The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has openings for Chair-Elect, two seats in the Manufacturer category and one seat in the Manufacturers’ Representative category.

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

The following seats are open for this year’s election:

• Chair-elect (one open seat)
• Manufacturer (two open seats)
• Manufacturers’ Representative (one open seat)

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board-member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 3, 2019. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process; our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the nominating committee.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Automotive Service Equipment Territory Sales Manager: Snap-on Equipment is hiring an experienced sales specialist to manage sales in a territory that includes Salem, Oregon, and surrounding areas. The territory manager will sell quality name-brand products to service centers, dealerships and body shops. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, capital equipment sales experience and automotive equipment sales experience.

Manufacturing Engineer: Transamerican Auto Parts is hiring a manufacturing engineer to evaluate existing manufacturing processes and workflows to identify areas for improvement, improve manufacturing processes using knowledge of product design and assembly requirements, evaluate proposed designs for manufacturability and provide cost estimates and establish an effective and efficient work sequence for new products and equipment. The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and two years of previous related experience in an applicable fabrication/engineering environment. An automotive manufacturing background is preferred.

Social Media Marketing Manager: Cognito Motorsports is hiring a social media manager responsible for implementing and maintaining email and social-media marketing campaigns as well as interfacing with various clients in the truck, SUV and UTV industry. This position will also generate, edit, publish and share daily content and manage company pages within each platform to increase the visibility of the company’s social content. Candidates should have a minimum of two years of experience working in the truck or UTV aftermarket; proven experience managing social-media content on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube; and verifiable experience managing website maintenance, SEO, Google Analytics and data analysis.

Product Catalog Coordinator: Moss Motors Ltd. is hiring a product catalog coordinator to ensure the company’s British car catalogs and website are always accurate and up to date. Multi-source research, such as factory parts books or periodic literature, will be required. This position is key to the addition of new parts, updates to existing parts and changes to the schematic presentation in the catalogs and on the web. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of automotive parts and systems, especially classic British cars, the ability to research and reference multiple information sources to establish a proper part application and experience with page layout and graphic editing software.

Shock Assembly Lead: AccuTune Off-Road Inc. is hiring a shock assembly lead to assemble, rebuild and revalve new and used shocks. Prior shock experience is required; automotive enthusiasts are preferred.

By SEMA Editors

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

• Three-Vehicle Measuring Session, January 21–22, 2019, SEMA Garage, Diamond Bar, California
• MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 22–24, 2019, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California
• SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, March 26–31, 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• SEMA Australia Business Development Conference, May 9–13, 2019, Melbourne, Australia
• Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 12, 2019
• 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, 2019, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

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

By SEMA Editors

SEMA members are invited to contact Stephanie Martinez at 909-978-6728 to schedule measuring appointments for the '19 Toyota Corolla hatchback.

The '19 Toyota Corolla hatchback is available at the SEMA Garage through January 8, 2019. SEMA members are invited to contact Stephanie Martinez at 909-978-6728 to schedule measuring appointments.

For 2019, Toyota constructed the Corolla to be lower, wider and shorter than previous models. The hatchback features a 2.0L Dynamic Force engine with direct injection, four inline cylinders and a six-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (IMT).

The Toyota Corolla hatchback was part of a recent SEMA Measuring Session that also featured the '20 Corolla sedan and ’19 Yaris.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA members are invited to contact Stephanie Martinez at 909-978-6728 to schedule measuring appointments for the '19 Toyota Corolla hatchback.

The '19 Toyota Corolla hatchback is available at the SEMA Garage through January 8, 2019. SEMA members are invited to contact Stephanie Martinez at 909-978-6728 to schedule measuring appointments.

For 2019, Toyota constructed the Corolla to be lower, wider and shorter than previous models. The hatchback features a 2.0L Dynamic Force engine with direct injection, four inline cylinders and a six-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (IMT).

The Toyota Corolla hatchback was part of a recent SEMA Measuring Session that also featured the '20 Corolla sedan and ’19 Yaris.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA: Battle of the Builders premieres Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on the MotorTrend TV Network and MotorTrend App.

Get a rare inside look at SEMA Show 2018, the world’s leading automotive event, in the all new SEMA: Battle of the Builders premiering Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT exclusively on the MotorTrend TV Network and MotorTrend App. Hosted by Tanner Foust and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the one-hour special takes audiences behind-the-scenes of SEMA Show, provides an up-close look at some of the top vehicles on site, and delivers exclusive interviews with the automotive industry’s leading experts and builders as they share personal stories about their journey to SEMA Show 2018.

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world as judged by industry authorities RJ De Vera from Meguiar’s, David Freiburger from MotorTrend’s Roadkill and Fred Williams from MotorTrend’s Dirt Every Day.

In addition to the competition, the SEMA: Battle of the Builders program includes features on SEMA’s expanded Young Guns regional program. Young Guns provided 14 up-and-coming builders (age 27 and younger) the opportunity to showcase their cars and talents at the 2018 SEMA Show. Winners from throughout the country were awarded an all-expenses paid trip to SEMA, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot, and entry into the Battle of the Builders competition.

A cast of social media influencers also contributed to SEMA: Battle of the Builders, including Sarah Raegan Greenwood (Sarah-n-Tuned); Emelia Hartford (@ms.emelia); Jack Milne (DURTYMAX, JACK); Chris Petruccio (Krispy Media); Chris Steinbacher (B is to Build); and Dustin Williams (@dustinw).

SEMA: Battle of the Builders is produced for MotorTrend by Brentwood Communications International Inc. (BCII). For BCII, Bud Brutsman is executive producer. For the MotorTrend TV Network, David Lee is executive producer and Robert S. Scanlon is president. Alex Wellen is global president and general manager of MotorTrend Group.

By SEMA Editors

Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, are the winners of the 2018 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Dual Championship.

The Final Half of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge 2018 Dual Championship took place last week at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. The championship included 17 teams that  traveled coast-to-coast to battle to be one of the Top 4 teams to move on and compete in the Elite Eight playoffs.

A total of 44 teams competed at the SEMA and PRI shows just to get into the Elite Eight competition. The top-four SEMA Show seeds against the top-four PRI show seeds.

The total time difference between first and fourth place teams was only two minutes and eight seconds. In the end, Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, won with an average time of 17:26.

The top four teams that moved on to the Elite Eight from the PRI Trade Show were Team Engine & Performance Warehouse from Elkhart Area Career Center, Elkhart, Indiana, who came in fourth place with an average time of 24:13. Team RHS Racing Heads from Forsyth Central High School in Cumming, Georgia, came in third place with an average of 24:04. Team Allstar Performance also from Forsyth Central High School in Cumming, Georgia, came in second place with an average of 21:16. The first place team was Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, with the best average of 18:12.

The top four teams from the SEMA Show were Team Custom Automotive Network (CAN), from Eastern Oklahoma Technology Center out of Choctaw, Oklahoma, with an average time of 18:35. Team Canton Racing Products, Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, Michigan, came in second place with an average of 19:57. Team Mr. Gasket, C D Hylton High School from Woodbridge, Pennsylvania, took third place with an average of 22:42. The first-place team was Edelbrock; Hunter High School from West Valley City, Utah, came in fourth place with an average of 23:57.

The times are based on three important parts. First, it is the average of the three times the teams competed. Second are the penalty minutes added for mistakes made during dis-assembly and re-assembly and the third part is a 50-question written test on parts and tools identification along with general engine and rules knowledge.

Each student earned scholarship opportunities ranging from $5,000–$10,000 from Ohio Technical College, School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, and Universal Technical Institute.

More information about the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program is available from Greg Parker at gparker@hotroddersoftomorrow.org.

By SEMA Editors

Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, are the winners of the 2018 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Dual Championship.

The Final Half of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge 2018 Dual Championship took place last week at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. The championship included 17 teams that  traveled coast-to-coast to battle to be one of the Top 4 teams to move on and compete in the Elite Eight playoffs.

A total of 44 teams competed at the SEMA and PRI shows just to get into the Elite Eight competition. The top-four SEMA Show seeds against the top-four PRI show seeds.

The total time difference between first and fourth place teams was only two minutes and eight seconds. In the end, Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, won with an average time of 17:26.

The top four teams that moved on to the Elite Eight from the PRI Trade Show were Team Engine & Performance Warehouse from Elkhart Area Career Center, Elkhart, Indiana, who came in fourth place with an average time of 24:13. Team RHS Racing Heads from Forsyth Central High School in Cumming, Georgia, came in third place with an average of 24:04. Team Allstar Performance also from Forsyth Central High School in Cumming, Georgia, came in second place with an average of 21:16. The first place team was Team Vibrant Performance, from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, with the best average of 18:12.

The top four teams from the SEMA Show were Team Custom Automotive Network (CAN), from Eastern Oklahoma Technology Center out of Choctaw, Oklahoma, with an average time of 18:35. Team Canton Racing Products, Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, Michigan, came in second place with an average of 19:57. Team Mr. Gasket, C D Hylton High School from Woodbridge, Pennsylvania, took third place with an average of 22:42. The first-place team was Edelbrock; Hunter High School from West Valley City, Utah, came in fourth place with an average of 23:57.

The times are based on three important parts. First, it is the average of the three times the teams competed. Second are the penalty minutes added for mistakes made during dis-assembly and re-assembly and the third part is a 50-question written test on parts and tools identification along with general engine and rules knowledge.

Each student earned scholarship opportunities ranging from $5,000–$10,000 from Ohio Technical College, School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, and Universal Technical Institute.

More information about the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program is available from Greg Parker at gparker@hotroddersoftomorrow.org.

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