By Ashley Reyes
Dan LaRou is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest spotlight member. LaRou is a YEN select committee member and an account manager at Chrome Enhancements—a national sales and distribution company for chrome automotive accessories.
Find out what keeps LaRou in the industry and how he prepares for important meetings in his interview with SEMA below.
SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Dan LaRou: The best advice I have ever been given would be to be proactive instead of reactive—whether it’s professionally or personally. Being proactive can help mitigate serious problems in the future and cause less stress if something does not go according to plan. Being proactive can also help generate better ideas that can lead to bigger success.
SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?
DL: My love for cars and racing keeps me in the industry. I have personally seen how cars can change people’s lives. I get to mix my passion and work together.
SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?
DL: You can find me at the local dragstrip or out at the lake beach side.
SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?
DL: I prepare for meetings by going over the agenda several times to make sure I am well versed on what the talking points are. I also write some notes for myself beforehand on things I want to talk about. Of course, I always make sure I have my notepad and my favorite pen nearby.
SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?
DL: Lee Iacocca would be one of the people I would love to have lunch with. He may not have been directly a part of the aftermarket industry, but he helped spawn some of the amazing cars we have today. He helped develop my favorite car, the Mustang, and managed to convince Ford to get back into racing.
If you are a current YEN member, fill out a YEN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on YEN’s social media, SEMA eNews and YEN-member updates.