Gregory Parker

Gregory Parker joined the team at Perfect Equipment Inc. as North American marketing manager. According to a recent announcement from Perfect Equipment, Parker has worked with many of the industry’s top brands, helping with market research, branding, media placement and online consultation. Parker is also involved with SEMA, having served as the SEMA’s Young Executives Network chairman, SEMA Silent Auction Committee chairman, SEMA Pinewood Derby Committee chairman and as a member of the SEMA Cares and SEMA Scholarship Committee. Perfect Equipment Inc., Murfreesboro, TN; 615-916-3791.

Radiator Specialty Co.—makers of Liquid Wrench, Gunk, TiteSeal and MotorMedic brands—changed its name to RSC Chemical Solutions. In addition to its separate website for Liquid Wrench, the company announced a new website for the Gunk brand. RSC Chemical Solutions, Indian Trail, NC; 704-821-7643.

Dennis Grau was appointed to the California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association’s advisory council, representing Exide Technologies. His office is based in Phoenix, Arizona. He was appointed by Chairman of the Board Mary Davis, NGK Spark Plugs, Sacramento, California.

The Quarter Mile Foundation and its chairman, Traci Hrudka, announced that the Performance Warehouse Association made a generous contribution to the foundation’s Project 1320 effort to compile the history of drag racing and the performance aftermarket. “I guess you can say I was more than pleasantly surprised when John Towle [Performance Warehouse Association president] presented me with the association’s generous contribution,” Hrudka said. More information about Project 1320 is available at www.project1320.com. Quarter Mile Foundation, Parma Heights, OH; 440-888-0088. PWA, Palm Desert, CA; 760-346-5647.

Covercraft Industries Inc. signed a major sponsorship agreement with “MotorzTV.” A program spokesman said that “we could think of no better company than Covercraft to be our car cover sponsor, with their long history of making custom-patterned covers for show cars and OE and aftermarket parts suppliers for more than 45 years.” All-new episodes of “Motorz” air on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. (PST) on DirecTV or Dish Network. Past episodes are also available for download at www.motorz.tv.

	Laurent Lebouder

HRE Wheels added Laurent Lebouder to its sales team as international sales manager to handle customers in Southeast Asia, South America and the Middle East as well as assist with customer support in North America. According to the company, the move complements the rapid expansion of its international sales arm through a new GmbH division in Stuttgart to support Western Europe and new dealers in emerging markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. HRE Wheels, Vista, CA; 760-598-1960.

Drag-racing legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins will make an appearance at the Motorsports 2012 Show presented by VP’s Small Engine Fuels Race Car & Trade Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, January 21. Jenkins will be touting his new book, titled Grumpy’s Toy, which offers a full and complete history of Jenkins’ career to date, written by Doug Boyce. The book will be available during the three-day show. The popular drag-racing legend will be meeting fans and signing autographs in the Coastal 181 display area.

Izmocars named auto industry veteran and process training expert Vince Tunzi the company’s national field operations manager. According to izmocars, Tunzi will oversee the company’s national consulting team, which is dedicated to the successful implementation and execution of Izmocars solutions at auto dealerships across the country. Tunzi previously served as a national process consultant for Toyota. Izmocars, San Francisco, CA; 415-694-6000.

	Mike and Jim Ring

Musclecar and street machine designers and builders Mike and Jim Ring were dual recipients of the Goodguys Trendsetter Award, which is presented annually to rising talents in rod and custom car building. Projects, such as the “Reactor” ’67 Mustang and the “Razor” ’69 Camaro, have brought the Ring brothers international acclaim and top awards, including the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year two consecutive years and the Mother’s Shine and Ford Design awards. They received the “Golden Builder” award at the Hotrod & Restoration Trade show as well as being named Car Craft’s Pro Builder of the Year. Ringbrothers, Spring Green, WI; 608-588-7399.

CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services was presented with the Jeremy Carroll Award at the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Black and Blue Ball at Classic Harley-Davidson in Leesport for its continued support of the MDA. According to the Jeremy Carroll Foundation, the award is given annually to a company or individual who has “kept Jeremy’s indomitable spirit alive by supporting the fight against muscle diseases.” CJ’s Tire
& Automotive Services, Birdsboro, PA; 610-404-0224.

Edge Products partnered with United Pullers to act as the title sponsor of the Edge Pulling Series for the 2012 season. The series will include all of United’s events held in the Rocky Mountain region. According to Edge Products, Weekend on the Edge will become an official United Pullers event in 2012 and will serve as the flagship national show within the Edge Pulling Series. Edge Products and United Pullers hope to continue growing the sport in the Rocky Mountain region and provide pullers from across the nation with a sanctioned series that can accommodate competitors within a variety of categories. Edge Products, Ogden, UT; 801-476-3343.

Carlisle Events announced a business and sponsorship partnership with Gumout Performance Products (a division/brand of ITW Global Brands) that begins with Spring Carlisle (April 25–29) and continues through Fall Carlisle (October 3–7). By partnering with Carlisle Events, Gumout becomes the official performance products for all 10 Carlisle-based events in 2012. Additionally, Gumout has agreed to be the presenting sponsor of the Carlisle Ford Nationals, June 1–3, at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fairgrounds. Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA; 717-243-7855.

	Audra Fordin
	Deborah Bjorklu

The Car Care Council Women’s Board announced that Deborah Bjorklund, president/principle owner of The Main Resource (TMR), was chosen as the Aftermarket Woman of the Year, and Audra Fordin of Great Bear Auto Shop was named the first Female Service Shop Owner of the Year. Bjorklund began her career in the automotive aftermarket more than 17 years ago as a general manager for Will-Fix Automotive. She purchased TMR in Sarasota, Florida, in December 2005. Fordin is the fourth-generation and the first female owner/operator of her family’s automotive repair business, Great Bear Auto Shop in Flushing, New York.

Konig American President and CEO Ricardo Guevara announced his retirement. Joseph Schaefer, who has served as Konig’s general manager for the past 15 years, assumes the role and responsibilities of president, and Raymond Chan of YHI International, Singapore takes Schaefer’s place as Konig American’s general manager. Guevara remains chairman of the company, which he founded in 1981 as the exclusive North American importer of Konig Racing Seats from Germany. In 1991, Guevara expanded the company’s product lines to import wheels, including the popular Tuner wheel model, which Konig hails as its first major success. Konig, Plainview, NY; 516-822-5700.

Toyo Tires of Osaka, Japan, announced the appointment of Tatsuo Mitsuhata as president and CEO of Toyo Tire USA Corp. Most recently serving as general manager of sales strategy in the Toyo Tire Overseas Sales Division, Mitsuhata previously worked at TTC from 1994–1998 as the company’s coordination manager. Mitsuhata replaces current President and CEO Yasushi Takagi, who returned to Japan as general manager of corporate planning for Toyo Tires in January.

Bosal North America appointed Brent Raschke as product engineer for its automotive carriers and protection systems division. Raschke is responsible for product and vehicle application development and testing for Bosal’s tow-hitch program. He will also be responsible for development of the company’s aftermarket exhaust and windstop programs. He has been a project engineer at Bosal since early 2010 and is based out of Bosal International North America’s research and development facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Bosal USA Inc., Budd Lake, NJ; 973-428-9822.

Jon Titman, whose industry background spans nearly three decades, opened Prestige Automotive Accessories, according to a company announcement. The New Carrollton, Maryland-based, restyling center is a full-line automotive accessory installation and distribution facility. The company serves new-car dealerships throughout the Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and Baltimore markets. In addition to his experience in manufacturing, distribution, installation and sales, Titman has long been involved with SEMA and its Professional Restylers Organization (PRO). Titman received the PRO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 in recognition of his service on the PRO Select Committee and contributions to the restyling industry. Prestige Automotive Accessories, Landover Hills, MD; 301-459-1755.

	S. Kellie Colf

eTool Developers hired S. Kellie Colf as its director of sales and marketing. Colf will work collaboratively with all team members in the areas of business development, account management and marketing. “Kellie was a natural pick for our team,” said Luanne Brown, president of eTool Developers. “Kellie has an incredible grasp of the industry and of the work that we do here. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position, and we are confident that her contribution is going to help us take our company to the next level.” eTool Developers, Grand Haven, MI; 616-451-2335.

Wilwood Disc Brakes hired Joe Kubiak and Robert Roese as sales and technical consultants. According to Wilwood, Kubiak has an exceptional background in the automotive racing and performance aftermarket industry, which includes working at BMR Suspension, Braille Battery and Summit Racing’s Atech Motorsports. At Wilwood, Kubiak will focus on sales development activities and participation in Wilwood’s trade show events. Roese has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive racing and performance aftermarket industry, including time at Magnuson Products and Vortech Engineering. He will be involved in Wilwood’s sales development activities and support of Wilwood’s participation in trade events. Wilwood Engineering, Camarillo, CA; 805-388-1188.

McCullough Public Relations was retained as the public relations firm representing the automotive and manufacturing divisions of GOJO Industries. GOJO manufactures products and programs to kill germs on hands and solve skin-care-related problems in a variety of markets, including manufacturing, automotive, construction, healthcare, food service, food processing, education, government and military. McCullough Public Relations, Uniontown, OH; 330-244-9980.