The WTC will be bringing some island attitude to the Las Vegas desert at this year’s SEMA Show in the form of a new Tropic Awards Reception. Complete with island fare, libations and leis, the council will use the beautiful backdrop of the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar to create an oasis retreat from the hustle and bustle.

The Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) is bringing an island attitude to its annual industry reception at the 2010 SEMA Show. Held Wednesday, November 3, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar, the council will use the gathering to honor the industry and recognize its lifetime achievement recipient.

In addition to the awards, tropical fare and libations, WTC members and guests will be entertained by comedian Mike Stigs. So grab your Hawaiian shirt and join the WTC for a night of island attitude and awards. For more information contact Gina Ledesma at ginal@sema.org.

The WTC will be bringing some island attitude to the Las Vegas desert at this year’s SEMA Show in the form of a new Tropic Awards Reception. Complete with island fare, libations and leis, the council will use the beautiful backdrop of the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar to create an oasis retreat from the hustle and bustle.

The Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) is bringing an island attitude to its annual industry reception at the 2010 SEMA Show. Held Wednesday, November 3, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar, the council will use the gathering to honor the industry and recognize its lifetime achievement recipient.

In addition to the awards, tropical fare and libations, WTC members and guests will be entertained by comedian Mike Stigs. So grab your Hawaiian shirt and join the WTC for a night of island attitude and awards. For more information contact Gina Ledesma at ginal@sema.org.

The WTC will be bringing some island attitude to the Las Vegas desert at this year’s SEMA Show in the form of a new Tropic Awards Reception. Complete with island fare, libations and leis, the council will use the beautiful backdrop of the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar to create an oasis retreat from the hustle and bustle.

The Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) is bringing an island attitude to its annual industry reception at the 2010 SEMA Show. Held Wednesday, November 3, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel’s Pool and Envy Cellar, the council will use the gathering to honor the industry and recognize its lifetime achievement recipient.

In addition to the awards, tropical fare and libations, WTC members and guests will be entertained by comedian Mike Stigs. So grab your Hawaiian shirt and join the WTC for a night of island attitude and awards. For more information contact Gina Ledesma at ginal@sema.org.

	Take the SEMA Challenge to see if you can guess which vehicles exhibitors will select as the winners of the SEMA Award.

In just a few weeks, SEMA Show exhibitors will showcase their innovations with thousands of new products and customized vehicles. As the visionaries of the industry, exhibitors will choose the hottest cars, trucks and 4x4-SUVs on the market through the first-ever SEMA Award presentation.

To determine the winners of the SEMA Award, every single booth vehicle at the 2010 SEMA Show will be tallied, and the most prominent models will be recognized as the year’s top trend-setting vehicles.

While exhibitors will ultimately choose the hottest car, hottest truck and hottest 4x4-SUV based on what they decide to showcase in their booths, a panel of industry experts has identified a few noteworthy vehicles as contenders for the award. See who the contenders are, and take the SEMA Challenge to see if you can guess which vehicles exhibitors will select. You may even qualify to win a VIP trip for two to the 2011 SEMA Show, including air and hotel accommodations.

The SEMA Challenge begins October 1 on the SEMA Facebook Page. Become a fan of the site today, then take the SEMA Challenge. See if you can predict which vehicles exhibitors are choosing to invest in!

	Take the SEMA Challenge to see if you can guess which vehicles exhibitors will select as the winners of the SEMA Award.

In just a few weeks, SEMA Show exhibitors will showcase their innovations with thousands of new products and customized vehicles. As the visionaries of the industry, exhibitors will choose the hottest cars, trucks and 4x4-SUVs on the market through the first-ever SEMA Award presentation.

To determine the winners of the SEMA Award, every single booth vehicle at the 2010 SEMA Show will be tallied, and the most prominent models will be recognized as the year’s top trend-setting vehicles.

While exhibitors will ultimately choose the hottest car, hottest truck and hottest 4x4-SUV based on what they decide to showcase in their booths, a panel of industry experts has identified a few noteworthy vehicles as contenders for the award. See who the contenders are, and take the SEMA Challenge to see if you can guess which vehicles exhibitors will select. You may even qualify to win a VIP trip for two to the 2011 SEMA Show, including air and hotel accommodations.

The SEMA Challenge begins October 1 on the SEMA Facebook Page. Become a fan of the site today, then take the SEMA Challenge. See if you can predict which vehicles exhibitors are choosing to invest in!

	The business services section of the SEMA Show includes auto shop management equipment.

As the world’s premier automotive specialty-products trade show, the 2010 SEMA Show, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 2–5, 2010, attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries and also provides a unique opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to connect.

The Show covers the entire realm of the specialty-equipment industry and is comprised of 12 categories: Business Services; Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA; Hot Rod Alley; Mobile Electronics & Technology; Paint, Body & Equipment; Powersports & Utility Vehicles; Racing & Performance; Restoration Marketplace; Restyling & Car Care Accessories; Tools & Equipment; Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; and Wheels & Accessories.

The final 2010 SEMA Show category is Business Services. So far, 44 business services companies—of which 17 are first-timers—are exhibiting in the North Hall.

“The business services section is unique because it targets not only buyers, but also other Show exhibitors,” said Peter MacGillivray, vice president of communications and events. “It’s relevant to just about everyone who attends the Show, reinforcing that this is a trade-only event designed to help companies in the industry do business.”

Regardless of the market niche, there are several services that all automotive businesses need. Discover new business services and cost-effective options by visiting the Business Services section in North Hall. Learn what resources are available for inventory control, computer systems and business software as well as display and shop-management equipment, staffing alternatives and help with insurance and finances.

“Many exhibitors in this section have a proven history of helping our industry and offer unique programs catered to our audience,” MacGillivray said. “Everyone at the Show is encouraged to stop by this section to see what’s new and how they might be able to be more efficient and save money.”

The services these exhibitors offer are especially useful to small businesses and many of them offer group discounts for this industry and know and understand the challenges the industry currently faces. Also, because they are small businesses, they often don’t have time to research and learn about some of the products offered at the Show, so this is a good opportunity for businesses to see how they can save money.

	The business services section of the SEMA Show includes auto shop management equipment.

As the world’s premier automotive specialty-products trade show, the 2010 SEMA Show, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 2–5, 2010, attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries and also provides a unique opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to connect.

The Show covers the entire realm of the specialty-equipment industry and is comprised of 12 categories: Business Services; Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA; Hot Rod Alley; Mobile Electronics & Technology; Paint, Body & Equipment; Powersports & Utility Vehicles; Racing & Performance; Restoration Marketplace; Restyling & Car Care Accessories; Tools & Equipment; Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; and Wheels & Accessories.

The final 2010 SEMA Show category is Business Services. So far, 44 business services companies—of which 17 are first-timers—are exhibiting in the North Hall.

“The business services section is unique because it targets not only buyers, but also other Show exhibitors,” said Peter MacGillivray, vice president of communications and events. “It’s relevant to just about everyone who attends the Show, reinforcing that this is a trade-only event designed to help companies in the industry do business.”

Regardless of the market niche, there are several services that all automotive businesses need. Discover new business services and cost-effective options by visiting the Business Services section in North Hall. Learn what resources are available for inventory control, computer systems and business software as well as display and shop-management equipment, staffing alternatives and help with insurance and finances.

“Many exhibitors in this section have a proven history of helping our industry and offer unique programs catered to our audience,” MacGillivray said. “Everyone at the Show is encouraged to stop by this section to see what’s new and how they might be able to be more efficient and save money.”

The services these exhibitors offer are especially useful to small businesses and many of them offer group discounts for this industry and know and understand the challenges the industry currently faces. Also, because they are small businesses, they often don’t have time to research and learn about some of the products offered at the Show, so this is a good opportunity for businesses to see how they can save money.

The winners of the annual SkillsUSA Championships in Collision Repair Technology were announced June 25, 2010, at the Awards Ceremony of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City. More than 5,600 career and technical education students joined in the hands-on competition in 96 different trade, technical and leadership fields. The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, involve the industry in directly evaluating student performance and keep training relevant to employers’ needs. SkillsUSA students not only excel in their technical skills, but in employability skills as well.

The Collision Repair Technology Committee requires students to compete in the following areas: metal work, an A.S.E. test, structural damage analysis, reconciling an estimate with published time guides, plastic identification and repair and welding. Contestants are judged on the overall appearance of the finished products and proper safety practices as they race against the clock and other competitors.

The 2010 winner of the SkillsUSA Collision Repair Technology Contest for the Secondary Gold Medal was Chance Brickner from the Sentinel Career Center in Tiffin, Ohio. His instructor is Carl Rusch.

The 2010 winner of the SkillsUSA Collision Repair Technology Contest for the Post-Secondary Gold Medal was Kevin Massey from Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, Colorado. His instructor is Tim Grauberger.

State Farm Insurance sponsors the trip to Las Vegas for the winners and their instructors to experience the SEMA Show. With the Paint, Body & Equipment area being more prominent this year and the added educational sessions specific to the paint and body market, SEMA is an excellent fit for these future industry leaders. As many of the paint and body organizations begin to work with SEMA, it makes it a more valuable resource for the industry.

The winners of the annual SkillsUSA Championships in Collision Repair Technology were announced June 25, 2010, at the Awards Ceremony of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City. More than 5,600 career and technical education students joined in the hands-on competition in 96 different trade, technical and leadership fields. The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, involve the industry in directly evaluating student performance and keep training relevant to employers’ needs. SkillsUSA students not only excel in their technical skills, but in employability skills as well.

The Collision Repair Technology Committee requires students to compete in the following areas: metal work, an A.S.E. test, structural damage analysis, reconciling an estimate with published time guides, plastic identification and repair and welding. Contestants are judged on the overall appearance of the finished products and proper safety practices as they race against the clock and other competitors.

The 2010 winner of the SkillsUSA Collision Repair Technology Contest for the Secondary Gold Medal was Chance Brickner from the Sentinel Career Center in Tiffin, Ohio. His instructor is Carl Rusch.

The 2010 winner of the SkillsUSA Collision Repair Technology Contest for the Post-Secondary Gold Medal was Kevin Massey from Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, Colorado. His instructor is Tim Grauberger.

State Farm Insurance sponsors the trip to Las Vegas for the winners and their instructors to experience the SEMA Show. With the Paint, Body & Equipment area being more prominent this year and the added educational sessions specific to the paint and body market, SEMA is an excellent fit for these future industry leaders. As many of the paint and body organizations begin to work with SEMA, it makes it a more valuable resource for the industry.

UPS has helped SEMA members improve customer service and increase operational efficiency by providing visibility into every aspect of the supply chain.

In recent years, the global automotive industry has gone through much change due to economic uncertainties. As a result, many automotive businesses may have shied away from major technology upgrades or changes. As we continue to emerge from the economic downturn, and the industry is showing signs of progress globally, especially in emerging markets, there’s a great need for technology that connects businesses around the world and helps them operate more efficiently than ever before. In fact, SEMA Show sponsor UPS believes new technologies will be key to helping companies grow and recover from the worldwide economic downturn.

“SEMA members need to consider technology that ultimately yields a more flexible and cost-effective global supply chain,” said Kristin DeBates, UPS marketing manager, serving customers in the automotive industry. “The right technology should give SEMA members greater visibility into their supply chains, while also addressing operational inefficiencies.”

Technology Brings Efficiencies and Cost Savings

UPS can help SEMA members leverage technology to create a more efficient global supply chain. For instance, UPS helped Mercedes Electric Supply, a distributor of electrical equipment based in Miami, automate its entire logistics model. As a result, the company saved 20% on transportation costs and three hours of employee time a day. What’s more, now the company can properly track each order, keeping customers informed and reducing order status calls.

Through UPS WorldShip software, SEMA-member company Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) can prepare documents, package and freight shipments in a few mouse clicks. What’s more, the software is integrated into JMG’s internal system, allowing instant access to customer addresses and billing information. JMG estimates that this feature saves the shipping department 30 to 60 minutes per day, while also reducing errors from manual data entry.

“UPS helps [us] accomplish all of our day-to-day shipping needs,” says Kevin Johnson, COO of JMG. “We have streamlined our shipping processes and it’s great to have a single partner to rely on.”

In addition to cost and time savings, UPS has helped SEMA members improve customer service and increase operational efficiency by providing visibility into every aspect of the supply chain. Such technology enables automotive businesses to see their shipments anytime, anywhere, so both the company and the customer stay informed. Greater visibility also helps companies automate the receiving and credit processes and allocate staff based on inbound volume.

To learn more about how technology can optimize your supply chain, visit UPS’ booth at this year’s SEMA Show, #11937 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, or attend the “UPS Technology as a Competitive Advantage” session on Monday, November 1 at 3:00 p.m. Or, contact Kristin DeBates at kdebates@ups.com to set up a detailed discussion.