By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will now allow taxpayers to claim the “simplified” research and development (R&D) tax credit on amended tax returns. The Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) was created in 2006 to eliminate more complex calculations required under the original R&D tax credit, making it easier for small- and mid-size companies to take advantage of the program. The ASC allows businesses to compare their increased research activities against qualified expenses from the previous three tax years. The regular calculation methodology is more complicated and is based on a historic “base” period that can date back many years.

Under the new IRS rules, ASC calculations are no longer restricted to current returns but can also be applied to amended returns. Taxpayers may now revisit returns for taxable years still open to amendment (generally the previous three tax years) so long as the taxpayer has not previously claimed the credit using the regular credit calculation.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will now allow taxpayers to claim the “simplified” research and development (R&D) tax credit on amended tax returns. The Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) was created in 2006 to eliminate more complex calculations required under the original R&D tax credit, making it easier for small- and mid-size companies to take advantage of the program. The ASC allows businesses to compare their increased research activities against qualified expenses from the previous three tax years. The regular calculation methodology is more complicated and is based on a historic “base” period that can date back many years.

Under the new IRS rules, ASC calculations are no longer restricted to current returns but can also be applied to amended returns. Taxpayers may now revisit returns for taxable years still open to amendment (generally the previous three tax years) so long as the taxpayer has not previously claimed the credit using the regular credit calculation.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will now allow taxpayers to claim the “simplified” research and development (R&D) tax credit on amended tax returns. The Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) was created in 2006 to eliminate more complex calculations required under the original R&D tax credit, making it easier for small- and mid-size companies to take advantage of the program. The ASC allows businesses to compare their increased research activities against qualified expenses from the previous three tax years. The regular calculation methodology is more complicated and is based on a historic “base” period that can date back many years.

Under the new IRS rules, ASC calculations are no longer restricted to current returns but can also be applied to amended returns. Taxpayers may now revisit returns for taxable years still open to amendment (generally the previous three tax years) so long as the taxpayer has not previously claimed the credit using the regular credit calculation.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

	Tim Martin	Rick Trudo
Steve Wolcott	Greg Adler	Larry Pacey

Voting for the 2014 SEMA Board of Directors is now taking place online through Tuesday, June 10, and is open to current SEMA-member companies. SEMA has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the Board of Directors 2014 election.

Election-specific broadcast emails were sent to eligible voting categories on May 14, from the email address, noreply@directvote.net. Votes must be cast by each company’s primary contact. Details with ballots and links will be sent to the member company’s designated primary contact in May.

Winners will be announced in June and formally inducted into the SEMA Board of Directors at the SEMA Installation Gala in July.

The following slate of candidates are vying for a seat on the SEMA Board of Directors:

Manufacturers Category (one open seat available)

• Tim Martin – COO, K&N Engineering Inc.
• Rick Trudo – President/CEO, SCT Performance LLC
• Steve Wolcott – President/CEO, ProMedia LLC

Distributor Retailer Category (one open seat available)

• Greg Adler – CEO, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Larry Pacey – President/CEO, National Performance Warehouse

For more information about the 2014–2017 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Judi Ritchie at 909-978-6671 or judir@sema.org.

	Tim Martin	Rick Trudo
Steve Wolcott	Greg Adler	Larry Pacey

Voting for the 2014 SEMA Board of Directors is now taking place online through Tuesday, June 10, and is open to current SEMA-member companies. SEMA has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the Board of Directors 2014 election.

Election-specific broadcast emails were sent to eligible voting categories on May 14, from the email address, noreply@directvote.net. Votes must be cast by each company’s primary contact. Details with ballots and links will be sent to the member company’s designated primary contact in May.

Winners will be announced in June and formally inducted into the SEMA Board of Directors at the SEMA Installation Gala in July.

The following slate of candidates are vying for a seat on the SEMA Board of Directors:

Manufacturers Category (one open seat available)

• Tim Martin – COO, K&N Engineering Inc.
• Rick Trudo – President/CEO, SCT Performance LLC
• Steve Wolcott – President/CEO, ProMedia LLC

Distributor Retailer Category (one open seat available)

• Greg Adler – CEO, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Larry Pacey – President/CEO, National Performance Warehouse

For more information about the 2014–2017 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Judi Ritchie at 909-978-6671 or judir@sema.org.

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 niche-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular market segment.

Visit TORA's website.

	Intended to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, Collector Car Appreciation Day events can be as simple as encouraging staff members to drive their special ride to work.

SEMA Members Industry-Wide Encouraged to Host Collector Car Appreciation Day Events

By SEMA Editors

Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will return for its fifth commemoration, July 11, and SEMA-member companies are encouraged to recognize this annual celebration by hosting their own events. At the request of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), this “holiday” has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution.

Intended to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, these events can be as simple as encouraging staff members to drive their special ride to work. Other ideas include hosting a community car show, staging an open house or promoting a “holiday sale” in honor of CCAD. Members can partner with local car clubs, community groups and other automotive businesses. Invite your local legislators to participate as well. The SAN can help with identifying these legislators and locating car clubs and museums near you.

Whether public or private, register your July gathering to take advantage of promotional support from SEMA. Participating organizers will receive a copy of the year’s U.S. Senate Resolution for display at each registered event.

Visit www.semasan.com/CCAD for details, event listings, planning suggestions and registration. Contact SAN Director Colby Martin at SAN@sema.org for more information.

Brainstorm Solutions to Your Pressing Business Challenges

By Amanda Gubbins

Leaders of the light-truck, off-road, Jeep, diesel and SUV industries will meet July 16 for an industry discussion and TORA Long-Range Planning meeting. Members of the council and those who are interested in learning more about the benefits it offers are invited to attend from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the SEMA Garage–Industry Innovations Center in Diamond Bar, California. Attendees will spend time discussing issues they face in their business, and developing strategies that SEMA and the TORA can use to address them. For member companies, participating is a chance to let the association know in person what challenges their businesses face, and to be a part of the solutions. Lunch will be served with an opportunity to network with members of the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO).

For those who can’t make the trip to Southern California, sessions can be attended through web meeting services and teleconference lines.

Register today to save your seat. To learn more about the event, contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696.

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Visit ETTN's website

	Rodney Esteban recently hosted the third-annual Industry Day at the SEMA Garage-Industry Innovations Center.

ETTN Member Hosts Industry Day at the SEMA Garage

Rodney Esteban, vice president of SEMA-member company The Hybrid Haven and member of the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) recently hosted the third-annual Industry Day at the SEMA Garage-Industry Innovations Center.

Industry Day is a B2B/B2C forum created and led by Esteban. The event allows professionals to connect and often features vehicles from the participating companies.

“Industry Day was created as a platform where B2B and B2C communities collaborate,” explained Esteban. “Presenting companies share their industry position, vision, product line and current and future projects with a selected key audience. The audience reciprocates with their background, product knowledge and industry involvement. The information exchanged has helped companies with product development and industry trends. It has helped key individuals build strong rapport, sponsorship opportunities and careers with these companies. It is a symbiotic relationship fostering partnerships.”

This year, SEMA’s Vice President of OEM and Product Development Program Mike Spagnola was one of 12 presenters. Spagnola also gave attendees a tour of the facilities and an introduction to the resources available for manufacturers, including the new photo coves in the media center. Other presenters included employees of SEMA-member companies JX Nippon Oil & Energy USA, Eleven International, Toyota and OEM Audio Plus.

ETTN hosted an industry discussion at the SEMA Garage in January, where members were given an introduction to the facility and its product-development resources. Industry Day is another example of how members are using the Garage. The training center provides a central location for members to hold training, dealer, rep or sales meetings. The 1,800-sq.-ft. room seats 80 and is available to members free of charge.

For more information about any of the resources available through the Garage, contact Mike Spagnola at 909-978-6707.

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Visit PRO's website.

Planning the Future of the Restyling and Accessory Business

By Clayton Drescher

On July 16, 2014, leaders of the restyling and accessory world will converge at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Join the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) as they hold their Long-Range Planning meeting and industry discussion. The SEMA Garage–Industry Innovations Center will play host as leading manufacturers, WDs, installers and restyling professionals discuss the future of the industry and develop strategies that SEMA and the PRO Select Committee will use in addressing the challenges and opportunities confronting your business.

Your insight and perspective is critical. Whether your business has been impacted by new trends in auto sales and discretionary spending, vehicle technology, installation concerns, or if there is a need to identify markets for expansion, you will benefit by being in the room when these and other topics are discussed.

The meeting is open to all employees of PRO-member companies, as well as those interested in joining PRO. The day will include a joint networking luncheon with members of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) council.

Traveling from out of town? Contact us for quality hotel options in the area. Not able to attend but want to stay involved? Consider attending the sessions through our web meeting services and teleconference lines.

Register online today. For more information about the meeting, contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696.

Visit SBN's website.

Vote Now for SBN Select Committee Election

By Gigi Ho

Looking to be more active in the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)? Start with your vote.

 SBN’s Select Committee election is taking place now. Look for your voting information in your e-mail inbox, from announcement@associationvoting.com.



The Select Committee is a team of elected volunteers who work hard to represent the network’s initiatives, interests and mission of providing meaningful programs and opportunities. Members of the Select Committee have the opportunity to serve three consecutive two-year terms.



The candidates running in this year’s elections are:

• Leslie Allen – PR Manager, The Marx Group
• JoAnn Bortles – Owner, Crazy Horse Custom Paint
• Camee Edelbrock – Director of Marketing, ProMedia, LLC
• Miranda Fuller – Marketing Director, Rigid Industries LED Lighting
• Jenna Jefferies – National Account Manager, K&N Engineering
• Julia Johnson – Professor of Automotive Technology, Skyline College
• Kristy Neukam – Human Resources Director, Meyer Distributing
• Jacqueline Parral – Account Executive, The Promotion Co. (Family Events)
• Marlena Solomon – Communications Specialist, Royal Purple LLC

It only takes a few minutes to invest in the future of SBN. Vote today—the election closes June 13 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).

	Katie Tonkin, Megan Shepherd, Lizzy Woodruff, Heather Buckhaulter, Amber Thompson and Morgan Jones make up Team Royal Purple—an all-girl team participating in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge.

Come Cheer for Team Royal Purple, Sponsored By SBN

By Gigi Ho

This Saturday, June 7, SBN members are invited to the Goodguys Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to cheer on Team Royal Purple—an all-girl team participating in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge.

The team qualified at 35 minutes—the cut-off time—but then went on to beat their own time by eight minutes at the Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama event in April. The Goodguys Show will be the third time they display their engine-building skills in public, and all local SEMA and SBN members are encouraged to attend and support the team.

Hailing from Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville, Georgia, the young women of Team Royal Purple have the distinction of making it past the qualifying rounds in only their first year of competition. Katie Tonkin, Megan Shepherd, Lizzy Woodruff, Heather Buckhaulter, Amber Thompson and Morgan Jones make up the team.

Started in 2008, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is a nationwide high school engine-build competition wherein a team of five students are timed and judged as they disassemble and reassemble a small-block Chevy engine. Events are held at prominent automotive shows throughout the year, culminating in the Championships at the SEMA and PRI shows.

Tickets to the event can be purchased at www.good-guys.com/aani. Team Royal Purple will compete at 11:00 a.m. (EDT).

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Visit YEN's website

Launch Pad Competition Offers Winner Free SEMA Show Booth

By Bryan Harrison

After the success of last year’s Launch Pad competition, SEMA has announced that it will return for a second year.

This competition offers innovators under the age of 40 an industry platform to showcase their business for marketing a new automotive product or service.

Industrywide Awareness


The top 10 competitors will vie for the most votes on SEMA’s official Facebook/YouTube voting platform. The top five will receive an invitation to pitch their businesses in front of an industry-packed crowd during a live event at the SEMA Show.

Tools to Fuel Your Biz


The winner’s prize package will include a 10x10 booth at the 2015 SEMA Show, a one-page ad in SEMA News, an ad in Hot Rod magazine or 4-Wheel & Off Road magazine, a rep consultation with the Manufacturers’ Representative Network (MRN), public relations and social media consultation from Kahn Media, an event-level sponsorship package to either a Family Events truck and off-road group property or a Family Events performance car group property and much more.

Access to Decision Makers


This year’s event will feature another judging panel composed of industry experts who will offer coaching and advice to the contestants. Returning from the 2013 event will be Doug Evans, executive vice president and group publisher at Source Interlink Media, and SEMA’s chairman-elect of the Board, and Ron Coleman, president and CEO of COMP Performance Group. Joining them will be Tracie Nunez, president of the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA); Todd Ballard, director of sports marketing at GoPro; and Glenn Rogers, partner at Beyond Marketing.

Interested? It’s time to launch the next young automotive entrepreneur. For more information and to fill out an application, visit www.sema.org/launch-pad. If you have questions, please contact Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org.

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

SEMA News—June 2014

BUSINESS
By Chad Simon

Retail Spotlight

Tom’s 4x4 Superstore’s Blueprint to Continued Growth Starts With Customer Service

Tom Pickett has been a Jeep enthusiast for most of his life. He bought one at the end of 2009 but quickly realized that there was nowhere to buy parts for it in Chattanooga, Tennessee. So, in February 2010, he decided to walk away from a lucrative career in automotive manufacturing and build the foundation for Tom’s 4x4 Superstore—a Jeep and off-road parts supplier and installer that officially opened in June of that year.

“We were in the heart of the big recession in 2010, and a lot of people thought I was crazy,” Pickett admitted. “One of the secrets we had starting out was being able to finance ourselves instead of relying on the banks or a loan. We opened with one fulltime employee, and now we have 16. The business has grown a lot faster than I anticipated, and I haven’t looked back.”

Filling a Void

Pickett started the business in a small building, and he had already outgrown it within a few months. Property became available next door, so he bought and sat on it for another year before constructing a brand-new, 18,000-sq.-ft. facility with sufficient room to stock inventory and install products.

“We’ve had more than 10,000 visitors to the park, and I only opened it March 2013,” Pickett said. “This set me back on opening another store last year, but we plan on opening one this year.”

The Key to Success

Pickett has nearly doubled his sales every year since opening the store. According to him, providing outstanding customer service is the key to finding success in this business. All of his employees are hardcore enthusiasts who know Jeeps inside and out and what parts will and won’t work for each application.

“Toyotas are popular off-road vehicles now,” Pickett said. “People come in and seek advice; they know what they want to do, but they don’t know how to get there. We hear too many horror stories about customer relations. Keep your customer involved.”

In addition to monthly off-road drives, Tom hosts a customer appreciation day every year that features special offers, product giveaways and food.

“Always involve that customer because every Jeep or truck owner has different tastes in what they want in their vehicle, and when you get them together, they’re all looking at each other’s vehicles and generating ideas,” Pickett advised.

Think Outside the Box

Marketing yourself to the community you serve via advertising is one of the best ways to get your name out there and attract potential customers, according to Pickett. Pickett doesn’t wait for customers to come to him; he goes after them through heavy advertising tailored to the customer base he is targeting, whether it’s Jeep enthusiasts, earth-moving companies that are required to take their trucks off-road, utility companies or dealerships.

In addition to aggressive advertising, one factor that Pickett believes sets his company apart from the competition is that he carries more than $200,000 worth of inventory on hand, so when a customer comes in, he can capture the sale on the spot.

“People buy from people; it’s the same way when we choose to work with vendors that supply us,” he said. “We tend to be very loyal to our suppliers. Once you start doing the type of numbers that we’re doing, there’s no shortage of people knocking on your door.”

Looking Forward

The largest challenge Pickett has faced since opening is getting qualified people to work for him. “If you listen to the news, nobody’s got a job, but we can’t hire enough good people,” he said. “If I could double the staff I have now with the same knowledge, I’d open another store tomorrow. It’s also a challenge to get the relationship started with our vendors, so that they know we’re real and 100% committed to growth. Our growth has been astronomical, but we keep digging; we’re never satisfied with where we are.”

Always looking forward, Pickett sets clear goals for where the company is going to be this year, and halfway through, he’ll have 2015 mapped out. He is getting ready to expand the store’s warehouse by nearly 2,000 sq. ft., and the company’s website—which generates 50% of all sales—was revamped on January 1 to feature banner ads and more social-media interaction. Pickett knows that he can’t maintain overall growth with just one location and believes that he will have anywhere between six and seven in five years.

“Our second location will come this year, and we’ll add two more in 2015,” he said. “Keep it steadily growing. We’re going to look at different areas where there are holes in the market, where there’s a need. We travel around to different shows throughout the year. We’re always listening to customers and what they want in that area.”

Adventure Off Road Park 2014 Event Schedule June 13–15: Adventure Challenge Series Event #3 July 3–6: Independence Weekend Blast August 29–September 1: American Rock Crawling Series Finals September 19–21: Adventure Challenge Series Event #4 October 24–26: Adventure Challenge Series Finals

Executive Summary Tom’s 4x4 Superstore 4036 South Access Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37406 423-702-5777 www.toms4x4superstore.com www.adventureoffroadpark.com Owner: Tom Pickett 16 employees Specializes in selling and installing Jeep and off-road parts and repairs Focused on providing outstanding customer service and hiring knowledgeable employees Proactively advertises via radio Operates an 18,000-sq.-ft. store and Adventure Off-Road Park and Nature Center with 1,000 acres of riding surface. Has plans to open up to seven stores over the next five years

SEMA News—June 2014

BUSINESS
By Chad Simon

Retail Spotlight

Tom’s 4x4 Superstore’s Blueprint to Continued Growth Starts With Customer Service

Tom Pickett has been a Jeep enthusiast for most of his life. He bought one at the end of 2009 but quickly realized that there was nowhere to buy parts for it in Chattanooga, Tennessee. So, in February 2010, he decided to walk away from a lucrative career in automotive manufacturing and build the foundation for Tom’s 4x4 Superstore—a Jeep and off-road parts supplier and installer that officially opened in June of that year.

“We were in the heart of the big recession in 2010, and a lot of people thought I was crazy,” Pickett admitted. “One of the secrets we had starting out was being able to finance ourselves instead of relying on the banks or a loan. We opened with one fulltime employee, and now we have 16. The business has grown a lot faster than I anticipated, and I haven’t looked back.”

Filling a Void

Pickett started the business in a small building, and he had already outgrown it within a few months. Property became available next door, so he bought and sat on it for another year before constructing a brand-new, 18,000-sq.-ft. facility with sufficient room to stock inventory and install products.

“We’ve had more than 10,000 visitors to the park, and I only opened it March 2013,” Pickett said. “This set me back on opening another store last year, but we plan on opening one this year.”

The Key to Success

Pickett has nearly doubled his sales every year since opening the store. According to him, providing outstanding customer service is the key to finding success in this business. All of his employees are hardcore enthusiasts who know Jeeps inside and out and what parts will and won’t work for each application.

“Toyotas are popular off-road vehicles now,” Pickett said. “People come in and seek advice; they know what they want to do, but they don’t know how to get there. We hear too many horror stories about customer relations. Keep your customer involved.”

In addition to monthly off-road drives, Tom hosts a customer appreciation day every year that features special offers, product giveaways and food.

“Always involve that customer because every Jeep or truck owner has different tastes in what they want in their vehicle, and when you get them together, they’re all looking at each other’s vehicles and generating ideas,” Pickett advised.

Think Outside the Box

Marketing yourself to the community you serve via advertising is one of the best ways to get your name out there and attract potential customers, according to Pickett. Pickett doesn’t wait for customers to come to him; he goes after them through heavy advertising tailored to the customer base he is targeting, whether it’s Jeep enthusiasts, earth-moving companies that are required to take their trucks off-road, utility companies or dealerships.

In addition to aggressive advertising, one factor that Pickett believes sets his company apart from the competition is that he carries more than $200,000 worth of inventory on hand, so when a customer comes in, he can capture the sale on the spot.

“People buy from people; it’s the same way when we choose to work with vendors that supply us,” he said. “We tend to be very loyal to our suppliers. Once you start doing the type of numbers that we’re doing, there’s no shortage of people knocking on your door.”

Looking Forward

The largest challenge Pickett has faced since opening is getting qualified people to work for him. “If you listen to the news, nobody’s got a job, but we can’t hire enough good people,” he said. “If I could double the staff I have now with the same knowledge, I’d open another store tomorrow. It’s also a challenge to get the relationship started with our vendors, so that they know we’re real and 100% committed to growth. Our growth has been astronomical, but we keep digging; we’re never satisfied with where we are.”

Always looking forward, Pickett sets clear goals for where the company is going to be this year, and halfway through, he’ll have 2015 mapped out. He is getting ready to expand the store’s warehouse by nearly 2,000 sq. ft., and the company’s website—which generates 50% of all sales—was revamped on January 1 to feature banner ads and more social-media interaction. Pickett knows that he can’t maintain overall growth with just one location and believes that he will have anywhere between six and seven in five years.

“Our second location will come this year, and we’ll add two more in 2015,” he said. “Keep it steadily growing. We’re going to look at different areas where there are holes in the market, where there’s a need. We travel around to different shows throughout the year. We’re always listening to customers and what they want in that area.”

Adventure Off Road Park 2014 Event Schedule June 13–15: Adventure Challenge Series Event #3 July 3–6: Independence Weekend Blast August 29–September 1: American Rock Crawling Series Finals September 19–21: Adventure Challenge Series Event #4 October 24–26: Adventure Challenge Series Finals

Executive Summary Tom’s 4x4 Superstore 4036 South Access Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37406 423-702-5777 www.toms4x4superstore.com www.adventureoffroadpark.com Owner: Tom Pickett 16 employees Specializes in selling and installing Jeep and off-road parts and repairs Focused on providing outstanding customer service and hiring knowledgeable employees Proactively advertises via radio Operates an 18,000-sq.-ft. store and Adventure Off-Road Park and Nature Center with 1,000 acres of riding surface. Has plans to open up to seven stores over the next five years