SEMA News—August 2020
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fast Facts
 Jonathan Mill |
Power Automedia announced that accomplished automotive executive Jonathan Mill joined the company. Mill accepted a role as executive producer and general manager of Alloy Studios—Power Automedia’s video production company. Prior to joining Power Automedia, Mill developed the award-winning E-Stopp—a pushbutton emergency brake and an antitheft unit for custom and classic cars—and he soon found himself in the entertainment side of automotive, leading integrated marketing and sales for broadcast. Mill later became publisher of Hot Rod and was honored as a SEMA Gen-III Innovator.
 Morgan Lucas |
Lucas Oil Products, the California-based distributor and manufacturer of motor oils and additives, announced that Morgan Lucas, senior vice president of Lucas Oil Products, will take over as president of Lucas Oil. Lucas’ career started with his professional racing debut in 2004. He soon established his own race team, Morgan Lucas Racing, where he won multiple event championships. In his new position as president, Lucas will report directly to his father, CEO Forrest Lucas.
Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. announced that it and its subsidiary, Hopkins Canada Inc., have acquired the retail automotive splashguard product lines from NuVue Products Inc. of Buffalo, New York, and NuVue Products Ltd. of Ontario, Canada, formerly known as Powerflow. The acquisition includes the established brand names RoadSport, Big Mudder, ProFit, BadgeZ, RoadGuard and Defender Tow Guard, plus the inventory, patents and intellectual property for the splashguard and mud-flap lines.
Yamaha Motor Corp. USA launched an all-new “Deliver Your Ride” program supporting Yamaha dealers that are able to complete vehicle purchases remotely and then deliver the product directly to customers. The new program includes ATV, side-by-side, motorcycle and snowmobile products and is available nationwide wherever dealers can legally and safely participate. Interested customers can contact their local Yamaha dealer or visit www.yamahamotorsports.com.
 Joe Kerick |
Dura-Bond Bearing named Joe Kerick its new product development manager. Kerick is a veteran of the transmission and aftermarket replacement parts industries and most recently was director of product management for Restoration Parts Unlimited. Prior to that, he was a senior category manager at Transtar Industries and a senior product manager with Standard Motor Products.
 Sean Lannoo |
Continental named Sean Lannoo sales technical training supervisor for the company’s VDO, Redi-Sensor, ATE, Autodiagnos and ClearContact aftermarket product lines. Lannoo leads a team of 11 training specialists who provide technical support and education on Continental aftermarket product lines to customer sales personnel and professional technicians throughout the United States and Canada. Lannoo joined Continental in 2013 as sales technical training specialist for the company’s VDO-branded aftermarket product lines. Lannoo was previously with Continental from 1997–2010 and played a key technical support role, serving as both an engineering analyst and product manager.
 Ashley Khan |
Permatex named Ashley Khan marketing manager for the Permatex and Versachem portfolio of products. Paco Agrafojo, Permatex director of marketing, made the announcement and noted that Khan will be based in Hartford, Connecticut. Khan joins Permatex in her third role with Illinois Tool Works, most recently serving as the brand marketing manager for Permatex Canada Inc., where she managed the company’s Rain-X, Slime, Fix-A-Flat, Black Magic and Gumout brands.
 Dani Boudreau |
Martin & Company announced the addition of Dani Boudreau as traffic and communications manager. Boudreau previously served in numerous communication management roles in the wedding industry, logistics and the Tennessee state park system. With a B.A. degree in public relations from Austin Peay University, Boudreau is highly skilled in the areas of event planning, social-media strategy, campaign planning, written and verbal communication, crisis management and creative production. As traffic and communications manager, she will be responsible for ensuring that all projects are completed according to budget and the client’s timetable and will assist in internal and external communications.
Brenton Productions’ series “FourWheeler” has been picked up for a second season with MotorTrend TV and the MotorTrend app. With 10 new episodes, “FourWheeler” concentrates on aggressive off-road builds with the extreme off-roader in mind. At the end of each build, host Ian Johnson (Extreme 4X4) tests its capabilities in the ultimate off-road environment.
