By SEMA Editors
 Matt Patrick |  Brad Loden |
COMP Performance Group Names Matt Patrick Director of Product Development; Adds Brad Loden to Outside Sales Team
COMP Performance Group has named Matt Patrick as its new director of product development. Patrick is a business-focused engineer, with a career that includes successful stints in product management, research and development and mechanical engineering. He’s been with COMP Performance Group for more than 21 years. In the new role, Patrick will work directly with Dave Henninger and Cindy Bullion to lead the restructured product development group—a team dedicated solely to innovation and quicker “concept to competition” time for next-generation products. The company has also announced that effective immediately, Brad Loden has joined the organization in the role of outside sales representative. Loden will put his 26 years of industry experience to work as a territory sales and race support representative, along with providing product-development insight from the field to the newly formed CPG Product Development Group. A long-time racer, Loden has worked for prominent performance automotive manufacturers in the past, most recently, as a salesperson with CV Products and Roush Yates Racing Engines. Loden brings with him a highly technical product development acumen with expertise in valve train components and engine building.
Nexen Tire Supports New York Driver Safety Campaign
Global tire manufacturer Nexen Tire USA announced that the company has aligned with the New York City Department of Transportation in the new “Vision Zero” driver safety campaign, which launched April 26 on a digital billboard in Times Square. The campaign is aimed at educating New York drivers on safe driving and vehicle maintenance. A 15-second Nexen Tire spot, showing how 30 million drivers worldwide depend on Nexen tires to keep them safe on the road, will run immediately following the DoT Vision Zero spot. Next reports that the video will run on the Times Square billboard through December 31.
 Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam spoke to students about the importance of working with their hands and STEM activities. |
First Hot Rodders of Tomorrow STEM Day Opens Eyes for 94 Fifth Graders
The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Junior Engine Challenge completed its first-ever STEM Day, Friday April 20, at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Lisle, Illinois, where 94 fifth graders from Ranch View Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois, came to learn about how STEM relates to the automotive field. The day started off with a visit from Congressman Peter Roskam (IL), who stopped by to offer support. Afterward, students were split and placed in red, white and blue teams, and with their HROT mentor, they completely disassembled and reassembled a Briggs and Stratton overhead cam engine. Students also toured the UTI campus, participated in a UTI STEM activity and an Edelbrock coloring book challenge.
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