Exhibitors who sign up for space before April 6 will be included in the Priority Booth Space Selection—a three-week process at which time exhibitors are assigned their actual booth location and number.

• Get individual and dedicated assistance: Last year, SEMA enhanced its customer service by assigning each member company with a single point of contact to assist with all Show-related services. The in-house account reps help with booth space, sponsorships, registration and much more. Now is the best time to get to know and connect with your rep. As the SEMA Show draws closer, their schedules will be busier—as will yours. Make sure they know and understand your goals and objectives now, so that they can better assist you throughout the planning process.

• Know and understand the SEMA Show: For first-time exhibitors, now is the best time to familiarize yourself with the programs and services that the SEMA Show offers. Unlike other trade shows, the SEMA Show offers unique media opportunities, networking events and educational programs. Since the SEMA Show continues to evolve and change each year, veteran exhibitors are also encouraged to spend this time understanding how new programs may impact them. For example, a new 2015 policy states the size selected on the booth space application is the size that will be assigned during the Priority Space Selection Process. Changes to the size can be made only after the space allocation process. Applying early allows you to fully understand the new policies and changes, and gives you a chance to connect with SEMA Show Staff or your sales representative for further details regarding the change.

• Avoid technical glitches: The Internet makes it easier than ever to sign up for booth space, allowing exhibitors the ability to submit all the necessary information at a single, convenient time. Yet, the reality is that there may be technical problems. While unlikely, power may go out and connections may be lost. Don’t take the chance by waiting until the last minute, and make sure you receive a confirmation e-mail after submitting your application. (Hint: Avoid using Google Chrome when applying for booth space, as the web browser is not compatible with the application.)

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Garage is hosting a Measuring Session for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 with the 2.7 EcoBoost. Attendance for the session is by pre-registration only. Cameras will be permitted.

Registration for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 Measuring Session requires a login.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Moore at JimM@SEMA.org or 909-978-6739.

Measuring Sessions provide SEMA-member manufacturers hands-on access to new vehicles in order to gather surface data in preparation for designing, developing and manufacturing specialty parts and accessories. Participating SEMA members are able to obtain detailed information on current and, in some cases, yet-to-be introduced cars and trucks.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Garage is hosting a Measuring Session for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 with the 2.7 EcoBoost. Attendance for the session is by pre-registration only. Cameras will be permitted.

Registration for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 Measuring Session requires a login.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Moore at JimM@SEMA.org or 909-978-6739.

Measuring Sessions provide SEMA-member manufacturers hands-on access to new vehicles in order to gather surface data in preparation for designing, developing and manufacturing specialty parts and accessories. Participating SEMA members are able to obtain detailed information on current and, in some cases, yet-to-be introduced cars and trucks.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Garage is hosting a Measuring Session for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 with the 2.7 EcoBoost. Attendance for the session is by pre-registration only. Cameras will be permitted.

Registration for the 2015 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 Measuring Session requires a login.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Moore at JimM@SEMA.org or 909-978-6739.

Measuring Sessions provide SEMA-member manufacturers hands-on access to new vehicles in order to gather surface data in preparation for designing, developing and manufacturing specialty parts and accessories. Participating SEMA members are able to obtain detailed information on current and, in some cases, yet-to-be introduced cars and trucks.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

• SEMA, based in Diamond Bar, California, is hiring an email marketing specialist with a strong understanding of marketing principles, resulting in actionable, engaging and audience-appropriate copy to drive awareness and generate conversions. The successful candidate will have excellent attention to detail and business copywriting standards with the ability to edit for grammar and style and be familiar with email, SEO and social-media best practices.

• Atturo Tire, located in Gurnee, Illinois, is hiring a marketing coordinator to attend TORC and LOORRS races to support Atturo-sponsored teams, coordinate displays, attend other consumer and dealer events, perform sales training for associate dealers, manage promotional items for dealers and interact with consumers on social media. The ideal candidate will have prior experience with aftermarket tire/wheel, vehicle accessory sales or installation. A proven record of being able to work independently and reliably is necessary. This position requires heavy travel.

• Phastek Performance, located in Houston, is hiring an e-Commerce product specialist to add and update products, pricing, categories and product photography. The ideal candidate will have some HTML and CSS experience, basic photo retouching skills and expertise in Adobe Creative Suite software. IT experience is preferred.

• Wheel Pros, located in Cerritos, California, is hiring a senior product designer responsible for new-product design and development within many of the company's brands in the automotive aftermarket wheel industry and researching and defining new-product opportunities. Knowledge and understanding of current technology and fashion and lifestyle trends is essential to this position. The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in industrial design or a related field and more than five years' experience in the industrial/automotive design sector or related field.

View more listings from SEMA's Automotive Classifieds listings.

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 Friday, March 27, 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 Friday, March 27, 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 YEN's website

Join the Journey: Ride Along on the Power Tour

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

Visit ETTN's website

Attend the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition with SEMA

The application deadline for the Emerging Trends & Technology Network's (ETTN) second Professional Development Program is March 16. For this program, 10 ETTN members will attend the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition (IRCE), June 3–4, 2015, in Chicago. Members who attend will receive the benefit of a negotiated registration rate and grant from SEMA to help cover costs. They attend the conference with a group of like-minded professionals, making the learning experience that much more engaging.

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 took place in Las Vegas, in February. Later in the year, a third group of members will learn customer service skills at the Disney Quality Service course.

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

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

Visit TORA's website.

Council Members Invited for an Exclusive Look at International Trucks

By Amanda Gubbins

Manufacturer members of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) are invited to attend one of SEMA’s stops during the 2015 International Measuring Session Tour. New on the tour will be the ’14 UAZ Hunter and ’14 Mitsubishi L200. This will also be members’ final opportunity to gain access to the ’12 Toyota HiLux (through June) and ’13 Ford Ranger T6 (through November).

These vehicles are popular throughout key international markets, including Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, and represent an opportunity for product-line expansion for many truck accessory manufacturers. With multiple stops around the country, this tour is a convenient way for members to collect the vehicle data needed for their product development.

The next measuring session will take place April 7–8 at Roush Performance in Plymouth, Michigan. Other sessions will follow April 21–22 at Hypertech in Bartlett, Tennessee, and May 18–22 at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

Visit the International Measuring Session website for more information about the tour, the vehicles and to register.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website.

	Charlene Bower

SBN Member of the Month: Charlene Bower, Bower Motorsports Media

Charlene Bower, owner of Bower Motorsports Media in Mesa, Arizona, is SBN’s Member of the Month.

What does your company do?

We are a PR firm that works with companies, racers and events to ensure each category is represented correctly in every way possible. We also own and operate multiple projects, including Race Team Store, Racer Marketing School, I’m Not Just a Girl, Offroad Newswire, Shirt Swag Club, Shirt Bling Club and others that are in testing phases.

What is your position?

Owner, chaos creator.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Watching racers succeed at the races, but more importantly, at keeping their sponsors happy.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

20 years, since June 1994.

What brought you to the industry?

The love of the sport, which continues today.

What are some of your major professional accomplishments?

Five years in business as Bower Motorsports Media.

Who is your industry mentor?

Dave Damron of Chaparral Motorsports, Greg Mulkey of Raceline Wheels, Erik “Camo” Linker of Pirate4x4.com.

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

“Is it good enough?” – Camo, Pirate4x4.com. As a perfectionist, I have had to learn this time-saving technique. It has helped me be very successful in recognizing and meeting expectations.

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

I have worked in the off-road industry for more than 20 years in almost every segment from retail, wholesale, media and events. Knowing every level of customer gives me a unique outlook on projects.

What is your dream car?

The ’15 Corvette is looking very sexy!

What is your favorite pastime?

Dirt-bike riding. Exploring areas that not many get to see while clean air pushes through my helmet.

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 YEN's website

Join the Journey: Ride Along on the Power Tour

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

Visit ETTN's website

Attend the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition with SEMA

The application deadline for the Emerging Trends & Technology Network's (ETTN) second Professional Development Program is March 16. For this program, 10 ETTN members will attend the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition (IRCE), June 3–4, 2015, in Chicago. Members who attend will receive the benefit of a negotiated registration rate and grant from SEMA to help cover costs. They attend the conference with a group of like-minded professionals, making the learning experience that much more engaging.

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 took place in Las Vegas, in February. Later in the year, a third group of members will learn customer service skills at the Disney Quality Service course.

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

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

Visit TORA's website.

Council Members Invited for an Exclusive Look at International Trucks

By Amanda Gubbins

Manufacturer members of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) are invited to attend one of SEMA’s stops during the 2015 International Measuring Session Tour. New on the tour will be the ’14 UAZ Hunter and ’14 Mitsubishi L200. This will also be members’ final opportunity to gain access to the ’12 Toyota HiLux (through June) and ’13 Ford Ranger T6 (through November).

These vehicles are popular throughout key international markets, including Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, and represent an opportunity for product-line expansion for many truck accessory manufacturers. With multiple stops around the country, this tour is a convenient way for members to collect the vehicle data needed for their product development.

The next measuring session will take place April 7–8 at Roush Performance in Plymouth, Michigan. Other sessions will follow April 21–22 at Hypertech in Bartlett, Tennessee, and May 18–22 at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

Visit the International Measuring Session website for more information about the tour, the vehicles and to register.

Back to Top

Visit SBN's website.

	Charlene Bower

SBN Member of the Month: Charlene Bower, Bower Motorsports Media

Charlene Bower, owner of Bower Motorsports Media in Mesa, Arizona, is SBN’s Member of the Month.

What does your company do?

We are a PR firm that works with companies, racers and events to ensure each category is represented correctly in every way possible. We also own and operate multiple projects, including Race Team Store, Racer Marketing School, I’m Not Just a Girl, Offroad Newswire, Shirt Swag Club, Shirt Bling Club and others that are in testing phases.

What is your position?

Owner, chaos creator.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

Watching racers succeed at the races, but more importantly, at keeping their sponsors happy.

How long have you been involved with the aftermarket industry?

20 years, since June 1994.

What brought you to the industry?

The love of the sport, which continues today.

What are some of your major professional accomplishments?

Five years in business as Bower Motorsports Media.

Who is your industry mentor?

Dave Damron of Chaparral Motorsports, Greg Mulkey of Raceline Wheels, Erik “Camo” Linker of Pirate4x4.com.

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

“Is it good enough?” – Camo, Pirate4x4.com. As a perfectionist, I have had to learn this time-saving technique. It has helped me be very successful in recognizing and meeting expectations.

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

I have worked in the off-road industry for more than 20 years in almost every segment from retail, wholesale, media and events. Knowing every level of customer gives me a unique outlook on projects.

What is your dream car?

The ’15 Corvette is looking very sexy!

What is your favorite pastime?

Dirt-bike riding. Exploring areas that not many get to see while clean air pushes through my helmet.

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.