Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.
Carlisle Events is hiring a digital marketing manager responsible for designing and tracking digital and video advertising in support of media campaigns; Designing, drafting and scheduling email-marketing to support sales, sponsorship and event promotion; managing, engaging and growing Carlisle Events’ social-media presence across a variety of platforms; and reporting on analytics and making recommendations for growth opportunities. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, design, advertising or communications and 3–5 years of related experience.
Function and Form Suspension is hiring a shipping and warehouse associate to print and sort pick tickets to fulfill orders and match up with packing list and carton shipping label; properly pull and pack shipments to protect against shipping damage; receive product from vendor; and accurately account for parts, materials and labor. Candidates should have a high-school diploma or GED and one year of experience working in a warehouse.
Edelbrock Group is hiring a director of marketing responsible for driving the marketing agenda for the company’s portfolio of automotive aftermarket brands. The individual will report to the vice president of sales and marketing and work in close partnership with the executive leadership team. The director owns all direct and indirect touchpoints with Edelbrock Group customers. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 10+ years’ job experience related to marketing and/or sales and more than five years’ managerial/director-level experience.
SEMA congratulates U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on being named the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. Senator Mullin is a longtime advocate for the specialty automotive aftermarket, former competitive rock crawler and an automotive enthusiast with a vehicle collection that includes a ’67 Shelby Cobra, ’72 Chevy C-10 and a ’21 Shelby GT 500.
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) [left] with former SEMA Chairman of the Board Doug Evans.
“Senator Mullin is an incredible advocate for automotive enthusiasts, racers and more than 1 million men and women who work in the specialty automotive aftermarket,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “SEMA thanks Sen. Mullin for his leadership on legislation to protect aftermarket businesses and the millions of enthusiasts who make the industry possible. We look forward to working with him and the other co-chairs in the new Congress to protect the right to modify and repair vehicles, race and maintain motorized access to public lands.”
“As a lifelong automotive enthusiast, I am very proud to join Senator Tester in co-chairing the Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus,” said Senator Mullin. “Together, we’re pushing back against bureaucratic red tape and overregulation that aims to phase out the entire industry—one that serves as a centerpiece in the lives of millions of Americans.”
Senator Mullin with his ’72 Chevy C-10.
Senator Mullin joins U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and U.S. Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA) as the co-chairs of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, which features 14 Senators and 45 House members. SEMA thanks former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), who served as the co-chair of the Caucus from 2010 until he retired earlier this year.
Sen. Mullin is anything but a traditional politician, which is one of the many reasons why he has been such an effective legislator. While a political career was never a part of his plans, Sen. Mullin ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District in 2012 in response to government overreach that threatened his business. During his five terms time in the House, Sen. Mullin advocated for simplifying regulations on small businesses and helped to lead the fight to provide certainty to racers and motorsports parts businesses surrounding the conversion of street vehicles into racecars. Sen. Mullin was also the lead sponsor of a 2015 law, the “Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act,” which created a simplified regulatory system for small automotive businesses that manufacture classically styled replica vehicles.
Senator Mullin with his ’67 Shelby Cobra.
About the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus
Formed in 1996 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American automobile, the bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus pays tribute to America’s ever-growing love affair with the automobile and motorsports. The SEMA-supported Congressional Caucus pays tribute to the automotive performance and motorsports industry, which is an economic driver in communities across the country. The honorary caucus recognizes the important role that modifying vehicles and racing play in the lives of millions of Americans.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued the final draft of the state’s 2023 Colorado Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan, which it intends to adopt later in 2023. Despite being a CARB state, the proposal does not follow California by banning the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles.
SEMA believes Coloradans, not the government, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves them and their families. Once adopted, the proposed rule will go into effect starting with model-year ’27. SEMA will encourage its members and enthusiasts to comment on the proposal once it is officially considered later this year.
Colorado is in the final stages of establishing its zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulation, which does not entail a mandate against internal combustion engines. The regulatory process in Colorado is slated to commence formally in July and conclude in October.
For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.
The SEMA Show is driven by connections, and brings exhibitors, buyers and media from around the world together for the automotive aftermarket’s most valuable, in-person, transformative business experience.
The Las Vegas Convention Center is annually reshaped into the definitive gathering place of the world’s professional automotive community, where the industry’s sights and sounds combine to create an energy that fuels the imagination, sparks new trends, expands business relationships and drives the industry forward.
Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers from all segments of the aftermarket, and can conduct multiple meetings each day to create new business, or reinforce existing customer relationships. Meeting face-to-face is the ideal way to build trust and to communicate ideas more clearly, and it helps avoid potential distractions or the technical difficulties that can disrupt online meetings.
Here are some additional advantages of meeting in person.
When you meet in person, you can read body language, see facial expressions, use context clues and better get to know someone’s personality.
The automotive aftermarket prefers to meet face-to-face, without potential distractions or technical difficulties.
It’s more effective to brainstorm, generate ideas and discuss what is working, and what is not, face-to-face.
Conducting business in person provides the opportunity to engage in purposeful small talk, deepening relationships, loyalty and trust.
Research shows face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than those sent by email, and that a physical handshake promotes cooperation and influences negotiation outcomes for the better. (MIT’s Human Dynamics Lab)
According to a study by Forbes Insight, 85% of people say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person meetings and conferences.
According to a study by the Harvard Review, 95% of people say face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.
The 2023 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3. For more information about the 2023 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. To exhibit, get started at www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.
Engaging the Next Generation of Women in Motorsports, Powered by SBN
Many may know the names of the four women speaking in this session, but few are aware of their stories. How did they get started in motorsports and why are they so dedicated to introducing more women into the sport? Their stories are moving and impactful, and will leave you inspired to join the movement.
Louise Ann Noeth (LandSpeed Productions): Referred to as “LandSpeed Louise,” the world’s historian of landspeed racing shares discoveries she made while researching her latest book about the women of Bonneville’s landspeed racing.
Dystany Spurlock (Dystany Spurlock Racing): Professional motorsport drag racer shares practical tips for women about how to get started in a sport dominated by men.
Beth Paretta (Paretta Autosport): The first female director of a performance brand and motorsports for an automotive company, Paretta made history in 2021 when she led the first team comprised primarily of women competing in the Indianapolis 500.
Michelle Della Penna (Della Penna Motorsports Next Gen Foundation): As the only child of a racecar driver/team owner, Della Penna was introduced to motorsports at an early age. Find out what led her to want to create programs designed to bring more females into the industry, and what she had planned for 2023 and 2024.
Proven Strategies to Recruit and Retain Top Talent
With unemployment at an all-time low, employers need to up their game to attract and retain top talent. Angelia Pelham of Real-Talk Executive Coaching & Mentoring shares trends that will help businesses think about how to recruit and retain talent in the future. You’ll learn new and innovative approaches and how best-in-class companies position themselves as compelling places to work.
Building connections with the right people at the right time could take your career or business to new levels.
To provide an atmosphere for companies in the wheel and tire market to network and address industry related issues, the SEMA Wheel & Tire Council will host an Ambassador Meeting at the SEMA Garage in Detroit on April 3.
By investing time to establish new connections and attend the event, attendees will:
Create valuable in-person connections with wheel and tire members of different backgrounds and expertise.
Openly share challenges that their company is experiencing, providing a chance to gain feedback and learn from others.
Discover new trends and business opportunities in the wheel and tire sector that they may be missing out on.
Share their input on how the WTC can help them further succeed in the marketplace.
Participants will also have an opportunity to be educated on aftermarket wheel and tire opportunities in the electric-vehicle space. A council reception will follow from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., giving attendees a chance to mix and mingle in a relaxed environment.
SEMA members are needed to serve as volunteer judges for the 2023 SEMA Scholarship Program.
With students from every segment of the industry applying, the SEMA Scholarship Program is seeking a diverse group of professionals to serve as volunteer judges who will review applications and assist with selecting winners. Flexibility is available and the task can be performed around the volunteer’s individual schedule, with opportunities for those who have very limited time to assist.
Judging begins April 3 and continues until May 15. Visit here to learn more and sign up.
To learn more about the SEMA Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness program, visit www.sema.org/scholarships.
More than 90% of companies in the automotive specialty-equipment industry report that supply-chain issues have impacted their business operations over the past year. Businesses both large and small can benefit from listening to industry experts discuss their challenges and hear what their solutions were.
During the SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) General Membership Meeting & Panel Discussion, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT), SEMA members will hear from Rick Love (Vintage Air) and Darrin Dewey (National Parts Depot) as they share their insights on the recent supply-chain disruption.
Attendees will gain insight on:
The causes and effects of domestic and international supply-chain issues.
Tips for how to adapt and overcome in the areas of forecasting, pricing, labor and shipping.
How to remain successful by pleasing your customer and maintaining a profit.
Having experienced disruptions in the supply chain firsthand, the panelists have proven and practical advice on how to adjust to the challenges.
The SEMA Show is the ultimate automotive marketplace for finding innovative new products, staying atop the latest industry trends and forming long-lasting business partnerships. The 2022 Show drew more than 132,000 attendees, including more than 70,000 buyers and decision makers. Both first-timers and veteran SEMA Show exhibitors should consider participating to introduce their products to an entire global marketplace that consists of automotive professionals from more than 140 countries around the world.
“Exhibiting with us exposes the brand to a global audience,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “That differentiates us from some of the regional shows around the country. With unmatched media coverage and industry attendance, the SEMA Show has the ability to take new companies and transform their business just by participating in our event.”
The subsequent testimonials shed some light on how exhibiting at the Show changed the trajectory of each of the following businesses in recent years:
Lubrication Specialties Inc. hesitated to exhibit in previous years while its Hot Shot’s Secret brand was growing, so the primary goal in 2021 was to bring awareness to the brand and introduce new customers to its products. They also wanted to reach out to potential new dealers and product distributors.
“We were happy to exceed expectations with a heavily trafficked booth in the Racing & Performance section of the Central Hall and sign up multiple new partners,” said Kyle Fischer, director of branding and promotions, Lubrication Specialties Inc. “In hindsight, we should have started exhibiting at the SEMA Show many years ago. It turned out to be the perfect event to put our brand on the map and proved to be an excellent venue to further push the brand growth and recognition that we have been building upon.”
Headquartered in Calabasas, California, Harbor Freight Tools first exhibited at the 2019 SEMA Show with a 30x40-ft. booth. Last year, the tool manufacturer returned to the 2022 Show with a 30x90-ft. booth—more than double the size.
“We brought a large portion of our store,” said Alon Mahller, Harbor Freight Tools senior product marketing manager. “It gave people an opportunity to get their hands on our tools and to try them. Many people have been hesitant to try or use certain tools from us, and this was a good opportunity for us to put them in their hands and say, ‘Pull the trigger on this product and see how you like it. See how it stands up to the competition.’”
Hinckley Overlanding introduced its GOAT trailer at the 2021 SEMA Show. Supplying its products for feature-vehicle builds in different Show locations proved an effective way to lead dealers back to its booth. The company is now growing rapidly.
Exhibiting at the Show pays off for smaller companies, too. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hinckley Overlanding supplies, installs and designs products for the state’s growing overlanding community.
“We had been to the Show [as attendees], and we knew that it was where we could get in front of buyers,” said Hinckley Overlanding Owner and Operator Matt McIntosh. “We had six individuals staffing our booth, and we were literally buried the whole time. We didn’t really get to see the rest of the Show because our exhibit was so well received. We were just piling into our rooms at the end of the day, and we weren’t going out to dinner. We were all hammered.”
In regards to the entire SEMA Show, McIntosh believes it to be the ideal place to showcase a product while discovering new trends.
“You’re always evolving as a company and as a builder,” he observed. “As things change over the next few years, we’ve got to stay ahead of the times. The Show allows us to go to market with all the other builders that are out there and get ideas on how we can make our product better. And you’re making connections you can’t make any other way. Honestly, we’re in the people business. We just happen to make, build and sell cool stuff. At the end of the day, it’s about the relationships that you build with buyers and customers.”
Bubba Rope first came to the 2010 SEMA Show with a simple 10x10-ft. booth and a unique story to tell. The recovery rope won a New Product Award for packaging, and the rest is history. The company used the 2022 Show to debut several new recovery gear sets.
Jim Flowers, president of Florida-based Bubba Rope, attributes much of his company’s growth over the past decade to the SEMA Show—so much so that the Show now figures prominently in Bubba Rope’s annual marketing plan.
During the recession in 2009, Bubba Rope was bringing an unusual product to market: surplus coated helicopter rope re-adapted and packaged as off-road recovery gear. But would the off-roading community embrace it? Someone in the automotive press suggested that Flowers try introducing it at the 2010 SEMA Show.
“It was just incredible,” he said. “The Show was a Mecca of off-road vehicles. It had so much energy with everything that was going on, so we put our 10x10-ft. booth together. People started coming in and filling it on day one. Rather than just hanging a bunch of rope around, we wanted to demonstrate how it worked, so we spent a lot of time in our booth showing people what the rope could do.”
For Jake Merrick Sr., owner of Merrick Tool in Hinton, Oklahoma, the biggest exposure from the Show came from a video shot by Koon Trucking at the Merrick Tool booth. When it appeared on YouTube, it called the CAMLOCK Socket the best product of the 2021 SEMA Show and featured interviews with Jake Merrick Jr., who is a partner in the business and a state senator from Oklahoma, as well as Jake Sr.
“It’s priceless. We could have paid 10 times more, and I’d still go back,” Merrick said. “We went away from there glassy-eyed with our mouths open and dead tired, but we were smiling.”
Horizon Brands in Costa Mesa, California, are industry veterans. They knew that for their spin-off Project X product to grow, they needed to be at the biggest event in automotive performance.
“We ended up leaving the Show with commitments from every person that was on our five-year plan,” said Chavez. “The biggest thing I can tell people going into the SEMA Show is you need to have a plan. If you go into SEMA and think you can stand there and it will sell, it won’t go well.”
CTEK North America is a global leader in vehicle battery care and maintenance, and the company is a long-time participant in the annual SEMA Show. Bobbie DuMelle, executive vice president for CTEK North America, called the SEMA Show “the perfect fit” for CTEK.
“Because SEMA is one of the leading automotive shows on the planet, it also means it’s the biggest market research opportunity we have,” DuMelle said. “Workshop owners, professionals, and builders are all there under one roof, and they’re all there because they enjoy cars.”
The 2023 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3, in Las Vegas. For additional information about exhibiting at the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued the final draft of the state’s 2023 Colorado Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan, which it intends to adopt later in 2023. Despite being a CARB state, the proposal does not follow California by banning the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles.
The SEMA Show is driven by connections, and brings exhibitors, buyers and media from around the world together for the automotive aftermarket’s most valuable, in-person, transformative business experience.
