The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named Jake Carr as this week’s council spotlight volunteer. Carr is the shipping manager at two aftermarket retailers representing restoration and restyling components: Camaro Central and Firebird Central.
Learn more about Carr, who was nominated to be spotlighted by his supervisor below:
Q: Tell us about Jake and his career at Camaro and Firebird Central.
A: Jake Carr has been employed at Camaro and at Firebird Central for more than seven years. He has been promoted within the company to the shipping manager. His main duties encompass all outgoing shipments: Ground, LTL and International. He supervises the shipping department staff and helps in any other areas when needed. He came from a culinary background, but has always loved cars. Now that he’s working in the industry, he has become quite the enthusiast. Jake currently has a 4th-Gen convertible Firebird that is absolutely beautiful.
Q: How long has Jake been volunteering for ARMO?
A: Jake has been involved in the volunteering side of our industry almost since the first day he started with us. Jake participates in the ARMO Hot Product Showcase and at mixers at the Carlisle Spring Show. He attended the ARMO Banquet and Open Meeting Breakfast at the SEMA Show in 2018. When the Take a Kid to a Car Show program was live and running, Jake would submit pictures for car shows he attended. He spends time with other staff members and encourages them to get involved with SEMA, especially ARMO and the Future Leaders Network (FLN).
Q: If you could say one thing about Jake and his contributions to the company, what would it be?
A: As Jake’s supervisor, I wish he would have joined our team sooner! Our shipping department has become top-notch and Jake played a huge role getting us there.
Q: How does Jake show his passion for this industry?
A: Jake focuses on making sure the parts that are being sent arrive to customers in perfect shape. He knows that the part might be the one thing holding up a project and can help get a long-awaited project on the road. Shipping parts can make dreams come true all over the world.
Q: Do you know what Jake’s dream vehicle might be?
A: I often hear Jake talking about a 3rd-Gen ’87 Pontiac GTA. He’d look amazing driving one!
Q: On a Saturday, where do you think you would find Jake?
A: Jake is an avid musician. He literally can play anything. If you ever been to Cruisin’ the Coast Car Show in Biloxi, Mississippi, you might have heard him jamming the saxophone! I’ve attended other shows with him where he’s brought along a bass guitar, a drum machine or some kind of electrical flute. I’m sure he’s jamming out somewhere during the weekends!
Q: Has Jake ever mentioned any challenges that he’s concerned about for the restoration industry?
A: Getting the youth involved in our industry is huge for Jake.
Fill out an ARMO-member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on ARMO’s social media, SEMA News and future ARMO-member updates.
The annual Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) Bob Schoeberl Memorial Golf Tournament will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year and return to Spanish Trail Country Club during AAPEX/SEMA Industry week in Las Vegas.
AACF Golf Committee Chairman Jeff Helfrich stated, “we’ll have many of the same events that folks have come to enjoy. Our Sunday night cocktail reception has become a ‘Who’s Who of the Automotive Aftermarket,’ and it’s exciting in today’s environment to be able to network face-to-face again. In our 30 years of playing the event, we’ve yet to have a participant make a hole in one to win a car. This year, it could happen as every participant will have two chances again at winning a car on the course. Besides all the great raffle prizes we have each golfer will get some very special gifts commemorating our 30th anniversary.”
AACF Board President Larry Magee said, “You can have a great time, mingle with many of the companies and individuals important to our industry all while enjoying one of the area’s top and most beautiful golf courses. But most importantly, you are helping the AACF’s mission to provide assistance to our fellow members of the automotive aftermarket that need help during a catastrophic time in their life.”
The charity golf tournament is scheduled for October 31. Interested companies can still sponsor the event and there are golf foursomes still available. For more information or to get involved, contact Executive Director Joel Ayres at joel@aftermarketcharity.org.
Power Automedia Announces Electrified Publication
With electric vehicles (EVs) becoming increasingly popular, Power Automedia has announced the launch of Electrified. The new publication is dedicated to covering all things electric vehicles, from bleeding-edge news and reviews to e-mobility advice and tips for consumers. Electrified will explore a range of topics in electro mobility, commercial transport, personal-assistance vehicles, commuting solutions and everything in between. This broad focus is in response to the increasing global interest in EVs, as well as the need for a publication that can provide comprehensive coverage of the EV landscape. Electrified will provide an immersive digital experience that will include a newsletter, videos and social-media content served up daily.
LKQ Corp. Announces New Leadership Appointments
LKQ Corp. has announced new leadership appointments. Varun Laroyia, formerly executive vice president and CFO, has been appointed as CEO and managing director of LKQ Europe. He succeeds Arnd Franz, who has joined MAHLE as CEO. Prior to joining LKQ in 2017, Laroyia served in various roles at CBRE’s Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) business, Gateway, General Electric and KPMG in Europe and North America.
In addition, Rick Galloway has been appointed as LKQ’s senior vice president and CFO. He was formerly the CFO for LKQ’s Wholesale division, first joining in 2019. Prior, he held various positions with Alcoa Corp., including CFO of its engineered products and solutions division.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Announces Senior Executive Changes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has announced a series of executive-level promotions, the most significant being Kelley Earnhardt Miller’s appointment to the CEO role. Earnhardt Miller will oversee all Dale Jr. companies, including the Dale Jr. brand, JR Motorsports, Dirty Mo Media, DEJ Management and The Dale Jr. Foundation.
Already the backbone of the entire Dale Jr. enterprise, Earnhardt Miller has managed the career of her NASCAR Hall-of-Fame brother since 2001 and built JR Motorsports into a multi-championship-winning organization with more than 100 victories, company officials stated. In addition, she is the recipient of sports business achievements, including Charlotte Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business honor, the Lyn St. James Foundation’s Opportunity Award and Sports Business Journal’s Game Changers. Earnhardt Miller also recently authored the book Drive: 9 Lessons to Win in Business and in Life.
In addition, the following appointments have been announced:
Mike Davis has been named president and executive producer of Dirty Mo Media.
Tony Mayhoff will expand his responsibilities to lead management of the Dale Jr. brand as vice president, strategy and development, for DEJ Management.
Longtime motorsports licenser and marketer Joe Mattes has been promoted to senior vice president, business and strategy, for JR Motorsports.
L.W. Miller has been named Senior Vice President of Motorsports. He will continue to direct JRM’s competition department as he has done since 2011.
Tommy Lamb (left) and Pat Johnson (right).
EGR USA Announces Promotion, New Hire
EGR USA has promoted Tommy Lamb to the position of digital sales and content manager. Hired by EGR in 2016 as a customer service manager, Lamb has more than 20 years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket. As a sales manager, he worked to develop EGR sales via e-commerce and retail, exceeding the company’s sales targets year-over-year. He also has contributed to the marketing, pricing and exposure of EGR truck accessories to B2B and B2C audiences. In his new capacity, Lamb will be more directly focused on ecommerce and digital content to build EGR product awareness, help refine EGR data and manage EGR’s UMAP policy to enhance customer sales.
In related news, EGR USA has announced the addition of Pat Johnson as the company’s national sales director. Johnson is a passionate Jeep and off-road enthusiast with more than 20 years of sales experience, according to EGR. Prior to joining EGR, Johnson served as director of business development for AAMP Global/Stinger Off-Road, where he was responsible for launching the Stinger Off-Road brand online and building a B2B distribution network. Previously, he served as national sales manager/key account manager for Truck Hero in the Jeep & Off-Road division.
Sailaja Shankar
BorgWarner Appoints Sailaja Shankar to Board of Directors
BorgWarner announced recently that Sailaja Shankar has been named to its board of directors. Shankar is the senior vice president and general manager of the Cisco Security Business Group, where she is responsible for the company's global security business. Prior to joining Cisco, Shankar served as senior vice president of engineering, enterprise at McAfee, where she was responsible for its security and threat defense solutions across endpoint, extended detection and response, data center security and cloud native application protection.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
SEMA exhibitors continue to share their latest news and are ready to show their products in real life rather than on a screen at the 2021 SEMA Show. Below are some of the most recent releases that exhibitors have posted in the SEMA Show Online Media Center.
The SEMA Show Online Media Center is a great place to view press releases from exhibitors.
With nearly 3,000 credentialed media at the SEMA Show, the annual trade event is ideal for exhibitors that are making newsworthy announcements. Following is the official SEMA Show press conference schedule. Media are encouraged to attend all press conferences. To apply for media credentials, visit www.semashow.com/register.
Exhibitors that have breaking news announcements that are of interest to a large number of media are utilizing press conferences during the 2022 SEMA Show.
Official 2022 SEMA Show Press Conference Schedule
(As of September 29, 2022)
Monday, October 31
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. – SEMA: SEMA Vehicle Reveal featuring the SEMA Award Presentation (outside of the Grand Lobby entrance)
Tuesday, November 1
7:30 a.m.–8:50 a.m. – SEMA: Kick-Off Breakfast, featuring announcements of Best New Products (Paradise Event Center)
9:00 a.m. – Volkswagen Group of America Inc.: Vehicle Unveil (Booth #10509)
9:30 a.m. – Toyota Motor North America: Toyota Press Conference (Booth #22200)
As the SEMA Show concludes on Friday, November 4, iconic cars and trucks will emerge from the Las Vegas Convention Center and make their way to the West Hall Parking Lot for SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—where enthusiasts will see some of the hottest custom vehicles in the world that debuted earlier in the week.
General admission tickets allow access into SEMA Ignited and are available at www.SEMAIgnited.com. Enthusiasts can purchase upgraded tickets for reserved seating to watch the SEMA Cruise and performances from Formula DRIFT and the Urias Globe of Death—daredevil motorcycle riders who perform jaw-dropping stunts in a mesh sphere ball. A limited number of Friday Experience packages are available for general admission into SEMA Ignited, as well as entrance into the SEMA Show on Friday, November 4, and come with a one-year SEMA Individual Membership. The SEMA Friday Experience ticket price is $70 if purchased by September 30, or $100 if purchased between October 1–November 4.
“The SEMA Ignited Friday Experience is a rare opportunity for gearheads to experience the trade-only SEMA Show, and engage with the industry as SEMA Individual Members,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Through the Friday Experience, enthusiasts will get a behind-the-scenes look at what industry professionals are doing at the SEMA Show and witness the trends as they are happening.”
Now in its eighth year, SEMA Ignited is a combination of a car show, parade, music, food, entertainment and exhibitions all rolled into what becomes the ultimate automotive celebration. It’s where consumers see, hear and, in some cases, get up close and connect with award-winning vehicles and their owners. With more vendors and exhibitors than ever before, the 2022 SEMA Ignited is where enthusiasts will be able to discover the newest trends, learn about new products, meet industry celebrities and experience the excitement of the growing aftermarket.
All SEMA Showgoers will be able to attend SEMA Ignited with their Show credentials. For more information about SEMA Ignited, visit www.semaignited.com. To learn more about the SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com.
The 2022 SEMA Show is about five weeks away. Here’s a rundown of key deadlines, including early-bird and advance rates available for several booth services, as well as checklists to keep you on track and on budget.
The deadlines checklist provides a breakdown of all of the deadlines for booth orders, rentals, booth vehicle applications, celebrity appearance notifications and much more.
The budget checklist form allows you to keep track of all your costs and ensures that you are adequately prepared for your experience at the SEMA Show.
The deadline for both domestic and international 2022 SEMA Show attendees to register online for $40 is Friday, September 30. After the deadline, the registration price increases to $90. In addition, the badge-mailing deadline is September 30 for domestic attendees and September 16 for international attendees, after which badges must be picked up on-site.
Attendees of the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.
With your SEMA Show badge, not only do you get access to thousands of products, exhibitors and custom vehicles throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, you also gain entrance to the Show’s official after-party, SEMA Ignited. Here are some other features available at the Show.
SEMA Overland Experience
West Hall, Booth #62236
Returning to the SEMA Show for 2022, SEMA Overland Experience casts a spotlight on the fast-growing adventure lifestyle sector that encompasses every backcountry activity from camping and fishing to kayaking and ATV riding. This special exhibit will include dozens of customized vehicles with fully popped-out tents, survival accessories and portable kitchen systems all displayed among exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.
New Products Showcase
Upper South Hall, Booth #31307
The New Products Showcase enables buyers to focus their efforts on the companies they need to see to keep the product pipelines active and their inventories fresh, and media attendees can get a glimpse of the latest trends to emerge from the industry’s leading influencers. Additionally, scanning products with your mobile device using the SEMA Show app enables communications between buyers and exhibiting companies to generate leads and drive future sales.
SEMA Electrified
North Hall, Booth #11268
SEMA Electrified offers the industry an opportunity to see where this growing segment might take us in the next five to 10 years and beyond. Experience for yourself the surprising technologies that are advancing and redefining the performance aftermarket. At SEMA Electrified, you’ll encounter some incredible custom electric-vehicle conversions and noteworthy parts and products that are currently driving the market.
SEMA Cruise Presented by CTEK
More than 1,000 vehicles will take part in the SEMA Cruise, which proceeds toward the West Hall parking lot and SEMA Ignited—the Show’s official after-party—which is open to the public. Spectators have a ringside seat to view the coolest cars on the planet, and the Cruise has become one of the Show’s most anticipated events.
SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for Show week can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.
Making hotel reservations in the Block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.
Booking through the SEMA Show Block guarantees you will receive the lowest nightly rate on hotels, including the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.
The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
There are more than 45 hotels available in the block, 16 of which cost less than $200 per night. For more information on the hotels listed below, visit www.SEMAShow.com.
The following are examples of hotels found in the SEMA Show Block, which offers the lowest nightly rates in town:
Exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.
The list, which will be updated in SEMA News, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2022 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.
The list is open to exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.
Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.
Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2022 SEMA Show.
Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.
Allied Wheel Components is hiring an experienced freelance wheel designer who has demonstrated successful wheel-design experience using professional computer software applications. Candidates must be self-driven, disciplined, reliable, hard-working and detail-oriented with proven design engineering skills. At least six months’ wheel-design experience is required.
King Shock Technology Inc. is hiring a design engineer to design suspension components and subsystems for high-performance vehicles; develop new-product designs and processes for parts and assemblies; manage projects through concept, prototype, validation, testing, and production phases; and design, develop or modify products applying engineering principles. This position is responsible for researching and developing ideas and processes for new components and assemblies and overseeing and coordinating activities involved in fabrication, operation, application, installation and repair of mechanical products and systems.
VIAIR is hiring a marketing manager who will be the day-to-day marketing and creative person within VIAIR Corporation. This position will implement marketing, branding and advertising plans, and will also assist in creative and graphic design. Successful candidates should have proven experience in managing and running digital ads, social-media marketing and some previous experience in project management. Ideal candidates will have some knowledge of the automotive industry.
The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named Jake Carr as this week’s council spotlight volunteer. Carr is the shipping manager at two aftermarket retailers representing restoration and restyling components: Camaro Central and Firebird Central.
Power Automedia Announces Electrified Publication
