Compiled by SEMA Editors

Truck Hero Acquired by L Catterton

Truck Hero Inc. and L Catterton have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which L Catterton—a global consumer-focused private equity firm—and its investors will acquire a controlling interest in Truck Hero. CCMP Capital Advisors LP (CCMP), the current holders of a majority interest in Truck Hero, and Truck Hero’s founding Chief Executive Officer Bill Reminder will remain significant investors as part of the transaction. Reminder will retain his current leadership position. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Jefferies LLC is serving as lead financial advisor, Robert W. Baird & Co. is serving as financial advisor, and Ropes & Gray LLP is acting as legal counsel to Truck Hero. BofA Securities is serving as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel to the L Catterton-led investor consortium.

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Dura-Bond Bearing Appoints Joe Kerick as President

Dura-Bond Bearing has appointed Joe Kerick as its new president. Kerick, who will begin his new role effective January 1, was promoted from the position of new product development manager. Kerick is an ASE-certified Master Technician, a title he's held for 20 years. He also holds bachelor's and master's degrees.

With the announcement, Andre Moser has also been named the vice president of sales and marketing. He was promoted from the position of general sales and marketing manager. Current Controller Jennifer Pasquali, meanwhile, has been promoted to CFO. Chuck Barnett will continue to serve as the CEO and chairman in 2021.

NPW Companies Acquires Engine And Performance Warehouse

Miami-based NPW Companies has acquired Engine & Performance Warehouse Inc. (EPWI)—the engine parts warehouse distributor based in Denver. The transaction was finalized on December 4. The acquisition expands NPW’s footprint to 30 total warehouse locations and 50 storefronts.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

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Rod’s Restoration Wizards is the latest SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Member Spotlight company. In this week’s feature, SEMA speaks with Rodney Black as he shares his journey of becoming company employee to company owner, details on his company’s breakthrough build, and his ’57 Chevrolet Convertible build that received the Platinum Certificate at the Chevy Classics.

SEMA: Tell us the story of your shop? How did you start?

Rodney Black: I started working at Restoration Wizards in 1993 when I was in high school. In 2010, I was able to buy the shop and renamed it to Rod's Restoration Wizards. We always worked on older cars and also did collision work, but my passion was always the older cars. After I bought the shop I moved to more restoration and hot rod building.

SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?

RB: I showed my ’30 Model A Roaster Pickup in the ISCA shows in 2012. I ended up winning International Class Champion.  

SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2020.

RB: We doubled the workshop area and bought property next to the shop to expand more. Our projects are getting bigger. We are working on a ’71 Volvo that we are doing a complete body swap on. We are using an ’06 Pontiac Solstice complete chassis and adding modern touches to the body.
We also have a ’69 Camaro, ’73 Nova and ’65 Mustang. I personally have a ’62 Impala and a ’58 Brookwood wagon that I'm building.

SEMA: Tell us about a build you are proud of.

RB: A ’57 Chevrolet Convertible. We did a complete frame-off restoration in six months. After we finished, we showed it at the Chevy Classics. It received the Platinum Certificate and got 990 points out of 1000. It also got best engine department.

SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket?

RB: Follow your passion and love what you do. The aftermarket world is always growing.

By Ashley Reyes

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Rod’s Restoration Wizards is the latest SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Member Spotlight company. In this week’s feature, SEMA speaks with Rodney Black as he shares his journey of becoming company employee to company owner, details on his company’s breakthrough build, and his ’57 Chevrolet Convertible build that received the Platinum Certificate at the Chevy Classics.

SEMA: Tell us the story of your shop? How did you start?

Rodney Black: I started working at Restoration Wizards in 1993 when I was in high school. In 2010, I was able to buy the shop and renamed it to Rod's Restoration Wizards. We always worked on older cars and also did collision work, but my passion was always the older cars. After I bought the shop I moved to more restoration and hot rod building.

SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?

RB: I showed my ’30 Model A Roaster Pickup in the ISCA shows in 2012. I ended up winning International Class Champion.  

SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2020.

RB: We doubled the workshop area and bought property next to the shop to expand more. Our projects are getting bigger. We are working on a ’71 Volvo that we are doing a complete body swap on. We are using an ’06 Pontiac Solstice complete chassis and adding modern touches to the body.
We also have a ’69 Camaro, ’73 Nova and ’65 Mustang. I personally have a ’62 Impala and a ’58 Brookwood wagon that I'm building.

SEMA: Tell us about a build you are proud of.

RB: A ’57 Chevrolet Convertible. We did a complete frame-off restoration in six months. After we finished, we showed it at the Chevy Classics. It received the Platinum Certificate and got 990 points out of 1000. It also got best engine department.

SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket?

RB: Follow your passion and love what you do. The aftermarket world is always growing.

By Ashley Reyes

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The SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) named Shawn DiLeo as the council’s latest volunteer spotlight member. DiLeo is the owner of NuWave LLC. Dba RimTyme Custom Wheels—a rent-to-own custom wheel and tire concept offered by Rent-A-Center. The company offers wheels and tires for trucks and Jeeps, as well as the latest custom wheels for passenger vehicles.

SEMA: What led you to obtaining a career in the wheel and tire industry?

SD: The volume and rate of return.

SEMA: How has being a WTC volunteer or member impacted your professional career?

SD: I’ve made many business connections through networking.

SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the wheel and tire segment?

SD: Learn the business and be into automotive customizing and repairs.

SEMA: Where can we find you on a Saturday?

SD: You can find me in one of my seven shops!

By Ashley Reyes

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The SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) named Shawn DiLeo as the council’s latest volunteer spotlight member. DiLeo is the owner of NuWave LLC. Dba RimTyme Custom Wheels—a rent-to-own custom wheel and tire concept offered by Rent-A-Center. The company offers wheels and tires for trucks and Jeeps, as well as the latest custom wheels for passenger vehicles.

SEMA: What led you to obtaining a career in the wheel and tire industry?

SD: The volume and rate of return.

SEMA: How has being a WTC volunteer or member impacted your professional career?

SD: I’ve made many business connections through networking.

SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the wheel and tire segment?

SD: Learn the business and be into automotive customizing and repairs.

SEMA: Where can we find you on a Saturday?

SD: You can find me in one of my seven shops!

By Ashley Reyes

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Taking place via Zoom, December 17, at 9:00 a.m. (PST), the SEMA Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) general membership meeting and networking event will be held online, making it easier than ever for members to participate and join in. Membership meetings are the ideal time and opportunity for members to get more involved and learn how to maximize their network membership.

“Providing aftermarket engineers, programmers, and product developers the information and knowledge they need to ensure continued success is the mission of our network,” said ETTN Chair Ian Lehn. “I strongly encourage all ETTN members to join us on December 17 for an opportunity to connect with other members, be more actively involved, and get their questions answered on the resources that are available to them.”

The meeting will include valuable information on both current and future programs, and an open discussion on what members hope to see from the network in 2021.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

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Taking place via Zoom, December 17, at 9:00 a.m. (PST), the SEMA Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) general membership meeting and networking event will be held online, making it easier than ever for members to participate and join in. Membership meetings are the ideal time and opportunity for members to get more involved and learn how to maximize their network membership.

“Providing aftermarket engineers, programmers, and product developers the information and knowledge they need to ensure continued success is the mission of our network,” said ETTN Chair Ian Lehn. “I strongly encourage all ETTN members to join us on December 17 for an opportunity to connect with other members, be more actively involved, and get their questions answered on the resources that are available to them.”

The meeting will include valuable information on both current and future programs, and an open discussion on what members hope to see from the network in 2021.

Register here.

By SEMA Editors

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Leo Kagan, 104, passed away peacefully at his home on December 5.

He was born and raised in Ozone Park, New York, November 17, 1916. In 1936, he left New York for Cedar Falls, Iowa, on a full football scholarship, where he established records during his football career at Iowa State Teachers College (now known as University of Northern Iowa) that still stand today. After discharge from the Army in 1945 having achieved the rank of Major and obtaining his Masters Degree at NYU, Kagan worked in sales. In 1952, he moved his family to Philadelphia., where he first worked in the electronics industry.

Kagan’s lengthy background in the automotive aftermarket industry included positions of vice president of sales at Hurst Products, vice president/marketing at Automatic Radio and vice president at American Racing Equipment. He organized the manufacturers’ representative firm Kagan, Maloney, Russo and Associates.

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Kagan’s dedicated service to SEMA and the industry led to his 1982 induction to the SEMA Hall of Fame. It was Kagan who, as president of SEMA from 1975-79, spearheaded the unprecedented growth of the annual SEMA Show, including pushing to have it moved from Anaheim, California, to Las Vegas.

Kagan held a seat on the SEMA Board of Directors, and proposed the creation of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. He was named SEMA Person of the Year in 1994.

Kagan was known far and wide for his positive “you can do anything your set your mind to” attitude. An exercise aficionado, he often said that his years of running and later walking were deposits he put into his health bank, which allowed him to live as long as he did.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mabel (2011). He is survived by his son Kenneth, daughters Cynthia (Mike) and Stacey and three granddaughters (Andrea, Naomi, Leslie).  He is also remembered and mourned by his nephews and nieces, friends and business associates throughout the industry.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kagan’s memory can be made to either the SEMA Scholarship Fund or University of Northern Iowa Foundation, or mail to Foundation, 121 Commons/UNI, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614.

By SEMA Editors

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The latest addition to the RMT line of turn-key adventure vehicles is the RMT Jeep Gladiator.

The RMT Jeep Gladiator comes with a 3.5-in. suspension lift system from JKS Manufacturing with the FOX Performance Elite 2.5 shocks for provides on-road comfort and improved capability when hitting the terrain. The FOX Performance Elite 2.5 shocks come with external compression adjusters that allow drivers to quickly adapt to terrain and vehicle loads with the turn of a knob. With this technology, the transition from asphalt to dirt becomes easier, allowing overlanders to get back to doing what they love.

For more information on RMT Overland, visit www.rmtoverland.com.

By John Santos

Journalists who register and request meetings for the 2021 MPMC Media Trade Conference at https://sites.sema.org/mtc before December 11, will receive priority and receive the best possible schedule. Taking place entirely online January 26-28, 2021, the event helps journalists secure private, uninterrupted meetings with motorsports manufacturers quickly, easily and efficiently.

Rather than a simple phone call or random Zoom meeting, manufacturers will be set up for three days of media interviews and may have product demonstrations and technical experts prepared for the interviews. The event will be the best time for journalists to hear from key company spokespersons, see new products in action and find out what manufacturers have planned for the upcoming year.

Learn more and sign up at https://sites.sema.org/mtc contact pr@sema.org.