Compiled by SEMA Editors
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| From left: Clint Walton, Tony Manzo and Paul Spornitz. | |
SEMA Data Co-op Promotes Clint Walton to Director of Member Support; Reaches 1 Millionth Export Milestone
The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has promoted Clint Walton to director of member support. Walton will be responsible for overseeing SDC support operations and developing and executing strategies for improving the member experience. Walton recently promoted two SDC data analysts, Tony Manzo and Paul Spornitz, to senior data analysts. In addition, the SDC has passed its 1 millionth export milestone. The SDC Product Information Management System (PIMS) went live in July 2013, helping to grow the Co-op into the largest data repository in the SEMA marketplace for connecting data suppliers and receivers.
Classic Instruments Celebrates 40 Years
Classic Instruments will hold its NSRA Appreciation Day open house—a day of festivities honoring customers, community members and friends—Saturday, July 29, at the company’s headquarters in Boyne City, Michigan. Classic Instruments will also celebrate its 40th anniversary during the event, which includes a car show featuring The Charlevoix Street Legends, live music provided by Dangerville, editor's pick awards presented by Brian Brennan of Street Rodder magazine, and a food truck from Pigs Eatin' Ribs. The event’s proceeds will benefit the Boyne City Police Department.
 MagnaFlow recently tapped Power Automedia’s Alloy Studios to create a commercial showcasing NHRA superstar Leah Pritchett and her very own Dodge Challenger Hellcat. |
Power Automedia’s Alloy Studios Tapped for New MagnaFlow Exhaust Commercial Featuring NHRA’s Leah Pritchett
MagnaFlow recently tapped Power Automedia’s Alloy Studios to create a commercial showcasing NHRA superstar Leah Pritchett and her very own Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Filmed in Southern California, the team at Alloy Studios captured the sound and passion behind this newly MagnaFlow-equipped 707hp Hellcat. The exhaust company will utilize the finalized video as an advertisement, which is now published on their website and leading social-media platforms.
Mitchell 1 Announces Winners of Its Thank You Thursdays Promotion
Mitchell 1 announced the winners of its “Thank You Thursdays” sweepstakes, where the company gave away six $100 Visa gift cards. The winners of the twice-yearly promotion are Peter Campbell of San Diego, California; Tracy Pedersen of Lavista, Nebraska; Rebecca Shearer of Jacksonville, Florida; Vanessa Ingrassia of Biddeford, Maine; Bruce Nobert of Mesa, Arizona; and Rebecca Kelly of Darlington, South Carolina. For more information about Mitchell 1, visit www.mitchell1.com.
Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. Welcomes GearWrench Tools and RJS Racing Equipment
Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. welcomes RJS Racing Equipment Inc. and GearWrench Tools to its speed and performance and tools and equipment line card. RJS Racing manufactures safety equipment for various styles of motor racing. Most products are developed in the United States, of which Keystone is stocking fuel-storage containers. GearWrench Tools got its start back in 1995, with support from large retailers, such as Ace Hardware and Sears.
 Motorsport.com has launched an international edition with a dedicated Swiss version available in three languages—German, French and Italian. |
Motorsport.com Launches New Tri-Language Swiss Edition
Motorsport.com has launched an international edition with a dedicated Swiss version available in three languages—German, French and Italian. Swiss drivers Neel Jani and Sébastien Buemi hold titles as the reigning FIA World Endurance Championship and FIA Formula E champions, respectively. Stefano Comini has also dominated the TCR International Series, winning both the 2015 and 2016 titles. Swiss Moto2 racer Thomas Luthi has also been starring on the world stage. The country boasts its own race-winning Formula 1 team. The Swiss edition will not only highlight the efforts of its local stars, but also make content available in the region’s three main languages. In total, Motorsport Network offers 27 global website editions, also including automotive site Motor1.com. The network recently hit a record 136 million monthly page views across 81 countries in 17 different languages.
Marx Group Relocates and Expands Metro Detroit Location
Marx Group, a full-service marketing communications agency for the automotive, aftermarket and trucking industries, has relocated and expanded its Detroit-area office to meet the needs of a growing client base and account team. The Detroit-based team relocated from Birmingham, Michigan, to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and will operate the space jointly with its affiliate, Near Perfect Media, a public-relations firm serving corporations, professionals and celebrities. The new 2,800-sq.-ft. office, located at 43700 Woodward Ave., Suite 106, doubles the previous space in Birmingham.
 Deval Joshi |
Deval Joshi Named VIPAR Heavy Duty Director of Program Management
Deval Joshi has been named director of program management for VIPAR Heavy Duty, effective immediately. Joshi joined VIPAR Heavy Duty in January 2017 and most recently served as senior program manager. In his new role, Joshi will be responsible for leading the organization’s program management team in fulfilling its role in the five-year growth plan set by the organization. He will continue to report to Larry Griffin, vice president of program management. Joshi has nearly 15 years of experience in strategic global purchasing, engineering and management. He spent eight years at Navistar in several roles, including sourcing and procurement for the company’s parts procurement group and production purchasing group. In addition, Joshi was the director of global procurement at Milton Industries.
 Steven Berman (left), co-founder of Dorman Products, was named to the Federated Auto Parts Vendor Hall of Fame. |
Berman Joins Federated Auto Parts Vendor Hall of Fame
Steven Berman, executive chairman and co-founder of Dorman Products, was inducted into the Federated Auto Parts Vendor Hall of Fame. In 1978, Berman co-founded Dorman, along with his late brother Richard. Prior to assuming his current role as executive chairman, Berman served as chairman and CEO since January 2011, and president from 2007 to 2011. A member of the board of directors since Dorman’s inception, Berman also spent time as executive vice president and served as secretary and treasurer for the company. The Federated Vendor Hall of Fame recognizes one individual each year who demonstrates dedication to excellence, helping to make a difference for Federated and its members.
 Brandon Noska |
Brandon Noska Joins Ranch Hand As Director of Engineering
Brandon Noska has joined Ranch Hand as director of engineering. He has extensive experience in bringing new technologies and products to market for the energy, aerospace, electronics and lighting industries. A multi-skilled professional with more than 16 years of experience in mechanical design, product development and R&D, Noska’s versatility and talents have allowed him to take on roles in engineering, marketing and sales over the course of his career. His background includes working with multifunctional teams and customers domestically and worldwide. His previous experience spans a wide range of positions, including application engineering/technical marketing manager, thermal/research engineer, design engineer and management development engineer. He has secured four patents with several more pending.
NABC Recycled Rides Presentation at NACE Automechanika Highlights Generosity and Collaboration of Collision Industry
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) invites attendees at NACE Automechanika Chicago to stop by center stage on the show floor, Thursday, July 27, at 12:00 p.m., where four newly refurbished NABC-Recycled Rides vehicles will be unveiled and presented to several local Chicago-area families. The four vehicles for the NABC-Recycled Rides presentation at NACE were donated by Allstate, State Farm, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Insurance Auto Auctions. The vehicles were repaired by ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Gerber Collision & Glass, Service King and All Line CARSTAR with contributions of parts, materials and services from many other companies. The four recipients were nominated by Family Promise of the North Shore and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Since the inception of the NABC-Recycled Rides program in 2007, NABC members have collaborated to repair and donate nearly 2,000 vehicles valued at nearly $26 million to individuals across the United States.
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