The SEMA Show includes a series of business education sessions and niche-specific seminars designed to provide tactics and insight to help businesses sell more products and be more productive. Presented by industry experts, topics range from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends, to online marketing and social media. Most sessions are available free of charge to those with SEMA Show credentials.

To make it easy and convenient for Showgoers to attend the seminars, sessions begin the day before the official opening of the Show and continue at various times throughout the event.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

The shooters at KGP Photography have gotten their first look at a prototype for the GMC Canyon Denali package, running on a secluded industrial drive near GM's Milford Proving Grounds.

The Canyon prototype's camouflaged front end hides a revised all-mesh grille design that is consistent with GMC's other Denali-trimmed models. Although blacked out on this prototype, the grille will surely be finished in unmistakable brightwork, to set it apart from lesser Canyon variants. The Denali's front bumper is also camouflaged, and it appears that it may be more chrome-intensive, with signs of the reflective stuff stretching across the full bumper's width. The interior also shows signs of camouflaging, suggesting that some interior upgrades could also be in store.

There have been some Internet rumblings that the Denali may also get a unique engine option to give the model more substance, but there is no firm confirmation of the extent of any mechanical upgrades that may distinguish the range-topping Denali from its lower-end Canyon siblings.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography have gotten their first look at a prototype for the GMC Canyon Denali package, running on a secluded industrial drive near GM's Milford Proving Grounds.

The Canyon prototype's camouflaged front end hides a revised all-mesh grille design that is consistent with GMC's other Denali-trimmed models. Although blacked out on this prototype, the grille will surely be finished in unmistakable brightwork, to set it apart from lesser Canyon variants. The Denali's front bumper is also camouflaged, and it appears that it may be more chrome-intensive, with signs of the reflective stuff stretching across the full bumper's width. The interior also shows signs of camouflaging, suggesting that some interior upgrades could also be in store.

There have been some Internet rumblings that the Denali may also get a unique engine option to give the model more substance, but there is no firm confirmation of the extent of any mechanical upgrades that may distinguish the range-topping Denali from its lower-end Canyon siblings.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography have gotten their first look at a prototype for the GMC Canyon Denali package, running on a secluded industrial drive near GM's Milford Proving Grounds.

The Canyon prototype's camouflaged front end hides a revised all-mesh grille design that is consistent with GMC's other Denali-trimmed models. Although blacked out on this prototype, the grille will surely be finished in unmistakable brightwork, to set it apart from lesser Canyon variants. The Denali's front bumper is also camouflaged, and it appears that it may be more chrome-intensive, with signs of the reflective stuff stretching across the full bumper's width. The interior also shows signs of camouflaging, suggesting that some interior upgrades could also be in store.

There have been some Internet rumblings that the Denali may also get a unique engine option to give the model more substance, but there is no firm confirmation of the extent of any mechanical upgrades that may distinguish the range-topping Denali from its lower-end Canyon siblings.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit TORA's website.

Truck Industry Professionals—Connect in Indianapolis

By Clayton Drescher

Members of SEMA’s Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) and professionals in the light-truck industry are invited to a happy hour and TORA mixer at the Slippery Noodle Inn, Indiana’s oldest bar, Monday, March 2, from 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. The Slippery Noodle is just around the corner from the Indiana Convention Center, host to the NTEA Work Truck Show that week.

This is a great opportunity for local members and those in town for the NTEA Show to network, unwind, grab a bite and a drink, and learn about what SEMA and TORA are doing to strengthen and support the light-truck industry. The elected volunteer leaders of the TORA Select Committee will be there to hear input from membership about upcoming strategic planning meetings and answer questions regarding the council’s activities.

All professionals in any aspect of the light-truck industry interested in learning more about SEMA and TORA are invited to attend the event. Questions? Contact Clayton Drescher at 909-978-6696 or RSVP online.

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Visit ARMO's website.

	ARMO's Hot Products Showcase will take place April 23–25, 2015, at Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Register Your Restoration Parts for the Hot Products Showcase

• Be the product of an ARMO-member company.
• Be available for sale (market-ready) by the opening of the Showcase, April 23.
• Demonstrate unique/innovative technology and/or be a benefit to the restoration industry.

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Visit ETTN's website

Improve Your E-Commerce Skills at a Discount

Applications are being accepted now through March 16 for a second ETTN Professional Development Program. The Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition (IRCE), will take place June 3–4, 2015, in Chicago. On its own, the costs associated with this conference could prove prohibitive for members, but through ETTN, participants receive a specially negotiated registration rate, and the company of the participating employee receives a $500 grant from SEMA to assist with registration (all benefits received are considered taxable income). IRCE, a two-day conference, originally cost $1,095. Combining the negotiated rate and SEMA grant, ETTN members save 80% and pay only $216 for registration.

IRCE is in its 11th year and is largely considered to be a flagship event of the e-commerce industry. Each year, more than 10,000 attendees travel to Chicago to hear from more than 200 expert speakers representing all areas of the industry. This year, exciting speakers include top executives from Target, 1-800-Flowers.com, QVC and more. In addition to the educational opportunities, the 250,000 sq.-ft. exhibit hall presents more than 600 companies in the e-commerce solutions industry.

Applicants may be selected to attend one of three conferences in 2015, along with SEMA staff and a group of nine other network members. The first conference selected was the Social Media Strategies Summit, which will take place in Las Vegas, February 10–12. Later in the year, a third group of members will learn customer service and engagement skills at the Disney Quality Service course.

To learn more about the program and apply, visit the ETTN Professional Development Program homepage or contact Senior Manager of Networks Bryan Harrison.

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Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities.

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

SEMA annually recognizes four vehicle models that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase the year’s coolest products.

The awards are presented on the first day of the SEMA Show based on the total number of vehicles chosen for display in exhibitor booths at the annual event. Each booth vehicle represents a vote by the exhibitor. The SEMA Award honors are presented in the categories of Hottest Car, Hottest Sport Compact, Hottest Truck and Hottest SUV.

The 2014 SEMA Award was presented to the Ford Mustang as Hottest Car; the Honda Fit as Hottest Sport Compact; the Chevrolet Silverado as Hottest Truck; and the Jeep Wrangler as Hottest SUV.

The accompanying brief photo album includes commentaries from some of the exhibitors and the builders whose vehicles were chosen to be displayed in the SEMA Show booths to provide a greater understanding of why the selections were made.

SEMA annually recognizes four vehicle models that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase the year’s coolest products.

The awards are presented on the first day of the SEMA Show based on the total number of vehicles chosen for display in exhibitor booths at the annual event. Each booth vehicle represents a vote by the exhibitor. The SEMA Award honors are presented in the categories of Hottest Car, Hottest Sport Compact, Hottest Truck and Hottest SUV.

The 2014 SEMA Award was presented to the Ford Mustang as Hottest Car; the Honda Fit as Hottest Sport Compact; the Chevrolet Silverado as Hottest Truck; and the Jeep Wrangler as Hottest SUV.

The accompanying brief photo album includes commentaries from some of the exhibitors and the builders whose vehicles were chosen to be displayed in the SEMA Show booths to provide a greater understanding of why the selections were made.