By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Product Data/Website Administrator
Cognito Motorsports is hiring a product data/website administrator responsible for the development and maintenance of product data for distribution across all digital channels, including the company ERP, website and reseller network. The qualified candidate must have excellent writing and proof reading skills with extraordinary attention to details and ability to hit scheduled deadlines. A B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited four-year university or equivalent work experience is preferred.

Social Media Manager/Content Creator
Seibon International Inc. is hiring a social-media manager and content creator to administer its social-media accounts and generate content for its channels and website. Candidate will be responsible for creating original text and photo and video content, managing posts and responding to followers. Candidates must be up-to-date with the latest digital technologies and social-media trends, have excellent communication skills and a minimum of three years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. SEMA and PRI attendance is required.

Marketing Director
Power Automedia is hiring a marketing director to oversee its marketing efforts. This individual must have a background in omnichannel marketing. Experience in the automotive aftermarket is desirable. This position is responsible for developing and executing the overall marketing strategy to generate B2B sales while also providing some support for consumer marketing. The position requires extensive experience in all forms of digital and sales marketing. Candidates must be capable of analyzing ROI on campaigns and targeting specific audiences. Leadership skills are a major plus, as the department may be growing with increased business.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By Ashley Reyes

Parts manufacturers may be able to get involved with the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) All-Female Vehicle Build, a celebrated project that will showcase the talents of women in the industry and help encourage more women to pursue careers in the automotive field.

Manufacturers with products for the Ford Bronco 4-Door Wildtrak are invited to submit an application by completing this form.

“The project will showcase the many amazing talents of women in the automotive aftermarket,” said SBN Director Nicole Bradle. “This is a great opportunity for manufacturers to have a product installed on the vehicle that will be prominently showcased at the 2022 SEMA Show.”  

Submissions will be reviewed and accepted individually based on program alignment and need. 

By Ashley Reyes

Profit sharing can be a powerful tool for attracting and keeping talented employees, building a strong and healthy foundation for your business and creating a customer-friendly environment.

Automotive service companies, particularly those in the wheel and tire industry, often struggle with customer trust and loyalty. Giving employees a stake in the company is a great way to motivate staff to improve customer service and build trust, and consequently sales and profits as well.

Aftermarket wheel and tire companies are invited to a live webinar on May 19, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT), to learn the ins and outs of offering a profit-sharing program. Dick Erickson, founder of Sun Tire, will share how his company went from good to great after introducing a profit sharing program. Erickson will break down how offering a well-defined and transparent program resulted in reduced payroll, improved customer relations, less employee turnover and reduced shrinkage.

“I think profit-sharing is the catalyst that separates great companies from good companies. The boost in sales and profits gives employees a stakeholder mentality which will have a positive effect on sales and profit,” says Erickson. “In most businesses, employees are not stakeholders. When all employees became stakeholders at Sun Tire, our business rose to a whole new level.”

Register for the live webinar “Building Your Business through Profit Sharing”, presented by the SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC), here.

By Ashley Reyes

The hot-rod segment is no longer about the year the car was born. For the market to continue to grow, it’s important that hot rodders open their minds and businesses to the thought that “hot rod” can be a broad definition no longer limited by model year.

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) members will hear from some of the market’s top leaders as they discuss the current state of hot rods and what the future might hold, during the HRIA General Membership Meeting and Panel Discussion on May 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

Featuring Amy Fitzgerald of Cool Hand Customs as moderator, and Jesse Henke, JH Restorations; Pete Filippo, Filippo Speed Shop Inc; and Tim Strange, Strange Motion Rod & Custom Construction, as speakers, the panel will tackle the traditional definition of “hot rod,” the emergence of EVs and where the tuner market and other similar communities fit in. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts on the future of hot rodding.

The meeting and discussion are open to all HRIA members and companies in the hot-rod industry, and is the ideal time to address industry concerns and learn from others in the market. A brief report on the council’s current initiatives will also be discussed.

Register here.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The 2022 election season is kicking into high gear in May with 14 states holding primary elections this month. Idaho, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania primaries will take place on Tuesday, May 17, and it’s essential to know which candidates support racing when going to the polls or voting early. For information on voting in the primary (including absentee and early voting), registering to vote and identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, visit SEMA’s vote racing page.

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, enjoys strong support from Idaho, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania members of Congress. The bipartisan RPM Act guarantees the right to modify street cars, trucks, and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and safeguards the industry’s right to offer parts that enable racers to compete. For more information on the RPM Act, click here.

Below is a list of federal lawmakers who have co-sponsored the RPM Act in the 2021–2022 session of Congress and are running for re-election in 2022.

IDAHO:

• Sen. Mike Crapo [R-ID]

KENTUCKY:

• Rep. Thomas Massie, [R-KY]*
• Rep. Brett Guthrie [R-KY]
• Rep. James Comer [R-KY]
• Rep. Andy Barr [R-KY]

NORTH CAROLINA:

• Rep. Patrick McHenry [R-NC]**
• Rep. Richard Hudson Hudson [R-NC]*
• Rep. Ted Budd [R-NC]* - Running for U.S. Senate
• Rep. David Rouzer [R-NC]*
• Rep. Madison Cawthorn [R-NC]*

OREGON:

• Rep. Kurt Schrader [D-OR]*

PENNSYLVANIA:

• Rep. Scott Perry [R-PA] *
• Rep. Mike Kelly [R-PA]*
• Rep. Brendan Boyle [D-PA]*
• Rep. John Joyce [R-PA]
• Rep. Guy Reschenthaler [R-PA]
• Rep. Glenn Thompson [R-PA]
• Rep. Chrissy Houlahan [D-PA]

*Original cosponsor
**Lead bill sponsor    

For more information, contact erics@sema.org.

Each year, the SEMA Show displays hundreds of vehicles throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center as part of the Show's Feature Vehicle Program.

All vehicles on display are sponsored by an exhibiting company allowing manufacturers to expand their footprint at the SEMA Show beyond their booth.

All vehicles on display are sponsored by an exhibiting company allowing manufacturers to expand their footprint at the SEMA Show beyond their booth.

Each vehicle accepted will also be featured in the SEMA Show app displaying; vehicle image, make, model, year, color, products used as part of the build, builder’s name and the name and booth number of the sponsoring exhibiting company.  

When completing the Feature Vehicle application, you may also select the option of having your vehicle enrolled for consideration in the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. “SEMA Battle of the Builders” is judged by industry experts and presented to individuals who have demonstrated extreme talent, creativity and craftsmanship in modifying cars, trucks and SUVs.

Submit your Feature Vehicle Application.  

For any additional questions on submitting your Feature Vehicle application contact Maurice O’Connell at mauriceo@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Territory Salesperson
Bedrock Truck Beds is hiring a territory salesperson responsible for generating and increasing sales of Bedrock Truck Beds and other manufactured products in the assigned region. The ideal candidate will have a lean business background and be focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity and costs while simultaneously acquiring and maintaining an in-depth knowledge of products and services offered by company and competitors in the truck bed space. An undergraduate degree plus three years’ experience in B2B sales experience are required.

Senior Automotive Parts Buyer
JEGS Automotive Inc. is hiring a senior automotive parts buyer responsible for evaluating new products from both new and existing vendors; negotiating pricing, payment terms, freight, stock adjustments and allowances/rebates; and growing sales in his/her assigned categories through maintaining the correct product assortment, competitive pricing, timely availability and creative marketing programs. This is a remote role, but you must be able to travel to our corporate headquarters periodically.

Product Specialist
Enthusiast Auto Holdings is hiring a product specialist responsible for the company’s catalog of products; ideation, onboarding, and merchandising of new products and brands; and providing product support to customer-facing teams. He/she will be responsible for gathering customer insights, needs and desires by talking to customers, conducting surveys, talking to sales reps and gathering insights from social sites and forums to offer compelling new products and optimizing the shopping experience for existing products. In addition, the product specialist will offer product support in-person, phones, chat and email for customer operations teams.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By Ashley Reyes

As part of SEMA’s commitment to inspire and help start-ups and aspiring companies succeed, the association hosts a product pitching competition known as Launch Pad. The competition is a unique opportunity that helps businesses and entrepreneurs introduce new automotive-related products to the marketplace. Here are five great benefits to submitting a Launch Pad application at www.sema.org/launchpad.

The SEMA Launch Pad competition is a unique opportunity that helps businesses and entrepreneurs introduce new automotive-related products to the marketplace.

1. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime

Many entrepreneurs dream of going to the SEMA Show. After pouring their passion into creating a product that enhances how enthusiasts customize their vehicles, it’s their goal to ultimately share that innovation with the world.

Fifteen semifinalists will win a complimentary booth to exhibit their product at the 2022 SEMA Show. As the industry's most anticipated in-person business event, showcasing a product at the SEMA Show is a brilliant way to reach thousands of potential buyers and business partners from all over the world.

2. Engage with key industry influencers

The competition is the “Shark Tank” of the specialty-equipment industry. Participants share their inventions with industry leaders serving as judges, in hopes of convincing them that their product has what it takes to change the course of automotive history. Judges provide candid feedback and guidance, which can be leveraged to enhance a competitors’ product innovation and improve their go-to-market strategy.

3. Increased product exposure

Exposure of participants’ new products will be promoted on SEMA websites, social media and in online and print publications for the duration of the competition. By bringing emerging inventors to the forefront, SEMA Launch Pad participants gain product exposure that will help them take their new creations to the next level.

4. Opportunity to fill an existing need in the automotive aftermarket    

Whether the product aims to make a vehicle go faster, operate safer or look cooler, any product that has the potential to positively impact the future of the aftermarket industry can enter. Past products selected for SEMA Launch Pad have been selected from segments such as vehicle technology, safety, restyling, wheel and tire, and truck and off-road.

5. Chance to win grand prize-package valued up to $92,000

The top five candidates will pitch their business ideas on stage to a panel of judges at the 2022 SEMA Show, where the ultimate winner will be selected. First place winner will receive a grand-prize package valued up to $92,000, which includes a $75,000 cash prize to be used for the benefit for their business.

SEMA Launch Pad is the premier product-pitching competition for budding entrepreneurs in the automotive aftermarket industry and is open to business owners or company-leading executives (president, CEO, CFO, COO, or vice president) over the age of 18. Applicants must offer a product or service that is a functioning prototype, functioning concept, or currently for sale.

Applications to participate in SEMA Launch Pad must be submitted online at www.sema.org/launchpad by June 13.