By SEMA Editors

February’s SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) “She Is Spotlight” features Ellen McKoy of EMK Marketing, who received the 2018 Athena Champion award for lifetime contributions and dedication to supporting and mentoring women in the specialty-equipment automotive industry. As current chair of the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), McKoy has been a trailblazer for women in the industry. Take a look at her Q&A with SBN below:

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Ellen McKoy: Don’t let anyone ever tell you there’s something you cannot do.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

EM: The excitement, the passion, the innovation and the people.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

EM: Doing any number of things: attending an industry-related event, spending time with family or friends, antiquing or simply relaxing.

SEMA: How do you prepare for going to an important meeting?

EM: Prepared and excited to be part of the conversation.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?

EM: The late Nat Danas, founder and publisher of Auto Trim & Restyling News magazine, a dear friend, an exceptional mentor and industry visionary.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

By SEMA Editors

February’s SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) “She Is Spotlight” features Ellen McKoy of EMK Marketing, who received the 2018 Athena Champion award for lifetime contributions and dedication to supporting and mentoring women in the specialty-equipment automotive industry. As current chair of the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), McKoy has been a trailblazer for women in the industry. Take a look at her Q&A with SBN below:

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Ellen McKoy: Don’t let anyone ever tell you there’s something you cannot do.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

EM: The excitement, the passion, the innovation and the people.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

EM: Doing any number of things: attending an industry-related event, spending time with family or friends, antiquing or simply relaxing.

SEMA: How do you prepare for going to an important meeting?

EM: Prepared and excited to be part of the conversation.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?

EM: The late Nat Danas, founder and publisher of Auto Trim & Restyling News magazine, a dear friend, an exceptional mentor and industry visionary.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

By Ellen McKoy

An avid off-roader, Nick D’Orazio turned an interest in auto mechanics into a career in design engineering at Fox Factory Inc. With financial assistance from SEMA, he’s been able to pay down on a higher-interest student loan.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel, student debt has hit a record-setting $1.52 trillion. And while millions of college grads struggle to repay their loans, for those pursuing a career in the automotive industry, there’s a pathway to help them leave their worries behind: the SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program.

Established in the early 2000s under the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, the program is aimed at helping graduates employed by a SEMA-member company pay off their student loans.

Loan forgiveness awards are presented annually to qualified candidates. Beyond employment at a member company, applicants must hold a degree or certificate from an accredited college, university or technical school, have a minimum 2.5 GPA and, perhaps most important, a demonstrated passion for the industry.

SEMA is now accepting applications for the 2019 SEMA Loan Forgiveness and Scholarship programs at www.sema.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 1.

For more information, contact SEMA Manager of Student Programs Juliet Marshall at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

By Ellen McKoy

An avid off-roader, Nick D’Orazio turned an interest in auto mechanics into a career in design engineering at Fox Factory Inc. With financial assistance from SEMA, he’s been able to pay down on a higher-interest student loan.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel, student debt has hit a record-setting $1.52 trillion. And while millions of college grads struggle to repay their loans, for those pursuing a career in the automotive industry, there’s a pathway to help them leave their worries behind: the SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program.

Established in the early 2000s under the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, the program is aimed at helping graduates employed by a SEMA-member company pay off their student loans.

Loan forgiveness awards are presented annually to qualified candidates. Beyond employment at a member company, applicants must hold a degree or certificate from an accredited college, university or technical school, have a minimum 2.5 GPA and, perhaps most important, a demonstrated passion for the industry.

SEMA is now accepting applications for the 2019 SEMA Loan Forgiveness and Scholarship programs at www.sema.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 1.

For more information, contact SEMA Manager of Student Programs Juliet Marshall at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.B. 263/S.B. 283) has been introduced in Tennessee to allow antique vehicles to be driven up to 5,000 miles per year for general transportation.

Legislation (H.B. 263/S.B. 283) has been introduced in Tennessee to allow antique vehicles to be driven up to 5,000 miles per year for general transportation.

Under current law, antique vehicles may be driven to and from club activities, exhibits, tours and parades; for the purpose of testing the operation of and obtaining repairs; and for general transportation only on Saturday and Sunday.

The bills are currently awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.B. 263/S.B. 283) has been introduced in Tennessee to allow antique vehicles to be driven up to 5,000 miles per year for general transportation.

Legislation (H.B. 263/S.B. 283) has been introduced in Tennessee to allow antique vehicles to be driven up to 5,000 miles per year for general transportation.

Under current law, antique vehicles may be driven to and from club activities, exhibits, tours and parades; for the purpose of testing the operation of and obtaining repairs; and for general transportation only on Saturday and Sunday.

The bills are currently awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA  Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (S.B. 333) has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt vehicles 25 years old and older from personal property taxes.

Legislation (S.B. 333) has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt vehicles 25 years old and older from personal property taxes.

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA  Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (S.B. 333) has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt vehicles 25 years old and older from personal property taxes.

Legislation (S.B. 333) has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt vehicles 25 years old and older from personal property taxes.

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA  Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.B. 52) has been introduced in Maryland to exempt vehicles driven under 5,000 miles annually from inspection and testing requirements.

Legislation (H.B. 52) has been introduced in Maryland to exempt vehicles driven under 5,000 miles annually from inspection and testing requirements.

Under current law, low-mileage vehicle exemptions are only available to those with disabilities and to persons 70 years old or older.

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Assembly Environment and Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit SEMA Action Network website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA  Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.B. 52) has been introduced in Maryland to exempt vehicles driven under 5,000 miles annually from inspection and testing requirements.

Legislation (H.B. 52) has been introduced in Maryland to exempt vehicles driven under 5,000 miles annually from inspection and testing requirements.

Under current law, low-mileage vehicle exemptions are only available to those with disabilities and to persons 70 years old or older.

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Assembly Environment and Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit SEMA Action Network website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.