By Ashley Reyes

Whether you’re a supervisor, company owner or a recent graduate just entering the workforce, having strong emotional intelligence will help you to be more successful. A high emotional intelligence will improve communication and teamwork, particularly when stress levels are high, conflicts arise or when working with individuals who have differing opinions.

Learn everything you need to know about emotional intelligence during the live webinar and breakout “The Power of Emotional Intelligence” on July 21, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

This session is presented by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) and features Karen Nutter, a certified Emotional Intelligence (EI) analyst, certified master coach and the founder of CBK Advising, sharing how you can help and guide others using EI, and how to adjust your communication to positively impact your colleagues and business.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Truck and off-road builders have an exclusive opportunity to showcase their vehicles in a premier spot in the TORA Feature Vehicle Trail outside of the LVCC West Hall at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Open exclusively to SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members, the feature vehicle program will highlight six-to-eight unique builds in a high profile location. Applications are being accepted in the categories of SUV, Side-by-Side, Lifted Truck, Lowered Truck, Overland, Off-Road, EV, and CUV/Crossover.

Feature vehicle space at the SEMA Show is typically reserved for exhibitors. However, the TORA Feature Vehicle Program gives all TORA member exhibiting manufacturers, and non-exhibiting builders, and retailers a rare opportunity to obtain added exposure, as well as showcase the builders and manufacturers whose parts are installed on their vehicle.

Applications are due September 1. The cost to participate is $1,500, with $500 of that donated to SEMA Cares—the fundraising arm of the association that supports a variety of children’s charities.

Get your name out there as a builder. Submit your application today!

By Della Domingo

Automotive journalists Solomon Lunger (F-100 Builder’s Guide) and Jef White (The SHOP magazine) will join SEMA at the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, July 26–28, in Las Vegas.

Exhibitors will receive valuable insight and learn tips for improving success and gaining greater ROI at the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit in Las Vegas.

The annual event allows exhibitors a chance to connect directly with SEMA Show organizers and vendors. Exhibitors receive valuable insight and learn tips for improving success and gaining greater ROI. Lunger and White will be part of a breakout session titled “Hear Directly From Media Covering the SEMA Show.” The session gives exhibitors the unique opportunity to hear directly from journalists who cover the SEMA Show. Participants will learn how the media navigate the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Show, what they look for, why they may not be able to cover a story, what their biggest frustrations are, and how exhibitors can increase the likelihood of being featured.

The SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is open to all exhibitors, but space is limited. Registration is free and includes free hotel and meals during the event.

“The SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is about helping our exhibitors succeed,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We do everything we can to ensure they are informed about the programs available to help them reach their goals, whether it’s driving buyer traffic to their booths, creating industry awareness, generating media coverage or something else. We work with exhibitors individually to connect them with the programs and resources that meet their individual needs.”

To learn more about the Exhibitor Summit, visit www.semashow.com/exhibitor-summit. To learn more about media opportunities for exhibitors, contact pr@sema.org.

Thirteen-year-old Frances Farnam of Tinkergineering in Sierra Madre, California, bought her first car—a ’76 Porsche 914—using the money she made picking grapefruit and vegetables from her garden and selling them at the local farmer’s market.

Recently, she brought the 914 to the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, where Director of Vehicle Technology Luis Morales demonstrated the Garage’s 3-D scanning capability. Farnam and her father Daniel plan to restore the car themselves and convert it to electric before showing it off at “SEMA Electrified” during the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

“I was always making things in my garage next to my dad, constantly stealing his solder wire to make figurines,” Farnam said. “I first got into cars when I bought this one at age 11 1/2. I don’t know where this project will take me, but I am still young and have tons of options out there. I know that this will be a stepping stone to get where I will eventually end up.”

Through her YouTube channel Tinkergineering, Farnam hopes to inspire other kids, both young and old, to get out there and make their dreams come true.

For more information about the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. For more information about the SEMA Garage, visit www.semagarage.com.

Here’s a first look at the ’23 Ford Super Duty King Ranch with its front end completely exposed.

The exposed front end shows off a completely revised design which includes a new hood, fenders, grille, lower front clip and headlights that are incorporated into the grille design (which appears to share its design with the King Ranch logo). Ford also carries over the C-clamp corporate look, although this time it encompasses the LED running light design. The King Ranch and Platinum are expected to share the same front-end design, minus paint combos. Around back, the changes appear to be minimal, with the addition of revised LED tail lamps.

Inside, the Super Duty will gain a sleek new 12-in. touchscreen mounted horizontally along with all the King Ranch touches, which include leather, and then more leather.

Power is still expected to come from a 3-engine portfolio: 6.2L V8, 7.3L V8 and the 6.7L V8 Turbo Diesel. All engine options are expected to be mated to the TorqShift 10-speed automatic transmission. There should be a slight bump in power when it comes to the 6.7L Turbo Diesel.

Production of the Ford Super Duty will continue at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. Expect an official debut sometime this fall.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2022 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.

Making hotel reservations in the Block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is one of several hotels in the SEMA Show block located within one mile of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are more than 45 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

The following hotels are located within one mile of the Las Vegas Convention Center:

• Courtyard by Marriott – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Embassy Suites by Hilton – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.6 miles)
• Hilton Grand Vacations – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Las Vegas Marriott (0.9 miles)
• Residence Inn by Marriott – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (0.1 miles)

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

 Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry. The best part: the first product you enter is free!

The New Products Showcase is considered by many media and buyers to be the No. 1 destination to discover what’s new at the SEMA Show.

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is FREE!
•  Additional $75 per product category before October 7.
•  After October 7, the cost is $150 per entry.
•  No refunds provided after October 7.
•  Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

The New Products Showcase is considered by many media and buyers to be the No. 1 destination to discover what’s new at the SEMA Show. Even if a product does not qualify as “new,” exhibitors are able to enter it as a featured product and still attract eyeballs to the item. All submissions are also professionally photographed in a mock studio on a white seamless background. The photos are shared and used by media in SEMA Show coverage and are also available to exhibitors to use for marketing purposes.

Exhibitors may enter as many products into the Showcase as they would like, and because every exhibitor qualifies to submit one entry at no cost, there is absolutely no reason for an exhibitor not to participate. The free product entry is one example of how exhibiting at the SEMA Show delivers great ROI. SEMA Show organizers offer many programs and services targeted to small businesses. Dedicated account reps are available to help exhibitors navigate the process, and the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is a free, two-day workshop designed to teach exhibitors how to get the most out of the SEMA Show.

Enter your new products now!

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.

 Feature Vehicle Applications are due Friday, July 29.

  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, which displays each vehicle’s image, make, model, year, color, the products used as part of the build, the 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. The competition is judged by industry experts with top honors presented to individuals who have demonstrated extreme talent, creativity and craftsmanship in modifying cars, trucks and SUVs.

Submit your Feature Vehicle Application by the July 29 deadline.  

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

Click here for a complete list of SEMA Show deadlines.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Awards Gala, taking place on July 29, in Anaheim, California, is a celebration of the volunteers and pioneers who have helped build today's $50-billion specialty-equipment industry. Among those to be honored at this year’s Gala are incoming and outgoing board members, and 2022 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Walker Evans, Jack Roush and “Gene” Winfield.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the prestigious SEMA Awards Gala. Get you tickets at www.sema.org/gala.

“The SEMA Awards Gala is a great opportunity for the industry to come together at mid-year to connect in person and have meaningful conversations in an intimate setting,” said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola.

The SEMA Cares Pinewood Drags, a cherished Gala tradition, will also return to offer industry participants the chance to sponsor a child-built pinewood racecar or challenge industry colleagues in head-to-head competition. The SEMA Cares Pinewood Drags fundraiser runs in conjunction with the Gala. If you’d like to sponsor a race car or challenge colleagues, visit www.sema.org/semacares.

The races, which are run throughout the Friday reception and into the evening.

Tickets for he gala are available at www.sema.org/gala.

Immediately following the gala, there is a private SEMA PAC reception scheduled. For more information, contact Samantha Large at samanthal@sema.org or 202-796-2252.

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.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

CAD Vehicle Coordinator
Global Logistics Services

Global Logistics Services is seeking a technical CAD vehicle coordinator who will work with SEMA and General Motors on programs, such as Tech Transfer, measuring sessions and more. Successful candidates will serve as a key contact providing engineering and technical support to the aftermarket community. The job is a great opportunity to build contacts in the industry and plays a critical role in the product development of new products. 

Salesperson
4 Wheel Parts

4 Wheel Parts is hiring a salesperson to assist customers with product inquiries and sales, meet weekly and monthly sales objectives, pitch monthly sales promotions and assist in inventory control and stocking. Candidates should have consumer sales experience in a retail environment. Automotive experience and knowledge of four-wheel/off-road products are preferred.

Paint and Body Professional
Goolsby Customs

Goolsby Customs is looking to hire paint and body professionals. Candidates must be experienced in the custom hot-rod industry. The company offers competitive pay, benefits, moving expenses and paid time off for qualified candidates.