SEMA Member News—July 2019

By Ellen McKoy

Reaping the Benefits of Member Resources

A quick search of the SEMA website (www.sema.org) reveals an abundance of member benefits covering a range of business resources and solutions. In fact, no matter a company’s membership category—manufacturer, distributor, manufacturers’ rep, retailer or installer—there are tools and resources to help companies make smarter business decisions; be more strategic; save money; and expand their network among like-minded colleagues and industry leaders.

The à-la-carte menu allows any employee of a member company to choose those benefits that best meet individual or business needs. For some, it might be market research reports that offer insights into the latest trends or cost-saving business insurance solutions. For others, it might mean participation in a SEMA council or network or access to product-development opportunities through the SEMA Garage, to name a few.

The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), in conjunction with the SEMA Garage, brings you the SEMA “ETTN Design & Validation Resource Guide.” This guide is designed to help manufacturers connect with companies capable of testing and validating products or software.

But sometimes even the most seasoned members might not be aware of or realize just how much impact a specific benefit might have on their businesses. Which is precisely what happened when Brad Grissom, vice president of JMS Performance Group, learned about the scope of the services offered through the SEMA Garage.

To hear Grissom tell it, it began with a meeting with SEMA Director of Membership Gary Vigil at the 2018 Keystone Big Show. While discussing SEMA’s resources, Vigil mentioned that the Garage has the ability to assist performance-parts manufacturers in securing executive orders (known as EOs) for their emissions-compliant products through the California Air Resources Board (CARB). That got Grissom’s attention.

As a manufacturer and supplier of OEM and aftermarket electronic components and systems designed to improve vehicle performance, Grissom was interested in securing EOs for the firm’s emissions-compliant products, but he was unaware that SEMA could help.

“When I spoke to Gary at the Big Show, he gave me a lot of information about the SEMA Garage that I had never been exposed to, and that was very helpful,” Grissom said. “He followed up with an email and copied Peter Treydte, the compliance center manager at the Garage. We started a dialog and put together a plan for us to start submitting our existing products for CARB executive orders. That’s the primary reason we reached out to the Garage.”

Fast Track to EO Approval

According to the CARB website, California law permits the sale of an aftermarket performance part only after an evaluation by CARB to ensure that the part does not raise emissions. Once CARB approves a part, it is granted an EO that allows the sale and installation of that part on pollution-controlled vehicles. The state law doesn’t apply just to performance-parts manufacturers, however. It also applies to everyone in the chain—distributors, installers and retailers—who are required to understand the legality of parts offered for sale in California and the consequences of failure to comply.

“At the end of the day, you have to have that executive order to ensure compliance,” Grissom said.

Securing an EO can be cumbersome, costly and time-consuming, but because SEMA staff has a working relationship with CARB, the process often moves along quickly and smoothly. As an added benefit, the member cost to utilize the Garage services is more affordable than pursuing an EO through an independent lab.

“The SEMA Garage really helped us navigate the way the data needs to be submitted to CARB,” Grissom said. “In the year since we started, we have received two executive orders, and we are working with the Garage to get executive orders for additional products. Three of those projects are currently ongoing and in the process of being tested.”

The process worked better than Grissom expected.

“To have somebody like Treydte, who is constantly engaging with CARB, help to streamline the process is next to impossible,” he said. “The relationship that SEMA and the SEMA Garage in particular have with CARB is well outside the norm. It’s priceless, and it’s priced right. If we had to go to an independent laboratory, it would’ve cost us twice as much money and taken twice as long. Frankly, more small to large manufacturers should be using the Garage to help them with a streamlined process.”

With a roster of resources that runs the gamut and that can fit any business, large or small, there is no shortage of opportunities to benefit from SEMA membership. This story is but one shining example. To discover what resources can help your business, contact SEMA Director of Membership Gary Vigil at 909-978-6738 or garyv@sema.org.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

By Ellen McKoy

Reaping the Benefits of Member Resources

A quick search of the SEMA website (www.sema.org) reveals an abundance of member benefits covering a range of business resources and solutions. In fact, no matter a company’s membership category—manufacturer, distributor, manufacturers’ rep, retailer or installer—there are tools and resources to help companies make smarter business decisions; be more strategic; save money; and expand their network among like-minded colleagues and industry leaders.

The à-la-carte menu allows any employee of a member company to choose those benefits that best meet individual or business needs. For some, it might be market research reports that offer insights into the latest trends or cost-saving business insurance solutions. For others, it might mean participation in a SEMA council or network or access to product-development opportunities through the SEMA Garage, to name a few.

The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), in conjunction with the SEMA Garage, brings you the SEMA “ETTN Design & Validation Resource Guide.” This guide is designed to help manufacturers connect with companies capable of testing and validating products or software.

But sometimes even the most seasoned members might not be aware of or realize just how much impact a specific benefit might have on their businesses. Which is precisely what happened when Brad Grissom, vice president of JMS Performance Group, learned about the scope of the services offered through the SEMA Garage.

To hear Grissom tell it, it began with a meeting with SEMA Director of Membership Gary Vigil at the 2018 Keystone Big Show. While discussing SEMA’s resources, Vigil mentioned that the Garage has the ability to assist performance-parts manufacturers in securing executive orders (known as EOs) for their emissions-compliant products through the California Air Resources Board (CARB). That got Grissom’s attention.

As a manufacturer and supplier of OEM and aftermarket electronic components and systems designed to improve vehicle performance, Grissom was interested in securing EOs for the firm’s emissions-compliant products, but he was unaware that SEMA could help.

“When I spoke to Gary at the Big Show, he gave me a lot of information about the SEMA Garage that I had never been exposed to, and that was very helpful,” Grissom said. “He followed up with an email and copied Peter Treydte, the compliance center manager at the Garage. We started a dialog and put together a plan for us to start submitting our existing products for CARB executive orders. That’s the primary reason we reached out to the Garage.”

Fast Track to EO Approval

According to the CARB website, California law permits the sale of an aftermarket performance part only after an evaluation by CARB to ensure that the part does not raise emissions. Once CARB approves a part, it is granted an EO that allows the sale and installation of that part on pollution-controlled vehicles. The state law doesn’t apply just to performance-parts manufacturers, however. It also applies to everyone in the chain—distributors, installers and retailers—who are required to understand the legality of parts offered for sale in California and the consequences of failure to comply.

“At the end of the day, you have to have that executive order to ensure compliance,” Grissom said.

Securing an EO can be cumbersome, costly and time-consuming, but because SEMA staff has a working relationship with CARB, the process often moves along quickly and smoothly. As an added benefit, the member cost to utilize the Garage services is more affordable than pursuing an EO through an independent lab.

“The SEMA Garage really helped us navigate the way the data needs to be submitted to CARB,” Grissom said. “In the year since we started, we have received two executive orders, and we are working with the Garage to get executive orders for additional products. Three of those projects are currently ongoing and in the process of being tested.”

The process worked better than Grissom expected.

“To have somebody like Treydte, who is constantly engaging with CARB, help to streamline the process is next to impossible,” he said. “The relationship that SEMA and the SEMA Garage in particular have with CARB is well outside the norm. It’s priceless, and it’s priced right. If we had to go to an independent laboratory, it would’ve cost us twice as much money and taken twice as long. Frankly, more small to large manufacturers should be using the Garage to help them with a streamlined process.”

With a roster of resources that runs the gamut and that can fit any business, large or small, there is no shortage of opportunities to benefit from SEMA membership. This story is but one shining example. To discover what resources can help your business, contact SEMA Director of Membership Gary Vigil at 909-978-6738 or garyv@sema.org.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Building Better Business for All

RepMatch is an online resource that helps manufacturers get connected with well-matched sales reps in a matter of minutes.

Manufacturers’ representatives are key channel partners. They are in the unique position to connect with virtually every aspect of the supply chain. From sales calls to warehouse distributors, retailers and installers in the territories they represent to their in-depth product and industry knowledge and sales expertise, reps provide valuable professional services to the manufacturers they represent.

Need help implementing programs and policies or assistance setting up a trade show exhibit? Want someone to train an in-house sales team or to follow up on leads? These and much more are all in a day’s work for a manufacturers’ rep.

But finding the right sales agent can be challenging and time-consuming. Which is precisely why the Manufacturers Representative
Network (MRN) created the RepMatch program.

Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Manufacturers’ reps bring a lot of value to the table. They deliver professional and dedicated service. They are driven by results—your success is their success—and one of the key benefits of hiring experienced sales representatives is that they already have a proven track record and a loyal and well-established customer base.

RepMatch is an online tool designed to connect manufacturers to sales reps who have years (if not decades) of experience in the aftermarket industry. And because RepMatch is an online tool, manufacturers can easily peruse the MRN member roster and connect to well-matched sales agents in a matter of minutes, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming meetings with prospects who may not be a good fit.

MRN rep-matching program helps sync the right manufacturer with the right independent sales rep during the SEMA Show.

Conversely, RepMatch also allows MRN members to find new-to-market manufacturers that may be seeking sales representation and help with gaining greater marketplace exposure for their products. Either way, RepMatch speeds the process, enabling manufacturers and sales agents to make quick connections.

Access to RepMatch is free to manufacturers as well as to independent sales agents who are members of MRN. Manufacturers looking for representation from experienced sales agents can easily register for RepMatch at www.sema.org/repmatch.

Registered RepMatch reps are notified when a manufacturer is in search of representation in the territories they represent. For those sales reps who are not members of MRN and would like to participate in and benefit from the RepMatch program, joining is easy and free: Simply visit the MRN website at www.sema.org/mrn. It’s the first step in building mutually profitable relationships for all.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Building Better Business for All

RepMatch is an online resource that helps manufacturers get connected with well-matched sales reps in a matter of minutes.

Manufacturers’ representatives are key channel partners. They are in the unique position to connect with virtually every aspect of the supply chain. From sales calls to warehouse distributors, retailers and installers in the territories they represent to their in-depth product and industry knowledge and sales expertise, reps provide valuable professional services to the manufacturers they represent.

Need help implementing programs and policies or assistance setting up a trade show exhibit? Want someone to train an in-house sales team or to follow up on leads? These and much more are all in a day’s work for a manufacturers’ rep.

But finding the right sales agent can be challenging and time-consuming. Which is precisely why the Manufacturers Representative
Network (MRN) created the RepMatch program.

Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Manufacturers’ reps bring a lot of value to the table. They deliver professional and dedicated service. They are driven by results—your success is their success—and one of the key benefits of hiring experienced sales representatives is that they already have a proven track record and a loyal and well-established customer base.

RepMatch is an online tool designed to connect manufacturers to sales reps who have years (if not decades) of experience in the aftermarket industry. And because RepMatch is an online tool, manufacturers can easily peruse the MRN member roster and connect to well-matched sales agents in a matter of minutes, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming meetings with prospects who may not be a good fit.

MRN rep-matching program helps sync the right manufacturer with the right independent sales rep during the SEMA Show.

Conversely, RepMatch also allows MRN members to find new-to-market manufacturers that may be seeking sales representation and help with gaining greater marketplace exposure for their products. Either way, RepMatch speeds the process, enabling manufacturers and sales agents to make quick connections.

Access to RepMatch is free to manufacturers as well as to independent sales agents who are members of MRN. Manufacturers looking for representation from experienced sales agents can easily register for RepMatch at www.sema.org/repmatch.

Registered RepMatch reps are notified when a manufacturer is in search of representation in the territories they represent. For those sales reps who are not members of MRN and would like to participate in and benefit from the RepMatch program, joining is easy and free: Simply visit the MRN website at www.sema.org/mrn. It’s the first step in building mutually profitable relationships for all.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Building Better Business for All

RepMatch is an online resource that helps manufacturers get connected with well-matched sales reps in a matter of minutes.

Manufacturers’ representatives are key channel partners. They are in the unique position to connect with virtually every aspect of the supply chain. From sales calls to warehouse distributors, retailers and installers in the territories they represent to their in-depth product and industry knowledge and sales expertise, reps provide valuable professional services to the manufacturers they represent.

Need help implementing programs and policies or assistance setting up a trade show exhibit? Want someone to train an in-house sales team or to follow up on leads? These and much more are all in a day’s work for a manufacturers’ rep.

But finding the right sales agent can be challenging and time-consuming. Which is precisely why the Manufacturers Representative
Network (MRN) created the RepMatch program.

Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Manufacturers’ reps bring a lot of value to the table. They deliver professional and dedicated service. They are driven by results—your success is their success—and one of the key benefits of hiring experienced sales representatives is that they already have a proven track record and a loyal and well-established customer base.

RepMatch is an online tool designed to connect manufacturers to sales reps who have years (if not decades) of experience in the aftermarket industry. And because RepMatch is an online tool, manufacturers can easily peruse the MRN member roster and connect to well-matched sales agents in a matter of minutes, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming meetings with prospects who may not be a good fit.

MRN rep-matching program helps sync the right manufacturer with the right independent sales rep during the SEMA Show.

Conversely, RepMatch also allows MRN members to find new-to-market manufacturers that may be seeking sales representation and help with gaining greater marketplace exposure for their products. Either way, RepMatch speeds the process, enabling manufacturers and sales agents to make quick connections.

Access to RepMatch is free to manufacturers as well as to independent sales agents who are members of MRN. Manufacturers looking for representation from experienced sales agents can easily register for RepMatch at www.sema.org/repmatch.

Registered RepMatch reps are notified when a manufacturer is in search of representation in the territories they represent. For those sales reps who are not members of MRN and would like to participate in and benefit from the RepMatch program, joining is easy and free: Simply visit the MRN website at www.sema.org/mrn. It’s the first step in building mutually profitable relationships for all.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Building Better Business for All

RepMatch is an online resource that helps manufacturers get connected with well-matched sales reps in a matter of minutes.

Manufacturers’ representatives are key channel partners. They are in the unique position to connect with virtually every aspect of the supply chain. From sales calls to warehouse distributors, retailers and installers in the territories they represent to their in-depth product and industry knowledge and sales expertise, reps provide valuable professional services to the manufacturers they represent.

Need help implementing programs and policies or assistance setting up a trade show exhibit? Want someone to train an in-house sales team or to follow up on leads? These and much more are all in a day’s work for a manufacturers’ rep.

But finding the right sales agent can be challenging and time-consuming. Which is precisely why the Manufacturers Representative
Network (MRN) created the RepMatch program.

Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Manufacturers’ reps bring a lot of value to the table. They deliver professional and dedicated service. They are driven by results—your success is their success—and one of the key benefits of hiring experienced sales representatives is that they already have a proven track record and a loyal and well-established customer base.

RepMatch is an online tool designed to connect manufacturers to sales reps who have years (if not decades) of experience in the aftermarket industry. And because RepMatch is an online tool, manufacturers can easily peruse the MRN member roster and connect to well-matched sales agents in a matter of minutes, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming meetings with prospects who may not be a good fit.

MRN rep-matching program helps sync the right manufacturer with the right independent sales rep during the SEMA Show.

Conversely, RepMatch also allows MRN members to find new-to-market manufacturers that may be seeking sales representation and help with gaining greater marketplace exposure for their products. Either way, RepMatch speeds the process, enabling manufacturers and sales agents to make quick connections.

Access to RepMatch is free to manufacturers as well as to independent sales agents who are members of MRN. Manufacturers looking for representation from experienced sales agents can easily register for RepMatch at www.sema.org/repmatch.

Registered RepMatch reps are notified when a manufacturer is in search of representation in the territories they represent. For those sales reps who are not members of MRN and would like to participate in and benefit from the RepMatch program, joining is easy and free: Simply visit the MRN website at www.sema.org/mrn. It’s the first step in building mutually profitable relationships for all.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Providing a Pathway to Professional Growth

	In a casual setting, council and network leadership work together to cultivate new ideas to further advance the automotive aftermarket industry.

Walk around the SEMA Show or attend any industry meeting or event anywhere, and you’ll cross paths with scores of businesswomen engaged in all aspects and at all levels of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. That wasn’t always the case.

Back in the early days, and as recently as the mid-’90s, there were very few women employed in key positions within the industry, and even fewer attended the SEMA Show. While men had many opportunities to network and elevate their roles in the industry, it wasn’t until spring 1987 that industry women had similar opportunities.

It began with the formation of SEMA’s Professional Women’s League (PWL). An offshoot of a SEMA spouse program—the Women’s Activities Committee, which held events for wives during the SEMA Show—PWL was specifically created as a forum for women employed in the aftermarket.

PWL’s stated goal was to “provide professional women in the aftermarket with a venue through which they can enhance and strengthen their position and role in the performance and appearance segments of the industry.” Through women’s-only events, guest presentations and roundtable discussions, PWL allowed for a level of camaraderie and shared learning and mentoring experiences that had not existed previously, and PWL was elevated to SEMA committee status in 1990.

“When we initially discussed the Professional Women’s League as a SEMA committee, I privately thought this could be another project with virtually unlimited potential,” wrote then-SEMA President Chuck Blum in PWL’s first-ever membership directory. “Perhaps today we’re seeing only the meager beginnings of what can and should be a viable force in our industry’s progress.”

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Building a Foundation

Flash forward to 1993. A handful of PWL members gathered to talk about next steps. The result: PWL soon was transformed into the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). Since its inception, SBN’s mission has been to “provide networking, education and recognition opportunities for professional women in the specialty-equipment industry, which will enhance their careers and positively impact the growth of the entire automotive aftermarket.”

As SBN’s ranks swelled to more than 550 members over the years, the group engaged in various worthwhile activities. Early initiatives included producing the SEMA Silent Auction to raise funds in support of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund; establishing a scholarship award to honor the late Trudy Thompson; and hosting an annual Speed
Networking Breakfast.

More recent endeavors include a high-profile Mustang build to showcase women’s industry involvement and to auction the car to raise money for the scholarship fund as well as such current activities as Gear-up Girl, SBN’s SEMA Show reception, and SheIsSEMA profiles. To advance its focus on education, SBN last year powered women-only seminars at the Show and is currently planning sessions for this year.

Enhancing Value as a Resource

With so many feathers in its cap and a growing membership base, SBN remains focused on ways to deliver value-added resources and overcome the perception of being just a “girls’ group,” noted SBN Chair Lana Chrissman, who recently attended a SEMA Leadership Retreat for council and network chairs and chairs-elect.

“The Retreat was awesome,” Chrissman said. “It not only gave us a chance to meet and interact with other council and network leaders but also opportunities to talk about how SBN is perceived by other women not involved in SBN, as well as by men. What we learned is that they look at us as a social/networking group and as mentors but not as a resource. It gave us a lot to think about—how we can provide value and have an impact on the industry for women and what is the essence of SBN.”

A follow-up open-forum meeting at the Keystone Big Show provided an opportunity for a deeper dive.

“During our meet-up at the Big Show, there was a lot of discussion about gender pay gap, and having that equal platform is something we’re going to explore,” Chrissman said. “We are also focused on a website refresh and on conducting a member survey to find out how we can help.

“Women provide a unique perspective, and we’re committed to promoting the value of women in the workplace, so it’s important for us to gain executive support at the C-suite level. We want them to encourage their female employees to join SBN and get involved, because we will continue to provide resources to advance their careers, which in turn will benefit their companies and the industry.”

SEMA’s Professional Women’s League—the forerunner to the SEMA Business Women’s Network—was established in 1987. The first edition of PWL’s newsletter touted the group’s event at the 1987 SEMA Show and addressed obstacles women were then facing in the industry. Photo Courtesy Ellen McKoy, EMK Marketing.

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Female Industry Leaders Join the SBN Select Committee

SBN extends a warm welcome to three industry professionals who join the network’s select committee on July 1: Sarah Morosan of LGE-CTS Motorsports, Charlene Bower from Bower Media and the Ladies Offroad Network, and Kendra Sommer from Cruisin’ With Kendra. Incumbents Tiffany Dorin from Battery-Biz and Cathy Clark from Bob Cook Sales will rejoin the select committee.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Providing a Pathway to Professional Growth

	In a casual setting, council and network leadership work together to cultivate new ideas to further advance the automotive aftermarket industry.

Walk around the SEMA Show or attend any industry meeting or event anywhere, and you’ll cross paths with scores of businesswomen engaged in all aspects and at all levels of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. That wasn’t always the case.

Back in the early days, and as recently as the mid-’90s, there were very few women employed in key positions within the industry, and even fewer attended the SEMA Show. While men had many opportunities to network and elevate their roles in the industry, it wasn’t until spring 1987 that industry women had similar opportunities.

It began with the formation of SEMA’s Professional Women’s League (PWL). An offshoot of a SEMA spouse program—the Women’s Activities Committee, which held events for wives during the SEMA Show—PWL was specifically created as a forum for women employed in the aftermarket.

PWL’s stated goal was to “provide professional women in the aftermarket with a venue through which they can enhance and strengthen their position and role in the performance and appearance segments of the industry.” Through women’s-only events, guest presentations and roundtable discussions, PWL allowed for a level of camaraderie and shared learning and mentoring experiences that had not existed previously, and PWL was elevated to SEMA committee status in 1990.

“When we initially discussed the Professional Women’s League as a SEMA committee, I privately thought this could be another project with virtually unlimited potential,” wrote then-SEMA President Chuck Blum in PWL’s first-ever membership directory. “Perhaps today we’re seeing only the meager beginnings of what can and should be a viable force in our industry’s progress.”

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Building a Foundation

Flash forward to 1993. A handful of PWL members gathered to talk about next steps. The result: PWL soon was transformed into the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). Since its inception, SBN’s mission has been to “provide networking, education and recognition opportunities for professional women in the specialty-equipment industry, which will enhance their careers and positively impact the growth of the entire automotive aftermarket.”

As SBN’s ranks swelled to more than 550 members over the years, the group engaged in various worthwhile activities. Early initiatives included producing the SEMA Silent Auction to raise funds in support of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund; establishing a scholarship award to honor the late Trudy Thompson; and hosting an annual Speed
Networking Breakfast.

More recent endeavors include a high-profile Mustang build to showcase women’s industry involvement and to auction the car to raise money for the scholarship fund as well as such current activities as Gear-up Girl, SBN’s SEMA Show reception, and SheIsSEMA profiles. To advance its focus on education, SBN last year powered women-only seminars at the Show and is currently planning sessions for this year.

Enhancing Value as a Resource

With so many feathers in its cap and a growing membership base, SBN remains focused on ways to deliver value-added resources and overcome the perception of being just a “girls’ group,” noted SBN Chair Lana Chrissman, who recently attended a SEMA Leadership Retreat for council and network chairs and chairs-elect.

“The Retreat was awesome,” Chrissman said. “It not only gave us a chance to meet and interact with other council and network leaders but also opportunities to talk about how SBN is perceived by other women not involved in SBN, as well as by men. What we learned is that they look at us as a social/networking group and as mentors but not as a resource. It gave us a lot to think about—how we can provide value and have an impact on the industry for women and what is the essence of SBN.”

A follow-up open-forum meeting at the Keystone Big Show provided an opportunity for a deeper dive.

“During our meet-up at the Big Show, there was a lot of discussion about gender pay gap, and having that equal platform is something we’re going to explore,” Chrissman said. “We are also focused on a website refresh and on conducting a member survey to find out how we can help.

“Women provide a unique perspective, and we’re committed to promoting the value of women in the workplace, so it’s important for us to gain executive support at the C-suite level. We want them to encourage their female employees to join SBN and get involved, because we will continue to provide resources to advance their careers, which in turn will benefit their companies and the industry.”

SEMA’s Professional Women’s League—the forerunner to the SEMA Business Women’s Network—was established in 1987. The first edition of PWL’s newsletter touted the group’s event at the 1987 SEMA Show and addressed obstacles women were then facing in the industry. Photo Courtesy Ellen McKoy, EMK Marketing.

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Female Industry Leaders Join the SBN Select Committee

SBN extends a warm welcome to three industry professionals who join the network’s select committee on July 1: Sarah Morosan of LGE-CTS Motorsports, Charlene Bower from Bower Media and the Ladies Offroad Network, and Kendra Sommer from Cruisin’ With Kendra. Incumbents Tiffany Dorin from Battery-Biz and Cathy Clark from Bob Cook Sales will rejoin the select committee.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

Providing a Pathway to Professional Growth

	In a casual setting, council and network leadership work together to cultivate new ideas to further advance the automotive aftermarket industry.

Walk around the SEMA Show or attend any industry meeting or event anywhere, and you’ll cross paths with scores of businesswomen engaged in all aspects and at all levels of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. That wasn’t always the case.

Back in the early days, and as recently as the mid-’90s, there were very few women employed in key positions within the industry, and even fewer attended the SEMA Show. While men had many opportunities to network and elevate their roles in the industry, it wasn’t until spring 1987 that industry women had similar opportunities.

It began with the formation of SEMA’s Professional Women’s League (PWL). An offshoot of a SEMA spouse program—the Women’s Activities Committee, which held events for wives during the SEMA Show—PWL was specifically created as a forum for women employed in the aftermarket.

PWL’s stated goal was to “provide professional women in the aftermarket with a venue through which they can enhance and strengthen their position and role in the performance and appearance segments of the industry.” Through women’s-only events, guest presentations and roundtable discussions, PWL allowed for a level of camaraderie and shared learning and mentoring experiences that had not existed previously, and PWL was elevated to SEMA committee status in 1990.

“When we initially discussed the Professional Women’s League as a SEMA committee, I privately thought this could be another project with virtually unlimited potential,” wrote then-SEMA President Chuck Blum in PWL’s first-ever membership directory. “Perhaps today we’re seeing only the meager beginnings of what can and should be a viable force in our industry’s progress.”

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Building a Foundation

Flash forward to 1993. A handful of PWL members gathered to talk about next steps. The result: PWL soon was transformed into the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). Since its inception, SBN’s mission has been to “provide networking, education and recognition opportunities for professional women in the specialty-equipment industry, which will enhance their careers and positively impact the growth of the entire automotive aftermarket.”

As SBN’s ranks swelled to more than 550 members over the years, the group engaged in various worthwhile activities. Early initiatives included producing the SEMA Silent Auction to raise funds in support of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund; establishing a scholarship award to honor the late Trudy Thompson; and hosting an annual Speed
Networking Breakfast.

More recent endeavors include a high-profile Mustang build to showcase women’s industry involvement and to auction the car to raise money for the scholarship fund as well as such current activities as Gear-up Girl, SBN’s SEMA Show reception, and SheIsSEMA profiles. To advance its focus on education, SBN last year powered women-only seminars at the Show and is currently planning sessions for this year.

Enhancing Value as a Resource

With so many feathers in its cap and a growing membership base, SBN remains focused on ways to deliver value-added resources and overcome the perception of being just a “girls’ group,” noted SBN Chair Lana Chrissman, who recently attended a SEMA Leadership Retreat for council and network chairs and chairs-elect.

“The Retreat was awesome,” Chrissman said. “It not only gave us a chance to meet and interact with other council and network leaders but also opportunities to talk about how SBN is perceived by other women not involved in SBN, as well as by men. What we learned is that they look at us as a social/networking group and as mentors but not as a resource. It gave us a lot to think about—how we can provide value and have an impact on the industry for women and what is the essence of SBN.”

A follow-up open-forum meeting at the Keystone Big Show provided an opportunity for a deeper dive.

“During our meet-up at the Big Show, there was a lot of discussion about gender pay gap, and having that equal platform is something we’re going to explore,” Chrissman said. “We are also focused on a website refresh and on conducting a member survey to find out how we can help.

“Women provide a unique perspective, and we’re committed to promoting the value of women in the workplace, so it’s important for us to gain executive support at the C-suite level. We want them to encourage their female employees to join SBN and get involved, because we will continue to provide resources to advance their careers, which in turn will benefit their companies and the industry.”

SEMA’s Professional Women’s League—the forerunner to the SEMA Business Women’s Network—was established in 1987. The first edition of PWL’s newsletter touted the group’s event at the 1987 SEMA Show and addressed obstacles women were then facing in the industry. Photo Courtesy Ellen McKoy, EMK Marketing.

SBN incoming Chair Lana Chrisman (left) and incoming Chair-elect Denise Waddingham met with other council and network chair and chair-elects in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for a leadership retreat to discuss current initiatives within the industry, and to help bond future collaborations between each council and network.

Female Industry Leaders Join the SBN Select Committee

SBN extends a warm welcome to three industry professionals who join the network’s select committee on July 1: Sarah Morosan of LGE-CTS Motorsports, Charlene Bower from Bower Media and the Ladies Offroad Network, and Kendra Sommer from Cruisin’ With Kendra. Incumbents Tiffany Dorin from Battery-Biz and Cathy Clark from Bob Cook Sales will rejoin the select committee.

SEMA Member News—July 2019

ETTN: The Vehicle Technology Connection

Vehicle technology is evolving at lightning speed. For the automotive aftermarket, revolutionary new technologies such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) present both challenges and opportunities.

For the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), the mission is to identify, communicate and provide stakeholders—engineers, programmers, industrial designers and product developers—with the knowledge of emerging trends and new technology to ensure success.

The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), in conjunction with the SEMA Garage, brings you the SEMA “ETTN Design & Validation Resource Guide.” This guide is designed to help manufacturers connect with companies capable of testing and validating products or software.

In more practical terms, the network is both a resource and a repository. One example is a manufacturer’s need to test and validate a suspension system or electrical components to ensure that the product meets durability, safety and other guidelines. Finding a conveniently located test lab capable of performing the work can be difficult and time-consuming.

That scenario is what motivated the network’s select committee to compile the “ETTN Design & Validation Resource Guide,” said Marla Moore, who will become ETTN’s immediate past chair in July. The reference guide was created in conjunction with the SEMA Garage and is designed to help manufacturers connect with companies capable of testing and validating products or software.

“Finding a company that can validate your products and provide the testing to make sure the products do what they’re supposed to do would take a lot of research,” Moore said. “Between all of us on the select committee, we already had a pretty good list that we had vetted and used. We added additional resources that have been used by other members or the SEMA Garage. And now, if somebody is looking to test suspension parts, you can find all of that information in the guide instead of spending hours searching online and not knowing if the company does what you’re looking for.”

The guide is divided into six product categories: body/structural; electrical; emissions; engine/performance; suspension; and wheels and tires. Each category contains a list of resources. Simply click on a listing to be connected to the company website. To access the guide, visit www.sema.org/ettn_resource_guide. To submit additional listings for consideration, email SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org.

Connecting Through Collaboration

There are other groups within SEMA that also have constituent interest in advanced vehicle technology and its impact on the market segment each group serves. They include the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council; the Truck & Off-Road Alliance (formerly the Light Truck Accessory Alliance); the Professional Restylers Organization; and the Wheel &
Tire Council.

To provide a forum for inter-council conversation and collaboration, ETTN created the Cross-Council Tech Subcommittee. Comprised of technically charged engineers, owners, product developers and the SEMA Garage technical staff, the subcommittee represents every segment of the industry.

During monthly open forums, subcommittee members work as a team to identify and discuss tech-related challenges or opportunities specific to each council or network. SEMA Garage staff also share updates on projects that pose vehicle-tech challenges, and they seek feedback from the group. Additional participants are always welcome and encouraged to join the conversation.

“The subcommittee is predicting that the most impactful technology revolution is on the horizon, and we must be armed with the latest knowledge and insights to position our industry for expansion and monetization of this technology,” Moore noted. “Every SEMA-member manufacturer should have its technically charged staff join ETTN to ensure that they have access to the most current information available.

“It is easy to get involved. Any employee of any member company can join, and it’s free! Our hope is that all members will be actively involved to help make a difference in the future of our industry.”

To join ETTN, visit www.sema.org/ettn-signup.

ETTN Welcomes New Select Committee Members

ETTN is pleased to welcome three newly elected members to its select committee: Jonathan Mill from Wheelwell; Robert Morreale from The Tuning School and Robert Prucka from Clemson University. Joining them are incumbents Nick DiBlasi of Race Winning Brands and Gabe Hall from MagnaFlow.