Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Luanne Brown | |
eTool Developers’ Luanne Brown to Receive Spirit of Leadership Award
Luanne Brown, president of eTool Developers and a member of the SEMA Board of Directors, has been chosen to receive the 2015 Spirit of Leadership Award presented annually by the Women’s Automotive Association International (WAAI). The award—which recognizes professional women in the automotive industry for their outstanding professional achievements, community involvement and contributions to the growth and progress of the automotive industry—will be presented to Brown and five other distinguished industry women at the WAAI Spirit of Leadership Awards Reception, Saturday, January 24, in San Francisco.
Brown’s firm is best known for providing standardized data management utilizing a customized e-tool developed by her company that enables aftermarket clients to become compliant with industry data standards. She also created a portal for aftermarket manufacturers to provide online product training under the auspices of the Performance Warehouse Association. Besides serving on the SEMA Board, Brown chairs the SEMA Cares Committee, which engages in charitable fundraising initiatives, and is a past chair of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network.
The other honorees include Celeste Briggs, director of General Motors’ Women’s Retail Network; Ruth Fruehauf, founder/CEO of the Fruehauf Trailer Historical Society; Debbie Pollack, Luxury Automotive Marketing senior strategist; Elaine Robertazzi, retired and former owner of Liberty Lincoln-Mercury; and Susan Scarola, president of the DCH Charitable Foundation.
Synchrony Financial Announces Engage With Car Pros Campaign
Synchrony Financial's Engage with Car Pros Contest will recognize automotive repair shop owners who have gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional service.
Now through February 15, 2015, customers can submit their best car care story at www.engagewithcarpros.com/pro to show their appreciation for the outstanding service their automotive professionals provided. Readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite story from March 9–30, with the automotive professional who receives the most votes announced in the spring.
The automotive care location featured in the winning story will receive $100,000 and the customer who submits the winning story will also win $2,500. Additional prizes for automotive professionals and first-place customer stories will also be awarded.
Automotive care shop owners interested in the contest can visit www.engagewithcarpros.com/pro to learn more and request a free contest kit, which includes signs promoting consumer participation.
Cyclo Toolmakers Inc. Acquired by RUPES S.p.A.
RUPES S.p.A. announced its acquisition of Cyclo Toolmakers of Longmont, Colorado, producers of the Cyclo Orbital Polisher. RUPES, an Italian manufacturer of electric and pneumatic power tools and vacuum systems, is based in Vermezzo, Italy, a suburb of Milan. RUPES is best known in North America for the introduction of its paradigm-changing polishing system, BigFoot. Cyclo Toolmakers has supplied the auto detailing and airplane polishing segments with its Cyclo dual-head polisher for more than 60 years. The company manufactures its line of polishers in its Colorado facility. This location is slated to become the center of Rupes’ and Cyclo’s operations in North America, where the new company will operate as Rupes USA Inc. The entire RUPES product offering can be viewed at the RUPES corporate website at www.rupes.com. Cyclo Toolmakers’ website is www.cyclotoolmakers.com.
Champion Oil adds Innovative Marketing Services in the West
Champion Oil has announced that Innovative Marketing Services (IMS) is its newest rep agency covering the Western United States and Western Canada. IMS has been nominated for SEMA Rep Agency of the Year three out of the past five years. SEMA recently honored the company's founder, Jerry Nunez, by inducting him into the SEMA MRN Hall of Fame. Lynne Trimble, CEO of Innovative Marketing Services, serves on SEMA’s MRN Select Committee. Dick Hedman, Scott Freeny, Joe Bovee and Jeff Gloden round out the IMS team.
 ’33 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow | |
Arizona Concours d’Elegance Rare and Historic Feature Cars
The second-annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance kicks off the Valley of the Sun’s famous Classic Car Week, Sunday, January 11, with an array of rare and exceptional automobiles displayed on the inner lawns of the landmark Arizona Biltmore Resort. Ninety cars will compete for prizes in 17 classes and vie for a number of special awards. There also will be four featured classes for 2015: the Pierce-Arrow luxury brand, the 100th anniversary of the Italian design firm Ghia, Ferrari race cars through ’65, and cars once owned by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who consulted in the design of the Arizona Biltmore, which opened in 1929.
Among the top automobiles that highlight the Arizona Concours d’Elegance are:
- ’33 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
- ’53 Cadillac Ghia
- ’37 AC roadster
- ’54 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
- ’37 Rolls-Royce “Copper Kettle”
- ’56 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato
Tickets for the Arizona Concours are strictly limited, with 2,000 paid entries available for the January 11 event, and are available on the Arizona Concours d’Elegance official website.
Heatshield Products Celebrates 30 Years of Engineering and Manufacturing Heat Barrier Products in the USA
Heatshield Products is celebrating 30 years of business in 2015. The company started with two products—Thermal Sleeving and Thermaflect Shield (originally called Heat Blanket)—and the Heatshield Products line has grown to more than 400 products that span the automotive, marine, industrial and military markets.
Mel Heye and his son Bruce started Heatshield Products in the family’s two-car garage, and has expanded to more than 500 dealers globally. Today, Heatshield Products encompasses two manufacturing facilities with a combined total of 20,000 sq. ft., and the company plans to open a third facility in 2015.
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