page and select “Wheel & Tire Council Learning Track,” and enjoy!
B) If you do not have an account:
- Go to www.sema.org
- Select the “Login” option located on the upper right of the page.
- Once on the login page, select the “Register Now” option.
- Create your SEMA profile (name, title, e-mail, city, state. password, company name).
- A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address provided.
- Retrieve the e-mail, and select link provided; you will be re-directed to the SEMA page to login. Once there, input your username and password.
- At this point, you can either create a SEMA profile or follow steps 3–5 of option “A.”
TIA's Roy Littlefield Joins WTC Select Committee
In an effort aimed at increasing communication between SEMA and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), the Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) extended an invitation to TIA to participate in the council’s Long Range Planning meeting, March 17 at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California.
The open dialogue between the two culminated in WTC’s appointment of
TIA’s Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield to a voting seat on the
council’s Select Committee. This move greatly improves the interaction
between SEMA and TIA, while providing both memberships with a much
desired forum in which to express their concerns and suggestions.
“The appointment of Roy Littlefield was unanimous and came after an
honest exchange between the parties in which common goals and
directives outweighed any differences," said WTC Chairman Tim Dietz.
"TIA’s council participation signifies an important shift in how we
will address the concerns of the tire industry. I am confident that
this collaboration will ultimately benefit and advance the best
interest of each association’s membership.”
Littlefield added: "Over the past few months, both TIA and SEMA have agreed to work together to further strengthen our relationship. Being invited to join the Wheel & Tire Council is just more proof that this relationship-building is being backed up by concrete action. On behalf of our members, I thank SEMA for giving us the opportunity for our member voices to be heard on the Wheel & Tire Council as it continues its important mission.”
WTC Column in SEMA Member News
Read WTC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about WTC, contact Zane Clark.
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| Visit YEN's website. |
Did
you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500
members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee?
If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of
39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If
you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our
website at www.sema.org/yen.
YEN Member of the Month Spotlight
Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA
website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections
or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.
YEN Column in SEMA Member News
Read YEN's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about YEN, contact Nathan Ridnouer.