Along with incumbents Ken DeVries, Sal Perez and Sheila Perkins, the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) membership elected four new members to the Select Committee 2010–2011. While "new" to the council in terms of the most recent elections, each of the four brings his or her own long history to the automotive aftermarket. This collective experience adds even more depth and perspective to an already accomplished ARMO Select Committee. [Read more]  

	The "How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)" seminar will include 10 sessions.

Is the love affair with the car over? Say it isn't so! Recent studies indicate a major shift in Gen Y's perception of the automobile. Historically, kids have relied heavily on the car to connect socially—but not anymore.

“Many of us in executive management of automotive aftermarket companies,” said Zan Martin, Martin & Company Advertising, “are in or near the end of the Baby-Boomer age group. We achieved our first major milestone in life by actually passing the “big” test, getting our driver’s licenses and saving up to get our own cars. We were finally able to hop in the car, pick up our friends and experience a much-anticipated freedom. We had wheels!”

Reality check: Today’s kids don’t have to have wheels at all in order to be totally active in each other’s social lives. They can text, Skype or compete with each other among hundreds of online video games from across the street or on the other side of the ocean. Who needs wheels? In fact, statistics show that as the technology behind social media advances (almost daily), kids are waiting longer and longer to get their driver's licenses or even think about getting behind the wheel of a car. Most know they can’t afford the car payment, the insurance or the price of the gas anyway. Many families are carpooling just to save money.

For those of us whose livelihoods depend on a consumer’s passion for the automobile, this information is downright scary. Come out and get some tips from a number of savvy company executives whose business strategies include luring youth back into our market.

Don’t miss "How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)," during the 2010 SEMA Show. This session will be held Thursday, November 4, from 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259.

Panelists include:

• Chris Douglas – Vice President of Marketing, COMP Performance Group
• Stacey David – Host and producer, "Stacey David's GearZ"
• Justin Choi – President: Cie Studios, inventor of online game Car Town
• Myles Kovacs – President and Co-founder: DUB Magazine
• Zan Martin – President, Martin & Company Advertising [session moderator]

This session is part of the Industry Trends & Forecasts Track, which includes the following 10 sessions. For additional information, visit www.SEMAShow.com/education.

New Car Buyers' Aftermarket Intentions
Monday, November 1, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenter: Dan Hall, AutoPacific

Product Knock-Off's: Keeping a Strong Brand in the Midst of Look-alikes
Powered by the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)
Monday, November 1, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252

Collision Repair: Building Your Cash-Pay Business
Monday, November 1, 2010
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenters: Thomas Hoerner, BASF; Ken Scherping, LeMettry's Collision; Chip Foose, Foose Design

Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way To International Success
Monday, November 1, 2010
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenters: Paul "Scooter" Brothers, Competition Performance Group; Kevin Floody, K&N Engineering; Linda Spencer, SEMA

Financial Benchmarking: An Industry Overview
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Julie Hedges, Hedges & Company

Hot Products for 2011: What Consumers Want
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Famous Rhodes, eBay Motors; Jenni Chang, eBay Motors

Future Aftermarket Trends and How to Profit
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Jon Hedges, Hedges & Company

Market Research: How It Can Help Your Company Make More Money
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Tom Myroniak, SEMA; Mike VanNieuwkuyk, J.D. Power & Associates; Dan Hall, AutoPacific; David Parcell, Harris Interactive; Michael Cooperman, J.D. Power & Associates

How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Zan Martin, Martin & Company Advertising; Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group; Stacey David, "Stacey David's GearZ"; and Justin Choi, Cie Studios; Myles Kovacs, DUB Magazine

Selling Performance Parts: Trends and Sales Strategies—Powered by the Street Performance Council (SPC)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Andy McJannett, Performance Improvements

	The "How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)" seminar will include 10 sessions.

Is the love affair with the car over? Say it isn't so! Recent studies indicate a major shift in Gen Y's perception of the automobile. Historically, kids have relied heavily on the car to connect socially—but not anymore.

“Many of us in executive management of automotive aftermarket companies,” said Zan Martin, Martin & Company Advertising, “are in or near the end of the Baby-Boomer age group. We achieved our first major milestone in life by actually passing the “big” test, getting our driver’s licenses and saving up to get our own cars. We were finally able to hop in the car, pick up our friends and experience a much-anticipated freedom. We had wheels!”

Reality check: Today’s kids don’t have to have wheels at all in order to be totally active in each other’s social lives. They can text, Skype or compete with each other among hundreds of online video games from across the street or on the other side of the ocean. Who needs wheels? In fact, statistics show that as the technology behind social media advances (almost daily), kids are waiting longer and longer to get their driver's licenses or even think about getting behind the wheel of a car. Most know they can’t afford the car payment, the insurance or the price of the gas anyway. Many families are carpooling just to save money.

For those of us whose livelihoods depend on a consumer’s passion for the automobile, this information is downright scary. Come out and get some tips from a number of savvy company executives whose business strategies include luring youth back into our market.

Don’t miss "How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)," during the 2010 SEMA Show. This session will be held Thursday, November 4, from 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259.

Panelists include:

• Chris Douglas – Vice President of Marketing, COMP Performance Group
• Stacey David – Host and producer, "Stacey David's GearZ"
• Justin Choi – President: Cie Studios, inventor of online game Car Town
• Myles Kovacs – President and Co-founder: DUB Magazine
• Zan Martin – President, Martin & Company Advertising [session moderator]

This session is part of the Industry Trends & Forecasts Track, which includes the following 10 sessions. For additional information, visit www.SEMAShow.com/education.

New Car Buyers' Aftermarket Intentions
Monday, November 1, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenter: Dan Hall, AutoPacific

Product Knock-Off's: Keeping a Strong Brand in the Midst of Look-alikes
Powered by the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)
Monday, November 1, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252

Collision Repair: Building Your Cash-Pay Business
Monday, November 1, 2010
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenters: Thomas Hoerner, BASF; Ken Scherping, LeMettry's Collision; Chip Foose, Foose Design

Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way To International Success
Monday, November 1, 2010
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N252
Presenters: Paul "Scooter" Brothers, Competition Performance Group; Kevin Floody, K&N Engineering; Linda Spencer, SEMA

Financial Benchmarking: An Industry Overview
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Julie Hedges, Hedges & Company

Hot Products for 2011: What Consumers Want
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Famous Rhodes, eBay Motors; Jenni Chang, eBay Motors

Future Aftermarket Trends and How to Profit
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Jon Hedges, Hedges & Company

Market Research: How It Can Help Your Company Make More Money
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Tom Myroniak, SEMA; Mike VanNieuwkuyk, J.D. Power & Associates; Dan Hall, AutoPacific; David Parcell, Harris Interactive; Michael Cooperman, J.D. Power & Associates

How to Revitalize Our Youth's Love Affair With the Automobile (and Why It Is Vital to Our Industry's Future)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenters: Zan Martin, Martin & Company Advertising; Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group; Stacey David, "Stacey David's GearZ"; and Justin Choi, Cie Studios; Myles Kovacs, DUB Magazine

Selling Performance Parts: Trends and Sales Strategies—Powered by the Street Performance Council (SPC)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259
Presenter: Andy McJannett, Performance Improvements

The SEMA Vehicle Technology Keynote will feature Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America.

The 2010 SEMA Show will begin with the inaugural SEMA Vehicle Technology Keynote featuring Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America. As an automotive enthusiast and long-time advocate of SEMA, Reuss will open up the Vehicle Technology Briefing Program on Driving Green Performance, Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Theatre.

During his keynote address, Showgoers will learn the role GM’s transformation plays in the reinvention of the automobile and how advanced technologies are impacting the performance industry today and creating new business opportunities for SEMA members.

Following Reuss’ presentation will be a panel discussion with industry leaders, including Peter Diamandis from the X PRIZE Foundation, Scott Atherton from the American Le Mans Series, Azhar Hussain from TTXGP eGrandPrix, Imtiaz Haque from Clemson University-ICAR (CU-ICAR), Patrick Reininger from R. L. Polk and Bryan Krulikowski from Morpace.

Space is limited; however, free tickets are available for SEMA Showgoers to secure their seats here.

The SEMA Vehicle Technology Keynote will feature Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America.

The 2010 SEMA Show will begin with the inaugural SEMA Vehicle Technology Keynote featuring Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America. As an automotive enthusiast and long-time advocate of SEMA, Reuss will open up the Vehicle Technology Briefing Program on Driving Green Performance, Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Theatre.

During his keynote address, Showgoers will learn the role GM’s transformation plays in the reinvention of the automobile and how advanced technologies are impacting the performance industry today and creating new business opportunities for SEMA members.

Following Reuss’ presentation will be a panel discussion with industry leaders, including Peter Diamandis from the X PRIZE Foundation, Scott Atherton from the American Le Mans Series, Azhar Hussain from TTXGP eGrandPrix, Imtiaz Haque from Clemson University-ICAR (CU-ICAR), Patrick Reininger from R. L. Polk and Bryan Krulikowski from Morpace.

Space is limited; however, free tickets are available for SEMA Showgoers to secure their seats here.

SEMA applauded the signing into law of the “Small Business Jobs and Credit Act” (H.R. 5297), including $12 billion in tax incentives for small businesses and creating a $30 billion resource to activate greater lending to small businesses by community banks.

 

SEMA applauded the signing into law of the “Small Business Jobs and Credit Act” (H.R. 5297), including $12 billion in tax incentives for small businesses and creating a $30 billion resource to activate greater lending to small businesses by community banks.

 

This photo gallery is dedicated to the incredible assortment of Jeeps that exhibitors built for the 2009 SEMA Show. For a closer look at all the vehicles from last year's SEMA Show, simply point your browser to www.enjoythedrive.com and click on view all vehicles.

Many SEMA members have secured design or utility patents from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office only to discover that their patented product is being infringed by imports. If litigation is ultimately necessary to combat the problem, there are two possible forums in which to pursue a grievance, the U.S. International Trade Commission and a federal district court. Each forum has advantages and disadvantages.

As part of its ongoing efforts to help SEMA members protect their intellectual property, SEMA asked Merritt Blakeslee of the Blakeslee Law Firm to prepare an exclusive guide to patent infringement litigation options. Blakeslee specializes on the topic and has conducted a number of intellectual property protection seminars and webinars for SEMA members.

Click here to download the article. For general information about IPR protection, visit www.sema.org/ipr.

Many SEMA members have secured design or utility patents from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office only to discover that their patented product is being infringed by imports. If litigation is ultimately necessary to combat the problem, there are two possible forums in which to pursue a grievance, the U.S. International Trade Commission and a federal district court. Each forum has advantages and disadvantages.

As part of its ongoing efforts to help SEMA members protect their intellectual property, SEMA asked Merritt Blakeslee of the Blakeslee Law Firm to prepare an exclusive guide to patent infringement litigation options. Blakeslee specializes on the topic and has conducted a number of intellectual property protection seminars and webinars for SEMA members.

Click here to download the article. For general information about IPR protection, visit www.sema.org/ipr.