Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Daniel Ingber |
SEMA Hires Daniel Ingber as Chief Corporate Counsel
SEMA has announced the hiring of Daniel Ingber as chief corporate counsel. He will be based in the Washington, D.C., office and, in addition to other duties, will undertake control of SEMA’s in-house legal operation, currently overseen by Ashley Ailsworth. Ingber previously served as litigation counsel for Feld Entertainment Inc., where he worked on many issues related to the organization’s Monster Jam Monster Truck business unit. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, earned a masters from Johns Hopkins and his law degree from the University of Chicago. In addition to his varied employment in the business world, he also served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Ingber will begin work December 14, and report to Russ Deane and Steve McDonald.
 Rob Eberhart |
R&R Marketing Consultants Adds Director of Retail
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. has announced that Rob Eberhart has joined its team. Eberhart has more than 20 years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket. He began his career at Reliable Automotive as the sales manager for the Sears Automotive Catalog. He then moved to Arrow Speed Warehouse where he worked in phone sales, outside sales, e-commerce and national accounts. During his tenure at Arrow, he developed and launched the StreetSideAuto.com website. Recently, he worked for DCi as its director of internet solutions, where he developed its eStore program, enabling jobbers and national retailers to sell performance parts and truck accessories online with a turnkey program.
Gold Eagle Co. Acquires eCommerce Brand TriNova
Gold Eagle Co. has acquired TriNova—an eCommerce consumer packaged-goods brand in household, automotive, boating and leather appearance care. Gold Eagle is looking to bolster its established national retail presence with stronger eCommerce, while also expanding its reach in the home category. As part of the aquisition, Gold Eagle will welcome key TriNova staff who bring strong expertise in digital marketing and ecommerce. Steve Wimmer, brand manager at TriNova, will join Gold Eagle as senior marketing manager to continue to drive the growth of the brand. In addition, the TriNova team at Gold Eagle will expand in the coming months. The acquisition comes on the heels of Gold Eagle’s state-of-the-art corporate headquarters renovation.
 “The House of Muscle’s” host Mike Musto will travel the United States and beyond showcasing how musclecars—and their die-hard owners—help shape the face of today’s automotive culture. |
Mike Musto’s “The House of Muscle” Comes to Motor Trend OnDemand
TEN: The Enthusiast Network’s new Motor Trend OnDemand show, “The House of Muscle,” premiered December 1, 2016. “The House of Muscle” takes a deep look inside the world’s continued obsession with musclecars. Each month, the show’s host, YouTube sensation Mike Musto, will travel the United States and beyond showcasing how these automobiles—and their die-hard owners—help shape the face of today’s automotive culture. Every car has a past, and every owner a story. From homebuilt customs to priceless rolling works of art, Musto not only profiles the cars and their place in history, he takes these amazing machines on a no-holds-barred test drive. The first few episodes will take viewers on a 2,500-mile road trip from Los Angeles to Detroit via lots of Dodge musclecars—and one special van. Then, Musto will introduce viewers to a one-off private fleet of Chevy Novas before getting behind the wheel of an old-school Plymouth Belvedere.
 David H. Williams |
David H. Williams Named Director of OE Sales, Marketing and Strategic Planning for DENSO Products and Services Americas
DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc. has promoted David H. Williams to director of original equipment sales, marketing and strategic planning. In the newly created position, Williams oversees all aspects of DENSO’s original equipment service sales, product development and original equipment service parts while continuing to manage the company’s marketing and strategic planning departments. Previously, he served as global business unit manager at Barksdale Controls Inc., and truck product marketing manager at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
 Bob Brannon (second from left) was named Powell/Schelbe/Knight/Brannon Inc. 2016 Rep Agent of the Year. |
CRP Automotive Presents Bob Brannon With 2016 Rep Agent of the Year Award
CRP Automotive has named Bob Brannon of Powell/Schelbe/Knight/Brannon Inc. (PSKB) as its 2016 Rep Agent of the Year. Brannon is a partner at PSKB—a sales and marketing company that represents CRP Automotive brands in the southeastern United States. Brannon was cited for the annual award for helping to deliver exceptional sales and market growth for the CRP brands, especially the Pentosin fluids line, which have been instrumental in developing CRP Automotive’s business with Advance Auto Parts.
National Auto Body Council to Hold Annual Golf Fundraiser
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) has announced its Annual Golf Fundraiser, Wednesday, January 11, in Palm Springs, California, at the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort. Fees for early bird registration (before December 9) are $700 for a foursome and $185 for individual players. Registration deadline is December 29. Hertz Corp. returns for the seventh year as presenting sponsor for NABC’s Golf Fundraiser, and will also provide a vehicle for the Recycled Rides presentation to a local Palm Springs family, immediately following golf. Other industry leaders that have signed up as sponsors include: AR Direct, Axalta Coating Systems, Caliber Collision, Dent Concepts, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Insurance Auto Auctions, Partners Supply, PPG Automotive Refinish, and The Collision Centers of New York.
 Dan Clarke (right), Permatex senior product manager, received the Best Merchandising/Advertising Award for its recently launched Fast Orange Grease X Mechanic’s Laundry Detergent. |
Permatex Wins Best Merchandising/Advertising Award for Fast Orange Grease X Mechanic’s Laundry Detergent
Permatex received the Best Merchandising/Advertising Award for its recently launched Fast Orange Grease X Mechanic’s Laundry Detergent. The award was presented by the Import Vehicle Community as part its 2016 Import Products and Marketing Awards at AAPEX program, The award was presented during the 2016 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) Show last month in Las Vegas.
Nelson Global Products Announces Changes in Executive Leadership
Nelson Global Products Inc. has announced Steve Scgalski as the chief executive officer effective immediately. Scgalski, who currently serves as chief operating officer and president of Nelson’s On and Off Highway business will succeed Sergio Carvalho, who resigned earlier in November due to personal reasons. Scgalski’s experience includes more than 30 years in industrial manufacturing and emissions technology with global leadership positions at EMCON Technologies, ArvinMeritor and Arvin Industries.
 Warn Industries’ Bryon Borntrager, engineering manager and WECIP member, presented Debra Mason, executive director at the Clackamas Service Center, a check for $11,086 on November 16. |
Warn Industries Employees Donate More than $11,000 to Clackamas-Based Charity
The employees of Warn Industries via the Warn Employee Community Impact Project (WECIP) donated $11,086 to the Clackamas Service Center—a local, non-profit charitable organization that offers food and other resources to support the path toward self-sufficiency to people in Clackamas County, Oregon—on November 16, 2016. This contribution was supported in part through a matching grant initiative by the philanthropic arm of Warn Industries’ parent company, Dover Corp. The Dover Foundation helps to support not-for-profit organizations, causes and/or projects that benefit the local communities in which its operating companies are located. The Clackamas Service Center has used the funds to pay for renovations and bathroom upgrades at the facility.
Prestone Appoints Randy Fisher New Vice President of Marketing
Prestone Products Corp. has hired automotive and aftermarket industry veteran Randy Fisher as its vice president of marketing. Fisher joins Prestone with more than 20 years of industry experience and will oversee the brand’s marketing strategy as the company plans for its 90th anniversary taking place next year. He will be responsible for Prestone’s brand awareness, channel marketing and consumer engagement initiatives in North America. He will manage strategic partnerships, public relations, digital content planning and traditional marketing. Fisher previously served as a marketing consultant for Prestone beginning in July 2016, playing an integral role in Prestone’s inaugural SEMA Show appearance in November. Prior to working for Prestone, he was the marketing director for Royal Purple for nearly five years.
 Frank Buscemi |
Marx Group Establishes New Leadership Structure, Names Frank Buscemi President/CEO and Creative Director, Forms Alliance with Near Perfect Media
Marx Group has announced the appointment of Frank Buscemi as president/CEO and creative director, effective December 1, 2016. In conjunction with the move, the agency has formed an alliance with Near Perfect Media in Birmingham, Michigan, to establish a full-scale Detroit-area office. Tom Marx, who founded Marx Group in 1984, will remain as chairman and chief strategy officer. Devin Hart, currently Co-CEO of Marx Group, will become a member of the Marx Group board of directors, while continuing to be managing partner of Hart Marx Advisors, focusing on mergers and acquisitions in the industry. Marx will remain as a partner of Hart Marx Advisors. Marx Group and Hart Marx Advisors will maintain its headquarters and production facilities in San Rafael, California. Through the alliance, Near Perfect Media will establish additional offices in conjunction with current Marx Group locations around the country and will also serve as the Detroit office for the Marx Group. Buscemi brings more than 20 years of experience in global marketing communications, primarily in the automotive industry to his new role. As a lifelong Detroit area resident, he’s worked in both corporate and agency management settings with several global, tier-1 automotive suppliers and aftermarket companies, including TI Automotive, ZF, Continental and Nexteer, among others. He joined Near Perfect Media in 2016.
 Jason Pecikonis and his crew at Timeless Kustoms in Camarillo, California, turned a ’65 Mustang owned by Chris Marechal into “Vicious Mustang.” |
“Vicious Mustang,” a PPG-painted Supercar, Debuted at 2016 SEMA Show
For the 2016 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Jason Pecikonis and his crew at Timeless Kustoms in Camarillo, California, turned a ’65 Mustang owned by Chris Marechal into “Vicious Mustang.” What started out as a simple coupe ended up a 1,000hp road machine with a performance-focused build, bright-red interior and a PPG silver-gray paint job. Pecikonis and his team converted the Mustang coupe to a sleek fastback using existing body parts and advanced fabrication skills. They then focused on creating race-ready performance and raw power. The car’s engine, a Ford Performance 5.1L Aluminator, is based on a Mustang GT350R engine and was enhanced with two turbochargers and a supercharger. Drivetrain, suspension and mechanical systems were designed to accommodate the car’s muscle.
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