Click on the logo to visit MRC's website.
John Hipple, Sr. Remembered
John Hipple Sr., owner of Performance Parts Marketing, a popular Midwestern rep firm, passed away April 8. He was 67. A long-time SEMA member, Hipple founded his company 25 years ago and represented major lines including ACCEL, Edelbrock and Hedman, among others.
“John started his agency in an era when many weeks on the road were the norm,” said friend Larry Johnson. “Those in the industry that traveled with John in those days knew of the dedication he had to the customers and the manufacturers. His main interest was drag racing.”
Johnson attended Hipple’s memorial service.
“At the start of his memorial service, a prayer was said and then a very loud Top Fuel burnout was played. The celebration of John's life was upbeat and straight forward, just the way John was.
“For those who knew John, he will be missed.”
Manufacturers Seeking Rep List Now Available
Manufacturers’ representatives are encouraged to contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org to request the Manufacturers Seeking Rep List, which is available at no cost. Compiled using information collected from manufacturers prior to the 2008 SEMA Show, the listing contains details on manufacturers currently seeking the services of manufacturers’ representatives along with the lines available and company contact information. The list was originally available in the MRC Rep Center during the week of the 2008 SEMA Show.
MRC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MRC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit ARMO's website.
Free Marketing for ARMO Members
Once again, the ARMO New Products Showcase will be held at the Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from Wednesday to Sunday, April 22–26, 2009. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your creative and innovative products to hobbyists and the industry for FREE!
This year, there will be no judging, but rather a focus on simply showcasing the products entered. Entries will be photographed at Spring Carlisle and the photos, product descriptions and company name will be displayed in the ARMO booth at the 2009 SEMA Show.
ARMO Column in SEMA Member News
Read ARMO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
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Click on the logo to visit HRIA's website.
HRIA Column in SEMA Member News
Read HRIA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about HRIA, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit TORA's website.
TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting Moves to Pasadena
Mark your calendar for the annual TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting, which is moving to a new time and location. The Long-Range Planning Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 30, from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena, California. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual Council Leadership Seminar and SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.
“The TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting is typically held in the East or Midwest,” said TORA Chairman Ron DiVincenzo. “It was slated for Orlando in March, in conjunction with the TSTC. When that got postponed, we had to look elsewhere. This will be our first time on the West Coast and perhaps we can meet face-to-face with some West Coast TORA members who would otherwise not attend the Long-Range Planning Meeting.”
Detailed information will be mailed to all TORA member companies shortly. You may also contact TORA staff liaison Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org for more information.
George Lathouris Named TORA Chair-Elect
The TORA Select Committee has named Keystone’s George Lathouris as its chair-elect. Lathouris will assume his new responsibilities on July 1, when Kelly Kneifl assumes the duties of chairman from current Chairman Ron DiVincenzo. Congratulations to George!
TORA Column in SEMA Member News
Read TORA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about TORA, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit MPMC's website.
MPMC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MPMC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit PRO's website.
PRO Long-Range Planning Meeting
The annual PRO Long-Range Planning Meeting is slated for Thursday and Friday, June 18–19, 2009, in Detroit. The Crown Plaza Hotel, minutes from the Detroit Metro Airport, will once again host the event and is offering a blocked-out room rate of only $115 for meeting attendees. Lunch is included both days, with a continental breakfast also included on Friday morning.
The Long-Range Planning Meeting begins at 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning, continues through lunch and then moves into breakout groups in the afternoon. The breakout groups continue on Friday. Everyone will reconvene mid-morning on Friday for breakout reports and a box lunch before adjourning at 1:00 p.m., in time for those early afternoon flights back home.
There is no better opportunity to share ideas and plan for solutions than at the PRO Long-Range Planning Meeting. Official meeting notices will go out shortly with more details. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
PRO Business Development Guidebook Now On Sale
In today’s ever-changing marketplace, staying ahead of the competition is more important and challenging than ever. To be successful, you not only need an effective business strategy, but also the tools and resources to help your company excel and stand out from the pack. The PRO Business Development Guidebook is your handy reference guide.
Beginning with an overview of the importance of having a business plan—including tips on how to develop a business plan and the many purposes it can serve—the manual offers chapter-by-chapter strategies for making your business a success.
From understanding the basics of business finance and the importance of quality and service and how to make them hallmarks of your business, to building knowledge and skills among your employees to branding your restyling business as a market leader, the guidebook offers information critical to the day-to-day and long-term operation of your business.
Whether you’re starting your own restyling business or already own one—be it mobile or brick and mortar—you’ll find the answers that you’ve been looking for in the guidebook. PRO Council members contributed much of the information contained in the guidebook, drawing on their experience and knowledge to present a valuable business tool.
To order the PRO business guidebook, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
PRO Column in SEMA Member News
Read PRO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about PRO, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit SPC's website.
SPC Column in SEMA Member News
Read SPC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SPC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit WTC's website.
WTC Long-Range Planning Meeting
Attend the WTC Long-Range Planning Meeting and help shape the course of the council’s agenda. It’s time to voice your opinion.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. at:
SEMA Headquarters
AAA Building—Second Floor
1577 South Valley Vista Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
RSVP by Friday, May 8, 2009 to Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.
WTC Column in SEMA Member News
Read WTC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about WTC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.
Click on the logo to visit SBN's website.
Discover the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN
“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker
Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.
“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.
Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.
Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.
So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.
For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program.
SBN Column in SEMA Member News
Read SBN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SBN, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.
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Click on the logo to visit YEN's website.
Congratulations to Gregory Parker!
Gregory Parker from Martin & Company Advertising has been elected chair-elect of the Young Executives Network (YEN). Parker has served on the YEN Select Committee since 2005 and has been chairman of the SEMA Silent Auction Task Force.
Join YEN
Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.
YEN Member of the Month Spotlight
Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.
Discover The SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN
“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker
Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.
“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.
Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.
Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.
So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.
For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program, click here.
YEN Column in SEMA Member News
Read YEN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about YEN, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.
Slightly less than half (47%) indicated that they would purchase one if the price was reasonable, but a significant amount (77%) claimed they would customize it if they bought one. This willingness to personalize has been at the heart of the brand since it was launched and would remain a driving force if the new model comes to fruition stateside. 