By Della Domingo

Show organizers are actively working with leading experts to develop standards and protocols that will create an optimal environment to conduct business while emphasizing the health and well being of those at the event.

Registration for the 2020 SEMA Show, Tuesday-Friday, November 3–6, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, is available at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

The annual gathering featuring automotive innovation is set to take place in the fall at a time when analysts anticipate the marketplace will begin its path to recovery, positioning the SEMA Show to be vital in helping businesses move toward a successful 2021. Show organizers are actively working with leading experts to develop standards and protocols that will create an optimal environment to conduct business while emphasizing the health and well being of those at the event.

The SEMA Show’s annual booth space selection process began earlier this month with more than 1,800 exhibiting companies participating. The Show is comprised of 12 individual industry sectors and affords buyers the opportunity to find products to build their core business or venture into new areas of growth with complimentary product and service offerings. Education, new products and trend spotting are the typical draws at the event and this year will continue based on the support the industry has shown thus far.

“We know the SEMA Show this year will be fundamental to helping businesses connect and move forward. We take that role very seriously, but not at the expense of the health and safety of the industry,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We’re confident that we will build a suitable environment that gives people certainty that they are not at risk to congregate, yet still allows us to leverage the Show’s position on the calendar to help the industry recover more quickly.”

Gattuso notes that the 2020 SEMA Show will likely look different from previous SEMA Shows, but assures the industry that the high levels of value and quality of business to which visitors are accustomed will remain the same.

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.

Inside Sales Representative
Quake LED is hiring energetic sales representatives with more than two years of experience who are passionate about the automotive industry. Responsibilities include presenting and selling company products and services to new and existing customers, prospecting and contacting new potential customers and securing and maintaining new product dealers. Candidates must have a basic understanding of LED lights and 12v systems.

Store Service Manager
4 Wheel Parts is hiring a store service manager to install and work on suspensions, lift kits, alignments, gears, mounting and balancing wheels. Candidates should have at least three years of experience (ASE certification is a plus), their own tools and a desire to decrease turnaround time on builds with safety and quality in mind. 

Automotive Customer Service Specialist
Energy Suspension is hiring an automotive customer service specialist to provide automotive product application information, technical assistance, order processing and respond to emails. Occasional travel to local trade shows and events is required. Candidates must have basic automotive knowledge and prior customer service experience.

By SEMA Editors

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

• Webinar: International Sales: Brand Protection Abroad, June 17, 2020
• YEN General Membership Call, July 15, 2020
• Live Across America: SEMA Detroit Virtual ADAS Forum & Vehicle Review, June 18, 2020
• 2020 Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 10, 2020
• 2020 SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, August 24–26, 2020, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
• 2020 SEMA Show, November 3–6, 2020, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
• PRI Trade Show, December 10–12, 2020, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstore.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• AERO Exhaust
• AlphaRex
• Black Horse Off Road
• Clinched Flares
• Cometic Gasket
• Diamond Eye Performance
• Eagle Specialty Products
• Fabtech
• Gate King
• H&R Springs

By Ashley Reyes

Tara Thompson

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has named Tara Thompson of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive as this week’s #SheIsSEMA Spotlight Member. Thompson is the general manager of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive—a renowned off-road store, modification and repair facility where she helps create new avenues for her business through innovation and building life-long customer relationships. Learning something new every day is what drives her passion for this industry that she continues to help grow and expand.

Learn more about Thompson in her Q&A with the SBN:

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

Tara Thompson: When dealing with a problem, come up with the worst possible outcome and come to peace with it. Once you accept that, reality is usually not as bad as our imagination and you will feel blessed that it did not turn out as bad as it could have.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

TT: I love the aftermarket industry because for most of our customers it’s something they are excited about, almost like it’s their birthday present or something they have been saving up for and they are finally getting it.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

TT: Saturdays you can usually find me running reports, volunteering or hiking with the shop dogs.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

TT: A little tired since I stayed up late or was awake half the night running over scenarios in my head.

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

TT: Henry Ford. I love the business side of the industry and learning how he pushed to revolutionize the building of vehicles would be fascinating.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

By Ashley Reyes

Tara Thompson

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has named Tara Thompson of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive as this week’s #SheIsSEMA Spotlight Member. Thompson is the general manager of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive—a renowned off-road store, modification and repair facility where she helps create new avenues for her business through innovation and building life-long customer relationships. Learning something new every day is what drives her passion for this industry that she continues to help grow and expand.

Learn more about Thompson in her Q&A with the SBN:

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

Tara Thompson: When dealing with a problem, come up with the worst possible outcome and come to peace with it. Once you accept that, reality is usually not as bad as our imagination and you will feel blessed that it did not turn out as bad as it could have.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

TT: I love the aftermarket industry because for most of our customers it’s something they are excited about, almost like it’s their birthday present or something they have been saving up for and they are finally getting it.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

TT: Saturdays you can usually find me running reports, volunteering or hiking with the shop dogs.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

TT: A little tired since I stayed up late or was awake half the night running over scenarios in my head.

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

TT: Henry Ford. I love the business side of the industry and learning how he pushed to revolutionize the building of vehicles would be fascinating.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

It’s not too late to exhibit at the 2020 SEMA Show, November 3-6, in Las Vegas. The online Exhibitor Services Manual contains all of the resources pertinent to a successful exhibit in November.

http://www.semashow.com/buyabooth

It’s not too late to exhibit at the 2020 SEMA Show, November 3-6, in Las Vegas. The online Exhibitor Services Manual contains all of the resources pertinent to a successful exhibit in November.

http://www.semashow.com/buyabooth

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate voted to take up the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), a bill that is critically important to revitalizing America’s outdoor recreation industry. The GAOA would dedicate $9.5 billion over the next five years to address the maintenance backlog on federally owned lands by creating a national parks and public land legacy restoration fund. The bill would also appropriate $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which allocates funding to protect natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage sites and to provide recreation opportunities. The SEMA-supported legislation is critical to addressing the infrastructure needs facing our public lands and waters, such as improving trails, roads, docks, campgrounds and more. The GAOA will receive a final vote in the Senate in the next few days.

Passage of the GAOA would benefit many SEMA members in the off-road market (four-wheel, ATVs and UTVs) in addition to companies producing and selling wheels/tires, suspension, power and other equipment to help tow RVs and boats to the nation’s parks and recreation areas. More than 90 outdoor recreation related companies, including several SEMA members, sent a letter calling on the U.S. Congress to pass the GAOA. Addressing the infrastructure needs of our public lands will create jobs and provide Americans with access to open spaces.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.