By SEMA Editors

SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger.

For the fifth consecutive year, SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry age 35 and younger. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2017—whether they’re in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media, or distribution—SEMA News would like to hear from you.

It is very likely that SEMA members are currently working with creative and talented young professionals who are already moving the industry in new and different directions. They’re also the ones who have played major roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies—in areas that include marketing and product development—with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach and customer interaction.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that are sure to become big names in the future. What they’ll have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed. These are people who know what’s going on at the ground level, who see opportunities that are now forming and who travel in circles that may be very different from those of our “old-school” industry leaders.

Winners will be chosen based on their business successes, contributions to their organizations, industry knowledge and community involvement. We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2017 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 31, 2017.

By SEMA Editors

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

• SEMA Virtual Career Fair, June 1, 2017, 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT)

• Jeep Heritage Expo, June 3, 2017, Omix-ADA/Rugged Ridge Headquarters, Suwanee, Georgia

• HRIA General Membership Meeting, July 6, 2017, Goodguys PPG Nationals, Columbus, Ohio

• TORA General Membership Meeting, June 9, 2017, Ontario Truck & Jeep Fest, Ontario, California

• PRO General Membership Meeting, June 15, 2017, Detroit Metro Airport Marriott, Detroit

• SEMA Measuring Session, June 15, 2017, Mazda Technical Research Facility, Irvine, California

• Alex Xydias 95th Birthday Bash, June 17, 2017, Petersen Garage at Fairplex, Pomona, California

• SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, June 19–20, 2017, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

• SEMA Town Hall Meeting, July 11, 2017, Competition Specialties, Auburn, Washington

• Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 14, 2017

• 2017 SEMA Export Fair, July 25–26, 2017, SEMA Garage, Diamond Bar, California

• SEMA Installation Gala, July 28, 2017, Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, Pomona, California

• HRIA General Membership Meeting, August 24, 2017, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Pleasanton, California

• 2017 SEMA China Business Development Program, September 6–10, 2017, Shanghai, China

• Manufacturing Day, October 6, 2017

• 2017 SEMA Show, October 31–November 3, 2017, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

• 2017 PRI Trade Show, December 7–9, 2017, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis

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

By Jason Catullo

Circus Circus is among several Las Vegas hotels that are available for less than $150 per night.

Showgoers who have not yet secured rooms for the 2017 SEMA Show are encouraged to check out the hotel deals and options available on www.SEMAShow.com/travel. All hotel reservations made through the SEMA Show’s official housing partner, OnPeak, come with guaranteed low rates, no hidden fees and exclusive room blocks. 

The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available. Hotels can be searched and sorted by alphabetical order, rating, distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center or price. The following are hotels available for less than $150 per night.

• Circus Circus
• Excalibur
• Luxor
• Stratosphere

For an extra level of service and assurance, guests are identified as SEMA Showgoers, and the hotel staff is prepared to deliver a higher level of service and direct guests to Show-related programs, such as free shuttles.

Read more about the benefits of booking through the Show’s official housing provider.

For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CDT). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Note: Attendees and exhibitors should be vigilant if approached by companies or services other than OnPeak that imply or claim to be an official housing provider of the SEMA Show. Management is aware of other housing companies and travel agencies that may be aggressively pursuing you or your company to book your guest rooms through their company at supposedly significant discounts.

Reservations made through an agency other than OnPeak are at your own risk. Exhibitors and attendees contacted by another housing company trying to sell hotel rooms should notify SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

Companies that are not affiliated with the SEMA Show include:

• Book My Rooms LLC
• Convention Housing Management
• Convention Expo Travel
• Elite Corporate Planners
• Exhibition Housing Services
• Expo Housing
• Global Housing Management (GHM Travel)
• HDMC Group
• IEP Group
• International Events
• Le Company LLC
• TradeShow Housing
• WholesaleTravelPlanners

By Jason Catullo

Circus Circus is among several Las Vegas hotels that are available for less than $150 per night.

Showgoers who have not yet secured rooms for the 2017 SEMA Show are encouraged to check out the hotel deals and options available on www.SEMAShow.com/travel. All hotel reservations made through the SEMA Show’s official housing partner, OnPeak, come with guaranteed low rates, no hidden fees and exclusive room blocks. 

The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available. Hotels can be searched and sorted by alphabetical order, rating, distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center or price. The following are hotels available for less than $150 per night.

• Circus Circus
• Excalibur
• Luxor
• Stratosphere

For an extra level of service and assurance, guests are identified as SEMA Showgoers, and the hotel staff is prepared to deliver a higher level of service and direct guests to Show-related programs, such as free shuttles.

Read more about the benefits of booking through the Show’s official housing provider.

For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CDT). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Note: Attendees and exhibitors should be vigilant if approached by companies or services other than OnPeak that imply or claim to be an official housing provider of the SEMA Show. Management is aware of other housing companies and travel agencies that may be aggressively pursuing you or your company to book your guest rooms through their company at supposedly significant discounts.

Reservations made through an agency other than OnPeak are at your own risk. Exhibitors and attendees contacted by another housing company trying to sell hotel rooms should notify SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

Companies that are not affiliated with the SEMA Show include:

• Book My Rooms LLC
• Convention Housing Management
• Convention Expo Travel
• Elite Corporate Planners
• Exhibition Housing Services
• Expo Housing
• Global Housing Management (GHM Travel)
• HDMC Group
• IEP Group
• International Events
• Le Company LLC
• TradeShow Housing
• WholesaleTravelPlanners

In partnership with Mazda, the SEMA Garage has announced the ’17 Mazda CX-5 measuring session. Every angle and aspect of this best-selling CUV has been improved to make driving better, thanks to more than 250 enhancements. Mazda designers and engineers accomplished features including a quieter cabin and available metal wood trim without sacrificing driving dynamics. As a result, this carefully crafted and refined CX-5 is versatile, spacious, innovative and efficient, with up to an EPA-estimated 31 mpg (highway).

In partnership with Mazda, the SEMA Garage has announced the ’17 Mazda CX-5 measuring session. Every angle and aspect of this best-selling CUV has been improved to make driving better, thanks to more than 250 enhancements. Mazda designers and engineers accomplished features including a quieter cabin and available metal wood trim without sacrificing driving dynamics. As a result, this carefully crafted and refined CX-5 is versatile, spacious, innovative and efficient, with up to an EPA-estimated 31 mpg (highway).

In partnership with Mazda, the SEMA Garage has announced the ’17 Mazda CX-5 measuring session. Every angle and aspect of this best-selling CUV has been improved to make driving better, thanks to more than 250 enhancements. Mazda designers and engineers accomplished features including a quieter cabin and available metal wood trim without sacrificing driving dynamics. As a result, this carefully crafted and refined CX-5 is versatile, spacious, innovative and efficient, with up to an EPA-estimated 31 mpg (highway).

Editor-in-Chief for Hot Rod magazine Evan Perkins talks with Dennis Pittsenbarger about the future of the magazine and their role in the industry.

Editor-in-Chief for Hot Rod magazine Evan Perkins talks with Dennis Pittsenbarger about the future of the magazine and their role in the industry.

By Chad Simon

Mitch Fogle, chair-elect candidate.	Tim Martin, chair-elect candidate.

Voting for the 2017 SEMA Board of Directors is open until May 24, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). SEMA members who do not have their election login information contained in the email from noreply@directvote.net, which was sent May 10, 2017, and in the cover letter sent by U.S. Mail, dated April 27, 2017, please click here. Enter the email address that is on file with SEMA, and election login information will be sent via email.

The following is the slate of candidates vying for a seat on the Board:

Chair-elect Category (one open seat)

• Mitch Fogle, president and CEO, Lund International
• Tim Martin, vice president, K&N Engineering

Distributor/Retailer Category (one open seat)

• Greg Adler, CEO, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Brian Lounsberry, CEO, Motovicity Distribution

Manufacturers Category (one open seat)

• James Lawrence, CEO, Power Automedia
• Shahriar “Nick” Niakan, president and CEO, Advanced Flow Engineering Inc. (aFe Power)
• Dennis Weese, president, LINE-X

To learn more about this year's candidates, visit www.sema.org/2017-bod-candidates. The site contains biographical information and statements by candidates running for an open position on the SEMA Board of Directors. SEMA members are urged to review the background information provided and cast qualified votes for the candidates of their choice.

For more information, contact Susan Alfonso at 909-978-6671 or susana@sema.org.