Do You Have Your Tickets Yet?

	There are only 250 tickets for the SEMA Networking Breakfast. Visit www.SEMA.org/sbn to purchase yours now.

Sponsored by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), the SEMA Networking Breakfast combined awards presentation and speed-networking event is the quickest way to meet peers, industry leaders and vendor associates who could be instrumental to your business or career. It is open to men and women from all segments of the industry, and it sells out a month before the SEMA Show.

The SBN also gives special recognition at the breakfast to individuals or companies that are making extraordinary strides in the advancement of women and newcomers through three awards: 2012 SBN Athena, Mentor of the Year and Woman of the Year.

The 2012 SBN Athena Award is presented to an individual or company for outstanding contributions to women in the aftermarket. The SBN Woman of the Year award is presented for outstanding achievements and contributions in the automotive aftermarket. The Mentor of the Year award is presented to a person who has helped someone achieve career goals in the industry through a commitment of time, encouragement and shared wisdom.

The SEMA Networking Breakfast will be held at the Las Vegas Hotel, Ballroom A, on Thursday, November 1, from 7:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Visit www.SEMA.org/sbn to purchase your ticket now!

SBN Congratulates New Select Committee Members

The SBN thanks Jean Franks of K&N Engineering Inc. and Michelle St. Meyers of Flex-a-lite Consolidated for their years of dedication and service as they rotate off the network’s Select Committee. The SBN is pleased to announce the new slate of Select Committee members for 2012/2013.

JoAnn Bortles (incumbent) of Crazy Horse Custom Paint has participated in numerous SBN projects, and her shop has taken home many awards, including PPG’s Top 5 Most Outstanding Paint in 2006 and Best Bike Paint of the Year in 2005 and 2012. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry as a custom painter, welder/fabricator, author and business owner, Bortles is in a unique position to offer hands-on support and mentoring advice.

Camee Edelbrock (incumbent) of Schiefer Media Inc. has been employed in the automotive specialty-equipment industry for more than 30 years. As vice president of advertising and a spokesperson for the Edelbrock Corp., she managed a team of graphic designers, copywriters and production artists. Edelbrock was awarded the first Young Executive of the Year award in 1993, and she is currently the public relations and social media manager for Schiefer Media Inc. She is also the SBN communications chairman.

Erin Gilhuly (incumbent) of Toyota Motor Sales has been part of the automotive industry for close to 15 years, with the last seven spent planning and developing performance accessories for three automotive brands. Gilhuly understands the need for cooperation between the specialty-equipment industry and OEMs. She is currently the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast task force chair and has served on the SBN Select Committee for several years.

Gigi Ho (incumbent) is a founder of Digital Performance Inc., where she has focused on data standardization tools for the industry and connecting buyers and sellers. She has presented Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and SEMA webinars and educational seminars on topics ranging from data standards and e-marketing strategies to social networks and their applications in business.

Sherry Price-McCall (incumbent) has served as senior account executive for Masters Entertainment Group for 15 years, where she developed motorsports programming for ESPN, FSN, SPEED Channel and more. She has served on the SBN Select Committee as the education task force lead for two years.

Julia Johnson is a graduate of Skyline College’s automotive technology program and is the only woman to have completed the program in the last 10 years. She holds six ASE certifications and a California smog license. She recently won five grants for the Skyline College automotive department and developed four new programs to help students enter the automotive industry. Johnson created a support network—The Heart Wrenchers Car Club—for the 14 young women currently enrolled in the auto tech department at Skyline.

Kristy Neukam is the human resources director at Meyer Distributing. For the last seven years, she has dedicated her career to the success of Meyer Distributing, SEMA, SBN and the Young Executives Network. A wife and mother of two, Neukam understands the dynamics of managing the personal and professional aspects many members in the industry share.

To become more involved with the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and serve through its Member Resource Pool, contact Rose Kawasaki at rosek@exportsintl.com. For more information about the SBN, visit www.SEMA.org/sbn.