Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Icahn Automotive Group LLC established the scholarship program as part of a multi-year commitment to technician education and promotion of the skilled trades. |
Icahn Automotive Awards $50,000 in Scholarships to Support Students Pursuing Automotive Technician Careers
Icahn Automotive has announced the recipients of its inaugural scholarship program. Twenty students enrolled in accredited post-secondary automotive technology programs have each been awarded a $2,500 scholarship for the 2019–2020 school year. Icahn Automotive Group LLC established the program as part of a multi-year commitment to technician education and promotion of the skilled trades. Twelve Icahn Automotive scholarships were awarded to young men and women based on academics, character and commitment to the automotive service industry. In celebration of the Icahn Automotive “Race to 2026” initiative, an additional eight students were awarded scholarships during events that included investments in automotive technical schools and classroom renovations at Universal Technical Institutes in Orlando, Florida, and Avondale, Arizona, and NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina, as well as Lincoln Technical Institutes in Mahwah and Union, New Jersey, and Philadelphia and Alfred State University in Alfred, New York. The “Race to 2026” program was designed to invest in and support promising future automotive technicians. In addition to the scholarships, the initiative encourages more men and women to pursue viable careers in the skilled trades by partnering with technical training schools and offering apprenticeship and internship programs, job placement and continuing education opportunities.
Students receiving scholarships for the 2019–2020 school year are:
- Travis Boquet, NASCAR Technical Institute/Universal Technical Institute, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Taylor Chandler, Lincoln Technical Institute, Philadelphia
- Joseph Chin, Lincoln Technical Institute, Mahwah, New Jersey
- Jonathan Fanstill, NASCAR Technical Institute/Universal Technical Institute, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Logan Gardner, NASCAR Technical Institute/Universal Technical Institute, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Isiah Gomez, Universal Technical Institute, Houston
- Francisco Hernandez, Cypress College, Cyprus, California
- Dominic Lightner, Universal Technical Institute, Orlando, Florida
- Joseph Medina, Lincoln Technical Institute, Philadelphia
- Timothy Moment, Lincoln Technical Institute, Philadelphia
- Jeremy Pedersen, Lincoln Technical Institute, Union, New Jersey
- Joshua Ruby, Washtenaw Community College; Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Robert Scott, Lincoln Technical Institute, Philadelphia
- Sebestian Tassy, Lincoln Technical Institute, Union, New Jersey
- Caleb Travis, NASCAR Technical Institute/UTI, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Frank Van Althius, Lincoln Technical Institute, Mahwah, New Jersey
- Alicia Whatley, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Orlando, Florida
- Zachary Wood, NASCAR Technical Institute/Universal Technical Institute, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Jeramy Yeagley, Universal Technical Institute, Avondale, Arizona
- Waliuz Zaman, Universal Technical Institute, Irving, Texas
 3M has announced a strategic collaboration with Wrapmate to help businesses improve their brand’s visibility through vehicle graphics and ultimately help graphic professionals find more customers. |
3M Collaborates with Wrapmate to Provide Print-Ready Customers to Graphic Professionals
3M has announced a strategic collaboration with Wrapmate to help businesses improve their brand’s visibility through vehicle graphics and ultimately help graphic professionals find more customers. Wrapmate is an online platform where business owners can visualize their brand on a vehicle by using their business’ website address. Wrapmate uses the URL to scan the website for branded visuals, such as logos and imagery and within seconds, a vehicle wrap design is created. According to 3M, this service helps business owners understand what a vehicle wrap would look like in a 3D environment and builds excitement by offering tools for the user to better understand the impact that vehicle graphics have on the awareness of their business. Business owners can also take the next step of bringing the visual to life by working with Wrapmate, who will interface directly with experienced graphic professionals within the 3M network to complete the job. 3M certified graphics installation companies and 3M preferred graphics installers within the Wrapmate Pro network can execute these print-ready jobs and get the opportunity to work with new customers to further build their brands.
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. Partners With Voko Video
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. (RRMCI) will now offer product video and 360 photo production services through a partnership with Voko Video. The partnership is a part of RRMCI’s effort to help clients increase sales and improve the shopping experience in the digital age. Voko Video’s services include production of product videos from 60 seconds to 3 minutes, concise VOKOBOX videos produced using proprietary automation software and modern robotics, 360-degree spin photos and catalog-quality product photos. RRMCI and Voko Video will work together with clients to produce digital content, while RRMCI will distribute the content in the right places.
Aftermarket Analytics Reaches Agreement with DRiV to Enhance Demand Forecasting Services
Aftermarket Analytics has announced a new consulting agreement with DRiV, a Tenneco Inc. business and global aftermarket and OE ride performance supplier. Aftermarket Analytics will provide services to enhance the company’s demand forecasting and commercial processes. In 2018, Aftermarket Analytics introduced Inventory Analyst, a web-based tool designed to help aftermarket companies accurately generate SKU level demand forecasts. The current product suite offered by Aftermarket Analytics includes four components: Replacement Rates, VIO, Inventory Analyst and Supply Chain Commander.
 Bestop has designed a brand-new custom Jeep for Platinum-selling entertainer Michael Ray. |
Bestop Presents Custom Jeep Wrangler for Country Artist Michael Ray
Bestop has designed a brand-new custom Jeep for Platinum-selling entertainer Michael Ray. Ray celebrated the success of his latest No. 1 single ”The One That Got Away” by partnering with Bestop Premium Accessories Group (BPAG) and Nashville’s Music City 4x4 to create a new, one-of-a-kind soft-top rig. To improve Michael Ray’s vision exploring the backcountry, premium Baja Designs LP6 lights and a rock light kit were added, and the Jeep was finished off with custom JK seat covers that feature embroidered Michael Ray logos. A complete list of BPAG products used on Ray’s Jeep Wrangler include:
Bestop soft top and doors
- Trektop PRO Black Twill
- Core Doors + Twill Uppers
Bestop bumpers, guards and tire carriers
- Highrock 4x4 modular front bumper
- Highrock 4x4 modular rear bumper
- Highrock 4x4 tubular grille guard
- Highrock 4x4 oversize tire carrier
- Highrock 4x4 modular skid plate
- Highrock 4x4 front bumper end caps
- Highrock 4x4 front bumper end caps
Bestop accessories and storage
- Front floor liners
- Rear floor liners
- Roughrider underseat organizer
- Roughrider tailgate shelf
- HOSS door cart with cart cover
- HOSS full system
- HOSS full system cover
Baja Designs Lighting
- LP6
- Rock lights
PRP Seats
- Custom embroidered JK seat covers
EnerSys Launches ODYSSEY Battery Pure Guts Contest
EnerSys has announced the launch of the ODYSSEY Battery Pure Guts Contest. Participants are encouraged to visit the Pure Guts website between now and September 30 to participate in the contest and learn how to submit their “Pure Guts” testimonial as to why they favor ODYSSEY batteries for a chance to win an all-purpose, insulated cooler stuffed with ODYSSEY battery-branded merchandise. At the conclusion of the contest, a panel of EnerSys judges will select three winners with the best “Pure Guts” testimonials. Selected entries will also be featured on the first-ever ODYSSEY Battery “Pure Guts Wall of Fame” in booth #24875 at the 2019 SEMA Show, taking place November 5–8 in Las Vegas. ODYSSEY Battery Pure Guts testimonials should be 50 words or less and must be submitted as an entry through Instagram and/or Facebook. To enter using Instagram, a participant must log onto their public account to upload and share a relevant photo. In addition to the testimonial, the caption of the post with the photo must tag the @OdysseyBattery Instagram handle and include the following hashtags: #PureGutsWOF, #OdysseyBattery and #Contest. For Facebook entries, participants must visit the ODYSSEY battery Facebook page, locate a contest-specific post and submit an entry within the comments section of that post. Complete contest rules and regulations are available online and winners of this year’s contest will be notified directly in the weeks leading up to the 2019 SEMA Show.
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