SEMA Member News—July/August 2014
Second Annual SEMA Launch Pad Presented By YEN
| |
The top 10 contestants will compete for votes via YouTube videos on SEMA’s official Facebook platform. Starting July 22, visit SEMA’s Facebook page to cast support for your favorite business. Only five businesses will make it to the final stage of competition.
If you will be attending the 2014 SEMA Show, please join YEN on Thursday, November 6, 2014, from 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. to watch live the top five competitors pitch their businesses to an expert panel of industry judges in an effort to win the grand prize.
Supporting this year’s competition is an amazing awards package that will take the winner’s business to the next level, including:
- One full-page, four-color ad in SEMA News.
- One 10x10-ft. booth at the 2015 SEMA Show.
- An ad in Hot Rod magazine or 4-Wheel & Off Road magazine.
- Public relations and social media consultation from Kahn Media.
- An event-level sponsorship package to either a Family Events truck and off-road group property or a Family Events performance car group property.
- Manufacturers’ representative consultation with the Manufacturers Representative Network.
- Marketing, creative, design and/or production from Taylor Creative Co.
- Consulting services such as warehouse design/layout, inventory optimization analysis and tech integration from UPS.
This year Launch Pad event will offer a judging panel composed of seasoned industry experts who will offer coaching and advice to the contestants while choosing the best business proposal. Returning from the 2013 event’s panel will be Doug Evans, executive vice president and group publisher at Source Interlink Media and SEMA’s Chairman-Elect of the Board of Directors, and Ron Coleman, president and CEO of COMP Performance Group. They will be joined at the 2014 event by Tracie Nuñez, president of the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA), and Glenn Rogers, partner at Beyond Marketing.
Follow the competition at www.sema.org/launch-pad.
Fourth Annual YEN Fellowship Program
A record number of applicants will vie for the 2014 YEN Fellowship Program, marking its fourth year. Designed to help fund 10 young professionals’ travel expenses to the annual SEMA Show, this program offers unparalleled access and career-changing experiences.
“The YEN Fellowship program is another great example of SEMA’s commitment to engage and support the next generation of SEMA leaders,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership. “Through their participation in the annual SEMA Show, these young professionals will gain access to career-enhancing educational programs and networking events and can leverage the experience to bring more value to their employers.”
The Fellowship, a benefit for YEN members, is made available to SEMA-member company employees under the age of 40. The association reimburses flight expense up to $400, provides hotel for three nights, a $100 AMEX debit card and lunch for three days. Additionally, participants are given complimentary tickets to attend numerous fee-based events, including the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet; Café SEMA, powered by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN); and the Speed Networking Breakfast, powered by the SBN.
Visit www.sema.org/yen to learn more about the YEN Fellowship Program and apply today.
YEN Corral at the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals
YEN recently held a successful networking event in conjunction with the inaugural Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals in Pomona, California.
A special “YEN Corral” was designated to display a select group of vehicles from 25 YEN members, attracting a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines. At the event, YEN members enjoyed participating in an autocross timed obstacle course, cruising lanes, burnout contests and networking with like-minded young professionals and executives.