SEMA News—September 2013

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fast Facts

Wes-Coast Marketing Inc. announced that Chris Corbett joined the Wes-Coast field team and will be based in the Pacific Northwest.Wes-Coast Marketing Inc. announced that Chris Corbett joined the Wes-Coast field team and will be based in the Pacific Northwest. With more than 22 years of experience in automotive manufacturing, distribution and sales, Corbett will help to oversee the Northwest and Canada territories. His background of companies includes TJM Products, LightForce Lighting, DirtSports magazine, TrailReady, Randy’s Ring & Pinion and Central 4Wheel Drive. Wes-Coast Marketing, Upland, CA; 909-946-6899.

 Betts Co. announced that it hired Bob Herold as vice president of sales.Betts Co. announced that it hired Bob Herold as vice president of sales. He is responsible for all sales activities at Betts’ two manufacturing divisions—BettsHD and Betts Spring Manufacturing. Herold was most recently the vice president of product development and sales for off-road equipment manufacturer Trail-Gear Inc. He was also senior director of field services for 3VR Security Inc. and spent 15 years at Pelco Manufacturing. Betts Spring Co., Fresno, CA; 510-352-0111.
   

The Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) hired Andrew Zeisser as its new director of OE sales.

The Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) hired Andrew Zeisser as its new director of OE sales. He will be responsible for the company’s OE business in North America and will lead OE sales, engineering and quality functions. Zeisser will be based at YTC’s office in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to joining YTC, Zeisser worked at Hankook Tire America as vice president of OE and also held various positions at Continental General Tire, including director of automotive engineering. Yokohama Tire Corp., Fullerton, CA; 714-870-3800.

 

Advanced Clean Air Technologies (ACAT) Global hired Eric Fulcher as vice president of global operations. Advanced Clean Air Technologies (ACAT) Global hired Eric Fulcher as vice president of global operations. Fulcher will oversee all aspects of the business and focus on the increasing ACAT’s international presence in the automotive, commercial-vehicle and powersports industries. Fulcher was most recently the vice president of continuous improvement for the NAO division and the Asia division industrial, and he was quality director for the Faurecia Group in Shanghai, China. ACAT Global, Charlevoix, MI; 949-514-1042.

   

Ernst & Young LLP recently named MagnaFlow Founder and CEO Jerry Paolone the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Ernst & Young LLP recently named MagnaFlow Founder and CEO Jerry Paolone the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Paolone moved from Italy to the United States more than 30 years ago and built Car Sound Exhaust Systems Inc., now MagnaFlow, from the ground up. The award finalists and winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and were honored at a gala event in June. MagnaFlow, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; 800-824-8664.

 

Stephen Vyn recently joined automotive aftermarket tool supplier Ken-Tool as product line specialist.Stephen Vyn recently joined automotive aftermarket tool supplier Ken-Tool as product line specialist. Vyn will work with end-user customers to learn about their everyday tire- and vehicle-servicing needs. He will also help to find and develop new products, improve current products to identify solutions to these problems and assist with product marketing. Vyn’s previous experience includes the steel industry for two northeast Ohio companies: CND Industries Inc. and Ryco Steel.

   

RealTruck.com announced that it hired Jason Lavold as its new videographer. Lavold is responsible for producing engaging video content for the truck accessory retailer. An avid outdoorsman, Lavold is relocating back to the Fargo-Moorhead area of North Dakota after spending several years in Brainerd, Minnesota, where he most recently did work for numerous hunting and fishing television shows. RealTruck.com, Jamestown, ND; 877-216-5446.

 

Perfect Equipment hired John Palacios as director of OEM sales. Palacios most recently served as Federal-Mogul Corp.’s customer director for its General Motors North America account. He will be based in Detroit and will work with all OEM accounts for the company. “We value our long-term OEM partners,” said Jeff Waechter, president and CEO of Perfect Equipment. “We continue to develop our strategies and our team in order to deliver world-class products and service.” Perfect Equipment, Murfreesboro, TN; 800-251-1566.

   

Line-X Protective Coatings announced the purchase of American Aftermarket Group (AAG). The partnership will allow Line-X franchise locations to offer consumers a more personalized and complete truck-accessory customization experience through AAG’s accessories product fulfillment portal. Line-X purchased AAG with support from Graham Partners. Line-X has been one of Graham Partners’ portfolio companies for the past eight years. More information regarding the Line-X franchise network integration with the AAG system will be announced in the coming months. Line-X, Huntsville, AL; 877-330-1331. American Aftermarket Group, Strasburg, OH; 888-571-5166.

 

MGP LLC has signed a license agreement with Mopar to launch and distribute officially licensed Mopar-, Dodge-, Chrysler- and Jeep-branded caliper covers. Some of the official logos available include Mopar, Hemi, Challenger, Charger, Chrysler, 300, Crossfire, R/T, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Wrangler. With the latest agreement, MGP Caliper Covers’ list of official licenses now includes Ford, GM, Mopar, Chrysler, Jeep and Shelby American. MGP, Chula Vista, CA; 877-995-0003.

   

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering announced an agreement to place Continental Tires on all Lingenfelter vehicles.

Continental’s line of performance passenger, light truck and SUV tires, including the ExtremeContact line of tires, will be featured on all vehicles that roll out of the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering shop, including Lingenfelter Signature Series cars and trucks, show cars, street rods and race vehicles. Lingenfelter, Decatur, IL; 260-724-2552.

 

Spectra Premium recently made a contribution of $25,000 to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. “We are extremely proud to support the mission of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to maintain and grow a strong aftermarket workforce through education and training,” said Jason Best, vice president of aftermarket sales and marketing for Spectra Premium. “The University of the Aftermarket Foundation sincerely thanks Spectra Premium for its generous donation,” said John R. Washbish, University of the Aftermarket Foundation president and CEO. “Their support of the foundation’s goal to educate and attract talent to the aftermarket is critically important to the future of our great industry.”

   

CTEK Power USA hired The Marx Group as its agency of record for marketing and public relations. The Marx Group will assist CTEK with marketing efforts, including planning, research, writing and distribution, and will represent the company to industry and consumer media. CTEK, Twinsburg, OH; 330-963-0981. The Marx Group, San Rafael, CA; 415-453-0844.

 

“My Classic Car,” a weekly television show that captures America’s love affair with the automobile, has new network homes. “My Classic Car” currently airs on MAVTV five times a week—Sunday, 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (EDT); Thursday, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT); and Saturday, 12:00 p.m. (EDT). Starting January 2014, the show will also air on Velocity (a Discovery network) on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (EDT) and Saturday at 6:30 a.m. (EDT).

   

KYB Americas Corp. Vice President Mike Fiorito was named the 2012 Federated Auto Parts Vendor Hall of Fame inductee. Fiorito began his aftermarket career in 1981 with Parker Hannifin’s Edelmann Division. He joined Brake Parts Inc. in 1988 and held a variety of sales and marketing positions before being promoted to vice president of key accounts. Following the company’s sale to Affinia, Fiorito served as vice president of sales for the Affinia Under Vehicle Group. In 2006, he joined KYB as director of business development before assuming his current position of vice president. The Federated Vendor Hall of Fame recognizes one individual each year who demonstrates dedication to excellence, helping make a difference for Federated and its members.

 

Brenton Productions announced that its automotive how-to programs, “Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U,” began airing on the Great American Country cable network in August. Great American Country is available in more than 63 million homes and is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive. “Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U” will also be actively promoted across all Scripps networks, which include HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Travel Channel. “Two Guys Garage” is hosted by Kevin Byrd and Willie B, and “Truck U” features the talents of Matt Steele and Bruno Massel. Brenton Productions, Swansea, MA; 800-572-7798.

   

Ex-Benneton Formula 1 driver and former winner of The 24 Hours Of Le Mans Davy Jones has agreed to be a Team Prototype Development Group (PDG) driver for this year’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill event in December. The agreement was reached after Jones tested with PDG in early June. After achieving respectable lap times, Jones and team owner Richard Migliori struck a deal for 2013. Scheduled for December 7–8, The 25 Hours Of Thunderhill is North America’s longest automotive endurance race.

Workshop Hero has teamed with Frank Fritz from History’s TV series “American Pickers” to serve as its spokesman. Fritz, a picker by trade, sees the damage and loss that results from rust and corrosion firsthand, making him an ideal spokesman to promote Workshop Hero rust-removal and rust-preventative products. Fritz became a fan of the Workshop Hero Metal Rescue and Dry Coat after using the products in his own workshop.

 

LeMay America’s Car Museum (ACM) has signed an agreement with U.S. Bank to be the presenting sponsor of the 2013 Kirkland Concours d’Elegance, the 11th edition of the Pacific Northwest classic car show. Held on the second Sunday in September, the Kirkland Concours typically hosts more than 100 enteries in a variety of judged classes, including antiques (pre-’25), classics (cars built from ’25–’48) and postwar vehicles (’48–’51). Specialty classes for the 2013 event will be announced this summer. Since its inception in 2003, the Kirkland show has become a signature event for the Puget Sound region. This year, as in years past, a portion of the proceeds from the Concours will benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital. A ’33 Marmon V16 convertible coupe owned by Aaron Weiss of San Marino, California, captured best-of-show honors at last year’s U.S. Bank Kirkland Concours d’Elegance.

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