SEMA Member News—September/October 2014
SEMA Businesswomen’s NetworkIntroduces 2014 SEMA Show Calendarof Events and the New/Re-Elected Select Committee Members
By Christina Kwan
After celebrating its 20th anniversary milestone last year, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) continues its momentum by powering numerous 2014 SEMA Show events. With an emphasis on networking and fostering the growth of the next generation of women leaders in the aftermarket industry, the SBN introduces four events that are open for registration.
Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by the SBN
With a tradition of “sold-out” status in past years, the annual Speed Networking Breakfast is open to all SEMA members and is one of the best opportunities to meet peers, prospects, vendor associates and valuable contacts in one setting. Meet more than a dozen new contacts in a fast-paced environment that is structured to keep the introductions flowing.
- Details: Thursday, November 6, 2014, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m., Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Ballroom A
- Price: Until October 18, SEMA members $35 and non-members $45. After October 18, $49 for SEMA members and $69 for non-members.
Café SEMA—In the Know With a Cup of Joe!
A one-hour roundtable conversation with business pros and experts, Café SEMA—In the Know With A Cup of Joe! provides a popular format in which attendees get expert answers to their questions. Café SEMA experts dive into topics that include “Doing Business Globally,” “Sharing Business Information to Promote Sales,” “Marketing Innovative Products,” “Managing Your Business’s Reputation in the Digital Age,” “Recruiting and Sustaining Top Talent in Your Organization,” “Actually Working Together: Effective Communication,” “Standardized Product Information” and “Making Your Pitch for an OE Dollar Car.”
- Details: Friday, November 7, 2014, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., Las Vegas Convention Center, SEMA
Member’s Lounge - Price: SEMA member $10; non-member $20
“Your Career; Your Success”—An SBN-Powered Super Session
This session features prominent leaders and professionals who will share the experiences and professional habits that have facilitated their success in the aftermarket industry. Utilizing a moderator-and-panel format, attendees will have the opportunity to take away key insights that they can incorporate into their professional lives.
- Details: Wednesday, November 5, 2014, 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N258
Gear-up Girl Networking Event
A part of the SEMA Education Institute’s student program, the Gear-up Girl Networking Event connects female students with industry-leading female professionals in a round-robin networking table format.
- Details: Monday, November 3, 2014, 3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m., Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N253
The SBN Welcomes New and Returning Members to Select Committee
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Newly elected to the selected committee are Jenna Jefferies of K&N Engineering and Jacqueline Parral of The Promotion Company/Family Events. Both are eager to work alongside current members.
“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work with and learn from such a great group of women,” Jefferies said. “It’s also going to be exciting to be involved in the wonderful projects that take place to support SEMA and all of the women in the industry.”
Parral was equally excited at the prospect.
“With my travel experience gained by attending different automotive events, I hope to promote the SBN to more women,” she said. “I look forward to serving in this organization for a long time.”
Re-elected to the select committee were current members JoAnn Bortles of Crazy Horse Painting, Julia Johnson of Skyline College and Camee Edelbrock of ProMedia LLC. With 35 years in the custom automotive industry, Bortles said that serving on the committee has been one of the proudest honors of her career. Johnson said that she looks forward to working with an amazing group of women and helping them encourage and support other women in our industry. Also resonating the same forward outlook was Edelbrock, who said, “We are working on many exciting projects, and I look forward to helping make them all a huge success.”
The positive strides made by the SBN are testaments to the dedication of the network’s entire membership as well as those who serve on the select committee. The SBN would like to thank immediate past select-committee members Gigi Ho of Seres LLC and Kristy Neukam of Meyer Distributing. Both have tirelessly put forth dedication and time to helping lead the SBN through their impact, influence and efforts.