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The SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) is seeking the industry's brightest and most promising young entrepreneurs to compete in the first-ever "SEMA Launch Pad" competition.

Election materials for this year's SEMA Board of Directors election have been mailed to the primary contacts at all eligible SEMA-member companies. The voting period is May 15-June 11, 2013.

SEMA will host its annual Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on Friday, July 26, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California. The annual event is well attended by automotive professionals and serves as a swearing-in ceremony for the incoming Board of Directors, while honoring the newest SEMA Hall of Fame inductees.

U.S. Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank today presented  the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) with the President's "E" Award for Export Service at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The "E" Awards are the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

George Barris, Eric Grant, Wade Kawasaki and Joe Schubeck will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame, an honor that recognizes an elite group of individuals for raising the stature or growth or the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

The SEMA Garage-Industry Innovations Center is now open to provide manufacturers with access to a full emissions-testing EO certification lab and dyno services. Located directly across the parking lot of the SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, CA, the 15,000-square-feet facility will include a full mechanics garage and tech center.

The following slate of eight candidates are vying for four open seats on the SEMA Board of Directors.

SEMA has hired industry veteran Mike Spagnola to fill the newly created position of VP, OEM & Product Development Programs, effective today. Spagnola brings with him 40 years of specialty auto parts experience, including more than 20 years of product development and project vehicle work. With a focus on heightening SEMA services to help members develop products quickly and efficiently, Spagnola will collaborate with the SEMA OEM and Vehicle Technology departments while serving as a resource and a liaison for members and automakers.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is now accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame at http://fs10.formsite.com/semasource/form652194556/index.html.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) launched its live production system, and the 300 participating companies are now preparing to migrate into the newly developed Product Information Management System (PIMS). Since the co-op began its beta test phase in April 2012, 170 suppliers and 130 receivers have joined the program.

Dozens of SEMA manufacturing members will gather in Diamond Bar, CA, on February 7, 2013, to learn first-hand how new software, surface scanning tools and related technology are being used to improve the product development process. During the SEMA Product Development Conference: Race to Innovate event, participants will meet with suppliers who will explain how technologies and tools are rapidly changing the way products are conceived and delivered to market. Participants will also have an opportunity to measure the 2013 Ford Ranger T6 and the 2013 Toyota Hilux during the event.

Applications for automotive scholarships are now available through the 2013 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF) at www.sema.org/scholarships. Students preparing for careers in the auto or auto parts industries may be eligible for financial awards of up to $5,000.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced it has finalized an agreement to purchase the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), the racing trade show that has been held annually in Indianapolis since 2009.

A Nat Danas Scholarship, to be presented annually to students pursuing or advancing a career in the auto trim and restyling industry, has been established as part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund with an endowment of $58,000. The announcement was made by the Nat Danas Scholarship Committee at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, held during the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

After just eight months, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has reached a milestone with its 150th supplier member joining the group. The program which launched its beta phase in April now includes 150 manufacturer members, 90 data receivers with more participants being added every day.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Councils announced that the next "Collector Car Appreciation Day" will be celebrated on July 12, 2013. The date marks the fourth consecutive commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, today announced the winners of the New Products Showcase Awards held at the 2012 SEMA Show. The event recognizes the most cutting-edge automotive products either on the market or about to hit the market. This year, more than 2,000 new products were submitted for consideration.

This year's SEMA Award for the top trending vehicle models in four categories were announced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Ford Mustang was named Hottest Car, the Scion FR-S took the Hottest Sport Compact honors, the Ford F-Series won Hottest Truck and the Jeep Wrangler received the Hottest 4x4-SUV award.

The SEMA council that serves manufacturers' reps in the automotive specialty equipment industry has changed from the Manufacturers' Representatives Council to the Manufacturers' Representative Network (MRN). The new name reflects the group's change to better serve the needs of the membership by becoming an individual-based professional network, compared to it's previous agency-based membership format.

The Leo Kagan Scholarship has been established as part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a group that promotes industry leadership by supporting the educational efforts of current and future automotive professionals.

SEMA has partnered with UPS to introduce a new member benefit that will help lower shipping and delivery costs. The new member benefit includes up to 34 percent off many package deliveries, more than 70 percent off Less than Truckload (LTL) freight, and special offers on other UPS business services such as parcel insurance, cargo finance loans, design and test labs and more.

As the industry evolves and businesses seek to work smarter, the 2012 SEMA Show education days feature several comprehensive conferences focused on specific topics, dozens of product trainings and more than 50 free sessions.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered By Women, better known as "High Gear," will debut in the Ford Motor Company booth on Tuesday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m., the opening day of the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2013 Mustang GT made national headlines during the summer when more than 40 women volunteered their time and expertise to customize the vehicle in less than two months. Immediately after the unveiling, the vehicle will be auctioned to raise funds for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Details about the auction are available at www.SEMA.org/Auctions.

As one of the industry's key market segments, the restyling industry is on track to make a strong presence at the 2012 SEMA Show taking place Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After just five months, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has reached a milestone with its 100th supplier member joining the group. The program which launched its beta phase in April now includes 100 manufacturer members, 40 data receivers and exports from more than 25 brands. The list of all 100 supplier members is available at www.SemaDataCoop.org.