McLeod has been actively involved in the automotive and SEMA community for over 23 years, starting from his earliest days working with Classic Instruments in custom automotive builds in the late 1990s, culminating with his acquisition of the company in 2001. Under his leadership, Classic Instruments evolved from a small niche operation into an industry cornerstone, continually pushing boundaries of design, technology, and quality standards in automotive instrumentation. 

McLeod’s personal ethos—founded on quality, integrity, and community service—shaped his influential tenure volunteering within and leading the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA). His Education Days and Builders Panel initiatives fostered a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing, as well as provided industry veterans an opportunity to pass on critical insights, enhancing the professionalism and knowledge base of the automotive community. 

“When you look at the list of members like Dave McClelland, Smokey Yunik, Brian Applegate, Carroll Shelby, and so many more amazing people that are my heroes – people I have looked up to for so long – I am honored to share this space with them,” said McLeod. “I am hopeful that I can inspire at least one young person to be part of such an amazing industry like so many of them did for me.”