Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Attend WTC General Membership Meeting

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion Wednesday, February 10, in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion on Wednesday, February 10, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. This event is a chance for WTC members to work with council members to determine the focus and direction of the group for this year and beyond.

On the agenda are discussions of upcoming retailer education and consumer engagement resources in development by the council, as well as new sources of vehicle technical information available through SEMA. There will also be an open discussion on other challenges and opportunities in the wheel and tire industry.

The meeting will include a continental breakfast and networking lunch for attendees. All employees of WTC member companies and any wheel and tire professionals interested in learning more about SEMA and the WTC are invited to attend the event. Remote members are invited to participate in the discussion through our GoToMeeting portal.

RSVP to save your seat and submit discussion topics: click here.

For more information on WTC, contact Council Liaison Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696 or claytond@sema.org.

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Visit SBN's website

Audrey Zavodsky

SBN Member Profile: Audrey Zavodsky, Ford Motor Co.

What is your position?  

Leadership and professional development manager.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Helping people gain insights through information and the use of tools during their leadership journey.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

I have been with Ford Motor Co. since 1993.

What brought you to the industry?    

I love helping people and building great products.

What are your major professional accomplishments?

I have a PhD in human and organizational development. I'm a certified professional executive coach. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I'm a Sports Faith International Hall of Fame 2012 Inductee and an inaugural race winner in the women’s Global GT Series.

Are you a member of any other organizations?

I serve on the Arizona Myeloma Network Board of Directors. I'm a member of the Central Michigan University President’s and 1100 Club; Sigma Theta Tau. I'm a certified occupational health nurse and case manager for the American Association of Occupational Health Nursing; a certified nurse administrator; and I serve on the National American Arab Nurses Association Board of Directors.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Learn from every leader…what works and what doesn’t work.

What would someone meeting you for the first time be surprised to learn?

I am a professional race-car driver.

What is your dream car?

The Mustang 350R, Ford GT.

What is your favorite pastime?

Racing, spending time with my family, playing the piano, gardening and having fun!

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Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Attend WTC General Membership Meeting

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion Wednesday, February 10, in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion on Wednesday, February 10, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. This event is a chance for WTC members to work with council members to determine the focus and direction of the group for this year and beyond.

On the agenda are discussions of upcoming retailer education and consumer engagement resources in development by the council, as well as new sources of vehicle technical information available through SEMA. There will also be an open discussion on other challenges and opportunities in the wheel and tire industry.

The meeting will include a continental breakfast and networking lunch for attendees. All employees of WTC member companies and any wheel and tire professionals interested in learning more about SEMA and the WTC are invited to attend the event. Remote members are invited to participate in the discussion through our GoToMeeting portal.

RSVP to save your seat and submit discussion topics: click here.

For more information on WTC, contact Council Liaison Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696 or claytond@sema.org.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website

Audrey Zavodsky

SBN Member Profile: Audrey Zavodsky, Ford Motor Co.

What is your position?  

Leadership and professional development manager.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Helping people gain insights through information and the use of tools during their leadership journey.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

I have been with Ford Motor Co. since 1993.

What brought you to the industry?    

I love helping people and building great products.

What are your major professional accomplishments?

I have a PhD in human and organizational development. I'm a certified professional executive coach. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I'm a Sports Faith International Hall of Fame 2012 Inductee and an inaugural race winner in the women’s Global GT Series.

Are you a member of any other organizations?

I serve on the Arizona Myeloma Network Board of Directors. I'm a member of the Central Michigan University President’s and 1100 Club; Sigma Theta Tau. I'm a certified occupational health nurse and case manager for the American Association of Occupational Health Nursing; a certified nurse administrator; and I serve on the National American Arab Nurses Association Board of Directors.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Learn from every leader…what works and what doesn’t work.

What would someone meeting you for the first time be surprised to learn?

I am a professional race-car driver.

What is your dream car?

The Mustang 350R, Ford GT.

What is your favorite pastime?

Racing, spending time with my family, playing the piano, gardening and having fun!

Back to Top

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Attend WTC General Membership Meeting

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion Wednesday, February 10, in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will host its annual long-range planning meeting and industry discussion on Wednesday, February 10, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. This event is a chance for WTC members to work with council members to determine the focus and direction of the group for this year and beyond.

On the agenda are discussions of upcoming retailer education and consumer engagement resources in development by the council, as well as new sources of vehicle technical information available through SEMA. There will also be an open discussion on other challenges and opportunities in the wheel and tire industry.

The meeting will include a continental breakfast and networking lunch for attendees. All employees of WTC member companies and any wheel and tire professionals interested in learning more about SEMA and the WTC are invited to attend the event. Remote members are invited to participate in the discussion through our GoToMeeting portal.

RSVP to save your seat and submit discussion topics: click here.

For more information on WTC, contact Council Liaison Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696 or claytond@sema.org.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website

Audrey Zavodsky

SBN Member Profile: Audrey Zavodsky, Ford Motor Co.

What is your position?  

Leadership and professional development manager.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Helping people gain insights through information and the use of tools during their leadership journey.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

I have been with Ford Motor Co. since 1993.

What brought you to the industry?    

I love helping people and building great products.

What are your major professional accomplishments?

I have a PhD in human and organizational development. I'm a certified professional executive coach. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I'm a Sports Faith International Hall of Fame 2012 Inductee and an inaugural race winner in the women’s Global GT Series.

Are you a member of any other organizations?

I serve on the Arizona Myeloma Network Board of Directors. I'm a member of the Central Michigan University President’s and 1100 Club; Sigma Theta Tau. I'm a certified occupational health nurse and case manager for the American Association of Occupational Health Nursing; a certified nurse administrator; and I serve on the National American Arab Nurses Association Board of Directors.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Learn from every leader…what works and what doesn’t work.

What would someone meeting you for the first time be surprised to learn?

I am a professional race-car driver.

What is your dream car?

The Mustang 350R, Ford GT.

What is your favorite pastime?

Racing, spending time with my family, playing the piano, gardening and having fun!

Back to Top

By SEMA Editors

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

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

An often quoted “statistic” from a study by Forrester’s Dr. James McQuivey claims that one minute of video is worth 1.8 million words. While more anecdotal than fact, it does cause us to respect the powerful impact that videos are having in today’s marketing. YouTube is often referred to as the second-largest search engine, bested only by Google, and it’s clearly a go-to resource not only for entertainment, but also for information.

Look at major retailers that really work their online presence and you’ll see a proliferation of video content. Harbor Freight Tools has nicely done homegrown-style videos for most of its products, and they are strong contributors to the company’s massive sales. According to Marketing Sherpa, website visitors are 64% more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. Google also loves videos. Search rankings can get a nice boost with the addition of videos, and research shows that Google favors sites with video content in its search algorithms.

An often quoted “statistic” from a study by Forrester’s Dr. James McQuivey claims that one minute of video is worth 1.8 million words. While more anecdotal than fact, it does cause us to respect the powerful impact that videos are having in today’s marketing. YouTube is often referred to as the second-largest search engine, bested only by Google, and it’s clearly a go-to resource not only for entertainment, but also for information.

Look at major retailers that really work their online presence and you’ll see a proliferation of video content. Harbor Freight Tools has nicely done homegrown-style videos for most of its products, and they are strong contributors to the company’s massive sales. According to Marketing Sherpa, website visitors are 64% more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. Google also loves videos. Search rankings can get a nice boost with the addition of videos, and research shows that Google favors sites with video content in its search algorithms.

By Jason Catullo

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last night’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.

By Jason Catullo

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last night’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.

By Jason Catullo

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last night’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.