Compiled by SEMA Editors
VP Racing Fuels Appoints Jeff Mitchell as Director of Supply
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced the appointment of Jeff Mitchell as director of supply. Based at the company’s plant in Elmendorf, Texas, Mitchell will be responsible for procurement of materials for all VP divisions and supply-chain management. Mitchell has broad experience in the automotive, oil and gas, petrochemical and technology markets among others. During 18 years at 3M, Mitchell acquired extensive background in consumer and industrial products, chemicals, films and adhesives in both plant and headquarters locations across the United States. Skilled in construction, MRO purchasing and management as well as KPI development, Mitchell also has experience as strategic sourcing/procurement manager, ISO internal auditor and six sigma green belt.
 (L-R): SEMA WTC Chairman Joe Findeis of The Ultimate Wheel & Tire Plus Sizing Guide, TIA Vice President Tom Formanek of Stellar Industries, CTDA President Carol Dellabalma, Mike Russell of Federated Insurance, Billy Eordekian of 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels, and Matt Burrows of Yokohama Tire. |
Standing Room Only at CTDA – 1-800EveryRim New Year Luncheon
It was standing room only as 77 dealers and vendors representing 48 companies attended the CTDA – 1-800EveryRim New Year Luncheon held January 21. Co-gold sponsors were Yokohama Tire and Federated Insurance. Pirelli was a Silver sponsor with 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels serving as luncheon host. TIA Vice President and Regional Sales Manager of Stellar Industries Tom Formanek spoke on the importance of TIA as the tire industry’s voice in Washington, D.C., and emphasized mandatory tire registration as a pressing issue. Formanek also spoke on other topics, including TIA training programs and consumer education videos. SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Chairman Joe Findeis of The Ultimate Wheel & Tire Plus Sizing Guide talked about the WTC Ride Guide as it assists dealers with data on tire sizing related to vehicle performance. Mike Russell of Federated Insurance spoke as CTDA’s official liability Insurance vendor and CTDA President Carol Dellabalma served as emcee. Door prizes were provided by Coker Tire, Freedom Tire, GT Radial, Lakin Tire, Schrader International, Tires Warehouse, The Ultimate Wheel & Tire Plus Sizing Guide and Voxx Wheel.
Roadwire Leather Relocates to State-of-the-Art Facility
Roadwire Leather Interiors has announced the company has relocated its Los Angeles-area operation to a state-of-the-art facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. The new facility, situated in the same city as Roadwire’s previous but outdated location, has been completely revamped in a strategic move to create a customer-focused and employee-centric work environment. The refurbished stand-alone building houses office space, work stations and other features designed to facilitate more effective and streamlined interaction with customers—including a new state-of-the-art phone system to function with its new CRM.
Meyer Distributing Announces Grand Rapids, Michigan, Location; Partners With WHRZT!
Meyer Distributing Inc. has announced the addition of its Grand Rapids, Michigan, location. The cross-dock will have a direct feed from Meyer's Jasper, Indiana, distribution hub, which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories and RV parts in the country.
In addition, Meyer Distributing has partnered with WHRZT!—a leader in GPS and trailer tracking security solutions—to distribute WHRZT!'s first utility trailer tracking unit, providing existing dealers and new customers device hardware through Meyer's distribution network. WHRZT! has developed a family of security solutions and GPS devices geared toward utility trailer owners. Their first device on the market, the WBB-100, will fit most battery breakaway boxes on standard dual-axle trailers and will be distributed by Meyer Distributing.
Dana Holding Corp. Acquires Magnum Gaskets Business
Dana Holding Corp. has completed the acquisition of Magnum Gaskets—a U.S.-based supplier of aftermarket gaskets and sealing products for automotive and commercial-vehicle applications. Magnum Gaskets will enhance Dana's sealing product offerings and complement the company's Victor Reinz and Glaser global sealing brands. Distribution of Magnum Gaskets to existing customers will not be disrupted as a result of the acquisition. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
 Suzan Joyce |
Suzan Joyce Named COO of Global Parts Network
Suzan Joyce has been named chief operating officer for Global Parts Network (GPN), a wholly owned subsidiary of VIPAR Heavy Duty. GPN operates parts distribution centers and brake manufacturing production centers providing seamless service and support exclusively to the VIPAR Heavy Duty family of companies to satisfy the replacement parts needs of commercial vehicle operators and maintenance facilities. Joyce will continue in her role as chief financial officer for the VIPAR Heavy Duty family of companies. She joined VIPAR Heavy Duty in 2004 and was named CFO in 2008.
JMPR Public Relations Signs Foose Design Inc.
JMPR Public Relations has been named agency of record for Huntington Beach, California’s Foose Design Inc., led by famed designer and builder Chip Foose. Foose has penned some of the most iconic hot-rod and custom vehicles ever created and is widely known for his starring role in making dreams come true for auto aficionados on TLC’s “Overhaulin’” over the past 10 years. Throughout his career, Foose has helped develop paint schemes and graphic treatments for Disney Pixar’s Cars and Cars 2 films, and served as creative counsel for Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim. Foose also assisted in the design of Detroit’s MotorCity Casino and has designed consumer products in numerous categories. JMPR will handle media relations for Foose Design and offer strategic brand-building counsel. JMPR will also assist with the development and elevation of Foose’s expert awareness among the automotive, lifestyle and design communities.
Tub O’Towels Signs on as National Sponsor of Barrett-Jackson Auctions
Tub O’Towels has signed on as national sponsor of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, and will be prominently showcased at four Barrett-Jackson events in 2016, including last month’s WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as events at South Florida Expo Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, April 8–10, at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut, June 23–25, and at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, October 6–8.
Wegmann Automotive Wins Global Volvo Quality Excellence Award
Wegmann Automotive was honored this past month with the Volvo Quality Excellence Award (VQE) in Gothenburg/Sweden for its exceptional performance as a top global supplier of wheel balance weights to the Volvo Cars Group. Every year, the Volvo Cars Group presents the VQE award to its best partners and suppliers worldwide with that award going to those companies that best fulfill their high demands in terms of quality standards and outstanding services. Wegmann automotive was recognized for its outstanding performance in 12 categories, such as lean production and logistics, high-quality standards, world-class customer service and continuous delivery reliability.
Classic Soft Trim Celebrates Three Decades of Serving New-Vehicle Dealers Nationwide
Classic Soft Trim is celebrating 30 years of specializing in direct sales and installation of leather interiors, sunroofs, mobile electronics and related aftermarket accessories to automotive dealerships. The company, which operates in 26 major metropolitan markets, began operations in Los Angeles in 1984, and was the first to pioneer and install aftermarket replacement leather interiors in cloth-equipped new vehicles. Over the years, Classic Soft Trim has focused on the early development of OEM-driven dealership programs to rapidly upgrade existing dealer inventories with leather interiors, and led the way with FMVSS testing and validation of aftermarket leather interiors. The company also broke new ground as a Tier-One supplier of OEM leather interiors, and supplyed port-of-entry and OEM distribution center programs.
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