Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit YEN's website

	YEN will send 10 network members on the Hot Rod Power Tour again this summer to share their industry experience.

Apply for YEN’s Highest Rated Member Benefit

SEMA’s Young Executives Network (YEN) will send 10 network members on the Hot Rod Power Tour again this summer to share their industry experience. Not only will participants enjoy tour access, but they will also each receive an impressive prize package.

YEN Power Tour participants will receive a grant from SEMA to help cover tour expenses. Five individuals will drive their own vehicles and receive $1,750, while the five other passengers will receive $500. Each participant will also receive:

• Hotel accommodations
• Free VIP entry into the Power Tour
• Ticket to the opening night hospitality party
• Premier parking location in the YEN corral
• Long hauler gifts
• SEMA swag items

(Please note that all benefits received are considered taxable income.)

The participating network members will represent different niches in the specialty-equipment market. They will interact with tour attendees and visit schools along the seven-city, seven-day journey to share about their careers and engage the next generation of industry executives. The participants will also take the tour online through the YEN Facebook page, Twitter and other social media outlets.

Learn more and apply today to join the YEN Power Tour. Applications will be accepted through April 10. All members of YEN are eligible to apply. Not yet a member? Join today.

	During last year's competition, Roger Peterson, founder and CEO of MG Research LLC, introduced a mobile app that engages enthusiasts and collects useful market information for specialty-equipment manufacturers.

Let SEMA Help Launch Your Business

By Amanda Gubbins

Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 SEMA Launch Pad, Presented by YEN. The competition, now entering its third year, gives automotive innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 an industry platform for their budding businesses.

Roger Peterson, founder and CEO of MG Research LLC, was a contestant in the 2014 competition. He and his concept—a mobile app that engages enthusiasts and collects useful market information for specialty-equipment manufacturers—made it all the way to the final stage of the competition, where he gave a live presentation to a panel of respected industry leaders during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

“As I look at the experience overall, I have to say that as a very, very young company, it did a tremendous amount of good for us in the sense that we went from being a concept, an untested idea, and we were forced to mature to our best capacity,” Peterson reflected. “We were forced to ripen as best that we could. It taught us about ourselves, our will, our desire to see this through and it brought out the best in our team. It definitely brought out the best in me.”

Launch Pad applicants are evaluated based on their video submissions by a task force, which will select the top 10. The top five candidates are narrowed down via a Facebook voting campaign. These finalists will each pitch their business plan at the 2015 SEMA Show, where the judging panel will select the winner, who will receive a prize package designed to fuel the next steps of his or her business.

Peterson explained that each of the finalists gained a certain amount of validation, which made the experience valuable. For MG Research, the feedback and exposure was a catalyst for much of the growth the company has experienced over the past months.

“We no longer have to strain ourselves trying to make this vision visible to other people. It’s now plastered all over the SEMA website, and it’s represented well. It has taken us from being one of a million young companies trying to come out of the woodwork, to one of a few that actually has accomplished something. As we are moving along now to our funding activities, we are going to find out exactly what the strength of the SEMA Launch Pad experience is.”

The bottom line, according the Peterson?

“We were all winners in the sense that we all walked away with what we needed to go to the next stage [of business],” he said.

Applications are due July 3, 2015. Find out what Launch Pad can do for your business. For more information, and to fill out the application, visit www.sema.org/launch-pad. If you have questions, contact Bryan Harrison.

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Visit ARMO's website.

	ARMO's Hot Products Showcase will take place April 23–25, 2015, at Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Register Your Restoration Parts for the Hot Products Showcase

• Be the product of an ARMO-member company.
• Be available for sale (market-ready) by the opening of the Showcase, April 23.
• Demonstrate unique/innovative technology and/or be a benefit to the restoration industry.

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

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

By Zane Clark

	Workshop attendees will receive instruction on how to take advantage of the SEMA Garage Photography Studio and learn important information about the type of cameras and equipment needed to get the desired shot.

Hosted by the SEMA Garage, famed automotive photographer Randy Lorentzen and Samy’s Camera Rental Manager Harold Sweet will walk marketing and media professionals through the keys to taking photos that will capture customers. In this hands-on workshop, attendees will walk away with practical tips and solutions addressing the fundamental questions of photography, including:

• Is there a clear center of interest?
• Is the image composed well?
• Is the focus tack sharp and is the exposure appropriate?
• Does the photo tell a story?
• Does the lighting enhance the subject and message?
• Is the approach creative?

• A full-day photo session at the SEMA Garage for half-day price.
• Discounted professional services from Randy Lorentzen.
• 20% rental discount from Samy’s Camera for first-time customers.

Register today. Due to the interactive nature of the workshop, attendance will be limited to 15 attendees. Maximum of two employees per company permitted.

About the SEMA Garage Photography Studio

At 1,600 sq. ft., the SEMA Garage Photo Studio is the perfect rental photography studio for shooting products, people and vehicles. The photo cove features solid-white infinity walls and adjustable overhead lighting. Rental includes exclusive access to the studio, hot lights and even GoJaks to expedite your automotive shooting experience.

Workshop Details

When: Thursday, May 7, 2015
Where: SEMA Garage, 1577 South Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Agenda:

8:30 a.m.: Coffee & Donut Registration
9:30 a.m.: Interactive Photography Workshop
11:30 a.m.: Lunch is served
12:30 p.m.: Workshop adjourned

Contact information: Rachael Salazar, senior coordinator, SEMA Garage OEM relations.

By Zane Clark

	Workshop attendees will receive instruction on how to take advantage of the SEMA Garage Photography Studio and learn important information about the type of cameras and equipment needed to get the desired shot.

Hosted by the SEMA Garage, famed automotive photographer Randy Lorentzen and Samy’s Camera Rental Manager Harold Sweet will walk marketing and media professionals through the keys to taking photos that will capture customers. In this hands-on workshop, attendees will walk away with practical tips and solutions addressing the fundamental questions of photography, including:

• Is there a clear center of interest?
• Is the image composed well?
• Is the focus tack sharp and is the exposure appropriate?
• Does the photo tell a story?
• Does the lighting enhance the subject and message?
• Is the approach creative?

• A full-day photo session at the SEMA Garage for half-day price.
• Discounted professional services from Randy Lorentzen.
• 20% rental discount from Samy’s Camera for first-time customers.

Register today. Due to the interactive nature of the workshop, attendance will be limited to 15 attendees. Maximum of two employees per company permitted.

About the SEMA Garage Photography Studio

At 1,600 sq. ft., the SEMA Garage Photo Studio is the perfect rental photography studio for shooting products, people and vehicles. The photo cove features solid-white infinity walls and adjustable overhead lighting. Rental includes exclusive access to the studio, hot lights and even GoJaks to expedite your automotive shooting experience.

Workshop Details

When: Thursday, May 7, 2015
Where: SEMA Garage, 1577 South Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Agenda:

8:30 a.m.: Coffee & Donut Registration
9:30 a.m.: Interactive Photography Workshop
11:30 a.m.: Lunch is served
12:30 p.m.: Workshop adjourned

Contact information: Rachael Salazar, senior coordinator, SEMA Garage OEM relations.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to the Velocity Network March 8 to watch the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, which was chronicled in a one-hour television special. Taking viewers behind the closed doors of the 2014 SEMA Show, the program featured the top-10 builders and their journey through the competition. Viewers not only got to see the craftsmanship and artistry of the best vehicle builders and car customizers in the country, but they also learned some interesting, unknown facts about the vehicles builds, including:

• When it’s okay to use a red Ford emblem.
• What to do when there are no aftermarket racing parts available for your Triton V10.
• How to pull off a four-door ’32 Ford Highboy.
• What was done to the torsion bar of a ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane that made it so unique.

• April 3, 10:00 p.m.
• April 4, 1:00 a.m.
• April 9, 10:00 p.m.
• April 10, 1:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m.
• April 11, 4:00 a.m.
• April 12, 6:00 p.m.
• April 15, 7:00 p.m.
• April 16, 2:00 a.m.
• April 18, 2:00 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to the Velocity Network March 8 to watch the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, which was chronicled in a one-hour television special. Taking viewers behind the closed doors of the 2014 SEMA Show, the program featured the top-10 builders and their journey through the competition. Viewers not only got to see the craftsmanship and artistry of the best vehicle builders and car customizers in the country, but they also learned some interesting, unknown facts about the vehicles builds, including:

• When it’s okay to use a red Ford emblem.
• What to do when there are no aftermarket racing parts available for your Triton V10.
• How to pull off a four-door ’32 Ford Highboy.
• What was done to the torsion bar of a ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane that made it so unique.

• April 3, 10:00 p.m.
• April 4, 1:00 a.m.
• April 9, 10:00 p.m.
• April 10, 1:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m.
• April 11, 4:00 a.m.
• April 12, 6:00 p.m.
• April 15, 7:00 p.m.
• April 16, 2:00 a.m.
• April 18, 2:00 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to the Velocity Network March 8 to watch the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, which was chronicled in a one-hour television special. Taking viewers behind the closed doors of the 2014 SEMA Show, the program featured the top-10 builders and their journey through the competition. Viewers not only got to see the craftsmanship and artistry of the best vehicle builders and car customizers in the country, but they also learned some interesting, unknown facts about the vehicles builds, including:

• When it’s okay to use a red Ford emblem.
• What to do when there are no aftermarket racing parts available for your Triton V10.
• How to pull off a four-door ’32 Ford Highboy.
• What was done to the torsion bar of a ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane that made it so unique.

• April 3, 10:00 p.m.
• April 4, 1:00 a.m.
• April 9, 10:00 p.m.
• April 10, 1:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m.
• April 11, 4:00 a.m.
• April 12, 6:00 p.m.
• April 15, 7:00 p.m.
• April 16, 2:00 a.m.
• April 18, 2:00 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to the Velocity Network March 8 to watch the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, which was chronicled in a one-hour television special. Taking viewers behind the closed doors of the 2014 SEMA Show, the program featured the top-10 builders and their journey through the competition. Viewers not only got to see the craftsmanship and artistry of the best vehicle builders and car customizers in the country, but they also learned some interesting, unknown facts about the vehicles builds, including:

• When it’s okay to use a red Ford emblem.
• What to do when there are no aftermarket racing parts available for your Triton V10.
• How to pull off a four-door ’32 Ford Highboy.
• What was done to the torsion bar of a ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane that made it so unique.

• April 3, 10:00 p.m.
• April 4, 1:00 a.m.
• April 9, 10:00 p.m.
• April 10, 1:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m.
• April 11, 4:00 a.m.
• April 12, 6:00 p.m.
• April 15, 7:00 p.m.
• April 16, 2:00 a.m.
• April 18, 2:00 p.m.