By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) named Kail Withers as the council’s newest spotlight volunteer. Withers is the business manager for Armorlite, a complete replacement floor system for Jeep Wrangler JK-model vehicles.
Get to know Withers in his interview with SEMA below:
SEMA: What inspired you to pursue a career in the truck and off-road industry?
Kail Withers: I have a very broad range of taste when it comes to vehicles, but the one thing about off-road is the skill it takes to build something that can endure the roughest of conditions. It is the ultimate test.
SEMA: Why did you decide to volunteer for TORA?
KW: I came from years in the hot-rod industry and made many good connections through the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA). Coming into the truck and off-road industry I was starting out, in some cases, as the new guy. In the HRIA, I met new up-and-comers who joined, so I figured this would be a great way to get going.
SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?
KW: Working in an industry that you are passionate about makes it easy to be engaged, but sometimes the lines of personal life and work life can blur. Finding a balance is the key to not get burned out. Use your passion as experience, but remember the industry is full of people with varying style and experience. There is no absolute one direction, so try to step outside of your comfort zone a little.
SEMA: What is your dream truck or off-road vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?
KW: I work with mostly new vehicles right now, but my passion has always been the old stuff.
Right now I want to build a tube chassis Baja truck with either a C10 or F-100 body. Something that has timeless style but has chassis that will take the dunes at over 100 mph. Powertrain would likely be twin turbo LS based because that is what I know, but I would be open to other powertrains.
Fill out a TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA’s social media, SEMA News and future TORA-member updates.