By Ashley Reyes
Frank Vasquez, Brand Manager at KW automotive North America Inc., has been named the SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council’s (MPMC) first-ever volunteer spotlight member.
Get to know Vasquez in his interview with SEMA below, as he shares details on his career and what he feels are the biggest challenges facing the motorsports industry today.
SEMA: What is your current job? What do you do and how long have you been doing it?
Frank Vasquez: I am the North American Brand Manager for KW suspensions & ST suspensions. I’ve been working in the automotive industry for 17 years and spent the last six years in my current position with KW automotive.
SEMA: How long have you been volunteering for MPMC, what inspired you to volunteer, and how has it impacted you?
FV: I just recently joined MPMC and look forward to getting to know everyone!
SEMA: Did you ever consider another career or industry, and what made you choose automotive manufacturing?
FV: The gravity and excitement of the automotive and aftermarket industry sucked me in at a young age. I never intended on landing in the position I am in now, but I was extremely grateful when the opportunity to work for such a fantastic company presented itself.
SEMA: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the motorsports industry today, and where do you see the industry in five years?
FV: I think there are a few major areas of concern, but the most important would be to get the next generation engaged at a young age. Without the desire and passion from fans of the next generation to keep the motorsports events alive, it could become difficult in the future to justify the costs involved.
In the next five years I believe we’ll see a strong shift toward making racing more sustainable. Whether that is environmentally friendly fuels or a shift toward electric vehicles, that is no doubt the way forward.
SEMA: What’s your favorite car-related movie, and what is it that you like about that movie?
FV: Oh boy, that’s a tough one because there are so many legendary classics. It’s difficult not to default to The Fast and the Furious, just based on the sheer fact that at any given moment around the office or at a car show you can belt out a quote from it and nine times out of 10 times someone will join in on the quote before you even finish the line. You’ve just got to love it for what it is and enjoy the absurdity of it all.
SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?
FV: If I’m not out at an event for work, I can usually be found wandering out in the mountains somewhere or working on projects around the house.
Fill out an MPMC member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the motorsports industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on MPMC’s social media, SEMA eNews and future MPMC member updates.