Reinhardt and Garcia Lead TORA
 Kathryn Reinhardt, former SEMA Person of the Year, takes over the chair position of the TORA and wants people to know that the alliance is more than just a booth at the SEMA Show. | |
The Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) is under new leadership, with 2015 SEMA Person of the Year Kathryn Reinhardt of MagnaFlow taking over the chair position. Erika Garcia of BOLT Locks by Strattec was elected to the chair-elect position. The council provides opportunities for its members to network, attend education seminars, gain product and brand exposure for their companies, and more.
Kathryn Reinhardt
Kathryn Reinhardt has been in the automotive and powersports industry for 15 years, including sales and marketing roles for a variety of manufacturer, media and distribution companies. She also has extensive SEMA volunteer experience and was first elected to the TORA Select Committee in 2012.
Alongside Melanie White and Jerrod Strauss, Reinhardt helped to create the Media Preview Exclusive presented by TORA, which is going into its fourth year. She has also served on the SEMA Gen-III Award task force, the SBN Athena Award task force and the SEMA Cares committee, serving the Pinewood Drags division. Reinhardt volunteers her time because it helps her see the big picture.
“It’s good for the soul,” she said. “Doing your personal best is great, but I want to support all the people around me, too. It’s important to participate and help others be their best.”
Reinhardt would like for the TORA membership to see the council as much more than just a booth at the SEMA Show. The TORA is a collection of some of the brightest stars in the truck segment, who have their fingers on the pulse of the $4 billion market. It can help its members grow sales, market their brands, create business connections, learn the latest trends and attend the best truck events in the United States.
Erika Garcia
| 0 |  Erika Garcia is the TORA’s new chair-elect, and she volunteers her time to the select committee to contribute to the continuing growth of the industry and the success of every member. |
Erika Garcia has enjoyed 17 years in the automotive industry, with 10 of them spent serving the aftermarket industry. She also spent seven years working directly with OEMs, giving her a unique perspective to the market. In her current role as the national sales manager for Strattec, she oversees the BOLT Locks product line. She has been volunteering her time to the TORA since 2014 and serves as the chair of the select committee’s communications task force.
“I have a special connection with the people in this industry,” Garcia said. “Everyone is hard working and passionate about their jobs, and the SEMA community is like a big family.”
She volunteers her time to the select committee to contribute to the continuing growth of the industry and the success of every member. When she’s not networking with industry peers, Garcia enjoys cooking, reading and running.
The TORA also welcomed back several incumbents as well as new members to the select committee. They include:
- Kristina Coburn, Transamerican Auto Parts
- Dawson Druesedow, 4 Wheel Performance
- Chris Fairless, Hypertech
- John Grier, Keystone Automotive
- Troy Hudson, Bob Cook Sales
- Sara Morosan (Incumbent), LGE-CTS Motorsports
- Troy Wirtz (Incumbent), Dee Zee Inc.
Media Preview Exclusive, Presented by the Truck and Off-Road Alliance
The TORA will be hosting its fourth annual Media Preview Exclusive event at the 2017 SEMA Show. It is an opportunity for TORA manufacturer members who are exhibiting at the SEMA Show to display the hottest products from their booths for dedicated media attention.
With the event being held one day before the SEMA Show floor opens, exhibitors at the Media Preview Exclusive can have the type of one-on-one conversations with media that may be difficult to have while on the Show floor. The event is also a great opportunity for the media, as they will have a sneak peak at some of the hottest light-truck accessory products at the SEMA Show. Members of the media will be able to see, touch, photograph and inquire about the products on display, getting a head start on the full week of Show activities.
The Media Preview Exclusive, presented by TORA, will be held in the media center located on the Skybridge of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Monday, October 30. Understanding the busy schedules of both exhibitors and media, this year the event will be condensed to a two-hour preview, so both exhibitors and media can expect a busy floor.
More information about exhibiting at the 2017 TORA Media Preview Exclusive or attending as a member of the media can be found at www.sema.org/TORA.