WTC at the 2010 SEMA Show

SEMA Member News—January/February 2011 

	TIA’s yearly passing of the gavel, symbolizing the transfer of the organization’s presidency, took place on November 1 as part of TIA’s pre-Expo events. New TIA President Mike Berra Jr. (right) was proud to accept the TIA presidency from now Past President Wayne Croswell.

SEMA Show week is time to network, plan and honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective segments of the industry. The Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) hosted its Industry Awards Reception against the backdrop of the Renaissance Hotel pool and Envy Cellar. This special evening was made possible through the generous sponsorships of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires, Ultimate Wheel & Tire Plus Sizing Guide, the Law Offices of Douglas A. Frymer, Standards Testing Labs and Tru-Align. The tropical-themed event culminated with the Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Wheel and Tire Council Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has been nominated and chosen by members of the WTC for outstanding dedication and contributions to the wheel and tire industry. The 2010 WTC Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame recipient for 2010 is Fenton Liffick, president, CEO and secretary of Prestige Autotech Corporation. Liffick has served the wheel and tire industry for more than 61 years in manufacturing, engineering, metals and plastics finishing. He has also taken time to give back, both as a member of the original Wheel Industry Council and now the WTC.

Another key initiative that SEMA and the WTC promoted throughout the SEMA Show was the continued partnership with the Tire Industry Association (TIA). During its long-range planning meeting this past March, the WTC extended an invitation for TIA to participate on the select committee. The move by the WTC demonstrated its commitment to the membership and assured that it continues to grasp the important issues confronting both the wheel and tire segments.

The 2010 WTC Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame recipient for 2010 is Fenton Liffick, president, CEO and secretary of Prestige Autotech Corp. Liffick has served the wheel and tire industry for more than 61 years in manufacturing, engineering, metals and plastics finishing.		Lending his expertise to the planning for the WTC Conference and Product Showcase, which will take place on February 9, 2011, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, was newly elected SEMA Board of Directors member and DUB Publishing Inc. President and Co-founder Myles Kovacs, who will also be a featured presenter at the conference.

The success of this year’s Expo is a testament to what TIA and SEMA can do when both organizations strengthen their ties and work closer together. There is still much work to do, but it’s clear given the success of this year’s events that the two groups are moving in the right direction to secure the Expo’s spot as the tire industry event of the year.

The WTC also convened a special task force meeting to focus on the forthcoming WTC Conference and Product Showcase, which will take place on February 9, 2011, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Lending his expertise was newly elected SEMA Board of Directors member and DUB Publishing Inc. President and Co-founder Myles Kovacs. Kovacs, 37, is a leading voice of the influential, trend-setting youth segment and will also be a featured presenter at the conference. The task force focused on how to best deliver a quality program for attendees and manufactures alike. The upshot is that product demonstrations will represent a cross section of vital industry segments. Companies such as The Ultimate Wheel & Tire Plus Sizing Guide, Konig American, 1-800-Everyrim.com, Vision Wheel and Ultra Wheel Company have already committed to the conference, and the lineup continues to expand.

The educational portion of the conference will be comprised of panel discussions that focus on industry needs and hot topics. From sales training to tire-pressure monitoring systems and from wheel standards to growing trends, the discussions will be relevant to WTC businesses. One of the guests participating on a pro panel will be Brock Weld, president and owner of BMF Wheels, an aftermarket wheel company specializing in performance wheels for off-road and lifted-truck enthusiasts.

To learn more about the WTC Conference and Product Showcase or to sign up for this must-attend event, contact Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org.