SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

Career Windows: Engaging the Next Generation of Aftermarket Professionals

	This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

The question of how to involve the next generation in the automotive specialty-equipment industry is a topic that comes up in nearly every SEMA membership meeting. Over the last year, the Board of Directors and staff have put quite a bit of thought and effort into developing youth-engagement initiatives. SEMA continues to expand its portfolio of resources to address what is commonly referred to as “a graying industry.” This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

“In talking to our members, one of their biggest challenges right now is finding qualified and eager employees,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “We are launching this new tool to develop the next generation of industry leaders and ultimately help fill that void. After test driving a successful program at our headquarters last summer, we are excited to see how our member companies will benefit, too.”

The Career Windows program is a new kind of internship. Geared toward college students, the one-, two- or three-week program seeks to grow excitement in future employees and help them connect their own interests to positions in the automotive world. Through a unique structure of scheduled department visits, student participants gain a big-picture view of the industry and exposure to the variety of career options within a particular company.

While not a traditional job-training program, it allows SEMA-member companies to invest in the next generation of automotive industry leaders. Through tailored work experience, members can effectively create a talent pipeline for their own companies, test-driving possible future employees and expose their brands to new sets of eyes.

SEMA-member companies can apply to host students, and SEMA will assist with matching local interns. Host companies for Career Windows are responsible for providing the structure, goals and experience for the student, but SEMA has put together resources to help them launch successful internships.

SEMA experimented with the format at its Diamond Bar headquarters in June of 2014 and was pleased with the outcome. Ian Moon, a sophomore business major at the University of California, Berkeley, spent three weeks in the SEMA office. He learned from each of the association’s departments, including membership, SEMA Garage, special events, trade show, publications, marketing and public relations. Each department visit lasted between one and three days, depending on its size and scope. Moon met with key stakeholders and department leaders to gain an understanding of how each position fit into the greater purpose of the organization and then assisted with current projects.

Moon was first drawn to the program because of the opportunity to learn about business operations and management. Though he had not yet chosen an area of emphasis, he expressed an interest in one day leading his own organization.

“I was fortunate to sit in on a lot of meetings and have one-on-one conversations with George [Afremow, vice president and CFO], Chris [Kersting], Bill [Miller, senior vice president of operations] and all the heads of the departments,” said Moon. “These experiences helped me better understand SEMA and the inner workings of a company.”

The scope of the program was another thing that appealed to Moon from the beginning.

“Many of my friends tell me that they stuff envelopes for eight hours a day, five days a week and maybe learn something for 30 minutes,” he said. “During this internship, most of my time was spent learning. When I did do smaller, more tedious tasks, I was aware of the purpose and felt that I was really benefitting the team.”

Moon was not the only one who enjoyed the fresh format. Staff members also remarked on the strengths of the program and saw great opportunity for SEMA-member companies.

“I think it’s a really tremendous opportunity for members of the industry to open their doors and welcome students to their companies,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA’s special events director. “I think that the industry recognizes that bringing in and bringing up the next generation is really critical. It’s a high priority—we’ve heard that many times from companies. This is a really easy way for them to do that.”

SEMA looks forward to working toward solutions alongside members. Companies interested in hosting a student are invited to contact Director of Education Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org to begin the matching process. Visit www.sema.org/career-windows for more information.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

Career Windows: Engaging the Next Generation of Aftermarket Professionals

	This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

The question of how to involve the next generation in the automotive specialty-equipment industry is a topic that comes up in nearly every SEMA membership meeting. Over the last year, the Board of Directors and staff have put quite a bit of thought and effort into developing youth-engagement initiatives. SEMA continues to expand its portfolio of resources to address what is commonly referred to as “a graying industry.” This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

“In talking to our members, one of their biggest challenges right now is finding qualified and eager employees,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “We are launching this new tool to develop the next generation of industry leaders and ultimately help fill that void. After test driving a successful program at our headquarters last summer, we are excited to see how our member companies will benefit, too.”

The Career Windows program is a new kind of internship. Geared toward college students, the one-, two- or three-week program seeks to grow excitement in future employees and help them connect their own interests to positions in the automotive world. Through a unique structure of scheduled department visits, student participants gain a big-picture view of the industry and exposure to the variety of career options within a particular company.

While not a traditional job-training program, it allows SEMA-member companies to invest in the next generation of automotive industry leaders. Through tailored work experience, members can effectively create a talent pipeline for their own companies, test-driving possible future employees and expose their brands to new sets of eyes.

SEMA-member companies can apply to host students, and SEMA will assist with matching local interns. Host companies for Career Windows are responsible for providing the structure, goals and experience for the student, but SEMA has put together resources to help them launch successful internships.

SEMA experimented with the format at its Diamond Bar headquarters in June of 2014 and was pleased with the outcome. Ian Moon, a sophomore business major at the University of California, Berkeley, spent three weeks in the SEMA office. He learned from each of the association’s departments, including membership, SEMA Garage, special events, trade show, publications, marketing and public relations. Each department visit lasted between one and three days, depending on its size and scope. Moon met with key stakeholders and department leaders to gain an understanding of how each position fit into the greater purpose of the organization and then assisted with current projects.

Moon was first drawn to the program because of the opportunity to learn about business operations and management. Though he had not yet chosen an area of emphasis, he expressed an interest in one day leading his own organization.

“I was fortunate to sit in on a lot of meetings and have one-on-one conversations with George [Afremow, vice president and CFO], Chris [Kersting], Bill [Miller, senior vice president of operations] and all the heads of the departments,” said Moon. “These experiences helped me better understand SEMA and the inner workings of a company.”

The scope of the program was another thing that appealed to Moon from the beginning.

“Many of my friends tell me that they stuff envelopes for eight hours a day, five days a week and maybe learn something for 30 minutes,” he said. “During this internship, most of my time was spent learning. When I did do smaller, more tedious tasks, I was aware of the purpose and felt that I was really benefitting the team.”

Moon was not the only one who enjoyed the fresh format. Staff members also remarked on the strengths of the program and saw great opportunity for SEMA-member companies.

“I think it’s a really tremendous opportunity for members of the industry to open their doors and welcome students to their companies,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA’s special events director. “I think that the industry recognizes that bringing in and bringing up the next generation is really critical. It’s a high priority—we’ve heard that many times from companies. This is a really easy way for them to do that.”

SEMA looks forward to working toward solutions alongside members. Companies interested in hosting a student are invited to contact Director of Education Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org to begin the matching process. Visit www.sema.org/career-windows for more information.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

Career Windows: Engaging the Next Generation of Aftermarket Professionals

	This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

The question of how to involve the next generation in the automotive specialty-equipment industry is a topic that comes up in nearly every SEMA membership meeting. Over the last year, the Board of Directors and staff have put quite a bit of thought and effort into developing youth-engagement initiatives. SEMA continues to expand its portfolio of resources to address what is commonly referred to as “a graying industry.” This summer, SEMA Education launched Career Windows—a new program designed to introduce college students to the industry.

“In talking to our members, one of their biggest challenges right now is finding qualified and eager employees,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “We are launching this new tool to develop the next generation of industry leaders and ultimately help fill that void. After test driving a successful program at our headquarters last summer, we are excited to see how our member companies will benefit, too.”

The Career Windows program is a new kind of internship. Geared toward college students, the one-, two- or three-week program seeks to grow excitement in future employees and help them connect their own interests to positions in the automotive world. Through a unique structure of scheduled department visits, student participants gain a big-picture view of the industry and exposure to the variety of career options within a particular company.

While not a traditional job-training program, it allows SEMA-member companies to invest in the next generation of automotive industry leaders. Through tailored work experience, members can effectively create a talent pipeline for their own companies, test-driving possible future employees and expose their brands to new sets of eyes.

SEMA-member companies can apply to host students, and SEMA will assist with matching local interns. Host companies for Career Windows are responsible for providing the structure, goals and experience for the student, but SEMA has put together resources to help them launch successful internships.

SEMA experimented with the format at its Diamond Bar headquarters in June of 2014 and was pleased with the outcome. Ian Moon, a sophomore business major at the University of California, Berkeley, spent three weeks in the SEMA office. He learned from each of the association’s departments, including membership, SEMA Garage, special events, trade show, publications, marketing and public relations. Each department visit lasted between one and three days, depending on its size and scope. Moon met with key stakeholders and department leaders to gain an understanding of how each position fit into the greater purpose of the organization and then assisted with current projects.

Moon was first drawn to the program because of the opportunity to learn about business operations and management. Though he had not yet chosen an area of emphasis, he expressed an interest in one day leading his own organization.

“I was fortunate to sit in on a lot of meetings and have one-on-one conversations with George [Afremow, vice president and CFO], Chris [Kersting], Bill [Miller, senior vice president of operations] and all the heads of the departments,” said Moon. “These experiences helped me better understand SEMA and the inner workings of a company.”

The scope of the program was another thing that appealed to Moon from the beginning.

“Many of my friends tell me that they stuff envelopes for eight hours a day, five days a week and maybe learn something for 30 minutes,” he said. “During this internship, most of my time was spent learning. When I did do smaller, more tedious tasks, I was aware of the purpose and felt that I was really benefitting the team.”

Moon was not the only one who enjoyed the fresh format. Staff members also remarked on the strengths of the program and saw great opportunity for SEMA-member companies.

“I think it’s a really tremendous opportunity for members of the industry to open their doors and welcome students to their companies,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA’s special events director. “I think that the industry recognizes that bringing in and bringing up the next generation is really critical. It’s a high priority—we’ve heard that many times from companies. This is a really easy way for them to do that.”

SEMA looks forward to working toward solutions alongside members. Companies interested in hosting a student are invited to contact Director of Education Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org to begin the matching process. Visit www.sema.org/career-windows for more information.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

From SBN Chair to the Board of Directors: Luanne Brown Gets It!

By Marla Moore

	Over the years, Brown has been very involved in fundraising events for SEMA Cares. Here she is at the Child Help banquet, next to a car that was auctioned to benefit the charity.

There have been only a handful of women on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD), and four of them chaired the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) before rising to the Board. Luanne Brown is one of those women.

In June, Brown will have served her maximum terms and leave the BOD but not the many tasks and initiatives she helped. She served as chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, where she initiated the successful pinewood derby races to raise funds for Child Help and Victory Junction for disadvantaged youth. Brown is also a member of the SEMA Business Technology Committee and has become one of the industry’s leading experts, conducting numerous seminars on Internet marketing and advertising at the SEMA Show, the Aftermarket
eForum, the Off Road Impact Show, the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show, the Performance Racing Industry trade show and various AAIA (now the Auto Care Association) events. She is a true testament to how perseverance, getting involved and making connections will propel your career and take you places you never dreamed of.

Brown got her start in October of 2001 when a client of the multi-media firm she represented took her to the AAPEX show and introduced her to Martha Doyle, one of the founding members of the SBN. Doyle asked her: “Have you ever heard of SEMA and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network?” Brown said: “No, what’s that?” Then Doyle introduced her to the women of the SBN. Brown became a member and shortly thereafter began writing “Quick Business Tips” for SEMA News.

Brown was greatly inspired by the women she met and started her own company, eTool Developers, in December 2001. Early on, Matt Agosta, Steve Cole, Dick Van Cleve and John Towle mentored her and introduced her to numerous other key figures in the industry. She began volunteering her time and networking through SEMA to become known in the industry.

Working in a male-dominated industry wasn’t always easy, but Brown found that most men were very approachable and willing to show her the ropes.

“The hardest thing for me was to be taken seriously as a woman and not just typecast as some ‘girly girl,’” Brown shared. “You need to become a respected leader in the industry by doing what you say you are going to do and by getting involved in the councils and committees of SEMA. The key for me was to become an expert in the field of Internet marketing to gain respect as a trustworthy individual. Once others in the industry start believing in you and trust you, they will listen to you.”

eTool Developers continues to thrive today. Brown is grateful to have a team of experts that developed software platforms to serve websites, dealer portals and provide do-it-yourself data management for her friends and clients in the automotive aftermarket.

“When you can help your friends increase their bottom line, it’s a win-win relationship,” she exclaimed.

The SBN is very proud of the success of our former chair and awarded her the SBN Athena Award in 2007. The Women’s Automotive Association International honored her recently with the Spirit of Leadership award.

One of her most memorable moments in the aftermarket was participating in a “Night with the Demon” party with Barry Grant and his team. They gave all guests rides in the “Richard Petty Experience.” She’ll never forget suiting up, then crawling through the window of a racecar and being driven around the racetrack at neck-breaking speed by a professional driver.

“I was thrilled to death and understood what the excitement of our industry was all about,” she said. “I crawled back out of that window saying, ‘I get it now! I get it now!’”

Luanne Brown definitely got it, and we’re glad that she took the opportunity to join the SBN and be a leader in our industry.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

From SBN Chair to the Board of Directors: Luanne Brown Gets It!

By Marla Moore

	Over the years, Brown has been very involved in fundraising events for SEMA Cares. Here she is at the Child Help banquet, next to a car that was auctioned to benefit the charity.

There have been only a handful of women on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD), and four of them chaired the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) before rising to the Board. Luanne Brown is one of those women.

In June, Brown will have served her maximum terms and leave the BOD but not the many tasks and initiatives she helped. She served as chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, where she initiated the successful pinewood derby races to raise funds for Child Help and Victory Junction for disadvantaged youth. Brown is also a member of the SEMA Business Technology Committee and has become one of the industry’s leading experts, conducting numerous seminars on Internet marketing and advertising at the SEMA Show, the Aftermarket
eForum, the Off Road Impact Show, the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show, the Performance Racing Industry trade show and various AAIA (now the Auto Care Association) events. She is a true testament to how perseverance, getting involved and making connections will propel your career and take you places you never dreamed of.

Brown got her start in October of 2001 when a client of the multi-media firm she represented took her to the AAPEX show and introduced her to Martha Doyle, one of the founding members of the SBN. Doyle asked her: “Have you ever heard of SEMA and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network?” Brown said: “No, what’s that?” Then Doyle introduced her to the women of the SBN. Brown became a member and shortly thereafter began writing “Quick Business Tips” for SEMA News.

Brown was greatly inspired by the women she met and started her own company, eTool Developers, in December 2001. Early on, Matt Agosta, Steve Cole, Dick Van Cleve and John Towle mentored her and introduced her to numerous other key figures in the industry. She began volunteering her time and networking through SEMA to become known in the industry.

Working in a male-dominated industry wasn’t always easy, but Brown found that most men were very approachable and willing to show her the ropes.

“The hardest thing for me was to be taken seriously as a woman and not just typecast as some ‘girly girl,’” Brown shared. “You need to become a respected leader in the industry by doing what you say you are going to do and by getting involved in the councils and committees of SEMA. The key for me was to become an expert in the field of Internet marketing to gain respect as a trustworthy individual. Once others in the industry start believing in you and trust you, they will listen to you.”

eTool Developers continues to thrive today. Brown is grateful to have a team of experts that developed software platforms to serve websites, dealer portals and provide do-it-yourself data management for her friends and clients in the automotive aftermarket.

“When you can help your friends increase their bottom line, it’s a win-win relationship,” she exclaimed.

The SBN is very proud of the success of our former chair and awarded her the SBN Athena Award in 2007. The Women’s Automotive Association International honored her recently with the Spirit of Leadership award.

One of her most memorable moments in the aftermarket was participating in a “Night with the Demon” party with Barry Grant and his team. They gave all guests rides in the “Richard Petty Experience.” She’ll never forget suiting up, then crawling through the window of a racecar and being driven around the racetrack at neck-breaking speed by a professional driver.

“I was thrilled to death and understood what the excitement of our industry was all about,” she said. “I crawled back out of that window saying, ‘I get it now! I get it now!’”

Luanne Brown definitely got it, and we’re glad that she took the opportunity to join the SBN and be a leader in our industry.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

From SBN Chair to the Board of Directors: Luanne Brown Gets It!

By Marla Moore

	Over the years, Brown has been very involved in fundraising events for SEMA Cares. Here she is at the Child Help banquet, next to a car that was auctioned to benefit the charity.

There have been only a handful of women on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD), and four of them chaired the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) before rising to the Board. Luanne Brown is one of those women.

In June, Brown will have served her maximum terms and leave the BOD but not the many tasks and initiatives she helped. She served as chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, where she initiated the successful pinewood derby races to raise funds for Child Help and Victory Junction for disadvantaged youth. Brown is also a member of the SEMA Business Technology Committee and has become one of the industry’s leading experts, conducting numerous seminars on Internet marketing and advertising at the SEMA Show, the Aftermarket
eForum, the Off Road Impact Show, the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show, the Performance Racing Industry trade show and various AAIA (now the Auto Care Association) events. She is a true testament to how perseverance, getting involved and making connections will propel your career and take you places you never dreamed of.

Brown got her start in October of 2001 when a client of the multi-media firm she represented took her to the AAPEX show and introduced her to Martha Doyle, one of the founding members of the SBN. Doyle asked her: “Have you ever heard of SEMA and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network?” Brown said: “No, what’s that?” Then Doyle introduced her to the women of the SBN. Brown became a member and shortly thereafter began writing “Quick Business Tips” for SEMA News.

Brown was greatly inspired by the women she met and started her own company, eTool Developers, in December 2001. Early on, Matt Agosta, Steve Cole, Dick Van Cleve and John Towle mentored her and introduced her to numerous other key figures in the industry. She began volunteering her time and networking through SEMA to become known in the industry.

Working in a male-dominated industry wasn’t always easy, but Brown found that most men were very approachable and willing to show her the ropes.

“The hardest thing for me was to be taken seriously as a woman and not just typecast as some ‘girly girl,’” Brown shared. “You need to become a respected leader in the industry by doing what you say you are going to do and by getting involved in the councils and committees of SEMA. The key for me was to become an expert in the field of Internet marketing to gain respect as a trustworthy individual. Once others in the industry start believing in you and trust you, they will listen to you.”

eTool Developers continues to thrive today. Brown is grateful to have a team of experts that developed software platforms to serve websites, dealer portals and provide do-it-yourself data management for her friends and clients in the automotive aftermarket.

“When you can help your friends increase their bottom line, it’s a win-win relationship,” she exclaimed.

The SBN is very proud of the success of our former chair and awarded her the SBN Athena Award in 2007. The Women’s Automotive Association International honored her recently with the Spirit of Leadership award.

One of her most memorable moments in the aftermarket was participating in a “Night with the Demon” party with Barry Grant and his team. They gave all guests rides in the “Richard Petty Experience.” She’ll never forget suiting up, then crawling through the window of a racecar and being driven around the racetrack at neck-breaking speed by a professional driver.

“I was thrilled to death and understood what the excitement of our industry was all about,” she said. “I crawled back out of that window saying, ‘I get it now! I get it now!’”

Luanne Brown definitely got it, and we’re glad that she took the opportunity to join the SBN and be a leader in our industry.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

From SBN Chair to the Board of Directors: Luanne Brown Gets It!

By Marla Moore

	Over the years, Brown has been very involved in fundraising events for SEMA Cares. Here she is at the Child Help banquet, next to a car that was auctioned to benefit the charity.

There have been only a handful of women on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD), and four of them chaired the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) before rising to the Board. Luanne Brown is one of those women.

In June, Brown will have served her maximum terms and leave the BOD but not the many tasks and initiatives she helped. She served as chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, where she initiated the successful pinewood derby races to raise funds for Child Help and Victory Junction for disadvantaged youth. Brown is also a member of the SEMA Business Technology Committee and has become one of the industry’s leading experts, conducting numerous seminars on Internet marketing and advertising at the SEMA Show, the Aftermarket
eForum, the Off Road Impact Show, the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show, the Performance Racing Industry trade show and various AAIA (now the Auto Care Association) events. She is a true testament to how perseverance, getting involved and making connections will propel your career and take you places you never dreamed of.

Brown got her start in October of 2001 when a client of the multi-media firm she represented took her to the AAPEX show and introduced her to Martha Doyle, one of the founding members of the SBN. Doyle asked her: “Have you ever heard of SEMA and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network?” Brown said: “No, what’s that?” Then Doyle introduced her to the women of the SBN. Brown became a member and shortly thereafter began writing “Quick Business Tips” for SEMA News.

Brown was greatly inspired by the women she met and started her own company, eTool Developers, in December 2001. Early on, Matt Agosta, Steve Cole, Dick Van Cleve and John Towle mentored her and introduced her to numerous other key figures in the industry. She began volunteering her time and networking through SEMA to become known in the industry.

Working in a male-dominated industry wasn’t always easy, but Brown found that most men were very approachable and willing to show her the ropes.

“The hardest thing for me was to be taken seriously as a woman and not just typecast as some ‘girly girl,’” Brown shared. “You need to become a respected leader in the industry by doing what you say you are going to do and by getting involved in the councils and committees of SEMA. The key for me was to become an expert in the field of Internet marketing to gain respect as a trustworthy individual. Once others in the industry start believing in you and trust you, they will listen to you.”

eTool Developers continues to thrive today. Brown is grateful to have a team of experts that developed software platforms to serve websites, dealer portals and provide do-it-yourself data management for her friends and clients in the automotive aftermarket.

“When you can help your friends increase their bottom line, it’s a win-win relationship,” she exclaimed.

The SBN is very proud of the success of our former chair and awarded her the SBN Athena Award in 2007. The Women’s Automotive Association International honored her recently with the Spirit of Leadership award.

One of her most memorable moments in the aftermarket was participating in a “Night with the Demon” party with Barry Grant and his team. They gave all guests rides in the “Richard Petty Experience.” She’ll never forget suiting up, then crawling through the window of a racecar and being driven around the racetrack at neck-breaking speed by a professional driver.

“I was thrilled to death and understood what the excitement of our industry was all about,” she said. “I crawled back out of that window saying, ‘I get it now! I get it now!’”

Luanne Brown definitely got it, and we’re glad that she took the opportunity to join the SBN and be a leader in our industry.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

From SBN Chair to the Board of Directors: Luanne Brown Gets It!

By Marla Moore

	Over the years, Brown has been very involved in fundraising events for SEMA Cares. Here she is at the Child Help banquet, next to a car that was auctioned to benefit the charity.

There have been only a handful of women on the SEMA Board of Directors (BOD), and four of them chaired the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) before rising to the Board. Luanne Brown is one of those women.

In June, Brown will have served her maximum terms and leave the BOD but not the many tasks and initiatives she helped. She served as chair of the SEMA Cares charitable committee, where she initiated the successful pinewood derby races to raise funds for Child Help and Victory Junction for disadvantaged youth. Brown is also a member of the SEMA Business Technology Committee and has become one of the industry’s leading experts, conducting numerous seminars on Internet marketing and advertising at the SEMA Show, the Aftermarket
eForum, the Off Road Impact Show, the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show, the Performance Racing Industry trade show and various AAIA (now the Auto Care Association) events. She is a true testament to how perseverance, getting involved and making connections will propel your career and take you places you never dreamed of.

Brown got her start in October of 2001 when a client of the multi-media firm she represented took her to the AAPEX show and introduced her to Martha Doyle, one of the founding members of the SBN. Doyle asked her: “Have you ever heard of SEMA and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network?” Brown said: “No, what’s that?” Then Doyle introduced her to the women of the SBN. Brown became a member and shortly thereafter began writing “Quick Business Tips” for SEMA News.

Brown was greatly inspired by the women she met and started her own company, eTool Developers, in December 2001. Early on, Matt Agosta, Steve Cole, Dick Van Cleve and John Towle mentored her and introduced her to numerous other key figures in the industry. She began volunteering her time and networking through SEMA to become known in the industry.

Working in a male-dominated industry wasn’t always easy, but Brown found that most men were very approachable and willing to show her the ropes.

“The hardest thing for me was to be taken seriously as a woman and not just typecast as some ‘girly girl,’” Brown shared. “You need to become a respected leader in the industry by doing what you say you are going to do and by getting involved in the councils and committees of SEMA. The key for me was to become an expert in the field of Internet marketing to gain respect as a trustworthy individual. Once others in the industry start believing in you and trust you, they will listen to you.”

eTool Developers continues to thrive today. Brown is grateful to have a team of experts that developed software platforms to serve websites, dealer portals and provide do-it-yourself data management for her friends and clients in the automotive aftermarket.

“When you can help your friends increase their bottom line, it’s a win-win relationship,” she exclaimed.

The SBN is very proud of the success of our former chair and awarded her the SBN Athena Award in 2007. The Women’s Automotive Association International honored her recently with the Spirit of Leadership award.

One of her most memorable moments in the aftermarket was participating in a “Night with the Demon” party with Barry Grant and his team. They gave all guests rides in the “Richard Petty Experience.” She’ll never forget suiting up, then crawling through the window of a racecar and being driven around the racetrack at neck-breaking speed by a professional driver.

“I was thrilled to death and understood what the excitement of our industry was all about,” she said. “I crawled back out of that window saying, ‘I get it now! I get it now!’”

Luanne Brown definitely got it, and we’re glad that she took the opportunity to join the SBN and be a leader in our industry.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

Data and the MRN

	MRN continues to look for partnership opportunities with the SEMA Data Co-op. Members may contact any of the MRN leadership for more information, including (from left) Former Chair Joel Rosenthal, Chair Les Rudd, Immediate Past Chair Tommy Jourdan, Chair-Elect Vic Bennett or SEMA Staff Liaison Bryan Harrison.

The Manufacturers’ Representative Network (MRN) has continued to collaborate with the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) to provide valuable and user-friendly benefits to reps. Over the past few months, several exciting projects have received attention. Here is an update for MRN members.

MRN-SDC Export Template

First, the MRN-SDC export template is ready to use. The SDC has built a comprehensive flat file format that can be run for manufacturers at any time—either on a regular schedule or only when updates are needed. The export-scheduling feature allows reps to choose the frequency and type of updates they receive. They can choose Net Changes (only new information since their last export) or Full File Refresh (a complete new file each export) and can schedule them to run daily, weekly, days of the week, monthly or dates of the month.

To date, there have been more than 230 exports using the MRN template, and it has received great feedback from users—but this is only one of the formats available for data exports. Once an agency is set up as a receiver, it can create its own custom template with more or less information, depending on individual needs.

MRN Certification Program

The MRN Certification Program will launch a fifth module this summer. The web-based educational series helps manufacturers’ representatives learn more about what the SDC offers through courses designed to build confidence in discussing the data-management system with customers. Participants have three weeks to complete four sessions and quizzes. Those who successfully complete the series receive a certificate of completion and are recognized as SDC ambassadors. The new module is designed to keep already certified MRN members abreast of updates and changes to the program.

The product data available to representatives through the SDC is valuable because it helps drive sales. Clean data gives exposure to new products and reduces the number of returns due to wrong products being sold. Through the certification program, reps can assist their suppliers with new product additions, content building and receiver-specific data requests. This load-sheet knowledge helps to ensure a good fit between suppliers and receivers. It also relieves the burden of customer-specific load sheets for every new part number and allows for better customer service. To date, more than 100 reps have completed the first four modules.

A commonly asked question is if the courses can be finished at any time or if reps must start from the beginning after a certain period of time. The flexibility of this program is one of the things that makes it so valuable. All courses are now available through SEMA Education, and the progress of each rep was transferred from the original Mindflash platform. Reps who need to pick up where they left off or would like to begin the certification process can register at any time by contacting Jim Graven at jimg@SEMAdatacoop.org.

Score Carding

The SDC is also focused on a data-quality and completeness initiative through a new score-card program designed to help suppliers better meet the data needs of their customers. Each supplier receives a score-card level that reflects his or her level of data quality and completeness based on an overall view of SDC data receivers’ needs.

Bronze is the minimum required data set when a supplier completes the initial onboarding process, designed to meet the primary needs of many WDs and resellers. The Silver level builds on that data set, adding dimensions, more complete descriptions, bullet points and additional images. Gold further improves the data set with the addition of descriptive product attributes and digital assets, including installation instructions and warranty information. The pinnacle of data is the Platinum level, which builds upon the previous three levels with the addition of even more assets, descriptions, videos, kit and interchange information and more.

The SDC team is working daily with suppliers to help them achieve these “steps” in data improvement as painlessly as possible, resulting in a more valuable, productive and sales-producing data set to serve their customer bases. Reps are encouraged to work with their participating suppliers to help achieve their next level of data validation.

For more information about any of these programs and initiatives, contact SDC Director of Membership Jim Graven at jimg@SEMAdatacoop.org or MRN Staff Liaison Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org.

SEMA Member News—July/August 2015

Data and the MRN

	MRN continues to look for partnership opportunities with the SEMA Data Co-op. Members may contact any of the MRN leadership for more information, including (from left) Former Chair Joel Rosenthal, Chair Les Rudd, Immediate Past Chair Tommy Jourdan, Chair-Elect Vic Bennett or SEMA Staff Liaison Bryan Harrison.

The Manufacturers’ Representative Network (MRN) has continued to collaborate with the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) to provide valuable and user-friendly benefits to reps. Over the past few months, several exciting projects have received attention. Here is an update for MRN members.

MRN-SDC Export Template

First, the MRN-SDC export template is ready to use. The SDC has built a comprehensive flat file format that can be run for manufacturers at any time—either on a regular schedule or only when updates are needed. The export-scheduling feature allows reps to choose the frequency and type of updates they receive. They can choose Net Changes (only new information since their last export) or Full File Refresh (a complete new file each export) and can schedule them to run daily, weekly, days of the week, monthly or dates of the month.

To date, there have been more than 230 exports using the MRN template, and it has received great feedback from users—but this is only one of the formats available for data exports. Once an agency is set up as a receiver, it can create its own custom template with more or less information, depending on individual needs.

MRN Certification Program

The MRN Certification Program will launch a fifth module this summer. The web-based educational series helps manufacturers’ representatives learn more about what the SDC offers through courses designed to build confidence in discussing the data-management system with customers. Participants have three weeks to complete four sessions and quizzes. Those who successfully complete the series receive a certificate of completion and are recognized as SDC ambassadors. The new module is designed to keep already certified MRN members abreast of updates and changes to the program.

The product data available to representatives through the SDC is valuable because it helps drive sales. Clean data gives exposure to new products and reduces the number of returns due to wrong products being sold. Through the certification program, reps can assist their suppliers with new product additions, content building and receiver-specific data requests. This load-sheet knowledge helps to ensure a good fit between suppliers and receivers. It also relieves the burden of customer-specific load sheets for every new part number and allows for better customer service. To date, more than 100 reps have completed the first four modules.

A commonly asked question is if the courses can be finished at any time or if reps must start from the beginning after a certain period of time. The flexibility of this program is one of the things that makes it so valuable. All courses are now available through SEMA Education, and the progress of each rep was transferred from the original Mindflash platform. Reps who need to pick up where they left off or would like to begin the certification process can register at any time by contacting Jim Graven at jimg@SEMAdatacoop.org.

Score Carding

The SDC is also focused on a data-quality and completeness initiative through a new score-card program designed to help suppliers better meet the data needs of their customers. Each supplier receives a score-card level that reflects his or her level of data quality and completeness based on an overall view of SDC data receivers’ needs.

Bronze is the minimum required data set when a supplier completes the initial onboarding process, designed to meet the primary needs of many WDs and resellers. The Silver level builds on that data set, adding dimensions, more complete descriptions, bullet points and additional images. Gold further improves the data set with the addition of descriptive product attributes and digital assets, including installation instructions and warranty information. The pinnacle of data is the Platinum level, which builds upon the previous three levels with the addition of even more assets, descriptions, videos, kit and interchange information and more.

The SDC team is working daily with suppliers to help them achieve these “steps” in data improvement as painlessly as possible, resulting in a more valuable, productive and sales-producing data set to serve their customer bases. Reps are encouraged to work with their participating suppliers to help achieve their next level of data validation.

For more information about any of these programs and initiatives, contact SDC Director of Membership Jim Graven at jimg@SEMAdatacoop.org or MRN Staff Liaison Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org.