SEMA Member News—November/December 2015
YEN at the SEMA Show
 The finals will be held Wednesday, November 4, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in SEMA Show Super Session room N258 on the second floor of the North Hall. Plan to arrive early, as attendance is usually high, with more than 300 attendees. |
The Young Executives Network (YEN) has a full slate of meetings and networking opportunities on tap at the 2015 SEMA Show for both current and prospective members. YEN is open to employees of SEMA-member companies who are under the age of 40. The network provides the chance to meet with and learn from key influencers in the industry while also getting to know and mingle with industry peers from all areas of the automotive specialty-equipment market.
General Membership Meeting and Mixer
A YEN general membership meeting and mixer will be held Monday, November 2, from 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, room N242. These meetings provide the opportunity for members to learn about initiatives for the coming year from the network’s select committee. The network leadership answers questions about the focus of the group to help members learn how to gain the most from membership. It also provides a chance for seasoned members to connect, catch up and contribute to the discussion over drinks.
YEN Awards Reception
On Tuesday, November 3, from 5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. in the Westgate Paradise Center South, YEN will welcome members and guests for the largest networking event for young professionals in the automotive industry. Far from the staid affair that some might expect, YEN’s reception is a celebration of personal growth and passion about the industry. It is open to both current and prospective members of YEN, and it features an awards ceremony to honor young talent along with a fun-filled evening of food, games and opportunities to network with fellow emerging industry professionals as well as seasoned veterans.
As in past years, YEN will honor two exceptional individuals nominated and voted on by peers. The Vanguard Award recipient is an individual, business, organization or sanctioning body that has had a positive effect on a young executive’s career within the automotive industry. The Young Executive of the Year Award honors a current YEN member whose performance over the last year demonstrated an exceptional level of service, integrity, professional growth and business ethics. Many of the past recipients have gone on to serve on various council and network select committees and even SEMA’s Board of Directors.
Be sure to attend this entertaining soirée!
YEN Launch Pad
SEMA Launch Pad, presented by YEN, is an exciting competition that is designed to specifically boost the career and business opportunities of the winning entrepreneur. Launch Pad offers innovators, inventors and businesspeople under the age of 40 an industry platform to showcase their business plans for marketing new automotive products or services.
At the culmination of the competition during the 2015 SEMA Show, five finalists will pitch their businesses to five industry leaders at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The judges will select the winning YEN executive, and the grand-prize winner will receive an extensive prize package that will help take his or her business to the next level. The package includes marketing and advertising elements, consultations with industry leaders, no-cost sponsorship features and much more. Even those entrants who don’t win the grand prize have the opportunity for personal and professional exposure to thousands of industry leaders.
The finals will be held Wednesday, November 4, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in SEMA Show Super Session room N258 on the second floor of the North Hall. Plan to arrive early, as attendance is usually high, with more than 300 attendees.
For more information about any of these activities, contact Bryan Harrison, SEMA director of networks, by phone at 909-978-6691 or via e-mail at bryanh@sema.org.
