By Ashley Reyes

Chris Turgeon is the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization’s (PRO) newest volunteer spotlight member. Turgeon is the owner of On The Rocks 4x4, a retailer and distributor of lights, lift kits, wheels, tires and accessories for the automotive aftermarket.

Get to know Turgeon in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What inspired you to pursue a career in restyling/manufacturing?

Chris Turgeon: I liked the ability to be creative with what I am passionate about. It’s like taking a builder-grade house and adding all the details that make it feel custom but making it affordable for a broad range of buyers.

SEMA: Why did you decide to volunteer for PRO? How has it or will it impact you?

CT: It’s a great opportunity to learn and grow from networking with others who have more industry experience than me. It has already pushed us out of our comfort zone, and we have seen doors open into a new and promising direction going forward.

SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?

CT: Start with what you know and are familiar with, then dream bigger.

SEMA: What is your dream vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?

CT: A one-ton crew cab dually, all dressed up. You would find me tooling around some scenic back roads.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

CT: 2 Samuel 22:2—The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

CT: My lifelong love of cars and wanting to keep that passion alive for future generations.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

CT: In the shop!

Fill out a PRO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the automotive restyling industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on PRO’s social media, SEMA News and future PRO-member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

Wendy Miles of THE SHOP magazine is no stranger to working on multiple passion projects at once. In fact, when it comes to long and diverse resumes, Miles will jokingly ask people if they would like to see hers in paperback or hardcover.

She will join the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) for a Facebook and Instagram live chat on Wednesday, May 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT), to share tips on “Balancing Striving to Be the Best at What You Do While Avoiding Burnout.”

In addition to her job responsibilities as eastern territory sales manager at THE SHOP, Miles is a select committee member with SEMA’s Truck& Off-Road Alliance (TORA), has served on the board of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) and helped start the National Trail Clean Up Day to emphasize the importance of trail maintenance and stewardship. Miles also takes Automotive Service Excellence courses at her local community college, and as a military veteran she enjoys volunteering with The Mission Continues and Team Rubicon.

During the live Q&A, viewers will get an opportunity to ask Miles questions, learn tips from her own experience on how to avoid burnout following one’s passion and join in on a lively discussion with other attendees on how to control stress and enjoy a healthy and successful career.

Live Chat Location: SBN Facebook page and SBN Instagram live (@sbn_sema)

By Ashley Reyes

Emerging entrepreneurs and innovators of new automotive products are invited to enter their companies and brand-new inventions through the 2022 SEMA Launch Pad competition at www.sema.org/launchpad.  

Dustin Woolf, owner, Woolfpack Racing, won the 2021 SEMA Launch Pad competition with his product, Natural Nitrous.

SEMA Launch Pad is a premier product-pitching competition for budding entrepreneurs in the automotive aftermarket industry. Through the program, selected applicants will be hand-picked to receive brand exposure, access to business resources and the chance to win a grand-prize package valued at $92,000 to launch their product or service into the marketplace.

“The automotive aftermarket is comprised of countless entrepreneurs who are extremely passionate in creating new products and providing solutions for enthusiastic car owners who love to modify, maintain, restore or personalize their vehicles,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing. “SEMA Launch Pad helps bring these emerging inventors to the forefront by providing a platform for them to potentially take their new creations to the next level.”

Fifteen semifinalists will be selected in June to participate in the first round of pitching and be invited to exhibit at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November. The top five finalists will pitch their products to a panel of industry judges during the SEMA Show, where a final winner will be selected.

SEMA Launch Pad is open to business owners or company-leading executives (president, CEO, CFO, COO or vice president) over the age of 18. Applicants must offer a product or service that is a functioning prototype, functioning concept or currently for sale.

Applications to participate in SEMA Launch Pad must be submitted online at www.sema.org/launchpad by June 13, 2022.

Audi is working on an all-electric A6, which is expected to be called the A6 E-tron, and it is even set to be offered in a wagon body style. The latter has been teased in concept a couple weeks ago, but our spy photographers have now caught the production version of the sedan on the German Nürburgring race track.

While this is only the second sighting of a prototype, it still reveals a few things despite being covered in camouflage. First, the headlights have an entirely different design from what can be seen on the A6 today. Instead of a single element headlight, the A6 E-tron prototype comes with split headlights.

The concept behind the A6 E-tron had a sleek look, and it was unveiled back in April 2021. It had a sloping roofline, as well as a fastback design for its rear, which will be interesting to see in production form.

If you look at the prototype, the model is impressively close to the concept if we consider shape alone, while the split headlight part is the biggest surprise in that department.

The upcoming Audi A6 E-tron is set to be built on the new PPE platform, which it will share with the future Porsche Macan EV, but also with the Q6 E-tron, not to mention other models from Audi and Porsche that we know nothing about today.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Rachel Tatum

Cody Medeisis (@cody342_/) will join SEMA Young Guns followers for an Instagram “Ask Me Anything” on Tuesday, May 3, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PDT).

Medeisis was the Young Guns division winner in the 2020 Battle of the Builders competition with his ’68 Camaro. This build was transformed for the dragstrip, featuring a 388ci LS engine outfitted with a Callies crankshaft, BoostLine connecting rods, JE pistons, Frankenstein Monster Series heads, Holley EFI, a Vortech V-7 YSi-B supercharger and a custom stainless-steel exhaust equipped with MagnaFlow mufflers and Granatelli Motorsports exhaust cutouts, producing an estimated 900 hp. Medeisis is currently working on a ’94 S10 rebuild.

Join us for this very special Ask Me Anything to learn what it’s like to compete—and win—in the Young Guns division for SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. SEMA continues to actively recruit automotive influencers for the SEMA Social Media Correspondent program. Apply now to be considered.

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Motorsports Technician
Canepa is hiring a motorsports technician with a broad knowledge base of all mechanical aspects of a vehicle, from suspension and brakes to engine and transmission. Candidates must be highly versatile with superior skills and be able to produce work of the highest quality. Exceptional diagnostic ability along with race preparation experience and the ability to work individually as well as part of a multifunctional team are required.

Regional Sales Manager
LIQUI MOLY USA currently seeks a regional sales manager for the Central Ohio region assignment of Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati. Occasional travel will be required. In this position, you will take an active part in the successful growth of the company.  Throughout this region, you will be responsible for sales growth, marketing efforts and business expansion. Candidates must have a minimum of five years experience in field sales management (preferably in lubricant products or the automotive aftermarket).

Sales and Marketing Manager
Bed Wood and Parts is hiring an experienced sales and marketing manager with a proven history of driving positive change in these areas of the organization and will contribute to Bed Wood’s success by creating new sales opportunities and revenue growth in the restoration, classic and late-model truck segment of the automotive aftermarket. The sales and marketing manager’s responsibilities include day-to-day sales and supervisory activities, creating engaging advertisements and marketing campaigns, emails and promotional literature, and working with third-party advertising firms to achieve the company’s sales and marketing goals.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

For the first time in SEMA Garage history, the team hosted a measuring session featuring an electric vehicle: the F-150 Lightning. Luis Morales, Director Of Vehicle Technology talks us through it.

Excitement for the 2022 SEMA Show is ramping as exhibitors prepare to select their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, May 2–18. Show officials will use the weeks-long process to begin building this year’s floorplan. With more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed, enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to be stronger than last year as “confirmed spaces are running 25% above 2021” explained Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Among the exhibiting companies at the 2022 SEMA Show are several automakers that will return with expanded activations and a bigger presence at the world’s leading automotive trade show. OEMs rely on the SEMA Show each year to introduce concepts, showcase custom builds and launch new accessory products that not only enhance their production vehicles but also provide solutions for enthusiastic car owners who love to personalize their automobiles.

“The SEMA Show is the prefect venue for OEMs to showcase their vehicle lineups and accessories to tens of thousands of qualified buyers who are looking for the latest products and trends,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA Show attendees look forward to connecting with the OEMs and learning about the products that are available to help their customers modify their rides.”

Numerous OEMs, including Chevrolet, Hummer, GMC, Toyota, Lexus and Nissan are returning to the 2022 SEMA Show with larger exhibitor displays that will not only provide more space to enrich their activations on the Show floor but also help enhance their exposure. They will be joined by Stellantis and a new OEM exhibitor in Volkswagen, who will use their booth space to showcase their vehicles and complimentary aftermarket accessories to Show attendees for the first time.

Due to a change in corporate strategy, Ford and Honda will not be displaying at the 2022 SEMA Show. We appreciate their long-time support, and while many of us are going to miss their participation at this year’s Show, we are excited to see the Show take on a new look in Central Hall. SEMA will continue to collaborate with both Ford and Honda on various SEMA programs, such as Tech Transfer and Measuring Sessions in 2022 and beyond.

The 2022 SEMA Show, held November 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will build on the success of last year’s event, which was the largest automotive trade show in North American since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“Our industry thrived in the face of the pandemic and continues to grow despite current challenges in the marketplace,” said Gattuso. “Last year’s SEMA Show showcased the resiliency of our industry, which was eager to connect in person after two years apart. Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2022 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.

Making hotel reservations in the Block, backed by the official housing partner OnPeak, provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are more than 45 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

• Aria
• Bally's Las Vegas
• Bellagio
• Caesars Palace
• Circus Circus Hotel
• Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World
• Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
• Courtyard By Marriott (LVCC)
• Downtown Grand Las Vegas
• Elara By Hilton Grand Vacations – Center Strip
• Embassy Suites By Hilton Convention Center Las Vegas
• Encore At Wynn Las Vegas
• Excalibur
• Flamingo Las Vegas
• Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
• Harrah's Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
• Hilton Grand Vacations at the Flamingo
• Hilton Grand Vacations on Paradise (LVCC)
• Hilton Grand Vacations on the Las Vegas Strip
• Las Vegas Hilton At Resorts World
• Las Vegas Marriot
• Luxor
• MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
• Mirage
• New York-New York
• Oyo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
• Palace Station
• Paris Las Vegas
• Park MGM
• Planet Hollywood
• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
• Residence Inn Las Vegas Convention Center By Marriott
• Sahara Las Vegas
• Springhill Suites By Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center
• The Cromwell
• The Linq Hotel
• The Palazzo
• The Signature At MGM Grand
• The Strat Hotel
• The Venetian
• Treasure Island
• Tropicana Las Vegas – A Doubletree By Hilton Hotel
• Trump International Hotel Las Vegas
• Vdara Hotel & Spa At Aria Las Vegas
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
• Westin
• Wynn Las Vegas

To reserve your booth for the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.