SEMA News

Hot Rod Alley may be one of the smaller sections of the annual SEMA Show, but it is also one of the oldest. A trip through Hot Rod Alley reveals innovations, products and history that have been the foundation for many of the other areas of the Show.

Each year, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund distributes between $100,000–$150,000 in scholarships to deserving students who plan to pursue careers in the automotive industry. The distributions include awards for vocational schools and two-year, four-year and postgraduate work, with a percentage designated for the families of employees of SEMA-member companies. There is also a Loan Forgiveness Program to help repay student loans for employees of SEMA-member firms. This year, three eBay auctions will contribute significant awards to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

When the doors open for this year’s SEMA Show at 9:00 a.m., November 1, eager attendees will swarm the Las Vegas Convention Center floor with maps in hand, comfortable shoes on their feet and a bundle of business cards in their briefcases. It will begin a week of meet-and-greet, show-and-tell and shaking hands.

It is that time again! The 2011 SEMA Show is nearly upon us, and you can almost hear the hustle and bustle of the South Hall beginning to rev up as exhibitors, buyers and media all prepare for what is anticipated to be a fantastic Show. The Show offers so many opportunities for attendees that it is often difficult to schedule your time and take advantage of everything. A few of the must-attend events for the wheel and tire segment of the specialty-equipment industry are hosted by the Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) and include a general membership meeting, networking, the awards reception and educational programming. Do not miss these opportunities to get involved, influence change and better position your business.

To help kick off its annual Leadership Days, held July 27–29, SEMA introduced automotive businesses to the latest technological trends and opportunities with the Business Technology Symposium (BTS). Held at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach, California, the day-long gathering presented participants with solid education, proven strategies and best practices from experts in the fields of online marketing, multimedia sales and eCommerce.

There is no better place to kick off your SEMA Show week in Las Vegas than at the third annual NovemberFest awards reception on Tuesday evening, November 1. The event—open to all council members and guests who’d like to learn more about the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)—will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton, Ballroom B, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

The festivities include a salute to recipients of the prestigious PRO awards: Restyler of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Nat Danas Person of the Year and the Jim Borré Lifetime Achievement honoree. To R.S.V.P., visit the PRO webpages at www.SEMA.org/pro, or stop by PRO booth #12461 located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) to pick up free tickets on-site.

As plans are made and schedules set for the 2011 SEMA Show, it is important to remember the conferences, meetings and networking opportunities designed specifically to address the manufacturers’ rep segment of the specialty-equipment industry. One of the most important is the Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC) Rep Conference and Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, October 30, 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m., at the Las Vegas Hilton Pavilions 1–2.

Established in 1995, the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) was the first SEMA council. Not coincidentally, many of today’s MPMC member companies were also original SEMA members when the association was formed in 1963 as the Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association. As SEMA grew to represent companies in virtually all facets of the automotive aftermarket, speed and performance manufacturing companies formed MPMC as a means of focusing volunteer efforts on their own niche of the industry. Today, MPMC remains the only SEMA council dedicated solely to manufacturers.

Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) member companies once again showed off their latest products at the second annual LTAA New Product Showcase. The event was part of the Carlisle Truck Nationals on August 5–7, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Carlisle Truck Nationals hosts one of the largest gatherings of truck enthusiasts in the country. In addition to hands-on exposure in front of this crowd, each product entered in the showcase is professionally photographed, and the photos and product descriptions are posted in a gallery on the LTAA webpages (www.SEMA.org/ltaa). The photos are also presented in a video in the LTAA booth and during the LTAA Fall Nationals Awards Reception at the SEMA Show.

Members of the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and other automotive restoration industry professionals have many opportunities to network at the 2011 SEMA Show. Mark your Show calendar now; you don’t want to miss any of them.

Whether your company is a long-standing SEMA member or you decide to join while at the 2011 SEMA Show, there are benefits you should take advantage of while you’re in Las Vegas.

Membership in the Young Executives Network (YEN) provides an opportunity for young professionals to network with influential industry leaders and other SEMA members in various market niches. It also gives them a unique chance to listen and learn, and it provides the industry with a youthful point of view. Joining YEN is the first step to becoming one of the future leaders of the automotive specialty-equipment market.