SEMA members, here is an opportunity for you to take part in the SEMA Hall of Fame selection process. It's time once again to gather your thoughts and recommend, for consideration, nominees for the 2008 SEMA Hall of Fame. Induction into the prestigious SEMA Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors the industry can bestow on individual members. It is an annual tribute to those who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills and an incomparable dedication to industry affairs and progress.
It is important that you review the criteria for Hall of Fame honorees. Click here to view the criteria.
To avoid nominating someone who is already a member of the Hall of Fame, please click here to review the list of prior recipients.
To submit a nominee online, click here to complete the nomination form. When completed, return it via e-mail to christineb@sema.org. The Hall of Fame Task Force follows strict guidelines during the selection process, which means your input, comments and opinions are essential for a fair and complete evaluation.
All recommendations must be received in the SEMA office by mail or online (to the attention of Christine Papavero) by Friday, February 22 to be considered. To view the SEMA Hall of Fame online, please visit http://semahalloffame.com.
(From left) SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, Chairman Jim Cozzie, Chair-Elect Rick Rollins and Board member and panel moderator Dennis Gage share a laugh at the SEMA State of the Association address.
At its annual State of the Association meeting, SEMA leadership emphasized that during challenging times the industry should look to the association and take advantage of all SEMA has to offer its members.
Presented at the SEMA Spring Expo/SEMA OFFROAD in Indianapolis on February 7, SEMA Chairman Jim Cozzie, President and CEO Chris Kersting and Chairman-Elect Rick Rollins led the event by emphasizing long-term goals and preparation for the future. The panel, moderated by SEMA Board member Dennis Gage, highlighted the health and direction of the association, and revealed plans that include enhanced education, legislative activity and industry-focused research.
Cozzie announced the SEMA Educational Institute as a major project in the final stages of development that will offer continuing education in the areas of product, management and retail training. The program, funded by the Board last July, will be available to members as an online resource. Certification programs were discussed as potential opportunities that could be provided through the Educational Institute.
“I foresee down the road, because this is not a short-term program, it will continue to grow as the association grows, a time where active working adults can work to finish a degree, to earn a degree, and to earn a certificate with the program we are putting in place,” said Cozzie. “We can’t wait to get it up for everybody to see it.”
Rollins introduced the creation of a SEMA advisory board, installed specifically to foresee and better plan for what is ahead in the fast-changing aftermarket industry. The advisory board, created in 2006, is comprised of SEMA Board members and non-Board members, as well as people in key positions, all of whom have knowledge of what is imminent in areas including vehicle technology, legislation, OEM strategy and consumer trends. The Board has installed plans to produce a report that will cover these topics.
“This Board will help everyone from the manufacturers to the jobber dealer level,” said Rollins.
Kersting stressed the importance of legislative activity in ensuring the growing health and survival of the hobby as he described SEMA’s involvement in government affairs. Kersting spoke of the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC), assembled to elect and retain legislators that support the aftermarket industry, and also urged members to participate in SEMA’s Washington Rally, an event designed to bring members and their legislators face-to-face to discuss issues impacting the hobby.
“We need to let Congress know who our industry is and why it’s important that the laws, both the ones that we react to and the proactive ones, matter to keeping our businesses going,” said Kersting. “Congress understands the strategic importance of keeping manufacturing jobs alive.”
The address also referred to several programs that members can take advantage of to cut costs, including the Freight Savings Plan and the Specialty Equipment Insurance Alliance (SEIA) Program.
For the complete presentation, including a Q&A session, access the live web broadcast at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2703246545459799130
Leading companies and professionals from the light-truck and accessory and restyling markets gathered in Indianapolis for the 2008 SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD, sponsored by the Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA) and the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO). More than just a showcase for world-class companies and products, the two shows feature educational seminars and how-to product demonstrations and recognize industry innovators in both markets. Here are some highlights from the events:
Keynote speaker FDNY Battalion Commander Richard Picciotto received standing ovations throughout his inspiring presentation, "Last Man Down." Picciotto, the last man to escape the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11, moved the audience with his stirring and outspoken account of that unforgettable day as a firefighter who gave nearly everything to rescue others.
Left to Right: SEMA President Chris Kersting, TORA Chair-Elect Kelly Kneifl of Shur-Co., TORA Chairman Ron DiVincenzo of Cap World, PRO Chairman Chuck Blum of Chuck Blum Consulting, and PRO Chair-Elect Karl Stearns of Auto Trim International during the opening ceremony of the 2008 SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD.
As one of the educational seminars, "Merchandising Restyling to New Car Dealers" combined practical information and valuable insight to provide participants with the tools needed to build profit-based relationships with auto dealers.
Exhibitors received additional product exposure while demonstrating installation techniques directly to buyers through the SEMA Spring Expo Vehicle Buildups, sponsored by the TORA.
With a special emphasis on trucks and SUVs, exhibitors featured at the SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD displayed a variety of products and services covering accessories, restyling, suspension, wheels and tires, and mobile electronics.
Light-Truck Accessory Alliance
The TORA presented several product awards during the TORA/PRO Industry Awards Reception to recognize the creativity and product innovation of companies within the light-truck accessory market. Here are the honorees and award winners recognized by the TORA:
Todd Yeoman (middle) of American Technology Components accepts the TORA Chairman's Award from TORA Chairman Ron DiVincenzo of Cap World (left) and TORA Chair-Elect Kelly Kneifl of Shur-Co.
Rick Hermann of Agri-Cover accepted the TORA Point of Purchase Award.
Anne K. Johnson of Dealer Services International was inducted into the TORA Hall of Fame.
John Chamberlaine of Action Group of Companies received the TORA Retailer of the Year Award.
Brian Sharp of Undercover received the TORA Best New Product Under $500 for the company's Swingcase product.
Greg Bernardo of Roll-N-Lock celebrates winning the TORA award for Best New Product over $500.
Warren Nally of Ford was on hand to present two 2008 Ford Styling Awards for Best Use of Accessories on a Ford Truck or SUV to Kelderman Air Suspension and Westin Automotive Products. 
Sponsors of the TORA Industry Awards Reception left to right: Rick Hermann of Agri-Cover, Eric Kwasnicka of DuPont, Jeff Johnson of Yakima, Bruce Freeman from Leer/TAG, Bobby Snyder of Jotto Desk and Kelly Kneifl of Truxedo.
Professional Restylers Organization
The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) presented several council awards during the PRO/TORA PRO Industry Award Reception at SEMA Spring Expo/SEMA OFFROAD. Below are highlights from the reception.
Bob Nardine of Bob's Top Shop (left) was presented with the PRO Jim Borré Lifetime Achievement Award from Doug Jacobs of Restylers' Choice.
Charlie Pruitt (right) of Auto & Truck Restylers accepted the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Truck-Accessory Specialist of the Year award from sponsor B.J. Leanse of Big Country.
Auto Trim & Restyling News publisher and PRO award sponsor Travis Weeks (left) with Tim Browner of Auto-Mat. Browner accepted the PRO Trimmer of the Year Award on behalf of his father and company founder Eric Browner.
Diana Braschler of Dealer Source, winner of the PRO Restyler of the Year Award, with award sponsor Karl Stearns of Auto Trim International.
Bob Kern, General Motors director of cross-brand technology presented the GM Creative Styling & Trim Awards. The winners were: The SpaceKap by Fibrocap Inc. for Most Versatile GM Truck Accessory; A.R.E. for Best Utilization of a GM Truck Bed; Eco Trek Foundation of Best Accessorization of a GM Truck; and The Custom Shop for GM Best of Show.
Members of the PRO Select Committee presented a special recognition award to former PRO liaison Ellen McKoy (front row, second from left).
The sponsors of the PRO awards reception received special recognition during the TORA/PRO Industry Awards Reception.
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Looking for some customer-building tips for you or your sales staff? Tune in to SEMA's webinar on March 20, for Dale Carnegie's "How to Sell Like a Pro! Part I."
It has been said that people buy from people they like and nobody teaches people skills better than Dale Carnegie. This important webinar is where you'll learn how to communicate value from a buyer’s point of view and gain the techniques that will help you develop credibility and build customer loyalty. Once put to the test in the real world, these tips will help you demonstrate the confidence you need to succeed in a sales career.
The presentation will be delivered at 10:00 a.m. (PST) by Richard Bonar of Dale Carnegie.
SEMA's Webinar Program
The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show Education Week right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly being added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers. All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone.
All previously conducted SEMA webinars are available to download anytime by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via the telephone and Internet, click here.
For additional information on the SEMA webinar program, contact Pat Talaska-Benson at patt@sema.org.
Under the plastic camouflage shown in these Brenda Priddy & Co. spy photos is the next-generation BMW 5 Series, codenamed F10 and set to replace the E60 platform. Expect to see softer lines, more conventional headlights and a cleaner front-end design, say the writers at Edmunds.com.
“New European pedestrian safety standards are expected to drastically alter the design of many European cars for the worse, but BMW will not only maintain its classic twin-kidney grille design, it will reduce the length of the front overhang,” Edmunds says (look closely through the front mesh decoy grille and you can just make out the twin-kidney split).
Underhood, the F10 will likely use variations of existing BMW engines, including a 2.5L straight six, a 4.8L V8, a diesel and possibly some combination of a small displacement turbo V8.
“This 5 Series will use more fluid design along with still more advanced hardware to give it an edge over its increasingly adept competitors,” Edmunds adds.
Source: "2011 BMW 5 Series Review," Edmunds.com
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