PRO News

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 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has endorsed a proposal by Rep. Paul Cook that would end a five-year debate on how to expand the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) base at Twentynine Palms, California.  Under the compromise, the Marines would have access to the adjoining Johnson Valley Off-Highway (OHV) Recreation Area for up to 42 days a year for training exercises but the OHV area would be otherwise preserved in perpetuity.

Nearly 2,000 exhibitors are confirmed to participate in the SEMA Show Priority Booth Selection Process taking place later this month. The number represents a six percent increase over the number of companies that participated in the process in 2012.

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.

By Ellen McKoy

Four freshman members have joined the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Select Committee. They are Dave Edmondson of Roadwire Automotive Innovation, Ginger Glover of Truckers Toy Store, Donna Green of Retro USA and Jerry Redding of EchoMaster. We recently asked them about their backgrounds and the reasons they’ve chosen to get involved.