Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

 

	Robert Spector

Robert Spector, of Robert Spector Consulting, has been involved in customer service since the age of 13, when he first went to work in his mother and father’s butcher shop. Working alongside his parents, he learned firsthand what it takes to take care of customers—and to keep them loyal. Those lessons inspired his latest book, The Mom & Pop Store, which features interviews with successful independent retailers from all over the world.

Join Spector and the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), as they bring together the practical wisdom of mom and pop with the sophisticated strategy of Nordstrom—the subject of Spector's bestselling book, The Nordstrom Way. Spector believes that elements of great customer service are universal, regardless of the size of your organization.

Don’t miss this information-packed webinar Thursday, January 26, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

Participate live or download the webinar when it's convenient. And remember: SEI webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

 

	Robert Spector

Robert Spector, of Robert Spector Consulting, has been involved in customer service since the age of 13, when he first went to work in his mother and father’s butcher shop. Working alongside his parents, he learned firsthand what it takes to take care of customers—and to keep them loyal. Those lessons inspired his latest book, The Mom & Pop Store, which features interviews with successful independent retailers from all over the world.

Join Spector and the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), as they bring together the practical wisdom of mom and pop with the sophisticated strategy of Nordstrom—the subject of Spector's bestselling book, The Nordstrom Way. Spector believes that elements of great customer service are universal, regardless of the size of your organization.

Don’t miss this information-packed webinar Thursday, January 26, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

Participate live or download the webinar when it's convenient. And remember: SEI webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Here is a photo collection of more than 330 Ford vehicles on display during the 2011 SEMA Show. The collection is just part of the thousands of Show photos of new products and custom vehicles. View all of the photos at www.semaphotos.com.

Here is a photo collection of more than 330 Ford vehicles on display during the 2011 SEMA Show. The collection is just part of the thousands of Show photos of new products and custom vehicles. View all of the photos at www.semaphotos.com.

President Obama wants Congress to grant him authority to reorganize the federal government, starting with the merger of one department and five agencies that govern business, trade and export issues. Former presidents had such authority for more than 50 years, from the Hoover through Reagan administrations. President Obama has requested a 90-day fast-track procedure, giving Congress an up-or-down vote on each proposal. The intent is to consolidate functions and reduce duplication and the federal workforce.
 
The White House has specifically proposed merging the Commerce Department and five agencies tied to the business community: the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Trade and Development Agency. The new department would oversee trade, investment, business/economic development, technology and economic statistics and be led by a cabinet-level secretary. While Congress considers the issue, President Obama intends to elevate the current SBA administrator position to a cabinet-level post, at least until the new department is organized.
 
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is leading the effort over the next 12 months to explore ways to streamline the agencies. For example, the agencies provide quite different export services for businesses, from loan guarantees to negotiating of trade agreements to direct assistance to U.S. companies.  
 
SEMA is reviewing the proposal. While we welcome efforts to consolidate functions within the federal government and to make the SBA administrator a cabinet-level post, the reorganization also poses a challenge to preserving unique SBA and export-related programs that address the specific needs of the small-business community. 

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

The shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. recently delivered these photos of the Nissan Pathfinder for 2013. The team reports that the new Pathfinder will ride on a uni-body platform, replacing the current body-on-frame version that is slated for production for the '13 model year.

The Pathfinder is riding on the D platform, which is also shared with the Infiniti JX, Nissan Murano and Nissan Maxima. The new Pathfinder is front-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive option will be made available, according to Priddy & Co. Carrying the codename P42K, the Priddy team also expects three rows of seats, engine offerings similar to those on the JX, and likely a new hybrid offering.

Photo credit: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company