By Ashley Reyes

Whether you are a professional woman in the specialty-equipment aftermarket or employed at a business that specializes in custom performance wheel and tires, SEMA Councils and Networks have two upcoming open membership meetings that are ideal for helping industry leaders connect and learn about new opportunities.

Included with council or network membership, general membership meetings are a great way for individuals to learn how to make the most of their SEMA membership, and share tips and ideas with others on topics relating to their particular market niche.  

If you are a member of the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC), SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) or want to learn how you can be more involved, mark your calendars for the following dates and click to register to view additional details about each meeting.

SBN General Membership Meeting and Networking Event
Tuesday, September 8, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT)

Join in as the Select Committee shares updates on the network’s latest programs, resources and recognition opportunities, and hosts SBN’s first-ever virtual breakout sessions on networking, career paths and coping with COVID-19 to help members engage and connect like never before.

View the full meeting agenda and register here.

WTC Ambassador Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, September 15, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT)

Attendees will work together to identify common problems and opportunities relating to the custom performance wheel and tire industry, learn about the resources available to aid WTC-member companies and discuss information on industry-related issues.

View the full meeting agenda and register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Fifteen top young entrepreneurs are seeking votes to help launch their new products and innovations into the marketplace. All SEMA members are invited to participate and cast their votes, which have the potential to change the life of a young industry innovator. The semifinalists in the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad competition include a wide array of products and creations for the $46.2 billion automotive aftermarket industry. Vote for one of the following contestants:

• Justin Bradshaw (REVER); Product: Mobile App
• Joshua Carton (Curien); Product: Neuron N2
• Johannes Crepon (PDM Automotive); Product: Data Technology
• Roland Hence (FrontLane, Inc.); Product: Impulse–Emergency Brake Light
• Khanjan Desai (Alchemy); Product: ExoShield
• Luke Farley (Lynx Auto Wraps & More); Product: Lynx Auto Wraps TRD aps
• Keith Ferry (Cerebrum Sensor Technologies); Product: Cerebrum
• Brendan McGrath (Dyme PSI); Product: AN Hose & Fittings
• Timur Mukhtasibov (AK Software); Product: BodyShopFlow
• Matt Rafeld (Beachcomber Offroad, LLC); Product: Stowaway Door
• Eric Rivera (Dirt Dynamix); Product: Truck Accessories
• Patrick Sweeny (Blackgate Customs, Inc.); Product: KDSS Sway Bar Drop Spacer Kit
• Brett Turnage (Brett Turnage Industries); Product: Modular Intercooler
• Mike Unger (PICINH); Product: Tasker Tailgate
• Brock Winberg (GTe-413 Electric Crate Motor); Product: GTe-413 Universal Plug

Individuals may cast their votes up until September 11. Five competitors will go on to compete for a grand prize designed to boost the status of his or her growing young business.

Interested in learning about a new product that could benefit your company or the specialty-equipment aftermarket as a whole? Meet this year’s semifinalists, learn about his or her new product or service and vote today.

By Ashley Reyes

Fifteen top young entrepreneurs are seeking votes to help launch their new products and innovations into the marketplace. All SEMA members are invited to participate and cast their votes, which have the potential to change the life of a young industry innovator. The semifinalists in the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad competition include a wide array of products and creations for the $46.2 billion automotive aftermarket industry. Vote for one of the following contestants:

• Justin Bradshaw (REVER); Product: Mobile App
• Joshua Carton (Curien); Product: Neuron N2
• Johannes Crepon (PDM Automotive); Product: Data Technology
• Roland Hence (FrontLane, Inc.); Product: Impulse–Emergency Brake Light
• Khanjan Desai (Alchemy); Product: ExoShield
• Luke Farley (Lynx Auto Wraps & More); Product: Lynx Auto Wraps TRD aps
• Keith Ferry (Cerebrum Sensor Technologies); Product: Cerebrum
• Brendan McGrath (Dyme PSI); Product: AN Hose & Fittings
• Timur Mukhtasibov (AK Software); Product: BodyShopFlow
• Matt Rafeld (Beachcomber Offroad, LLC); Product: Stowaway Door
• Eric Rivera (Dirt Dynamix); Product: Truck Accessories
• Patrick Sweeny (Blackgate Customs, Inc.); Product: KDSS Sway Bar Drop Spacer Kit
• Brett Turnage (Brett Turnage Industries); Product: Modular Intercooler
• Mike Unger (PICINH); Product: Tasker Tailgate
• Brock Winberg (GTe-413 Electric Crate Motor); Product: GTe-413 Universal Plug

Individuals may cast their votes up until September 11. Five competitors will go on to compete for a grand prize designed to boost the status of his or her growing young business.

Interested in learning about a new product that could benefit your company or the specialty-equipment aftermarket as a whole? Meet this year’s semifinalists, learn about his or her new product or service and vote today.

By Ashley Reyes

Fifteen top young entrepreneurs are seeking votes to help launch their new products and innovations into the marketplace. All SEMA members are invited to participate and cast their votes, which have the potential to change the life of a young industry innovator. The semifinalists in the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad competition include a wide array of products and creations for the $46.2 billion automotive aftermarket industry. Vote for one of the following contestants:

• Justin Bradshaw (REVER); Product: Mobile App
• Joshua Carton (Curien); Product: Neuron N2
• Johannes Crepon (PDM Automotive); Product: Data Technology
• Roland Hence (FrontLane, Inc.); Product: Impulse–Emergency Brake Light
• Khanjan Desai (Alchemy); Product: ExoShield
• Luke Farley (Lynx Auto Wraps & More); Product: Lynx Auto Wraps TRD aps
• Keith Ferry (Cerebrum Sensor Technologies); Product: Cerebrum
• Brendan McGrath (Dyme PSI); Product: AN Hose & Fittings
• Timur Mukhtasibov (AK Software); Product: BodyShopFlow
• Matt Rafeld (Beachcomber Offroad, LLC); Product: Stowaway Door
• Eric Rivera (Dirt Dynamix); Product: Truck Accessories
• Patrick Sweeny (Blackgate Customs, Inc.); Product: KDSS Sway Bar Drop Spacer Kit
• Brett Turnage (Brett Turnage Industries); Product: Modular Intercooler
• Mike Unger (PICINH); Product: Tasker Tailgate
• Brock Winberg (GTe-413 Electric Crate Motor); Product: GTe-413 Universal Plug

Individuals may cast their votes up until September 11. Five competitors will go on to compete for a grand prize designed to boost the status of his or her growing young business.

Interested in learning about a new product that could benefit your company or the specialty-equipment aftermarket as a whole? Meet this year’s semifinalists, learn about his or her new product or service and vote today.

By Ashley Reyes

Former race-car driver turned attorney Jeffrey Banyas of Edwin A. Sisson, Attorney at Law LLC, has been named the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest Spotlight member. Banyas, who works at a leading patent/trademark firm and has served as legal counselor to many SEMA members, is a newly elected volunteer on the YEN Select Committee. He was recognized in 2018 as one of SEMA’s “35 Under 35” young business leaders. Learn more about his involvement in the industry in his Q&A with SEMA YEN.

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

Jeffrey Banyas: During an internship prior to law school, my supervisor told me to start smiling more. It is amazing how people's perceptions of you change for the better when you appear outwardly happy and confident.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

JB: I was born and raised in this industry. My family still owns a high-performance engine shop to this day, and I grew up around racetracks either as a spectator, crew member or driver. I don't think I could get away from it even if I wanted to (which I don’t).

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

JB: With any luck, you’ll find me at an oval track race somewhere in Ohio.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?    

JB: I try to be as prepared as I can for anything that may come my way. I've always said that I can live with the outcome of any meeting or any situation so long as I went into it feeling like I was as prepared as I possibly could be.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?     

JB: Smokey Yunick. I consider him one of the great innovators of the high-performance industry.

By Ashley Reyes

Former race-car driver turned attorney Jeffrey Banyas of Edwin A. Sisson, Attorney at Law LLC, has been named the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest Spotlight member. Banyas, who works at a leading patent/trademark firm and has served as legal counselor to many SEMA members, is a newly elected volunteer on the YEN Select Committee. He was recognized in 2018 as one of SEMA’s “35 Under 35” young business leaders. Learn more about his involvement in the industry in his Q&A with SEMA YEN.

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

Jeffrey Banyas: During an internship prior to law school, my supervisor told me to start smiling more. It is amazing how people's perceptions of you change for the better when you appear outwardly happy and confident.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

JB: I was born and raised in this industry. My family still owns a high-performance engine shop to this day, and I grew up around racetracks either as a spectator, crew member or driver. I don't think I could get away from it even if I wanted to (which I don’t).

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

JB: With any luck, you’ll find me at an oval track race somewhere in Ohio.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?    

JB: I try to be as prepared as I can for anything that may come my way. I've always said that I can live with the outcome of any meeting or any situation so long as I went into it feeling like I was as prepared as I possibly could be.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?     

JB: Smokey Yunick. I consider him one of the great innovators of the high-performance industry.

By Ashley Reyes

Independent retail stores gain online visibility on par with the big brands with the help of Tirescanner. In a recently released video from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage, Tirescanner’s President and CEO Michael Welch shares how his company is utilizing eCommerce to help independent retailers acquire more traffic, enhance their online user experience, and increase sales.  

“We’re very engaged with manufacturers. They love the fact that we can engage retailers and showcase their product because they want to support that, because that means they can replenish more product into store,” said Welch. “So, I think we’ve got a role to play to facilitate a much more even spread of eCommerce across retailers. At the moment, it’s all going into the hands of the big guys who are affording to pay silly amounts of money for the market, and our job is to make it affordable, de-risk it and bring it back to the independent online.”

Additional topics include Welch’s insight on the key to the best eCommerce, the difference between eCommerce in the United States and Europe, and his experience building and selling his first business from scratch.

Check out Welch’s full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

Independent retail stores gain online visibility on par with the big brands with the help of Tirescanner. In a recently released video from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage, Tirescanner’s President and CEO Michael Welch shares how his company is utilizing eCommerce to help independent retailers acquire more traffic, enhance their online user experience, and increase sales.  

“We’re very engaged with manufacturers. They love the fact that we can engage retailers and showcase their product because they want to support that, because that means they can replenish more product into store,” said Welch. “So, I think we’ve got a role to play to facilitate a much more even spread of eCommerce across retailers. At the moment, it’s all going into the hands of the big guys who are affording to pay silly amounts of money for the market, and our job is to make it affordable, de-risk it and bring it back to the independent online.”

Additional topics include Welch’s insight on the key to the best eCommerce, the difference between eCommerce in the United States and Europe, and his experience building and selling his first business from scratch.

Check out Welch’s full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

Independent retail stores gain online visibility on par with the big brands with the help of Tirescanner. In a recently released video from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage, Tirescanner’s President and CEO Michael Welch shares how his company is utilizing eCommerce to help independent retailers acquire more traffic, enhance their online user experience, and increase sales.  

“We’re very engaged with manufacturers. They love the fact that we can engage retailers and showcase their product because they want to support that, because that means they can replenish more product into store,” said Welch. “So, I think we’ve got a role to play to facilitate a much more even spread of eCommerce across retailers. At the moment, it’s all going into the hands of the big guys who are affording to pay silly amounts of money for the market, and our job is to make it affordable, de-risk it and bring it back to the independent online.”

Additional topics include Welch’s insight on the key to the best eCommerce, the difference between eCommerce in the United States and Europe, and his experience building and selling his first business from scratch.

Check out Welch’s full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

Independent retail stores gain online visibility on par with the big brands with the help of Tirescanner. In a recently released video from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage, Tirescanner’s President and CEO Michael Welch shares how his company is utilizing eCommerce to help independent retailers acquire more traffic, enhance their online user experience, and increase sales.  

“We’re very engaged with manufacturers. They love the fact that we can engage retailers and showcase their product because they want to support that, because that means they can replenish more product into store,” said Welch. “So, I think we’ve got a role to play to facilitate a much more even spread of eCommerce across retailers. At the moment, it’s all going into the hands of the big guys who are affording to pay silly amounts of money for the market, and our job is to make it affordable, de-risk it and bring it back to the independent online.”

Additional topics include Welch’s insight on the key to the best eCommerce, the difference between eCommerce in the United States and Europe, and his experience building and selling his first business from scratch.

Check out Welch’s full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.