Results of the 2008–2009 SEMA Board of Directors election are final, with five individuals joining this esteemed leadership group. The new members in the manufacturer category are:

• Ron Funfar, Hedman Hedders/Trans-Dapt
• BJ Leanse, Big Country Truck Accessories
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems

The new members in the distributor/retailer category are:

• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Ed Orzetti, Keystone Automotive Operations Inc.

Incumbents Chris Thomson of AIRAID Filter Company (manufacturer category) and Ralph Accinno of Racer's Equipment Warehouse (distributor/retailer category) were re-elected to the Board.

The SEMA Board of Directors for the 2008–2009 year will be as follows:

• Chairman: Jim Cozzie, Zoom Performance Products
• Chairman-Elect: Rick Rollins, Rollins Performance Marketing/Consulting
  
• Secretary/Treasurer: Wade Kawasaki, Avanche Corp.
  

• Ralph Accinno, Racer's Equipment Warehouse
• Gale Banks, Gale Banks Engineering
• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc. 
• Larry Erickson, Ford, Strategic Design Studio
• Doug Evans, Source Interlink Media
• Ron Funfar, Hedman Hedders/Trans-Dapt
• Dennis Gage, "My Classic Car," Bradley David Productions
• Anne K. Johnson
  
• BJ Leanse, Big Country Truck Accessories
• Tony Napoli, American Speed Center
• Ed Orzetti, Keystone Automotive Operations Inc.
• Bill Perry, Bill Perry & Associates
• Richard Sherman, Baer Brake Systems
• Mike Spagnola, Street Scene Equipment
• David Stutts, Hot Rod Air Inc.
• Chris Thomson, AIRAID Filter Company
• Mark Toebben, DCi, Direct Communications Inc.
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems
• Van Woodell, Weathers Auto Supply
• Jeep Worthan, AutoMeter
• Dave Wrobleski, Jim Wrobleski & Co.

"We all owe a debt of gratitude to the individuals who serve as volunteers on the SEMA Board of Directors," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "These are individuals who demonstrate dedication and leadership, and they give their knowledge and expertise to help make the industry strong and successful."

The SEMA Board of Directors is credited with identifying ways to help companies in the automotive specialty-equipment industry succeed and prosper. The SEMA Board of Directors is a guiding force behind key programs aimed at advancing the industry.

The entire SEMA membership votes and influences the future of the market. SEMA's membership delivered the highest voter turnout ever, with a 71% response rate in the manufacturer category and 62% in the distributor/retailer category.

"The election process gives everyone in the industry the opportunity to affect change," said Kersting. "We're pleased to see so many members taking an active role in the process, and we hope that they continue to turn to the Association as a resource."

For the first time in SEMA history, the Board of Director's ballots were made available to the membership electronically, giving them the ability to cast their votes conveniently and easily from the computer.

The newly elected members will take the oath of office just prior to the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, taking place Friday, July 25, 2008, in Irvine, California. Also during the event, outgoing members will be recognized, and the new SEMA Hall of Fame inductees will be honored.

Outgoing Board members are:

• Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products
• Dick Hill, Centerforce Clutches
• Patrick Judge, Keystone Automotive Operations
• Bill Wagner Jr., Winfield Consumer Products/Husky Liners
• Jon Wyly, Arrow Speed Warehouse

To learn more about the event, visit www.sema.org/gala.

SEMA is hosting a CEO-Leadership Roundtable event to discuss a new forecasting study being developed by the Center for Automotive Research. Part One of the study focuses on trends in automotive electronic systems, trends toward reduced accessory content at the OEM level, length and volume in vehicle runs and the aftermarket as an enabler for the “connected car.” Topics of Part Two and Part Three include advanced powertrain and consumer trends, respectively.

The SEMA CEO-Leadership Roundtable on Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Irvine, California, will focus on Part One of the study. The discussion will be moderated by David Cole, chairman of Center for Automotive Research, and will include a panel consisting of Paul Brubaker from the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; George Dettloff from SKF USA Inc.; and Brian Smith from the Lexus Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

CEOs, company presidents and company leaders who are interested in taking part in the event can register by visiting https://sema.org/ceo_roundtable/ceo_roundtable.aspx before the July 11 deadline. Seating is limited, so don’t delay.

The checkered flag for SEMA's inaugural Pinewood Drag Race Sponsored by Fellers and DUB Publishing drops in one month, and if you've been wanting to join the fun but find yourself short on time, consider sponsoring a team.

Attention manufacturers: SEMA News is looking to feature your latest and greatest sales/product display items in an upcoming issue. Display solutions include stands, racks, product demonstrators or shelf displays; if you offer it as a tool for retailers to sell and display your product lines, we want to know about it.

E-mail high-res images (300-dpi JPEG) and a brief description of the item, part number and relevant contact information to Carr Winn at carrw@sema.org. Hard copies can be sent to SEMA, Attn: Carr Winn, 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765. Space will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and all material should be received no later than Thursday, July 17. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

SEMA has added a Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Exam to the association's existing Installer Certification Program.

The new SEMA test, known as Z6, measures the real-world knowledge and skills of industry professionals who install self-adhesive products on passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The exam covers a range of product categories, including graphics, pinstriping, window film, body-side moldings, rocker panel moldings, vinyl wraps, body cladding, dash overlays, deflectors, chrome portal covers, fender flares, paint protection film, and door handle and mirror covers.

The other exams in the SEMA Installer Certification Program—Z1 for electric sunroofs, Z2 for truck accessories and body exterior components, Z3 for leather interiors, Z4 for roof treatments and Z5 for custom wheels and tires—assess competency and knowledge regarding the installation of various specialty auto products. 

The Z6 test will launch this fall. It will be administered, along with the Z1 through Z5 exams, on Thursday, November 13, at more than 700 testing locations in the United States and Canada. Registration for the SEMA tests closes on Monday, September 22.

SEMA worked with ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, to develop all six tests. For its newest test, the Z6, the association relied upon a cross-section of industry experts, including manufacturers, warehouse distributors and installers, to formulate the test.

The SEMA Installer Certification Program is a voluntary process, which recognizes individual achievement on a national level and enhances the stature of the industry. Certification also serves as an impartial, third-party endorsement of an installer’s knowledge and expertise, thereby helping to boost consumer confidence and demonstrate a company’s commitment to quality, excellence and customer satisfaction.

SEMA has granted certification credentials since 2001 to specialists who meet the work experience requirements and successfully complete written exams. To earn SEMA’s Self-Adhesive Products Specialist designation, an installer must have at least two years of hands-on experience and must also pass the written exam. All SEMA credentials are valid for five years, and certified professionals receive a certificate suitable for framing, a wallet card and sleeve insignia.

“The market for self-adhesive products is steadily growing,” noted Ellen McKoy, executive director of SEWA, the Specialty Equipment Warranty Alliance, a SEMA subsidiary. McKoy, who administers the SEMA certification program, said, “A credentialing program for installers of these products will likely enhance that growth and further elevate the level of professionalism within this market segment. The program also opens the door to cross-marketing opportunities within other market segments where many companies specialize in fleet graphics, vehicle wraps and window tinting.”

To register for any of the SEMA exams or for more information about the SEMA Installer Certification Program, go to www.sema.org/certification, or call 909/396-0289, ext. 158.

Whether you're looking to gain extra publicity for your event or want to know what's happening in the industry in the coming months, check out the SEMA Online Calendar of Events located at www.sema.org/calendar. The calendar is stocked with information on events taking place throughout the year, broken down by month.

Each listing in the calendar includes the date and duration of each event, locations and links to attain more event information. Examples of events featured in the calendar include consumer shows and club events, educational and training workshops, conventions and trade shows, races and more.

To submit your event details for the calendar, e-mail company name and the date(s), location and name of the event to Shirley Presecan at shirleyp@sema.org. 

Even with truck sales down and fuel prices up, General Motors doesn't intend to let its competitors get ahead of its heavy-duty program. From Brenda Priddy's spy photog network come these shots of the next-model 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 diesel test mule.

The Silverado HD and its GMC Sierra HD twin first went on sale about 18 months ago, but GM plans a mild facelift that hints at major revisions under the hood, Priddy says.

Priddy explains that the temporary grille in these photos is cribbed from a current light-duty Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but that the revised front bumper is slated for production. The inlet in the middle of the front bumper feeds air to the transmission cooler and is about one-third larger than the current version. Priddy speculates that the enlarged inlet could signal big changes in the Allison transmission package, perhaps to include eight—or more—gears to improve fuel economy and towing efficiency.

The larger inlet could also provide increased airflow for the next-gen Duramax diesel, which will be overhauled to meet tougher nitrogen oxide (NOx) standards taking effect in 2010. Part of that overhaul could include a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system which reduces NOx emissions, although GM has stated that the 2010 Duramax will use urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to scrub NOx, thus requiring a less complex EGR system.

The current Silverado HD uses a six-speed transmission mated to a 6.6L Duramax. Competitor Ford, meanwhile, plans to launch the 2011 Ford Super Duty with a 6.7L Scorpion V8 and six-speed transmission, and Dodge will launch its next heavy-duty in 2010.