Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Jeff Dahlin |  Brendan Gillespie |  Reham Gharib |
SEMA Welcomes Jeff Dahlin as Sales Director, Promotes Brendan Gillespie and Reham Gharib
SEMA has hired Jeff Dahlin as an industry sales director to help oversee a portfolio of client accounts and create partnerships for the SEMA Show, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show and their accompanying monthly publications and media channels. Staff member Brendan Gillespie was promoted to industry sales manager and Reham Gharib to the newly created position of sales operations project manager. Dahlin brings with him 20 years of automotive sales, marketing and executive-level publishing experience, including 16 years at Source Interlink and the MotorTrend Group, where he rose through the ranks at several publications as a director, group publisher and eventually general manager of the Hot Rod Network. Dahlin was named one of SEMA’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2007.
In addition to the hiring of Dahlin, Industry Sales Manager Brendan Gillespie, who previously served in a sales/operations hybrid role, will now focus strictly on sales opportunities—specifically exhibit space and sponsorship sales for both the SEMA and PRI Shows, as well as advertising sales for both SEMA News and PRI Magazine. Gillespie, a six-year veteran of the company, will concentrate on the racing and performance market. Also, Reham Gharib will take on the new position of sales operations project manager. In this role, she will manage the records of all SEMA and PRI sponsorship contracts, help ensure deliverables are accounted for and communicate with all appropriate stakeholders. She also will be the key stakeholder and project manager for the SEMA Show’s New Products Showcase and PRI Show’s Featured Product Showcase. Gharib has been with the company since 2014.
Race Winning Brands Acquires Manley Performance
Race Winning Brands (RWB) Inc. has announced the acquisition of Manley Performance Products—the manufacturer of high-performance pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts and valvetrain components. Manley Performance, originally founded by Hank Manley in 1966 as Manley Speed Equipment, has had relationships with industry drag-racing legends, such as Don Garlits, Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins and “Jungle Jim” Liberman, according to a press release. In addition, the company earned accolades and involvement with OEM manufacturers, such as Ford, where Manley exclusively supplied connecting rods for the ’03/’04 Ford Special Vehicles Team (SVT) Mustang Cobra.
 Automotive Racing Products Inc. (ARP) has taken over sponsorship of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award. | |
ARP Now Sponsoring Major Grand National Roadster Show Awards
Automotive Racing Products Inc. (ARP) has taken over sponsorship of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award, beginning with the 2020 edition of the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS). Additionally, ARP has gotten behind the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. Named after the founder of the Oakland Roadster Show, from which the GNRS evolved, it honors the best non-roadster in the show. Winners of both the AMBR (Monte Belsham’s ’32 Ford) and Slonaker (Ron Ernsberger’s ’36 Willys) awards received smaller-scale “keeper” trophies to take home, as well as a check in the amount of $12,500.
 Nathan Malinick |
Hennessey Performance Engineering Appoints Nathan Malinick as Director of Design
Hennessey has announced the hiring of Nathan Malinick to the position of director of design with immediate effect. He reports to Founder and President John Hennessey and will serve as director of design overseeing design direction for both Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) and Hennessey Special Vehicles (HSV). Malinick will be responsible for developing the company’s design strategy, philosophy and principles in conjunction with the engineering and manufacturing functions, as well as the marketing and customer insights team. He started his career at Embraer Executive Jets in 2018, where he was responsible for the exterior design of the futuristic ‘Pulse Concept,’ which blurred the lines between automotive and aerospace. He also was responsible for the “Praterra Concept” and the “Bali ” interiors, both of which explored the usage of innovative and unique materials and design solutions to redefine the business jet experience.
MOTOR Partners With Matco Tools to Exclusively Sell MOTOR Manuals Through Matco Network of Distributors
For the first time in nearly 100 years, MOTOR Information Systems will deliver its line of manuals and guides through a new distribution network. MOTOR has announced a partnership with Matco Tools. Through this partnership, customers can now purchase MOTOR’s collection of manuals exclusively from Matco’s nearly 2,000 distributors.
Matco’s distribution network is intended to make it easier for customers to purchase all their repair manuals, labor time guides and automotive tools from a single point of contact. In addition, customer benefits include: more access to both the tools and information needed to perform maintenance and repairs on light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, routine visits from your Matco distributor and numerous payment models and bundling options.
 Mike Dever |
Mike Dever Joins AACF Board of Trustees
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) announced the election of Mike Dever to its board of trustees. Dever is with the Genuine Parts Co. and general manager for NAPA major accounts. Prior to joining NAPA, Dever spent many years in the industry with Exide Batteries, NASCAR Inc. and Bulldawg Marketing.
"I couldn't be more proud and excited to be part of the AACF. I've always admired the fine work they do for folks in our industry that have come across unexpected tragedies in their lives," Dever said. "I look forward to doing my part to raise the visibility of the platform and getting more companies engaged."
 The Permatex and PowerNation promotion gives fans a chance to win a custom-built ’19 Dodge Challenger 5.7L Hemi V8. |
Permatex PowerNationTV Dodge Challenger Sweepstakes Down to Final Laps
Permatex and PowerNation are gearing up for the final sprint in their Dodge Challenger Sweepstakes. The promotion, which started in August 2019, gives fans a chance to win a custom-built ’19 Dodge Challenger 5.7L Hemi V8. To date, more than one million entries have been received. The ’19 Dodge Challenger will be awarded to one winner in May 2020. Permatex partnered with PowerNationTV to build the custom Challenger on PowerNation’s “Engine Power” show starring Mike Galley and Pat Topolinski. The vehicle was built utilizing Permatex products. At the conclusion of the sweepstakes, the winner will be awarded the vehicle at PowerNationTV’s studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Fans can learn more about the sweepstakes and how to enter by visiting permatex.powernationtv.com.
Driven Brands Names New Chief Financial Officer
Driven Brands announced that Tiffany Mason has joined the company as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective March 2. In her role, Mason will oversee all finance, accounting and IT functions for Driven Brands while working across the business to drive continued strong performance, further strengthen the Driven shared service platform, and drive its organic and acquisition growth agenda. Before Driven Brands, Mason served as interim CFO at Lowe's, where she also led the treasury, investor relations, tax, M&A and corporate planning departments. Before joining Lowes, Mason was vice president, SEC reporting at Bank of America.
VP Racing Fuels Teams With Meyer Distributing to Support Branded Fuel Stations
VP Racing Fuels has announced a strategic business relationship with Meyer Distributing to provide distribution of VP’s packaged consumer products to its full network of branded gas stations, fast lubes, car washes and marinas. For VP’s retail owner/operators, this translates to increased service levels for ordering and stocking VP race fuel, automotive additives, two- and four-cycle fuels, Sportsman’s Container and apparel.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.