SEMA Council & Network News: Display Your Truck or Jeep at the SEMA Show

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of niche-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular market segment.

Visit TORA's website.

	During the 2014 SEMA Show, TORA will display several vehicles in premier spots on the Promenade outside the South Hall Entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Display Your Truck or Jeep at the SEMA Show

At this year’s SEMA Show, the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) will display several vehicles in premier spots on the Promenade outside the South Hall Entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Each day, attendees will be welcomed by this selection of impressive vehicles to promote the mission and membership benefits of the council. The vast majority of Show buyers and attendees come to the trucks, SUVs and off-road area through this entrance, giving the vehicles maximum exposure.

TORA members are invited to submit an application and photo or rendering of their vehicle for display consideration. The full criteria for the feature vehicles is outlined on the application. Applications will be accepted online through September 5, 2014, and applicants will be notified of their vehicle's status by September 19, 2014. Contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696, claytond@sema.org for more information.

At the July Long-Range Planning meeting, nearly 30 members of the TORA Select Committee, at-large TORA members and SEMA staff met and discussed issues, challenges and opportunities affecting the light-truck, off-road, diesel, Jeep and SUV aftermarket industries.

TORA Looks to the Future at Recent Membership Meeting

By Clayton Drescher

In July, TORA scheduled its periodic Long-Range Planning meeting to coincide with several other SEMA events in Southern California: the SEMA Garage Open House and the annual SEMA Installation Gala. Nearly 30 members of the TORA Select Committee, at-large TORA members and SEMA staff met and discussed issues, challenges and opportunities affecting the light-truck, off-road, diesel, Jeep and SUV aftermarket industries. New topics of interest and concern to members focused on vehicle data, OE relations and youth and member engagement.

The council leadership agrees that participating in any kind of membership meeting hosted by SEMA is a chance to make your voice heard and stay in-the-know about industry developments affecting specific segments.

“MagnaFlow recognizes the need to participate in industry open meetings hosted by SEMA,” reflected Select Committee member Kathryn Reinhardt. “These functions provide useful industry information, networking opportunities and sharing manufacturer needs in a group setting. We thank SEMA for hosting the 2014 TORA Long-Range Planning meeting and letting MagnaFlow participate.”

If you have input on any of the topics discussed or others affecting the light-truck industry, contact Senior Manager of Councils Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696, claytond@sema.org.

Save the Date for the TORA Industry Awards Reception

The TORA Industry Awards Reception will be held November 5, 2014, from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. at the Westgate, Ballroom C, in Las Vegas. Open to all employees of TORA-member companies and prospective members, the TORA Industry Awards Reception will feature networking opportunities and three awards presentations—the TORA Hall of Fame, TORA Retailer of the Year and TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence.

For more information, contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696, claytond@sema.org.

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Visit MPMC's website.

MPMC Media Trade Conference Manufacturer Registration Now Open

The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference is a truly unique event that brings together editorial staff from all over the world with racing and high-performance parts manufacturers for three days of face-to-face, 30-minute meetings. Nowhere else does a manufacturer have the opportunity to meet with automotive editors in as many as 42 in-person meetings.

Exhibitor Registration for the 2015 MPMC Media Trade Conference is open now through September 5, 2014. Only 100 spots are available, and participants will be chosen using a random number lottery system. Manufacturers who submitted an application but were not selected for the 2014 event are automatically guaranteed a spot in the 2015 event if they submit a new application by the deadline of September 5, 2014. Exhibitor selection is available only for MPMC-member companies.

Media Registration will open in October 2014. For media inquiries, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org, 909-978-6723.

Not an MPMC member? Join today. MPMC members must manufacture parts used in sanctioned motorsports events, and all applications for membership are subject to review.

For general or exhibitor inquiries, contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org, 909-978-6692.

Register now.

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Visit PRO's website.

PRO Members Discuss Plans and Goals

By Clayton Drescher

Last month, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) hosted its annual Long-Range Planning meeting, this year at the SEMA Garage–Industry Innovations Center in Diamond Bar, California. Scheduled to coincide with several other great SEMA events that week (SEMA Garage Open House and the Installation Gala), members of the PRO Select Committee and a number of at-large members met and discussed issues, challenges and opportunities affecting restylers and accessory manufacturers. New topics of discussion were consumer awareness, dealer education and outreach, and a focus on clarifying the benefits received by members. Attendees also had the chance to network with members of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) over breakfast and lunch.

If you have any input on these topics or any other affecting the restyling industry and want to contribute, the Select Committee invites you to reach out to any of them, or Senior Manager of Councils Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696, claytond@sema.org.

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Visit SBN's website.

	Anie Piliguian

SBN Member of the Month: Anie Piliguian, JoolTool

Anie Piliguian is the CEO, inventor, trainer and spokesperson for JoolTool in Montebello, California.

What does your company do?

We manufacture tools for the restoration, repair and collision industries.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Meeting the many people whom my products helped.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

Three years.

What brought you to the industry?

I was born and raised in Detroit and my mother was a Cadillac quality supervisor.

What are some of your major professional accomplishments?

Patent holder for JoolTool, business partnership with 3M.

Are you a member of any other professional organizations?

Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, Women's Jewelry Association, Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers, International Woodworking Fair.

Who is your industry mentor?

Rosa M. Miller, vice president of 3M.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

To involve my children in what I do as a business owner and inventor, from Rosa M. Miller.

What would someone meeting you for the first time be surprised to learn?

I’m more than our spokesmodel; I’m a business owner and inventor of the JoolTool.

What is your dream car?

The Corvette Stingray.

What is your favorite pastime?

Being a mom of three teenagers (my favorite challenge as well)!

	Marla Moore (left) of Coker Tire was named 2013 Athena Woman of the Year.

Nominations Open for SEMA Businesswomen's Network Top Performers

By Jenna Jefferies

The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) is now accepting nominations for the awards that will be given at the annual SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast powered by SBN, November 6. The network will recognize the following award recipients: Athena Champion, Athena Woman of the Year and Athena Rising Star.

Think about who has done the following, and let us know about them through your nomination. Nominations close Friday, August 22.

Athena Champion

The Athena Champion Award recognizes a SEMA member or company for outstanding lifetime contributions, dedication and support of women in the specialty-equipment industry. Athena Champions must have spent considerable time working in the specialty-equipment industry and have shown evidence of their support to the fulfillment, quality and advancement of women working in the industry, as well as contributed wisdom, encouragement and willingness to “help others along” as a foundation for women’s growth within and for the industry.

Athena Woman of the Year

The Athena Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman for outstanding achievements and contributions during the course of the year in the specialty-equipment industry that epitomizes the Athena Award. The Athena Woman of the Year Award recipient should possess leadership, knowledge, expertise and/or management abilities that have positively impacted our industry, is a mentor and/or role model and has active industry involvement.

Athena Rising Star

The Athena Rising Star Award recognizes a woman under the age of 30 who is making significant strides in the advancement of her career in the automotive aftermarket, along with paving the way for her peers. Athena Rising Stars should demonstrate a motivation to use all resources for career development, including networking, education, leveraging the wisdom of others, along with any volunteer efforts within the industry.

	During the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast, attendees can have quality conversations, exchange business cards with dozens of new contacts, network with industry leaders and ignite new business alliances in a matter of minutes.

Join SBN for the Most Talked About Event at the SEMA Show

By Rose Kawasaki

The SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast, powered by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) continues to grow in scope and popularity as it gathers participants from all over the world looking to widen their circle of industry contacts, knowledge and enhance their businesses.

This is the only place during the SEMA Show where attendees can have quality conversations, exchange business cards with dozens of new contacts, network with industry leaders and ignite new business alliances in a matter of minutes. Called “the most talked about event at the SEMA Show” by PowerTV, the Speed Networking Breakfast has been sold out every year for the past five years. Catch a glimpse of last year’s event.

Please join SBN, Thursday, November 6, from 7:00 p.m.–9:00 a.m. in Ballroom A at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino (formerly the LVH). These will undoubtedly be the most exciting and resourceful hours you will spend at the Show. During breakfast, SBN will acknowledge the 2014 Athena Awards recipients and introduce the Select Committee members. Participants will then move to the networking room where the magic begins. Everyone will have the opportunity to engage in face-to-face networking sessions with the purpose of making introductions and exchanging contact information. After a few minutes, everyone moves one seat over to meet the next person—it’s power networking at its finest.

Don’t wait. We all know how busy we can get as the SEMA Show nears. Buy tickets today through your SEMA Show dashboard. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Attendance is limited to 150 participants. The cost is $35 for SEMA members and $49 for non-members and includes a hot breakfast.

For additional information, please contact Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

Visit WTC's website

Save the Date for the WTC Industry Awards Reception

The Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will hold its annual Industry Awards Reception, November 4, 2014, from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m at the Renaissance Hotel Pool in Las Vegas. The reception, open to all employees of WTC-member companies and prospective members, will feature networking opportunities and an award presentation for the WTC Hall of Fame.

For more information, contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696, claytond@sema.org.

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Visit YEN's website

	Jonathan Mill, 2013 SEMA Launch Pad winner, pitches his business, E-Stopp, to the judging panel.

SEMA Launch Pad Competitors Announced

By Bryan Harrison

From a large pool of competitors, the top 10 young automotive entrepreneurs have been named in the second-annual SEMA Launch Pad Presented by YEN competition.

Representing new innovative products and services in the specialty automotive aftermarket, these next-gen automotive leaders are looking for a big break to launch their business to the next level.

In this next step of the competition, you can decide the fate of the top five competitors who will advance to a live competition at the SEMA Show. Watch their short business pitches on YouTube and vote today.

Your vote will decide the five competitors who will pitch their business to a celebrity judging panel at the SEMA Show, including automotive industry juggernauts Doug Evans, Ron Coleman, Jessi Combs, Mark Arcenal and Glenn Rogers. The winner will receive a grand prize to launch their business to the next level.

Voting ends September 5, with the live on-stage competition occurring November 5, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the SEMA Show Super Session Room N258 (second floor, North Hall). Lunch will be provided to the first 125 attendees.

Top 10 SEMA Launch Pad Competitors – Vote now!