SEMA News -- April 2009
EVENTS

By Jason Catullo

MPMC and SEMA Bring Together Media and Manufacturers at Annual Motorsports Summit

Leading performance parts manufacturers talked about new products and company news directly with industry journalists through the MPMC Media Trade Conference.

More than 200 media representatives attended the 2009 MPMC Media Trade Conference (MTC) at the Embassy Suites near Los Angeles International Airport in January. Representing trade and consumer publications, journalists met with nearly 100 leading motorsports manufacturers for informal, one-on-one meetings to discuss new products and editorial collaboration. The annual three-day event is organized by SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC). The SEMA News staff had the opportunity to meet with a broad cross section of the motorsports manufacturer community. Here are some of the folks we had the pleasure to check in with and, in some cases, meet for the first time.

The MPMC presented Bill Middaugh with its 2009 Robert E. Peterson Media Award. Given to one individual each year, the award recognizes those who have made a positive impact on the motorsports industry and the MPMC during the past year.

“Bill has always been a strong supporter of the industry and the council,” said MPMC Chairman Bill Floyd, of AFCO/Dynatech. “Regardless of what company he is with or what his job title is, Bill always supports MPMC-member companies and strives to get them exposure through both advertising and editorial. The council is happy to acknowledge him with this award.”  

The dates and location for the 2010 conference will be announced in the near future. To learn more about the event or the MPMC, contact Jim Skelly at SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 103 or jimsk@sema.org. To learn about attending as a media representative, contact Della Domingo at SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 130 or dellad@sema.org.

	J.R. Granatelli, President, Granatelli Motor Sports.
	CP Pistons Manager of Marketing and Promotions Cindy Verkooij.
	Frank DiFranco, National Sales Manager, World Products.
	Susan Robinson, Sales Manager, Maradyne High Performance Fans.
	Rich Barsamian, Vice President, Sales, Grant Products International.
	SLP Performance Parts President Ed Hamburger.
	Skyjacker Suspensions Director of Marketing & Operations Lee McGuire.
	Joe Krivickas, Territory Rep, Precision Turbo & Engine
	Following the opening day of meetings, which coincided with the presidential inauguration, attendees met at an evening reception and media award presentation.
	Bobit Business Media’s Bill Middaugh (middle), recipient of MPMC’s Robert E. Petersen Media Award, with SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) and MPMC Chairman Bill Floyd.
	Nitrous Supply owner and N20 guru Mike Thermos.
	SEMA Technical Consultant Jim McFarland (left) and SEMA General Counsel Russ Deane discussed the Green Rod Project with media. Overseen by McFarland, the Green Rod Project is a collaboration between member companies and the association and yielded a retrofit kit of emissions-related aftermarket parts capable of meeting 2008 California smog-check standards.
	SPX Corporation’s Senior Product/Marketing Manager Joe Young and Marketing Manager Bart Ivic
	Amsoil’s Director of Advertising Ed Newman and Director of Filtration and Aftermarket Products Karl Dedolph III.
	Turbonetics Marketing Manager Tyler Tanaka.
	Todd Arey, President/CEO, Pyrotek E3 Spark Plugs.
	Flex-a-lite Consolidated’s Marketing Manager Michelle Radin.
	Kevin Bennett, Vice President, Powermaster Motorsports.
	Tracie Parker, Marketing Manager, and Kyle Snyder, Performance Market Analyst, Garrett by Honeywell.
	Horace Mast, Engineer, Mast Motorsports.
	Dennis Overholser, Executive Vice President, Painless Performance and Chairman-Elect of the Hot Rod Industry Alliance.
	Greg Krause and Don Meziere of Meziere Enterprises.
	Hedman Performance Group’s Director of Sales Vic Wood and Marketing Director Marc Lewis.
	Bill Floyd, Vice President, Sales for AFCO/Dynatech and MPMC Chairman.
	Cherry Bomb’s Matt Graves.
	Ted Hughes Team Leader Program Development, and Trey McFarland, Sales & Marketing, from Mahle Motorsport.
	Keith Jones from Total Seal.
	J. Bittle, President, Advanced Automotive Engineering Inc.
	Chris Thomson, National Sales Director, AIRAID Filter Co. and member of the SEMA Board of Directors.
	Energy Suspension’s Jeff Bonnett and Sales Manager Mike Papazian.