The Specialty Equipment Market Association is governed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to provide leadership and guidance to the organization. Board members are nominated and elected by the association’s membership at large. Directors serve a three-year term, while the chairman serves for two years immediately after completing a two-year term as chairman-elect. The current Board was inaugurated at the SEMA Board Meeting held August 25, 2020.

Last September, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) announced that it had acquired PartsHub, a cloud-based product data management company that offers catalog management solutions designed to enhance a manufacturer’s ability to create and update industry-standardized product information, regardless of the manufacturer’s product data knowledge or expertise.

There’s no denying that recent supply-chain disruptions are putting a two-fold crunch on many aftermarket sellers. On one hand, consumer demand for aftermarket products is surging as enthusiasts turn to do-it-yourself automotive projects to while away the hours of COVID-19-induced shutdowns. On the other, scarcity of raw materials, temporary closures or slowdowns of industrial facilities and even hoarding of key items have hindered the ability of brands to speed enough product to warehouse distributors (WDs) and retailers to meet market needs.

Businesses are keenly aware that employees are looking for assurance that workplaces are safe from COVID-19 and are turning to new software apps designed to mitigate those fears. The apps offer businesses the ability to keep track of the health status of every employee and make quick moves, should a specific employee suddenly be stricken with the virus.

As a trade association, SEMA’s goal is to help aftermarket businesses of all types and sizes succeed and prosper. The following pages contain the names and brief contact information consistent with privacy considerations for SEMA-member companies as of August 20, 2020. This “SEMA Business Resource Guide” contains listings and company descriptions for SEMA-member companies that provide services in our industry, such as agencies, consultants and manufacturers’ reps.

Founded and owned by Chris Gabrelcik, Lubrication Specialties (also known as Hot Shot’s Secret) manufactures industrial-grade lubricants and additives designed to improve engine performance in both professional and everyday consumer applications. Located in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, just north of Columbus, the company has outgrown three buildings in the past eight years and now is headquartered in a 30,000-sq.-ft. production warehouse set to double in size in the coming year.

Inaugurated in 2014, the SEMA Show’s annual Battle of The Builders (BOTB) event, a nationwide competition series that culminates at the Show each November, has become an essential element of the Show-week experience. Even though this year’s Show will not take place as planned, we wanted share some of the entries we’ve received as a way of providing recognition to the many builders and fabricators who spend thousands of shop-hours each year to transform their automotive dreams into reality.

To deliver a viable marketplace solution amid a challenging year, SEMA is launching SEMA360, a major e-marketplace event taking place this November 2–6. Helping to address a void created by the absence of a 2020 SEMA Show, the SEMA360 experience will focus on manufacturer/reseller relationships, new-product introductions, project-vehicle debuts and industry-leading education. The SEMA360 platform will also leverage the association’s exclusive buyer database and media partnerships to provide manufacturers with an extensive reach and return on investment as they build momentum toward 2021.

SEMA News appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in shedding light on the key provisions of the new trilateral trade agreement. The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had been governing regional trade since 1994.

On July 10, 2020, SEMA members joined with car clubs, businesses and thousands of enthusiasts to celebrate the 11th annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). A wide range of events was held nationwide to commemorate the special day. The celebration was designated with SEMA-requested companion resolutions introduced in the U.S. Congress by the co-chairs of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. U.S. Senate Resolution 650 was sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), while Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) sponsored U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 998.