By SEMA Editors

	Ken Bolen, center, was the first recipient of the CLeo award for his ’69 Cadillac Deville restoration.

The first-annual CLeo Interior Restoration Trophy winner was Ken Bolen for his ’69 Cadillac Deville restoration, Malcolm Johnson, CEO of ColorBond Automotive Paint, announced. The award was presented January 15, at the Mobile Tech trade show in Orlando, Florida.

The CLeo crystal trophy is awarded to an individual who has shown excellence utilizing ColorBond paints to restore the interior of any vehicle, including trucks, musclecars, classics and antiques. The CLeo was established to honor Leo Kagan, who, in 1977, was responsible for moving the SEMA Show from Anaheim, California, to its current location in Las Vegas. At 98 years old, Kagan continues to work for ColorBond Automotive Paint.

The 20-ft.-long Cadillac Deville convertible was owned by Kay Stevens, a singer, entertainer and celebrity guest host, and was frequently seen in the company of the Rat Pack. Bolen purchased the vehicle from Stevens for $2,600 in 1994. The Caddy sat in a garage until 2013 and was restored last year. Bolen spent a total of $350 for ColorBond Paint and restored the leather seats, door panels, convertible boot and dash panel to the original color, Diamond White. Reskinning the leather interior would have cost $3,000–$5,000. 

The 2015 CLeo award will be presented at the SEMA Show in November. The winner will receive a $500 check and the opportunity to display their car at the 2015 SEMA Show.

For more photos and background information on Bolen's ’69 Cadillac Deville, visit ColorBond Automotive Paint's blog.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

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.

Visit HRIA's website

Award-Winning Builders Share Lessons Learned at Autorama

By Amanda Gubbins

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) will host a Builder’s Panel at the Detroit Autorama, Saturday, March 7, at 3:00 p.m., in Room 140 A&B of Cobo Hall. Members and prospective members are invited to attend and hear about the reality of hot-rod building from some of the nation’s foremost, award-winning car builders. From Ridler Award winners to HRIA Hall of Fame members, this panel of hot rodders will discuss their secrets to success and what they’ve learned from setbacks. In between, you can expect a large dose of stories and laughs from our expert panel: Bobby Alloway, Jesse Greening, Dave Lane, J.F. Launier, Andy Leach and Troy Trepanier. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend. For more information, contact Jim Skelly.

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Visit TORA's website.

Truck Industry Professionals—Connect in Indianapolis

By Clayton Drescher

Members of SEMA’s Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) and professionals in the light-truck industry are invited to a happy hour and TORA mixer at the Slippery Noodle Inn, Indiana’s oldest bar, Monday, March 2, from 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. The Slippery Noodle is just around the corner from the Indiana Convention Center, host to the NTEA Work Truck Show that week.

This is a great opportunity for local members and those in town for the NTEA Show to network, unwind, grab a bite and a drink, and learn about what SEMA and TORA are doing to strengthen and support the light-truck industry. The elected volunteer leaders of the TORA Select Committee will be there to hear input from membership about upcoming strategic planning meetings and answer questions regarding the council’s activities.

All professionals in any aspect of the light-truck industry interested in learning more about SEMA and TORA are invited to attend the event. Questions? Contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696 or RSVP online.

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Visit ARMO's website.

	ARMO's Hot Products Showcase will take place April 23–25, 2015, at Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Register Your Restoration Parts for the Hot Products Showcase

• Be the product of an ARMO-member company.
• Be available for sale (market-ready) by the opening of the Showcase, April 23.
• Demonstrate unique/innovative technology and/or be a benefit to the restoration industry.

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Visit ETTN's website

Improve Your E-Commerce Skills at a Discount

Applications are being accepted now through March 16 for a second ETTN Professional Development Program. The Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition (IRCE), will take place June 3–4, 2015, in Chicago. On its own, the costs associated with this conference could prove prohibitive for members, but through ETTN, participants receive a specially negotiated registration rate, and the company of the participating employee receives a $500 grant from SEMA to assist with registration (all benefits received are considered taxable income). IRCE, a two-day conference, originally cost $1,095. Combining the negotiated rate and SEMA grant, ETTN members save 80% and pay only $216 for registration.

IRCE is in its 11th year and is largely considered to be a flagship event of the e-commerce industry. Each year, more than 10,000 attendees travel to Chicago to hear from more than 200 expert speakers representing all areas of the industry. This year, exciting speakers include top executives from Target, 1-800-Flowers.com, QVC and more. In addition to the educational opportunities, the 250,000 sq.-ft. exhibit hall presents more than 600 companies in the e-commerce solutions industry.

Applicants may be selected to attend one of three conferences in 2015, along with SEMA staff and a group of nine other network members. The first conference selected was the Social Media Strategies Summit, which will take place in Las Vegas, February 10–12. Later in the year, a third group of members will learn customer service and engagement skills at the Disney Quality Service course.

To learn more about the program and apply, visit the ETTN Professional Development Program homepage or contact Senior Manager of Networks Bryan Harrison.

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