SEMA Member News - November/December 2010
Popular Manufacturers’ Rep Conference Heads to Vegas
The Road to the 2010 SEMA Show Begins at the MRC Gathering in Las Vegas
By Wade Cobb
 MRC will hold the ninth-annual MRC Rep Conference in conjunction with the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Guest speaker Bryan Shirley, former president and CEO of the Manufacturers’ Agents National Association, will host an open and interactive session titled “Survival of the Fittest! The Economy Has Redefined the New Automotive Aftermarket…Now It’s Time to Redefine Yourself.” |
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The MRC Select Committee discussed how to maximize momentum and increase attendance following the last rep conference. Members suggested that the group consider hosting the MRC Rep Conference at the SEMA Show in conjunction with the MRC Awards Ceremony. The change in venue will provide MRC with the best opportunity for increased attendance, participation and exposure to the MRC.
The MRC Rep Conference will convene at the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday, October 31, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. It is scheduled to conclude at 7:30 p.m. The early-bird price for SEMA members is $49 ($69 for non-members), and event registration is available through the SEMA Show online registration process. Early-bird pricing ends on October 19. After October 19, the registration fee for SEMA members is $69 ($89 for non-members). For additional information, contact SEMA Council Liaison Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or e-mail .
MRC will also present its council awards during the upcoming SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The winner of the Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) award will be announced and then recognized again during the SEMA awards banquet on Thursday, November 4, 2010. The STAR award recognizes a manufacturer and its sales team for business performance in terms of professionalism, product training, updates and more. In addition, MRC will induct a manufacturer’s representative into the MRC Hall of Fame, honoring an outstanding member of the rep segment of the industry. This honor is reserved for those reps who have significantly contributed to enhancing the integrity, professionalism and general growth of the manufacturers’ rep segment.
Your Las Vegas Office Away From Home
Meeting rooms, soft couches, Internet connections and much more are all waiting for MRC and Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) members who will be attending the 2010 SEMA Show. MRC has developed a unique partnership with MPMC this year. This collaboration will provide direct interaction between manufacturers and reps. MPMC will also provide MRC with a suite at its annual MPMC Media Trade Conference, to be held January 25–27, 2011, at the Embassy Suites Los Angeles International Airport South in El Segundo, California. The goals of this collaboration are to align reps with manufacturers, to educate manufacturers about the benefits of utilizing reps and to expose manufacturers to the MRC.
The MRC Rep Center will be located in the Central Hall, Room C102. It will be open from Sunday, October 31–Friday, November 5. This MRC member benefit has been extremely useful for many reps. Encourage the members of your sales staff to utilize the Rep Center and its meeting rooms to maximize their SEMA Show successes. Be sure to contact Nancy Lund at 909/396-0289 or e-mail nancyl@sema.org to update your company roster or to reserve meeting space.
Is There an Attorney in the House?
One of the most popular MRC member benefits is the legal service provided by Steven Sack, who has been retained by the MRC for several years to offer advice and consultations to member agencies. Sack will be available at the SEMA Show on Monday, November 1, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, November 2, from 8:00 a.m–4:00 p.m., to meet with member agencies on legal matters. Contact Nancy Lund at 909/978-6744 or e-mail nancyl@sema.org to schedule your meeting. This no-charge service will be conducted in the MRC Rep Center, located in the Central Hall, Room
C102.