SEMA Member News—January/February 2013

Media Trade Conference Moves to Orange County

	From left, Chris Thomson of Airaid, MPMC select committee member Steve Matusek of Aeromotive and SEMA Board of Directors Chair-Elect Nate Shelton of B&M Performance attended the Tuesday evening media reception at the 2012 MPMC Media Trade Conference. In addition to daily meetings with media, the unique event provides opportunities such as this for MPMC members to network and build relationships.

The 2013 Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference will be held January 22–24 at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California. The venue change was necessitated by planned renovations at the event’s long-time home in El Segundo.

“The LAX Embassy Suites in El Segundo, where we have held so many of these events, notified SEMA staff very early on that their facility would be under major renovations during the same time as our conference,” said MPMC Chairman Vic Wood of Hedman Performance. “We are grateful to them for being proactive with the information and allowing us time to search out alternatives. After careful research, staff suggested we move the event to the Santa Ana Embassy Suites. The facility offers different challenges but also different opportunities. We are very excited to try this new venue.”

The Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North is located at 1325 East Dyer Rd. in Santa Ana, just five minutes from John Wayne Airport. While meetings and receptions occupy most of the three-day event, the location offers alternatives for dining and shopping, some within easy walking distance from the hotel.

“This property is much smaller than the El Segundo facility,” added MPMC Chair-Elect Rich Barsamian. “Our 100 exhibitor suites will be on four floors instead of two, but we’ll also be closer to each other instead of spread out. It should make getting from meeting to meeting better for the media, even with a couple of extra stairs. Best of all, we have In-N-Out coming back again for lunch on Thursday.”

The unique Media Trade Conference features three days of prescheduled 30-minute meetings between 100 MPMC-member manufacturers and editorial staffs from national and international media. The meetings run from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. each day. There is a 30-minute break in the morning, another break in the afternoon, and a one-hour lunch. This schedule provides up to 42 meeting slots over the three days, but additional meetings are often held during breaks, through the lunch period or after hours.

MPMC provides lunch on-site for all exhibitors and media attendees and hosts a media reception on Tuesday evening, which includes the presentation of the Robert E. Petersen Award to a member of the media who has exhibited extraordinary support of MPMC in the past year. MPMC closes the week with an exhibitor reception on Thursday, immediately following the last meeting of the event.

Exhibitor registration opened online for the event in mid-July and closed early September. Only 100 exhibitors are accepted, owing to logistics and the number of available media representatives. More than 100 registrations are received each year, so a lottery system is used to select the “lucky 100.” Event rules specify that if a company is not selected via lottery in the current year, it is guaranteed a suite the following year.

“We received 136 exhibitor applications this year, which indicates that the membership sees value in the event,” said Wood. “It’s a good and a bad spot to be in. We had 122 applications last year, which means that 22 companies were already guaranteed a suite for this year. Next year, we’ll have 36 spots already guaranteed, so the odds of getting in each year are going up. The MPMC Select Committee is already brainstorming ideas for future conferences, and we welcome any suggestions from members and from the media.”

Media attendees register online by reviewing the list of 100 exhibiting companies and selecting their priorities for meetings.

Any MPMC-member company, whether it applied for the conference or not, is welcome to send marketing materials to be distributed to media at the event. Materials should be forwarded to Jim Skelly at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar and must arrive no later than Friday, January 18, 2013.

For more information about the MPMC Media Trade Conference, visit the MPMC webpages at www.SEMA.org/mpmc or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

SEMA Member News—January/February 2013

Media Trade Conference Moves to Orange County

	From left, Chris Thomson of Airaid, MPMC select committee member Steve Matusek of Aeromotive and SEMA Board of Directors Chair-Elect Nate Shelton of B&M Performance attended the Tuesday evening media reception at the 2012 MPMC Media Trade Conference. In addition to daily meetings with media, the unique event provides opportunities such as this for MPMC members to network and build relationships.

The 2013 Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference will be held January 22–24 at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California. The venue change was necessitated by planned renovations at the event’s long-time home in El Segundo.

“The LAX Embassy Suites in El Segundo, where we have held so many of these events, notified SEMA staff very early on that their facility would be under major renovations during the same time as our conference,” said MPMC Chairman Vic Wood of Hedman Performance. “We are grateful to them for being proactive with the information and allowing us time to search out alternatives. After careful research, staff suggested we move the event to the Santa Ana Embassy Suites. The facility offers different challenges but also different opportunities. We are very excited to try this new venue.”

The Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North is located at 1325 East Dyer Rd. in Santa Ana, just five minutes from John Wayne Airport. While meetings and receptions occupy most of the three-day event, the location offers alternatives for dining and shopping, some within easy walking distance from the hotel.

“This property is much smaller than the El Segundo facility,” added MPMC Chair-Elect Rich Barsamian. “Our 100 exhibitor suites will be on four floors instead of two, but we’ll also be closer to each other instead of spread out. It should make getting from meeting to meeting better for the media, even with a couple of extra stairs. Best of all, we have In-N-Out coming back again for lunch on Thursday.”

The unique Media Trade Conference features three days of prescheduled 30-minute meetings between 100 MPMC-member manufacturers and editorial staffs from national and international media. The meetings run from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. each day. There is a 30-minute break in the morning, another break in the afternoon, and a one-hour lunch. This schedule provides up to 42 meeting slots over the three days, but additional meetings are often held during breaks, through the lunch period or after hours.

MPMC provides lunch on-site for all exhibitors and media attendees and hosts a media reception on Tuesday evening, which includes the presentation of the Robert E. Petersen Award to a member of the media who has exhibited extraordinary support of MPMC in the past year. MPMC closes the week with an exhibitor reception on Thursday, immediately following the last meeting of the event.

Exhibitor registration opened online for the event in mid-July and closed early September. Only 100 exhibitors are accepted, owing to logistics and the number of available media representatives. More than 100 registrations are received each year, so a lottery system is used to select the “lucky 100.” Event rules specify that if a company is not selected via lottery in the current year, it is guaranteed a suite the following year.

“We received 136 exhibitor applications this year, which indicates that the membership sees value in the event,” said Wood. “It’s a good and a bad spot to be in. We had 122 applications last year, which means that 22 companies were already guaranteed a suite for this year. Next year, we’ll have 36 spots already guaranteed, so the odds of getting in each year are going up. The MPMC Select Committee is already brainstorming ideas for future conferences, and we welcome any suggestions from members and from the media.”

Media attendees register online by reviewing the list of 100 exhibiting companies and selecting their priorities for meetings.

Any MPMC-member company, whether it applied for the conference or not, is welcome to send marketing materials to be distributed to media at the event. Materials should be forwarded to Jim Skelly at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar and must arrive no later than Friday, January 18, 2013.

For more information about the MPMC Media Trade Conference, visit the MPMC webpages at www.SEMA.org/mpmc or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

SEMA News—January 2013

INTERNET
By Joe Dysart

Mobile Check-Up

Making Sure Your Mobile Website Looks Good on All Devices

New research from Pew Internet Research and others indicates that the United States is still in a frenzy over all things mobile—and that you’re losing money if your mobile website is not rendering properly on all devices. It’s not enough to simply have a mobile-optimized website these days. Businesses must also verify that their mobile sites look good on as many mobile devices as possible.

One of the easiest reads on the current level of mobile fanaticism emerged in September 2012, when Apple booked two million units sold in pre-orders for its iPhone 5 in 24 hours.

“iPhone 5 pre-orders shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, a senior vice president at Apple. Schiller added that the iPhone 5 essentially doubled the record held by the previous generations.

“[The] smartphone is an always-on companion tool that will surpass the usage of desktop computers within the next few years,” said Jacques Beaudoin, Mobile Websites Design founder. “This is why it is so important for your online business desktop website to be mobile-friendly.”

Equally eyebrow-raising stats were released in September by Pew, which found that tablet penetration in the United States nearly doubled over the Christmas gift-giving season in 2011 from 10% to 19%. Moreover, the combined penetration of tablets and e-book readers in the country (e-book readers can often be used to surf the web) is now 29%.

Pew also found that 66% of those aged 18 to 29 now own smartphones. Plus, the researcher found that 17% of all cell-phone users now rely on their cell phones to do most of their online browsing.

“We see the rapid rise in mobile devices as an important long-term trend,” said Stephen Antisdel, manager at Precept Partners, a web-design firm. “Companies that ignore smartphones and tablets may be doing so at their peril.”

Indeed, web browsing by cell phone is especially prevalent among African Americans, 51% of whom turn most often to their cell phones to browse and interact online, according to Pew. And 42% of Latinos have the same preference.

Of course, desktop users still represent a major force in web computing. Pew found that 58% of Americans have desktop computers, and 61% own laptops.

For many of these more-traditional computer users—who often cruise the web with twin 23-in. monitors and the “luxury” of fullsize keyboards—the lure of a PC the size of a deck of cards and sporting a keyboard best operated by two thumbs is a bit puzzling.

But Pew’s study found that cell phones are a major hit with other users because the units are always within arm’s reach—no matter where they go. Indeed, it’s tough to find an affluent young American teen girl who does not have a cell phone fused to her hand at any given time. And Pew also found that for 10% of “mostly cell” surfers, the cell phone is simply their only option for connecting to the Internet.

Fortunately, there are a number of quick and easy tools businesses can use to ensure that their mobile-optimized websites—or their second websites created especially for mobile users—are offering quality visual experiences on as many mobile devices as possible. Here are a few:

General Overview: For a great overall analysis of the mobile-friendliness of your site, check out the W3C mobileOK Checker. This is a page on the web where you can type in any URL and get a report back on any mobile trouble spots associated with your site. The analysis is based on the Mobile Web Best Practices specification, which was created by W3C, a highly respected, worldwide web-standards consortium. You’ll get a general feel for the mobile-friendliness of your site here. But you’ll need additional tools to see how your site renders on specific devices.

Quick iPhone Test: If you’re just looking for quick feedback on how your site renders on the iPhone, check out Test iPhone. It’s an easy way to see how your site looks on one of the world’s most popular smartphones.

Gomez Cross-Device Compatibility Test: Type in a mobile URL here, and you’ll get a look at how the page renders on four of the most popular mobile devices in the world—one from Android, two running the Apple iOS and one running Blackberry’s mobile operating system. Gomez offers this free tool to introduce users to its paid services.

Perfecto Mobile’s Handset Cloud Test: Perfecto’s tool starts at $15 per hour and allows you to test your set on a wide variety of devices. Unlike many other tools, you’ll also be able to use Perfecto to actually see how interactions on your mobile website play out on various simulated devices. For example, you can interact with text and numbers and simulate events such as “Call Me” or “SMS Me”—features that you may have programmed into your mobile site.

CrossBrowserTesting.com’s Browser Compatibility Test: This is an extremely comprehensive mobile device tester that’s endorsed by heavy hitters in many industries. It starts at $29.99 a month and tests simulated environments in mobile, desktop and laptop computing.

Multi-Browser Viewer (MBV): Another heavily endorsed tester, MBV offers testing on 44 different types of browsers, including five mobile browsers or simulators, at $139.95 per year. It also includes special viewing for the iPhone and iPad, and it enables you to do side-by-side comparisons of your website on different simulated browsers.

Usability Science’s Third-Party Usability Testing: Usability Science takes a different approach to mobile testing by employing live people to put your mobile site through its paces on as many devices as you desire, with negotiable pricing.

More Options: Other mobile-friendly analysis tools include Adobe Browser Lab; Browsershots and Sauce Labs.

Joe Dysart is an Internet speaker and business consultant based in Manhattan, New York. For more information, call 646-233-4089, e-mail joe@joedysart.com
www.joedysart.com.

SEMA News—January 2013

EVENTS

2012 SEMA Show Highlights

Innovations of Generations Showcased in Las Vegas

As the specialty-equipment industry’s premier trade event, the annual SEMA Show is the number-one barometer of automotive specialty-equipment trends. If anything, the 2012 SEMA Show, held October 30 through November 2 in Las Vegas, indicated a vibrant, growing industry definitely bullish on the future.

Consider these Show statistics: Total attendance rose to 135,000—up 2% over last year. Meanwhile, exhibitors hit the 2,250 mark, with 500 of them being first-timers. There were more than 60,000 buyers plying the Show floor, along with 3,000 media representatives. All in all, the Show offered 1 million net square feet of innovation, education and business opportunities.

“The SEMA Show remains the largest small-business gathering in the United States,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “It’s an amazing event where the specialty-equipment industry forges new partnerships while exploring and celebrating the latest trends that continue to make the automotive aftermarket a vibrant sector of the national economy and, increasingly, the international marketplace as well. We’re extremely pleased with the positive feedback we’ve received from every quarter of Show participants.”

SEMA Vice President of Communications and Events Peter MacGillivray noted that the groundswell of industry support for the 2012 SEMA Show was evident everywhere. “The Show continues to grow, delivering clearly perceived value to attendees through exciting new and featured products, Show vehicles, educational seminars and special events, and media exposure,” he said. “But most importantly, exhibitors and buyers alike are reporting quality connections at record levels. The SEMA Show is clearly the place the industry comes to do business.”

Performance, style, inspiration, leadership, marketing, learning and more—they were all on display at the 2012 SEMA Show. In the following pages we offer a sampling of Show highlights designed not so much to look back, but forward to what we anticipate will be an even more groundbreaking 2013 Show, to be held November 5–8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For a more detailed view of the 2012 Show (and to get complete information for 2013), be sure to visit www.SEMAShow.com.

GLOBAL The SEMA Show acts as a magnet for automotive retailers and installers, who travel from dozens of countries around the world to do business under one roof in Las Vegas. For the second year in a row, buyer registration topped the 60,000 mark, and attendance by international buyers from the Middle East, Asia, South America, Australia—and many more regions—was a factor in that trend. Taking advantage of the opportunity, many SEMA Show exhibitors showed that they are aggressively leveraging the export trend to expand sales. Product offerings in the Wheels & Accessories section, which grew in size by more than 20%, were especially rich.		INSPIRATION “Look what I found,” is a phrase that comes up a hundred times and more at every SEMA Show, as buyers connect the dots between a new idea and a product discovered on the Show floor. Thousands come to find parts that will solve a problem, fit a particular need or help make a custom vehicle more fun to operate. They may find exactly that, or just as likely, leave with a new plan to create something better yet. With more than 500 companies exhibiting for the first time ever, buyers and media were treated to a fresh wave of never-before-seen product offerings.
MARKETING The 2012 SEMA Show saw a flood of new parts and pieces brought to the Show floor. Exhibitor participation was up by 5% overall, and Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase—a Show feature that concentrates new parts into a single Show section for easy identification and inspection—was larger than the prior year by 6%. Ideas Alive is a key destination for buyers and media who can quickly scan and download product information as they go. This year, foot traffic in the New Product Showcase was especially thick.		STYLE Nowhere in the world is freedom of style and purpose more evident than at the SEMA Show, where thousands of exhibitors combine style with mechanical ingenuity. Some ignite new trends and some share new ideas and perspectives that mix and combine over time. But the desire to come up with something different is on display everywhere, as individuals and companies exercise their right to express their own sense of design—and, in the process, reach out for their piece of the American Dream.
LEARNING With hundreds of experts on hand to share best practices and technical insights, the SEMA Show provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand how to succeed in a fast-changing business environment. The 100-plus scheduled educational events for the 2012 SEMA Show gave attendees the opportunity to absorb new technologies and technical skills, catch up on industry trends and return to work the following week with practical tools that can be implemented the day they return.		SHOWCASE The SEMA Show provides an amazing opportunity to launch new products and spread innovative ideas. A record number of registered journalists, including daily news reporters, magazine editors, television news crews, bloggers and electronic media representatives of all kinds chose to file stories based on what they saw at the Show—virtually ensuring that any newsworthy event, large or small, quickly came to the attention of the enthusiast world.
SCOPE As if more than 2,250 exhibitors filling the Convention Center was not enough, the depth and breath of the industry becomes obvious when the Show officially closes, and the SEMA Cruise begins. Thousands of fans show up to catch a glimpse of hundreds of custom cars, trucks and motorcycles—representing every possible sort of automotive category—as they exit the Show. Car after car, hour after hour, the Cruise is a rolling testament to the countless shapes the automotive aftermarket can take and the huge number of participants who are committed to it.		PERFORMANCE Enthusiasm takes many shapes, and performance is measured in many ways—including racing. The Racing & Performance section of the 2012 SEMA Show experienced significant growth in size and participation, and the Ford Out Front section of the Show allowed space for all kinds of race-bred vehicles to show what they could do. Here we see Robbie Gordon at the wheel, just having some fun, before an appreciative crowd.
LEADERSHIP Shaping the priorities of a trade association is no easy task, and the work is never done. For the past few years, connecting the next generation with the original founders of the automotive aftermarket has been a key focus for association leadership. At this year’s Show, there were more youth-oriented events and activities than ever before, as special attention was paid to the innovations and accomplishments the younger generation brings to the industry.		CELEBRATE Evenings were the time for friends and colleagues to come together, take a moment to relax and celebrate the accomplishments of a full day at the Show. With dozens of receptions and functions starting immediately after the Show floor closed, attendees were treated to rich and varied social networking opportunities every night, without setting foot outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

 

SEMA News—January 2013

EVENTS

2012 SEMA Show Highlights

Innovations of Generations Showcased in Las Vegas

As the specialty-equipment industry’s premier trade event, the annual SEMA Show is the number-one barometer of automotive specialty-equipment trends. If anything, the 2012 SEMA Show, held October 30 through November 2 in Las Vegas, indicated a vibrant, growing industry definitely bullish on the future.

Consider these Show statistics: Total attendance rose to 135,000—up 2% over last year. Meanwhile, exhibitors hit the 2,250 mark, with 500 of them being first-timers. There were more than 60,000 buyers plying the Show floor, along with 3,000 media representatives. All in all, the Show offered 1 million net square feet of innovation, education and business opportunities.

“The SEMA Show remains the largest small-business gathering in the United States,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “It’s an amazing event where the specialty-equipment industry forges new partnerships while exploring and celebrating the latest trends that continue to make the automotive aftermarket a vibrant sector of the national economy and, increasingly, the international marketplace as well. We’re extremely pleased with the positive feedback we’ve received from every quarter of Show participants.”

SEMA Vice President of Communications and Events Peter MacGillivray noted that the groundswell of industry support for the 2012 SEMA Show was evident everywhere. “The Show continues to grow, delivering clearly perceived value to attendees through exciting new and featured products, Show vehicles, educational seminars and special events, and media exposure,” he said. “But most importantly, exhibitors and buyers alike are reporting quality connections at record levels. The SEMA Show is clearly the place the industry comes to do business.”

Performance, style, inspiration, leadership, marketing, learning and more—they were all on display at the 2012 SEMA Show. In the following pages we offer a sampling of Show highlights designed not so much to look back, but forward to what we anticipate will be an even more groundbreaking 2013 Show, to be held November 5–8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For a more detailed view of the 2012 Show (and to get complete information for 2013), be sure to visit www.SEMAShow.com.

GLOBAL The SEMA Show acts as a magnet for automotive retailers and installers, who travel from dozens of countries around the world to do business under one roof in Las Vegas. For the second year in a row, buyer registration topped the 60,000 mark, and attendance by international buyers from the Middle East, Asia, South America, Australia—and many more regions—was a factor in that trend. Taking advantage of the opportunity, many SEMA Show exhibitors showed that they are aggressively leveraging the export trend to expand sales. Product offerings in the Wheels & Accessories section, which grew in size by more than 20%, were especially rich.		INSPIRATION “Look what I found,” is a phrase that comes up a hundred times and more at every SEMA Show, as buyers connect the dots between a new idea and a product discovered on the Show floor. Thousands come to find parts that will solve a problem, fit a particular need or help make a custom vehicle more fun to operate. They may find exactly that, or just as likely, leave with a new plan to create something better yet. With more than 500 companies exhibiting for the first time ever, buyers and media were treated to a fresh wave of never-before-seen product offerings.
MARKETING The 2012 SEMA Show saw a flood of new parts and pieces brought to the Show floor. Exhibitor participation was up by 5% overall, and Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase—a Show feature that concentrates new parts into a single Show section for easy identification and inspection—was larger than the prior year by 6%. Ideas Alive is a key destination for buyers and media who can quickly scan and download product information as they go. This year, foot traffic in the New Product Showcase was especially thick.		STYLE Nowhere in the world is freedom of style and purpose more evident than at the SEMA Show, where thousands of exhibitors combine style with mechanical ingenuity. Some ignite new trends and some share new ideas and perspectives that mix and combine over time. But the desire to come up with something different is on display everywhere, as individuals and companies exercise their right to express their own sense of design—and, in the process, reach out for their piece of the American Dream.
LEARNING With hundreds of experts on hand to share best practices and technical insights, the SEMA Show provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand how to succeed in a fast-changing business environment. The 100-plus scheduled educational events for the 2012 SEMA Show gave attendees the opportunity to absorb new technologies and technical skills, catch up on industry trends and return to work the following week with practical tools that can be implemented the day they return.		SHOWCASE The SEMA Show provides an amazing opportunity to launch new products and spread innovative ideas. A record number of registered journalists, including daily news reporters, magazine editors, television news crews, bloggers and electronic media representatives of all kinds chose to file stories based on what they saw at the Show—virtually ensuring that any newsworthy event, large or small, quickly came to the attention of the enthusiast world.
SCOPE As if more than 2,250 exhibitors filling the Convention Center was not enough, the depth and breath of the industry becomes obvious when the Show officially closes, and the SEMA Cruise begins. Thousands of fans show up to catch a glimpse of hundreds of custom cars, trucks and motorcycles—representing every possible sort of automotive category—as they exit the Show. Car after car, hour after hour, the Cruise is a rolling testament to the countless shapes the automotive aftermarket can take and the huge number of participants who are committed to it.		PERFORMANCE Enthusiasm takes many shapes, and performance is measured in many ways—including racing. The Racing & Performance section of the 2012 SEMA Show experienced significant growth in size and participation, and the Ford Out Front section of the Show allowed space for all kinds of race-bred vehicles to show what they could do. Here we see Robbie Gordon at the wheel, just having some fun, before an appreciative crowd.
LEADERSHIP Shaping the priorities of a trade association is no easy task, and the work is never done. For the past few years, connecting the next generation with the original founders of the automotive aftermarket has been a key focus for association leadership. At this year’s Show, there were more youth-oriented events and activities than ever before, as special attention was paid to the innovations and accomplishments the younger generation brings to the industry.		CELEBRATE Evenings were the time for friends and colleagues to come together, take a moment to relax and celebrate the accomplishments of a full day at the Show. With dozens of receptions and functions starting immediately after the Show floor closed, attendees were treated to rich and varied social networking opportunities every night, without setting foot outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

 

As the new year begins, new and returning members of Congress convene in Washington, D.C., to begin the 113th Congress. After a tumultuous end to the fiscal-cliff negotiations, newly sworn-in officials will have several issues to consider immediately, including the nation’s debt ceiling, tax reform and spending cuts.

Among the 535 officials being sworn in are several supported by the SEMA Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). SEMA PAC provides member-generated resources for pro-industry, pro-business candidates. These legislators have demonstrated their support for the specialty-equipment industry and understand the positive impact SEMA-member companies have on the American economy. Throughout the coming two-year congressional session, SEMA will partner with these lawmakers to promote its legislative priorities. SEMA PAC continues to be a vital tool for building strong relationships on Capitol Hill.

SEMA PAC relies on the participation of all SEMA members. Leaders among contributors are the SEMA PAC President’s Club, each of whom supports the association’s legislative efforts with $1,000 annual contributions. SEMA thanks the members of the President’s Club, listed below, for their commitment to the association’s legislative agenda. These SEMA members have taken the lead in protecting our industry, our voice and our future in Washington with their generous support.

SEMA PAC President's Club		Company Name
Greg Adler		Transamerican Auto Parts
Matt Agosta		Steele Rubber Products
Joel Ayres		Bedslide/Takit Inc.
Al Azadi		OMIX-ADA Inc.
Jim Bingham		Winner's Circle Speed and Custom
Matthew Boice		Source Interlink Media
Mike Bolio		Repforce
Dave Bowman		Bowman Television Productions
Tom Brooks		Truckin’ Thunder
Scooter Brothers		COMP Performance Group
Luanne Brown		eTool Developers
Corky Coker		Coker Tire Co.
Ron Coleman		COMP Performance Group
Jim Cozzie
Russ Deane		Trainum, Snowdon & Deane
Donnie Eatherly		P&E Distributors Inc.
Mike Essex		Source Interlink Media
Doug Evans		Source Interlink Media
Amy Faulk		Hypertech Inc.
Rob Fisher		Source Interlink Media
Jim Foos		Source Interlink Media
Tim Foss		Source Interlink Media
Tom Furukawa		Source Interlink Media
John Hotchkis		Hotchkis Performance LLC
Chris Kersting		SEMA
Michael Kunzman		Michael Kunzman & Associates
Debbie Lail		Steele Rubber Products
Tim Martin		K&N Engineering
Bill Miller		SEMA
Alise Miner		SEMA
Bob Moore		J&B Service
Adrian Murray		Painless Performance Products
Tony Napoli		American Speed Center
Dennis Overholser		Painless Performance Products
Brian Reese		COMP Performance Group
Angela Schoof		Source Interlink Media
Chuck Schwartz		ConvExx
Randy Shannon		Source Interlink Media
Nate Shelton		B&M Performance Group
Ernie Silvers		Egge Machine Co.
Russell Stephens		MSD Performance
Chris Thomson		AIRAID Premium Filter Co.
Paul Van Woensel		Engine & Performance Warehouse
Jonathan Ward		Icon 4x4
Tim Watts		Superlift Suspension Systems
Brit White		Source Interlink Media
Steve Wolcott		ProMedia LLC
Van Woodell		Weathers Auto Supply
Dave Wrobleski		Jim Wrobleski & Co.

For more information on SEMA PAC and to get involved, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

As the new year begins, new and returning members of Congress convene in Washington, D.C., to begin the 113th Congress. After a tumultuous end to the fiscal-cliff negotiations, newly sworn-in officials will have several issues to consider immediately, including the nation’s debt ceiling, tax reform and spending cuts.

Among the 535 officials being sworn in are several supported by the SEMA Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). SEMA PAC provides member-generated resources for pro-industry, pro-business candidates. These legislators have demonstrated their support for the specialty-equipment industry and understand the positive impact SEMA-member companies have on the American economy. Throughout the coming two-year congressional session, SEMA will partner with these lawmakers to promote its legislative priorities. SEMA PAC continues to be a vital tool for building strong relationships on Capitol Hill.

SEMA PAC relies on the participation of all SEMA members. Leaders among contributors are the SEMA PAC President’s Club, each of whom supports the association’s legislative efforts with $1,000 annual contributions. SEMA thanks the members of the President’s Club, listed below, for their commitment to the association’s legislative agenda. These SEMA members have taken the lead in protecting our industry, our voice and our future in Washington with their generous support.

SEMA PAC President's Club		Company Name
Greg Adler		Transamerican Auto Parts
Matt Agosta		Steele Rubber Products
Joel Ayres		Bedslide/Takit Inc.
Al Azadi		OMIX-ADA Inc.
Jim Bingham		Winner's Circle Speed and Custom
Matthew Boice		Source Interlink Media
Mike Bolio		Repforce
Dave Bowman		Bowman Television Productions
Tom Brooks		Truckin’ Thunder
Scooter Brothers		COMP Performance Group
Luanne Brown		eTool Developers
Corky Coker		Coker Tire Co.
Ron Coleman		COMP Performance Group
Jim Cozzie
Russ Deane		Trainum, Snowdon & Deane
Donnie Eatherly		P&E Distributors Inc.
Mike Essex		Source Interlink Media
Doug Evans		Source Interlink Media
Amy Faulk		Hypertech Inc.
Rob Fisher		Source Interlink Media
Jim Foos		Source Interlink Media
Tim Foss		Source Interlink Media
Tom Furukawa		Source Interlink Media
John Hotchkis		Hotchkis Performance LLC
Chris Kersting		SEMA
Michael Kunzman		Michael Kunzman & Associates
Debbie Lail		Steele Rubber Products
Tim Martin		K&N Engineering
Bill Miller		SEMA
Alise Miner		SEMA
Bob Moore		J&B Service
Adrian Murray		Painless Performance Products
Tony Napoli		American Speed Center
Dennis Overholser		Painless Performance Products
Brian Reese		COMP Performance Group
Angela Schoof		Source Interlink Media
Chuck Schwartz		ConvExx
Randy Shannon		Source Interlink Media
Nate Shelton		B&M Performance Group
Ernie Silvers		Egge Machine Co.
Russell Stephens		MSD Performance
Chris Thomson		AIRAID Premium Filter Co.
Paul Van Woensel		Engine & Performance Warehouse
Jonathan Ward		Icon 4x4
Tim Watts		Superlift Suspension Systems
Brit White		Source Interlink Media
Steve Wolcott		ProMedia LLC
Van Woodell		Weathers Auto Supply
Dave Wrobleski		Jim Wrobleski & Co.

For more information on SEMA PAC and to get involved, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

After weeks of negotiations, Congress passed legislation to avoid a series of expiring tax credits and government spending cuts known as the “fiscal cliff.” The “American Taxpayer Relief Act” prevented automatic tax increases and included several provisions of interest to small-business owners. Many of the provisions included in the compromise are permanent, providing certainty for job creators and SEMA-member companies. However, the law includes a 2% increase in the social security payroll tax for employees (4.2% to 6.2%), eliminating an existing tax break for workers. In addition, Congress delayed action on a number of substantial budget cuts that would have had an immediate impact on several government programs, including defense appropriations.

To follow is a summary of key provisions of the law signed by President Obama on January 1:

• The end of 2011 and 2012 temporary payroll tax cuts, resulting in a 2% tax increase for workers.
• Makes permanent tax rates for individuals making $400,000 or less per year. 
• Increases tax rate for individuals making $400,000 or more (married couples making $450,000 or more) from 35% to 39.5%.
• Capital gains taxes remain at 15% for income below $400,000 ($450,000 for married couples). The maximum rate for individuals with income over the limit is 20%.
• Dividend tax rates will remain the same, taxed at the long-term capital gains rate (15%) for taxpayers below the $400,000/$450,000 level. Those above will be taxed at 20%.
• Makes permanent a 40% estate tax rate with a $5 million exemption level (increase from 35%, exemption level remains the same)
• Returns Section 179 expensing deductions to $500,000 for equipment purchased in 2012 and 2013. This is a retroactive increase for 2012 as the deduction amount was $139,000. 
• 50% bonus depreciation extended through 2013.
• Two-year retroactive extension of the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit, which expired on December 31, 2011. (January 1, 2012–December 31, 2013)

Although this compromise prevented serious negative economic consequences, SEMA will continue to advocate for meaningful tax reform designed to spur economic growth, including a permanent R&D tax credit. For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

After weeks of negotiations, Congress passed legislation to avoid a series of expiring tax credits and government spending cuts known as the “fiscal cliff.” The “American Taxpayer Relief Act” prevented automatic tax increases and included several provisions of interest to small-business owners. Many of the provisions included in the compromise are permanent, providing certainty for job creators and SEMA-member companies. However, the law includes a 2% increase in the social security payroll tax for employees (4.2% to 6.2%), eliminating an existing tax break for workers. In addition, Congress delayed action on a number of substantial budget cuts that would have had an immediate impact on several government programs, including defense appropriations.

To follow is a summary of key provisions of the law signed by President Obama on January 1:

• The end of 2011 and 2012 temporary payroll tax cuts, resulting in a 2% tax increase for workers.
• Makes permanent tax rates for individuals making $400,000 or less per year. 
• Increases tax rate for individuals making $400,000 or more (married couples making $450,000 or more) from 35% to 39.5%.
• Capital gains taxes remain at 15% for income below $400,000 ($450,000 for married couples). The maximum rate for individuals with income over the limit is 20%.
• Dividend tax rates will remain the same, taxed at the long-term capital gains rate (15%) for taxpayers below the $400,000/$450,000 level. Those above will be taxed at 20%.
• Makes permanent a 40% estate tax rate with a $5 million exemption level (increase from 35%, exemption level remains the same)
• Returns Section 179 expensing deductions to $500,000 for equipment purchased in 2012 and 2013. This is a retroactive increase for 2012 as the deduction amount was $139,000. 
• 50% bonus depreciation extended through 2013.
• Two-year retroactive extension of the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit, which expired on December 31, 2011. (January 1, 2012–December 31, 2013)

Although this compromise prevented serious negative economic consequences, SEMA will continue to advocate for meaningful tax reform designed to spur economic growth, including a permanent R&D tax credit. For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

As state legislators and governors return to their respective capitols this year, many will find themselves among political allies as each state progressively inches further from the center. In other words, the red states are getting redder and the blue progressively bluer. The 2010 census prompted re-drawing of legislative district boundaries within each state under the direction of whichever party controlled the state’s government during the period from 2010 to 2011. States that had increased their urban population since the 2000 census tended to gain new districts favorable to democratic representatives, despite instances of urban districts being broken up. In other states dominated by conservative leadership, republicans were able to maintain control and benefit from the redistricting process. From Kansas to Texas, and from Florida up to Tennessee, republican supermajorities have taken hold. As the Deep South grows more conservative, the West Coast has filled its state houses with democratic leaders, with California’s State Legislature including twice as many democrats as republicans in both its House and Senate.

Ultimately, the 2012 elections in the states reflect the divisive nature of politics in the country and the increasing gulf between the ideology of the right and the left. Each party may find increases to their numbers benefit attempts to get measures through. While state budgets are seeing some relief from an uptick in revenue as the recession eases, the implementation of the new healthcare law will require new and complex systems to be put into place, such as state insurance exchanges and an expanded Medicaid for citizens unable to afford private insurance. The unbalanced composition of these state’s representatives will be important to keep in mind when watching each state’s policies unfold over the coming months.

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.