SEMA News—June 2015

Q&A With Wade Kawasaki

SEMA News: Why are you running for chair-elect on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD)?

Wade Kawasaki: I was 10 years old and working at my father’s gas station in L.A., watching musclecars and hot rods drive in and out, when I realized that this is my passion. My passion is what drives me, and it has been a dream come true to work and learn about everything in our industry, from manufacturing to distribution. I have had the opportunity to travel the globe doing business, attending cool car shows and speaking on behalf of the aftermarket.

This industry is my whole life. My wife Rose has run a SEMA-member company for 28 years and she is the current chairman of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network; my son Tim is a third-generation car guy and an active member of Young Executives Network (YEN); and my daughter Alyssa is a spokesperson for Ford. I have been truly blessed to live my dream, to share my passion with my children and to make a good living doing what I love. I am very grateful for all the opportunities and experiences this industry has afforded me, and I feel the need to give back by using my knowledge, experience and passion to serve all the members of SEMA and help them to succeed and prosper.

SN: Recruiting young people to work in the specialty-equipment industry continues to be an important initiative at SEMA. As chairman, what would you hope to accomplish on this issue during your term, and what opportunities should the association pursue?

WK: The aging demographic of our industry is a major concern because it not only affects our future workforce but also future consumers. We must expand upon SEMA’s education initiatives already in place and create a task force to study motivations and engagement methods for future generations.

As businesses, we must learn to embrace emerging vehicle technologies and new trends in the workplace in order to attract the bright minds that will ensure our future success. As a founding member of YEN and the Sport Compact Council, I have had the opportunity to help guide and develop the growth of the next generation of leaders. Their creativity and ingenuity are amazing and, with SEMA’s help, they will influence the next i-generation. Tim and Alyssa are involved in our industry, so I have two bright young minds that tell me constantly what works and what doesn’t.

Our industry was built on the shoulders of giants: engineers, daredevils, racers and tinkerers who were always pushing the limits. That spirit of innovation must live on for the aftermarket to continue to flourish, which is why it is critical that we show young people that building things with your hands and your mind can be both fun and financially rewarding. By working with top engineering programs, trade tech schools and high-school vocational programs and showing students through national-level marketing programs and direct engagement that the aftermarket has limitless opportunity, we ensure our own future success.

SN: What do you see on the legislative and/or regulatory front that poses the greatest concern for SEMA members?

WK: Concerns with emissions certification, federal regulation of aftermarket parts and intellectual property rights are all issues that will continue to cause challenges for our members, but the policy changes for vehicle registration and land use are a constant threat to our hobby. SEMA has an excellent government affairs office in Washington, D.C., that continues to strive to hand us victories such as protecting Johnson Valley OHV usage and contesting a multitude of senseless bills and regulations brought forward by our government. The SEMA Action Network (SAN) works hard to keep us informed not only at the national level but also at the state level. Through the SAN correspondence, we are able to send our concerns and sign petitions to members of Congress and Representatives.

As a founding member of SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) President’s Club, I believe in the importance of personally supporting SEMA’s efforts to protect our rights. It is important to keep communication lines open with our legislators and keep our voice heard.

I encourage all members to activate their membership and join the SEMA PAC and the SAN. There is strength in unity.

SN: What kind of impact can the industry expect from the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC), and what should be the association’s goals for the program for the next five years?

WK: As we enter into this immediate-gratification age, consumer expectations are high. Therefore, delivering timely and accurate data to retailers, dealers and distributors becomes more and more important to the success of all of our members. We need to make sure that we provide an affordable platform for our manufacturers, whether small, medium or large, to deliver this accurate data.

In the next five years, our goal should be to attain maximum participation of members into the SDC program. By continuing to collectively pull together as an industry, the SDC can achieve this goal in an efficient and secured manner.

I also recognize that not all SEMA manufacturers are fully comfortable with the idea of a data co-op. As Millennials get to a financial position where they can begin modifying their vehicles, they will research them online in forums and over social media, browse prices and reviews, and make purchases at their local retailer or online.

If our products aren’t easy to research and buy, the Millennials may spend their disposable income elsewhere—outside the aftermarket. SEMA is a trade association built to serve its members, so I also think it’s important that we help all members understand that data is the currency of future success. Whether they use the SDC or not, we owe it to the members to know as much about these young consumers and their buying habits as possible—how to reach them and how to lower the technology costs for member companies to market to them.

SN: The 2014 SEMA Show concluded with a first-ever afterparty open to the pubic—SEMA Ignited—as a way to create enhanced value for exhibitors. What are your thoughts on this new consumer-awareness initiative, and what goals should the association pursue as we move forward?

WK: Leveraging SEMA’s greatest global asset, the SEMA Show, to reach consumers was a bold plan. Like any inaugural event, it had a few glitches, but it proved to be a success. Effectively swinging the doors wide open to the world’s most exclusive car show engaged consumers locally and globally through social media and television. Key to the success of our industry is to expose the creativity and passion of our builders and products to a new audience of potential customers. SEMA Ignited fulfilled that mission.

I feel that SEMA Ignited should be the cornerstone of a comprehensive strategic plan that introduces our industry to a new consumer. Consumer initiatives such as SEMA Ignited will keep that excitement growing in our industry, engage the youth and showcase worldwide the great new products being made each year by our member manufacturers.

SN: In 2014, SEMA officially opened the doors of the SEMA Garage. What opportunities do you see to further expand or enhance the capabilities of the SEMA Garage?

WK: As vehicle platforms grow more complex, our manufacturers will be able to utilize specialty tools to assist in product design, such as the 3D printer for rapid prototyping, a FaroArm for accurate measurements, and a state-of-the-art dynamometer to map power output. However, this should be only the beginning.

As technology continues to move forward, we will need to keep SEMA Garage on the cutting edge to attract and retain younger participation. With the new lab opening this fall, members will be able to access equipment needed to develop products that affect engine performance and test them much quicker and at an affordable price in order to apply for California Air Resources Board executive orders. We should enhance our capabilities by acquiring a larger 3D printer to print larger parts and in a variety of materials and continue to add technology to our advanced photography studio for both vehicle and products coves. In addition, we could implement apprenticeships to educate our workforce and internships to attract students to our industry.

SN: What would you say about the importance of the role of the Board in the SEMA organization, and why SEMA members need to vote in this year’s BOD election?

WK: The role of the Board is important to influence the growth and health of our industry. It is the association’s eyes and ears within the industry to keep it focused on those things that matter most and to make sure it fulfills its mission statement of helping member businesses succeed and prosper.

SEMA is a very complex organization, bringing together manufacturers, distributors/retailers, service providers and reps, all under the broad automotive aftermarket banner. This wide array of businesses with different interests and priorities requires an experienced, wise and skilled Board to help navigate. Your input into this process is vital and necessary for the health of our Board and, ultimately, the industry we all depend on.

Please take the time to learn about each candidate, make the right choice and vote.

Your decision will be significant, as it will affect the future of our industry. After careful consideration of the candidates, I hope you will choose me for chair-elect. But no matter who you choose, I encourage you to get involved and vote!

SEMA News—June 2015

Q&A With Wade Kawasaki

SEMA News: Why are you running for chair-elect on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD)?

Wade Kawasaki: I was 10 years old and working at my father’s gas station in L.A., watching musclecars and hot rods drive in and out, when I realized that this is my passion. My passion is what drives me, and it has been a dream come true to work and learn about everything in our industry, from manufacturing to distribution. I have had the opportunity to travel the globe doing business, attending cool car shows and speaking on behalf of the aftermarket.

This industry is my whole life. My wife Rose has run a SEMA-member company for 28 years and she is the current chairman of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network; my son Tim is a third-generation car guy and an active member of Young Executives Network (YEN); and my daughter Alyssa is a spokesperson for Ford. I have been truly blessed to live my dream, to share my passion with my children and to make a good living doing what I love. I am very grateful for all the opportunities and experiences this industry has afforded me, and I feel the need to give back by using my knowledge, experience and passion to serve all the members of SEMA and help them to succeed and prosper.

SN: Recruiting young people to work in the specialty-equipment industry continues to be an important initiative at SEMA. As chairman, what would you hope to accomplish on this issue during your term, and what opportunities should the association pursue?

WK: The aging demographic of our industry is a major concern because it not only affects our future workforce but also future consumers. We must expand upon SEMA’s education initiatives already in place and create a task force to study motivations and engagement methods for future generations.

As businesses, we must learn to embrace emerging vehicle technologies and new trends in the workplace in order to attract the bright minds that will ensure our future success. As a founding member of YEN and the Sport Compact Council, I have had the opportunity to help guide and develop the growth of the next generation of leaders. Their creativity and ingenuity are amazing and, with SEMA’s help, they will influence the next i-generation. Tim and Alyssa are involved in our industry, so I have two bright young minds that tell me constantly what works and what doesn’t.

Our industry was built on the shoulders of giants: engineers, daredevils, racers and tinkerers who were always pushing the limits. That spirit of innovation must live on for the aftermarket to continue to flourish, which is why it is critical that we show young people that building things with your hands and your mind can be both fun and financially rewarding. By working with top engineering programs, trade tech schools and high-school vocational programs and showing students through national-level marketing programs and direct engagement that the aftermarket has limitless opportunity, we ensure our own future success.

SN: What do you see on the legislative and/or regulatory front that poses the greatest concern for SEMA members?

WK: Concerns with emissions certification, federal regulation of aftermarket parts and intellectual property rights are all issues that will continue to cause challenges for our members, but the policy changes for vehicle registration and land use are a constant threat to our hobby. SEMA has an excellent government affairs office in Washington, D.C., that continues to strive to hand us victories such as protecting Johnson Valley OHV usage and contesting a multitude of senseless bills and regulations brought forward by our government. The SEMA Action Network (SAN) works hard to keep us informed not only at the national level but also at the state level. Through the SAN correspondence, we are able to send our concerns and sign petitions to members of Congress and Representatives.

As a founding member of SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) President’s Club, I believe in the importance of personally supporting SEMA’s efforts to protect our rights. It is important to keep communication lines open with our legislators and keep our voice heard.

I encourage all members to activate their membership and join the SEMA PAC and the SAN. There is strength in unity.

SN: What kind of impact can the industry expect from the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC), and what should be the association’s goals for the program for the next five years?

WK: As we enter into this immediate-gratification age, consumer expectations are high. Therefore, delivering timely and accurate data to retailers, dealers and distributors becomes more and more important to the success of all of our members. We need to make sure that we provide an affordable platform for our manufacturers, whether small, medium or large, to deliver this accurate data.

In the next five years, our goal should be to attain maximum participation of members into the SDC program. By continuing to collectively pull together as an industry, the SDC can achieve this goal in an efficient and secured manner.

I also recognize that not all SEMA manufacturers are fully comfortable with the idea of a data co-op. As Millennials get to a financial position where they can begin modifying their vehicles, they will research them online in forums and over social media, browse prices and reviews, and make purchases at their local retailer or online.

If our products aren’t easy to research and buy, the Millennials may spend their disposable income elsewhere—outside the aftermarket. SEMA is a trade association built to serve its members, so I also think it’s important that we help all members understand that data is the currency of future success. Whether they use the SDC or not, we owe it to the members to know as much about these young consumers and their buying habits as possible—how to reach them and how to lower the technology costs for member companies to market to them.

SN: The 2014 SEMA Show concluded with a first-ever afterparty open to the pubic—SEMA Ignited—as a way to create enhanced value for exhibitors. What are your thoughts on this new consumer-awareness initiative, and what goals should the association pursue as we move forward?

WK: Leveraging SEMA’s greatest global asset, the SEMA Show, to reach consumers was a bold plan. Like any inaugural event, it had a few glitches, but it proved to be a success. Effectively swinging the doors wide open to the world’s most exclusive car show engaged consumers locally and globally through social media and television. Key to the success of our industry is to expose the creativity and passion of our builders and products to a new audience of potential customers. SEMA Ignited fulfilled that mission.

I feel that SEMA Ignited should be the cornerstone of a comprehensive strategic plan that introduces our industry to a new consumer. Consumer initiatives such as SEMA Ignited will keep that excitement growing in our industry, engage the youth and showcase worldwide the great new products being made each year by our member manufacturers.

SN: In 2014, SEMA officially opened the doors of the SEMA Garage. What opportunities do you see to further expand or enhance the capabilities of the SEMA Garage?

WK: As vehicle platforms grow more complex, our manufacturers will be able to utilize specialty tools to assist in product design, such as the 3D printer for rapid prototyping, a FaroArm for accurate measurements, and a state-of-the-art dynamometer to map power output. However, this should be only the beginning.

As technology continues to move forward, we will need to keep SEMA Garage on the cutting edge to attract and retain younger participation. With the new lab opening this fall, members will be able to access equipment needed to develop products that affect engine performance and test them much quicker and at an affordable price in order to apply for California Air Resources Board executive orders. We should enhance our capabilities by acquiring a larger 3D printer to print larger parts and in a variety of materials and continue to add technology to our advanced photography studio for both vehicle and products coves. In addition, we could implement apprenticeships to educate our workforce and internships to attract students to our industry.

SN: What would you say about the importance of the role of the Board in the SEMA organization, and why SEMA members need to vote in this year’s BOD election?

WK: The role of the Board is important to influence the growth and health of our industry. It is the association’s eyes and ears within the industry to keep it focused on those things that matter most and to make sure it fulfills its mission statement of helping member businesses succeed and prosper.

SEMA is a very complex organization, bringing together manufacturers, distributors/retailers, service providers and reps, all under the broad automotive aftermarket banner. This wide array of businesses with different interests and priorities requires an experienced, wise and skilled Board to help navigate. Your input into this process is vital and necessary for the health of our Board and, ultimately, the industry we all depend on.

Please take the time to learn about each candidate, make the right choice and vote.

Your decision will be significant, as it will affect the future of our industry. After careful consideration of the candidates, I hope you will choose me for chair-elect. But no matter who you choose, I encourage you to get involved and vote!

SEMA News—June 2015

Q&A With Wade Kawasaki

SEMA News: Why are you running for chair-elect on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD)?

Wade Kawasaki: I was 10 years old and working at my father’s gas station in L.A., watching musclecars and hot rods drive in and out, when I realized that this is my passion. My passion is what drives me, and it has been a dream come true to work and learn about everything in our industry, from manufacturing to distribution. I have had the opportunity to travel the globe doing business, attending cool car shows and speaking on behalf of the aftermarket.

This industry is my whole life. My wife Rose has run a SEMA-member company for 28 years and she is the current chairman of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network; my son Tim is a third-generation car guy and an active member of Young Executives Network (YEN); and my daughter Alyssa is a spokesperson for Ford. I have been truly blessed to live my dream, to share my passion with my children and to make a good living doing what I love. I am very grateful for all the opportunities and experiences this industry has afforded me, and I feel the need to give back by using my knowledge, experience and passion to serve all the members of SEMA and help them to succeed and prosper.

SN: Recruiting young people to work in the specialty-equipment industry continues to be an important initiative at SEMA. As chairman, what would you hope to accomplish on this issue during your term, and what opportunities should the association pursue?

WK: The aging demographic of our industry is a major concern because it not only affects our future workforce but also future consumers. We must expand upon SEMA’s education initiatives already in place and create a task force to study motivations and engagement methods for future generations.

As businesses, we must learn to embrace emerging vehicle technologies and new trends in the workplace in order to attract the bright minds that will ensure our future success. As a founding member of YEN and the Sport Compact Council, I have had the opportunity to help guide and develop the growth of the next generation of leaders. Their creativity and ingenuity are amazing and, with SEMA’s help, they will influence the next i-generation. Tim and Alyssa are involved in our industry, so I have two bright young minds that tell me constantly what works and what doesn’t.

Our industry was built on the shoulders of giants: engineers, daredevils, racers and tinkerers who were always pushing the limits. That spirit of innovation must live on for the aftermarket to continue to flourish, which is why it is critical that we show young people that building things with your hands and your mind can be both fun and financially rewarding. By working with top engineering programs, trade tech schools and high-school vocational programs and showing students through national-level marketing programs and direct engagement that the aftermarket has limitless opportunity, we ensure our own future success.

SN: What do you see on the legislative and/or regulatory front that poses the greatest concern for SEMA members?

WK: Concerns with emissions certification, federal regulation of aftermarket parts and intellectual property rights are all issues that will continue to cause challenges for our members, but the policy changes for vehicle registration and land use are a constant threat to our hobby. SEMA has an excellent government affairs office in Washington, D.C., that continues to strive to hand us victories such as protecting Johnson Valley OHV usage and contesting a multitude of senseless bills and regulations brought forward by our government. The SEMA Action Network (SAN) works hard to keep us informed not only at the national level but also at the state level. Through the SAN correspondence, we are able to send our concerns and sign petitions to members of Congress and Representatives.

As a founding member of SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) President’s Club, I believe in the importance of personally supporting SEMA’s efforts to protect our rights. It is important to keep communication lines open with our legislators and keep our voice heard.

I encourage all members to activate their membership and join the SEMA PAC and the SAN. There is strength in unity.

SN: What kind of impact can the industry expect from the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC), and what should be the association’s goals for the program for the next five years?

WK: As we enter into this immediate-gratification age, consumer expectations are high. Therefore, delivering timely and accurate data to retailers, dealers and distributors becomes more and more important to the success of all of our members. We need to make sure that we provide an affordable platform for our manufacturers, whether small, medium or large, to deliver this accurate data.

In the next five years, our goal should be to attain maximum participation of members into the SDC program. By continuing to collectively pull together as an industry, the SDC can achieve this goal in an efficient and secured manner.

I also recognize that not all SEMA manufacturers are fully comfortable with the idea of a data co-op. As Millennials get to a financial position where they can begin modifying their vehicles, they will research them online in forums and over social media, browse prices and reviews, and make purchases at their local retailer or online.

If our products aren’t easy to research and buy, the Millennials may spend their disposable income elsewhere—outside the aftermarket. SEMA is a trade association built to serve its members, so I also think it’s important that we help all members understand that data is the currency of future success. Whether they use the SDC or not, we owe it to the members to know as much about these young consumers and their buying habits as possible—how to reach them and how to lower the technology costs for member companies to market to them.

SN: The 2014 SEMA Show concluded with a first-ever afterparty open to the pubic—SEMA Ignited—as a way to create enhanced value for exhibitors. What are your thoughts on this new consumer-awareness initiative, and what goals should the association pursue as we move forward?

WK: Leveraging SEMA’s greatest global asset, the SEMA Show, to reach consumers was a bold plan. Like any inaugural event, it had a few glitches, but it proved to be a success. Effectively swinging the doors wide open to the world’s most exclusive car show engaged consumers locally and globally through social media and television. Key to the success of our industry is to expose the creativity and passion of our builders and products to a new audience of potential customers. SEMA Ignited fulfilled that mission.

I feel that SEMA Ignited should be the cornerstone of a comprehensive strategic plan that introduces our industry to a new consumer. Consumer initiatives such as SEMA Ignited will keep that excitement growing in our industry, engage the youth and showcase worldwide the great new products being made each year by our member manufacturers.

SN: In 2014, SEMA officially opened the doors of the SEMA Garage. What opportunities do you see to further expand or enhance the capabilities of the SEMA Garage?

WK: As vehicle platforms grow more complex, our manufacturers will be able to utilize specialty tools to assist in product design, such as the 3D printer for rapid prototyping, a FaroArm for accurate measurements, and a state-of-the-art dynamometer to map power output. However, this should be only the beginning.

As technology continues to move forward, we will need to keep SEMA Garage on the cutting edge to attract and retain younger participation. With the new lab opening this fall, members will be able to access equipment needed to develop products that affect engine performance and test them much quicker and at an affordable price in order to apply for California Air Resources Board executive orders. We should enhance our capabilities by acquiring a larger 3D printer to print larger parts and in a variety of materials and continue to add technology to our advanced photography studio for both vehicle and products coves. In addition, we could implement apprenticeships to educate our workforce and internships to attract students to our industry.

SN: What would you say about the importance of the role of the Board in the SEMA organization, and why SEMA members need to vote in this year’s BOD election?

WK: The role of the Board is important to influence the growth and health of our industry. It is the association’s eyes and ears within the industry to keep it focused on those things that matter most and to make sure it fulfills its mission statement of helping member businesses succeed and prosper.

SEMA is a very complex organization, bringing together manufacturers, distributors/retailers, service providers and reps, all under the broad automotive aftermarket banner. This wide array of businesses with different interests and priorities requires an experienced, wise and skilled Board to help navigate. Your input into this process is vital and necessary for the health of our Board and, ultimately, the industry we all depend on.

Please take the time to learn about each candidate, make the right choice and vote.

Your decision will be significant, as it will affect the future of our industry. After careful consideration of the candidates, I hope you will choose me for chair-elect. But no matter who you choose, I encourage you to get involved and vote!

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

Fast Facts

The Tulsa Technology Center team from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sponsored by Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), competed in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Goodguys 5th Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 20–22, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. One of four teams from Tulsa Technology Center, the DEI team qualified for the Dual National Championship playoff with a time of 32:16. The championship will be decided in competitions at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.

VIPAR Heavy Duty launched VIProParts.com—an online marketplace for buyers to purchase heavy-duty truck parts. The website allows users to easily locate aftermarket products from the industry’s leading brands. VIPAR Heavy Duty facilitates the marketplace utilizing its e-commerce solutions. Visitors to the site are prompted to select a local participating distributor to fulfill their orders. Specific catalog information for that distributor is displayed to end users along with location and technical support contact information. The order, payment and delivery are then fulfilled through that local distributor with multiple shipping and delivery options. VIPAR, Crystal Lake, IL; 815-788-1725.

Power Automedia and JEGS announced a new marketing partnership to provide a collaborative marketing approach to further connect both companies with the world’s racing and performance enthusiasts. JEGS will expand its digital presence through seven Power Automedia online magazines: ChevyHardcore.com, CorvetteOnline.com, DragZine.com, EngineLabs.com, RodAuthority.com, StangTV.com and StreetLegalTV.com. In turn, Power Automedia will showcase its DragZine.com NMCA Street Outlaw project car, Blown Z, on the cover of an upcoming JEGS catalog. Power Automedia, Murrieta, CA; 951-677-2626.

Day at the Hay—a brand-new, one-day-only event—was added to the 2015 schedule of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys-Speedway Motors Day at the Hay will take place Saturday, June 27, at Pinnacle Bank Arena festival grounds at the Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature an outdoor show-and-shine with awards for all years, makes and models of American-made and American-powered cars and trucks. Vendor exhibits, the Goodguys AutoCross and live music will be featured. Goodguys Enterprises Inc., Pleasanton, CA; 925-838-9876.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Toyo Tires is the official tire of the Boston Red Sox baseball club. The multi-year agreement includes Toyo Tires signage in Fenway Park. The company will also promote the official tire designation through marketing efforts, including in dealerships and advertising in the New England area. Toyo Tire USA Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.

Betts Co. appointed Bill Betts to a newly created position of president and chief operating officer. Mike Betts, formerly president of Betts Co., will actively continue in the business as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer. Betts Co. has been owned and led by members of the Betts family without interruption throughout its 147-year history. Bill Betts joined Betts Co. in June 2007 after a successful two-year stint with Protiviti Inc. In his new role, he will have primary responsibility for Betts Co.’s three business units and development of its overall strategic direction.

Brenton Productions named Andrea Nicholson account manager. Nicholson’s role focuses on expanding the company’s customer base and increasing marketing exposure for existing clients. “Ms. Nicholson brings a broad range of experience stretching over 13 years in media sales, production and distribution elements of the business, including management of advertising sales for MyClassicGarage.com and NASCAR Productions, overseeing sales efforts of competition and lifestyle content for network and digital-use clients,” said Brenton Managing Partner Jim Cozzie. Nicholson is an active member of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network. Brenton Productions, Mooresville, NC; 800-572-7798.

Denise Rondini, a writer and consultant in the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry, joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the advisory board. In addition to her new role, Rondini will continue as president of Rondini Communications, a company specializing in researching and writing about the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry. Rondini has covered the trucking industry since 1982 and is a former editor of Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service magazines.

Auto Meter Products Inc. acquired Palmer Performance Engineering Inc. and entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Brian Palmer and the DashLogic development team. With this acquisition, Auto Meter will add the DashCommand app to its instrumentation product line. The app can turn any iOS or Android smartphone or tablet into a fully customized dashboard and diagnostic tool. Auto Meter also acquired the ScanXL and ScanXL Pro diagnostic scan tools, which will be added to its test-equipment product range. Finally, Auto Meter added the DashLogic display controller to its instrumentation business and technology portfolio. Auto Meter, Sycamore, IL; 866-248-6356.

Centric Parts and AP Exhaust Technologies announced a joint board agreement to allow AP Executive Chairman Vange Proimos to join the Centric Parts board of directors and Centric President and CEO Dan Lelchuk to join the board of AP. Proimos and Lelchuk have vast experience in the aftermarket hard-parts industry and believe that the joint board appointments will bolster the position of both companies in the marketplace and promote opportunities to collaborate to better serve customers. AP Exhaust Technologies, Goldsboro, NC; 919-580-2000.

International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as vice president and general manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s interior division—a position he has held since December 2007. James Bayley succeeds Gabbard. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, transportation technologies and original-equipment services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continental Tire The Americas, Fort Mill, SC; 704-583-3900.

TI Automotive added Michael Grimes to its aftermarket team as sales manager. Grimes reports directly to Doug Thomson, director, North American aftermarket. Grimes is responsible for raising the visibility of TI Automotive in the high-performance aftermarket segment. Grimes joins TI Automotive from Cleveland-based Accel Performance Group, where he was director of retail sales. TI Automotive, Caro, MI; 989-672-8260.

Ryan Levesque, the first apprenticeship recipient for the Hagerty Education Program (HEP) at America’s Car Museum, completed his first six months of training with Precision Motor Cars. HEP awards scholarships and grants to prepare young adults for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. Levesque’s apprenticeship is part of a program that has awarded more than $2.75 million since 2005 for automobile and antique boat restoration education and training. Levesque apprenticed with Keith Flickinger, owner and master craftsman for Precision Motor Cars (a HEP partner), to get more hours under the hood while honing his craft, restoring vehicles from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Hagerty Insurance, Traverse City, MI; 800-922-4050.

SEMA News—June 2015

ELECTIONS

Q&A With Donnie Eatherly

SEMA News: Why are you running for chair-elect of the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD)?

Donnie Eatherly: I am very passionate about this industry and channels of distribution. I think my perspective would be good on all distribution-channel issues as well as how industry changes, policies and legislation affect how our products make it to consumers.

I began my automotive career as a teenager, and my expertise would fall in most areas of running a small business: sales; inventory management; marketing; and managing capital, resources and people. My unique skills include the ability to distill complex issues and explain them in terms that anyone can understand.

My broad perspective allows me to examine issues from all points of view—whether it favors distribution, manufacturers, jobbers, reps or consumers—and consider all perspectives before reaching conclusions intended to benefit everyone involved.

I am qualified to fulfill this position because of my industry tenure and contacts and my previous hands-on participation with the Performance Warehouse Association BOD and the SEMA BOD. I bring a unique perspective from the distribution channel that has been missing from this position over the last 30 years.

Although I might be in the distribution channel, I do know that the SEMA BOD represents all segments of the aftermarket. I am confident that I can do the job and bring my no-nonsense leadership to the BOD and staff, hold to agendas, and uphold the past chairman’s legacy and commitment to getting the job done for our industry.

SN: Recruiting young people to work in the specialty-equipment industry continues to be an important initiative at SEMA. As chairman, what would you hope to accomplish on this issue during your term, and what opportunities should the association pursue?

DE: This question, which I affectionately call “the fountain of youth question,” comes up at every turn in all forms of industry except the electronics and technology sectors.

We have a council in the Young Executives Network (YEN) that we can obviously tap for ideas and initiatives (and I would, if elected), but I think it boils down to the cost of vehicles, vehicle complexity, the cool factor and wages.

When most of us older folks were coming up in the industry, we didn’t have distracting technology to spend our money on. Cars were simpler to work on and more affordable (the hot-rod parts were, too!). Opportunities to engage younger people could include looking into the interests of Monster Energy Supercross and X Games consumer groups, then generating some ideas from that information.

The wage issue is an industry-wide problem because of over distribution and the Internet marketplace. Frankly, it’s a far more daunting task that will involve a lot more input and thought from all councils and industry leaders to see if we can put not only the cool factor into attracting young people to our industry but also being able to afford a cool car or truck and our products to go with it.

SN: What do you see on the legislative and/or regulatory front that poses the greatest concern for SEMA members?

DE: Armies of lawmakers churn out legislation by the day—so much, in fact, that SEMA had the foresight years ago to open an office and staff it in Washington, D.C., to keep up with the bills that pose the most harm to our industry. The ones we must stay on top of are those that affect vehicle emissions and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, intellectual property rights and importing/exporting, business tax reform and health-care costs, and labor laws such as card check and wage and hour.

The list is long, but if I’m elected, I would work with the SEMA D.C. office to help identify and prioritize the most harmful issues that are closest to passing.

SN: What kind of impact can the industry expect from the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC), and what should be the association’s goals for the program for the next five years?

DE: The SDC is the largest and most industrious benefits project ever taken on by SEMA. I was on the Board during its formation, and I lobbied for it from the position of someone directly involved. Our company, P&E Distributors, has seen firsthand the benefits this program has brought to the industry. P&E was able to tap into SDC data to participate in marketplaces and do business with customers we would not have had the opportunity to prior to its creation, mostly due to technical and cost limitations. SDC has immense potential, including more data-exchange opportunities—for example, sales-by-part-number data shared between distribution channel partners and vendors as well as shared orders and inventory feeds among participants.

When it comes to data, there seems to be an endless list of wants, but I think SDC is off to a very good start. Under good Board and staff leadership, SDC can yield member benefits for years to come.

SN: The 2014 SEMA Show concluded with a first-ever afterparty open to the pubic—SEMA Ignited—as a way to create enhanced value for exhibitors. What are your thoughts on this new consumer awareness initiative, and what goals should the association pursue as we move forward?

DE: As an attendee, I was very impressed at the participation and activity from both consumers and manufacturers. SEMA has been toying with the idea of a consumer day for years, and from what I saw from this first event, the public turned out pretty favorably for a Friday-night get-together headlined by the coolest rides on the planet!

The members-at-large that I’ve talked to over the years have always mentioned that SEMA should do more to market to consumers about our industry and products. If you step back and think about the TV shows and networks devoted to the automotive aftermarket, I would say that the industry is doing pretty well at getting the word out to the choir. But how can we do even better?

We could look at moving the event from Friday to Saturday, which would allow more participation from the public. Looking ahead two or three years, we could even make it a Saturday–Sunday event that we might call “SEMA Finals.” This type of event could include “regionals” held around the country, through which you could earn your ticket to the SEMA Finals to display alongside the SEMA Show vehicles.

I think it has a very good foundation, and I would challenge the councils, in particular HRIA and ARMO to help us with ideas like I mentioned above moving forward.

SN: In 2014, SEMA officially opened the doors of the SEMA Garage. What opportunities do you see to further expand or enhance the capabilities of the SEMA Garage?

DE: Since I last served on the BOD, SEMA has made large investments on behalf of the membership in the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar. This program, if leveraged fully, would allow our manufacturing members to bring technology, creativity and innovation back to their companies at a more economical cost. Done correctly, this will allow our members to keep up with changing vehicle complexities and technologies—and to bring more products to the marketplace.

If elected, I will challenge the councils and staff on how we can enhance the benefits, and I will use my sales and marketing leadership experience to help staff and councils promote these programs to the members in order to generate more use and a greater return on investment.

SN: What would you say about the importance of the role of the Board in the SEMA organization and why SEMA members need to vote in this year’s BOD election?

DE: The Board is so important because it represents the voice of all voting members. Board members are responsible for directing the association’s resources, including determining how those resources will be allocated and used on behalf of the members.

A good Board must be visionary but pragmatic—good leaders and consensus builders who are willing to vote on behalf of the entire membership, even if it might not be ideal for them or the companies they work for.

It’s important to vote in SEMA’s BOD elections just as it is important to vote in general federal and state elections; the people who win set the direction and tone for the years to come. For example, over the last eight years or so, SEMA has taken on some ambitious benefit projects for its members because of the previous BOD’s leadership ability and strategic planning.

It’s important to vote because SEMA is hitting its stride on some of those ambitious projects—and it’s decision time on whether or how we continue investing in those and get our membership to take full advantage of them.

Make your voice heard and vote in this year’s SEMA Board election when the ballots are available. I’m running for the chair-elect position—and I’m counting on your support!