This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has an opening for chairman-elect, one seat in the Manufacturers category and one seat in the Distributor/Retailer category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Chairman-elect
• One seat in the Manufacturers category
• One seat in the Distributor/Retailer category

Nominations for the 2017 SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 5, 2017. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President & CEO

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has an opening for chairman-elect, one seat in the Manufacturers category and one seat in the Distributor/Retailer category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Chairman-elect
• One seat in the Manufacturers category
• One seat in the Distributor/Retailer category

Nominations for the 2017 SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 5, 2017. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President & CEO

By SEMA Editors

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 classifieds posted to the website.

Collision Repair Instructor: VeriFacts Automotive is hiring a collision repair instructor to provide assistance to shops in understanding, following and establishing proper repair processes and procedures and train auto body technicians via in-shop demonstrations. The ideal candidate will have more than 10 years’ hands-on experience with collision repair and I-CAR or ASE certifications.

Director of Sales and Marketing: VIAIR is hiring a director of sales and marketing to manage a team of in-house sales, marketing, and customer service representatives, as well as outside sales reps, and will be accountable for meeting annual sales targets. Successful candidates should have a track record of reaching annual sales goals and developing marketing plans and strategies to support sales. This position will require a seasoned professional, with at least 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the automotive sector, specifically within the aftermarket segment, and eight years of experience leading and managing sales and marketing teams.

General Manager: Classic Auto Mall is hiring a general manager with a proven track record in the classic and antique auto world. The ideal candidate will have a complete understanding of evaluation, consignment and sales and thorough knowledge of internet marketing and a minimum of five years’ experience in classic and or antique automobile sales. Over time, this candidate will build a team of professionals.

Manufacturer’s Representative: Jim Wrobleski & Co. Inc. is hiring a manufacturer’s representative responsible for direct accounts, warehouse support, jobber sales calls and general product training. This is a newly created position.

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, 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 market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ETTN's website

At this year’s ETTN roundtables, attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry.

ETTN to Host Motorsports Tech Roundtable at MPMC Media Trade Conference

By Kent Bradley

The Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) will host the second annual Motorsports Tech Roundtable event, January 23, at the 2017 SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference (MTC) in Santa Ana, California.

This year’s roundtables will offer open conversations that can impact current and future product development and testing. Attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry. The roundtables will offer a chance for participants to meet with five experts to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• The Fundamental Principles of Intake Manifold Design
• Emissions Compliance for Street Performance Products
• Advancements in Product Design, From Idea to Prototype
• Current Technology Transfer Trends from Track to Street
• Obtaining Patents to Protect Motorsports Technology

The Motorsports Tech Roundtable will be held Monday, January 23, 2017, from 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Register today!

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website.

SBN Launches “She Is” Awareness Campaign

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) launched an awareness campaign at the 2016 SEMA Show entitled “She Is.” The campaign brings awareness and highlights successful female professionals in all aspects of the automotive aftermarket industry. Share who “She Is” by using #SHEIsSEMA

Meet Lana Chrisman, executive vice president of McLeod Racing, who is one of the women featured in the video above.

SEMA eNews: What is your story? How did you get into this industry?

Lana Chrisman

Lana Chrisman: I’m a single mom with two daughters, Shelby and Amanda, and the vice president of McLeod Racing. I grew up in my family’s garage, where my father Jack Chrisman built some of drag racing’s most famous race cars, including Chrisman’s Comet, the first Nitro Blown Funny cars. In 1971, my father retired from racing and founded Jack Chrisman Enterprises. I had a front-row seat watching my dad change the course of driveline engineering from OEM to high-performance driveline components able to withstand the horsepower being created by aftermarket manufacturers across the country. My father was seriously injured when the rearend broke in the front engine dragster he was driving, nearly ending his life. Because of that incident, he dedicated himself to making sure that it didn’t happen to another driver. That motivation and focus on safety that I witnessed watching my dad build and improve the parts that racers depend on continues to influence my own commitment to manufacturing parts without compromising the safety element.

SEMA eNews: Was the automotive industry always your passion?

Chrisman: The manufacturing of high-performance products, being a part of the process from early development, testing, marketing, to finished product is exciting. However, I didn’t expect that I was going to make it my career. I worked for Chrisman Driveline Components while in high school, and in my senior year, my dad encouraged me to partner with my brother Steve on the development of a business model he and I brainstormed while bike riding. With dad’s support, we created California Gear—a mail-order parts company specializing in gears and differentials. Timing was right and the idea succeeded, but at this point, I was attending college and I didn’t see the family business in my future. The experience of starting the new company and building its structure, working with our attorneys and accountants, led me to turn my focus in college to business law. My ambition was to help people restructure and build successful businesses.

SEMA eNews: What are you most proud of?

Chrisman: Personally, I’m most proud of my children. But professionally, I am proud of my time with McLeod Racing. The growth in the last four years is remarkable, and I attribute that to our dedicated team and their personal commitment to providing the highest-quality products to our clients. California Gears was probably the most satisfying achievement because of the connection to my dad and his faith and belief in me. During my time with CalGear, I was met with daily challenges of being a female selling products typically sold by men. Numerous times, customers would request to speak with a man, only to have the phone turned back to me to close the sale. It took some time for clients to finally realize I really did know the parts and application.

SEMA eNews: What inspires you?

Chrisman: Achieving goals that appear beyond reach. It’s so satisfying to face a challenge and push through it. It must be the competitive element of my DNA.

SEMA eNews: What does SEMA/SBN/“She Is” mean to you?

Chrisman: Until I became a SEMA member and joined the SBN, I never realized the reach that SEMA had and its dedication as an organization not only to serve and protect the interests of SEMA-member companies, but also to offer tools to build and strengthen our industry. The SBN, in particular, provides women in our industry an opportunity to network, which often leads to receiving mentoring and support. The SBN gives women like myself a venue to stand together and work toward solutions to empower the next generation of women to become engineers, technicians, fabricators, etc. The “She Is” campaign, sponsored by the SBN, reaches out to women behind the scenes and recognizes that everyone has an important role, and they share in our industry’s success and future. I strongly encourage others working for a SEMA-member company to get more involved and volunteer. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised as I was to recognize the value of SEMA and its specialized councils.

SEMA eNews: If you had one piece of advice to pass on, what would it be?

Chrisman: Don’t settle into a “job”; find a career or element of it that you can be passionate about. That passion will drive you to be successful.

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, 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 market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ETTN's website

At this year’s ETTN roundtables, attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry.

ETTN to Host Motorsports Tech Roundtable at MPMC Media Trade Conference

By Kent Bradley

The Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) will host the second annual Motorsports Tech Roundtable event, January 23, at the 2017 SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference (MTC) in Santa Ana, California.

This year’s roundtables will offer open conversations that can impact current and future product development and testing. Attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry. The roundtables will offer a chance for participants to meet with five experts to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• The Fundamental Principles of Intake Manifold Design
• Emissions Compliance for Street Performance Products
• Advancements in Product Design, From Idea to Prototype
• Current Technology Transfer Trends from Track to Street
• Obtaining Patents to Protect Motorsports Technology

The Motorsports Tech Roundtable will be held Monday, January 23, 2017, from 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Register today!

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website.

SBN Launches “She Is” Awareness Campaign

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) launched an awareness campaign at the 2016 SEMA Show entitled “She Is.” The campaign brings awareness and highlights successful female professionals in all aspects of the automotive aftermarket industry. Share who “She Is” by using #SHEIsSEMA

Meet Lana Chrisman, executive vice president of McLeod Racing, who is one of the women featured in the video above.

SEMA eNews: What is your story? How did you get into this industry?

Lana Chrisman

Lana Chrisman: I’m a single mom with two daughters, Shelby and Amanda, and the vice president of McLeod Racing. I grew up in my family’s garage, where my father Jack Chrisman built some of drag racing’s most famous race cars, including Chrisman’s Comet, the first Nitro Blown Funny cars. In 1971, my father retired from racing and founded Jack Chrisman Enterprises. I had a front-row seat watching my dad change the course of driveline engineering from OEM to high-performance driveline components able to withstand the horsepower being created by aftermarket manufacturers across the country. My father was seriously injured when the rearend broke in the front engine dragster he was driving, nearly ending his life. Because of that incident, he dedicated himself to making sure that it didn’t happen to another driver. That motivation and focus on safety that I witnessed watching my dad build and improve the parts that racers depend on continues to influence my own commitment to manufacturing parts without compromising the safety element.

SEMA eNews: Was the automotive industry always your passion?

Chrisman: The manufacturing of high-performance products, being a part of the process from early development, testing, marketing, to finished product is exciting. However, I didn’t expect that I was going to make it my career. I worked for Chrisman Driveline Components while in high school, and in my senior year, my dad encouraged me to partner with my brother Steve on the development of a business model he and I brainstormed while bike riding. With dad’s support, we created California Gear—a mail-order parts company specializing in gears and differentials. Timing was right and the idea succeeded, but at this point, I was attending college and I didn’t see the family business in my future. The experience of starting the new company and building its structure, working with our attorneys and accountants, led me to turn my focus in college to business law. My ambition was to help people restructure and build successful businesses.

SEMA eNews: What are you most proud of?

Chrisman: Personally, I’m most proud of my children. But professionally, I am proud of my time with McLeod Racing. The growth in the last four years is remarkable, and I attribute that to our dedicated team and their personal commitment to providing the highest-quality products to our clients. California Gears was probably the most satisfying achievement because of the connection to my dad and his faith and belief in me. During my time with CalGear, I was met with daily challenges of being a female selling products typically sold by men. Numerous times, customers would request to speak with a man, only to have the phone turned back to me to close the sale. It took some time for clients to finally realize I really did know the parts and application.

SEMA eNews: What inspires you?

Chrisman: Achieving goals that appear beyond reach. It’s so satisfying to face a challenge and push through it. It must be the competitive element of my DNA.

SEMA eNews: What does SEMA/SBN/“She Is” mean to you?

Chrisman: Until I became a SEMA member and joined the SBN, I never realized the reach that SEMA had and its dedication as an organization not only to serve and protect the interests of SEMA-member companies, but also to offer tools to build and strengthen our industry. The SBN, in particular, provides women in our industry an opportunity to network, which often leads to receiving mentoring and support. The SBN gives women like myself a venue to stand together and work toward solutions to empower the next generation of women to become engineers, technicians, fabricators, etc. The “She Is” campaign, sponsored by the SBN, reaches out to women behind the scenes and recognizes that everyone has an important role, and they share in our industry’s success and future. I strongly encourage others working for a SEMA-member company to get more involved and volunteer. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised as I was to recognize the value of SEMA and its specialized councils.

SEMA eNews: If you had one piece of advice to pass on, what would it be?

Chrisman: Don’t settle into a “job”; find a career or element of it that you can be passionate about. That passion will drive you to be successful.

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, 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 market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ETTN's website

At this year’s ETTN roundtables, attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry.

ETTN to Host Motorsports Tech Roundtable at MPMC Media Trade Conference

By Kent Bradley

The Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) will host the second annual Motorsports Tech Roundtable event, January 23, at the 2017 SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference (MTC) in Santa Ana, California.

This year’s roundtables will offer open conversations that can impact current and future product development and testing. Attendees can talk with top industry talent and innovative minds on emerging technical trends in the motorsports industry. The roundtables will offer a chance for participants to meet with five experts to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• The Fundamental Principles of Intake Manifold Design
• Emissions Compliance for Street Performance Products
• Advancements in Product Design, From Idea to Prototype
• Current Technology Transfer Trends from Track to Street
• Obtaining Patents to Protect Motorsports Technology

The Motorsports Tech Roundtable will be held Monday, January 23, 2017, from 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Register today!

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website.

SBN Launches “She Is” Awareness Campaign

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) launched an awareness campaign at the 2016 SEMA Show entitled “She Is.” The campaign brings awareness and highlights successful female professionals in all aspects of the automotive aftermarket industry. Share who “She Is” by using #SHEIsSEMA

Meet Lana Chrisman, executive vice president of McLeod Racing, who is one of the women featured in the video above.

SEMA eNews: What is your story? How did you get into this industry?

Lana Chrisman

Lana Chrisman: I’m a single mom with two daughters, Shelby and Amanda, and the vice president of McLeod Racing. I grew up in my family’s garage, where my father Jack Chrisman built some of drag racing’s most famous race cars, including Chrisman’s Comet, the first Nitro Blown Funny cars. In 1971, my father retired from racing and founded Jack Chrisman Enterprises. I had a front-row seat watching my dad change the course of driveline engineering from OEM to high-performance driveline components able to withstand the horsepower being created by aftermarket manufacturers across the country. My father was seriously injured when the rearend broke in the front engine dragster he was driving, nearly ending his life. Because of that incident, he dedicated himself to making sure that it didn’t happen to another driver. That motivation and focus on safety that I witnessed watching my dad build and improve the parts that racers depend on continues to influence my own commitment to manufacturing parts without compromising the safety element.

SEMA eNews: Was the automotive industry always your passion?

Chrisman: The manufacturing of high-performance products, being a part of the process from early development, testing, marketing, to finished product is exciting. However, I didn’t expect that I was going to make it my career. I worked for Chrisman Driveline Components while in high school, and in my senior year, my dad encouraged me to partner with my brother Steve on the development of a business model he and I brainstormed while bike riding. With dad’s support, we created California Gear—a mail-order parts company specializing in gears and differentials. Timing was right and the idea succeeded, but at this point, I was attending college and I didn’t see the family business in my future. The experience of starting the new company and building its structure, working with our attorneys and accountants, led me to turn my focus in college to business law. My ambition was to help people restructure and build successful businesses.

SEMA eNews: What are you most proud of?

Chrisman: Personally, I’m most proud of my children. But professionally, I am proud of my time with McLeod Racing. The growth in the last four years is remarkable, and I attribute that to our dedicated team and their personal commitment to providing the highest-quality products to our clients. California Gears was probably the most satisfying achievement because of the connection to my dad and his faith and belief in me. During my time with CalGear, I was met with daily challenges of being a female selling products typically sold by men. Numerous times, customers would request to speak with a man, only to have the phone turned back to me to close the sale. It took some time for clients to finally realize I really did know the parts and application.

SEMA eNews: What inspires you?

Chrisman: Achieving goals that appear beyond reach. It’s so satisfying to face a challenge and push through it. It must be the competitive element of my DNA.

SEMA eNews: What does SEMA/SBN/“She Is” mean to you?

Chrisman: Until I became a SEMA member and joined the SBN, I never realized the reach that SEMA had and its dedication as an organization not only to serve and protect the interests of SEMA-member companies, but also to offer tools to build and strengthen our industry. The SBN, in particular, provides women in our industry an opportunity to network, which often leads to receiving mentoring and support. The SBN gives women like myself a venue to stand together and work toward solutions to empower the next generation of women to become engineers, technicians, fabricators, etc. The “She Is” campaign, sponsored by the SBN, reaches out to women behind the scenes and recognizes that everyone has an important role, and they share in our industry’s success and future. I strongly encourage others working for a SEMA-member company to get more involved and volunteer. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised as I was to recognize the value of SEMA and its specialized councils.

SEMA eNews: If you had one piece of advice to pass on, what would it be?

Chrisman: Don’t settle into a “job”; find a career or element of it that you can be passionate about. That passion will drive you to be successful.

By SEMA Editors

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

• ETTN Motorsports Tech Roundtable, January 23, 2017, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• 2017 MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 24–26, 2017, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference, March 28, 2017–April 1, 2017, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• 2017 SEMA Australia Regional Business Development Conference, May 23–27, 2017, Melbourne, Australia

• Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 14, 2017

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

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.

While increasing numbers of companies are moving to “native advertising,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned, “watch your step.”

While increasing numbers of companies are moving to “native advertising” (advertising that is woven into the very fabric of content produced by publishers), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned, “Watch your step.” Disturbed by the growing number of ads that are indistinguishable from news, radio commentary, entertainment video and other content, the agency released new rules this past December designed to reign in firms and ad agencies that are taking too free a hand in drawing the line between advertising and content.

“People browsing the web, using social media or watching videos have a right to know if they’re seeing editorial content or an ad,” said Jessica Rich, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2016/12/going-native-with-advertising

While increasing numbers of companies are moving to “native advertising,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned, “watch your step.”

While increasing numbers of companies are moving to “native advertising” (advertising that is woven into the very fabric of content produced by publishers), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned, “Watch your step.” Disturbed by the growing number of ads that are indistinguishable from news, radio commentary, entertainment video and other content, the agency released new rules this past December designed to reign in firms and ad agencies that are taking too free a hand in drawing the line between advertising and content.

“People browsing the web, using social media or watching videos have a right to know if they’re seeing editorial content or an ad,” said Jessica Rich, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2016/12/going-native-with-advertising