By Ashley Reyes

Tony Mandella is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest spotlight member. Mandella is a partner at PMR Race & Speed Shop, an automotive aftermarket company that builds high-performance vehicles and offers a full line of high-performance speed parts.

Find out what keeps Mandella in the industry and how he prepares for important meetings in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Tony Mandella: My dad always taught me that quality is in the detail. This always remains a main part of our family business (that my father started) and with me in my personal life as well. This type of thinking leads to a lot of positive things, from work environment to superior quality in products and the services that we offer.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

TM: My passion for racing and all things high performance keeps me in the industry.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

TM: I can be found at the shop or at the drag strip.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

TM: I prep myself with the necessary materials ahead of time so that I can focus on the important items during the meeting rather than trying to play catch up.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?

TM: Wally Parks would be my choice because of what he was able to create for drag racing. His vision for the sport and passion that he shared would be reason alone and inspiring.

If you are a current YEN member, fill out a YEN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on YEN’s social media, SEMA eNews and YEN-member updates.

By Della Domingo

SEMA exhibitors continue to share their latest news and are ready to show their products in real life rather than on a screen at the 2021 SEMA Show. Get ready to experience the excitement of the industry at this year’s Show. Don’t miss exhibitor’s news by regularly checking the Online Media Center.

Below are some of the latest announcements you will find in the Online Media Center:

• Bolt Buster High Power Heat Induction Tool
• Livernois Motorsports First To Support And Tune ’21 Ford F-150 Trucks
• Rust-Oleum Launches Online Auto Community
• How to Sell More Tires
• Wireless Cab Marker Lights
• Chevy LS Serpentine Conversion Kit
• Billet Hood Hinges For ’73–’79 Chevy C10 With Slosh Tubz

Exhibitor Press releases can be found at www.semashow.com/press. Find all SEMA Show News at www.semashow.com/news.

All SEMA Show exhibitors are welcome to upload releases free of charge using this link.

The 2021 SEMA Show will take place November 2–5 in Las Vegas.

By Ashley Reyes

With a focus on new products and innovations, the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas will provide the restoration industry a chance to strengthen existing business relationships, develop new contacts and learn about trends and opportunities in the restoration market. In addition to exhibitors on the Show floor, education sessions and display vehicles, the November 2–5 trade show will include networking events specifically for the restoration market.

On the Show floor, attendees will be able to check out the latest products and meet face-to-face with more than 40 exhibitors in the restoration segment. Members are also invited and encouraged to join ARMO at the following events:

ARMO Industry Reception
When: Tuesday, November 2, 5:15 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Where: Westgate Ballroom A

Join ARMO for an evening of celebration and networking. Highly anticipated among Showgoers in the restoration market, this event has moved into a larger space for 2021 and will feature a ’60s/’70s musclecar theme. The council will recognize the contributions of individuals and companies in the restoration segment, with awards presented to the winners of the 2021 ARMO Person of the Year, Business of the Year and ARMO Hall of Fame Inductee(s). In addition, new-product award winners from the ARMO Hot Products Showcase who were announced earlier this year will also be formally recognized. The ARMO Hot Products Showcase award winners are:

• Drivetrain/Brakes/Suspension: Midnight Oil Muscle Car Parts, ’64–’74 GM Upper Ball Joint Rivet Installation and Removal Tool
• Accessory Item: Retro Manufacturing, Redondo RS/RT Radio
• Interior (includes trunk interior): Dakota Digital, RTX-Gauge Set, ’67 Mustang
• Engine/Engine Compartment: Cold Case Radiators, Radiator Core, Support Module, ’67–’69 Camaro
• Exterior/Trim: Auto Metal Direct, 3-in. Wider Inner Wheelhouse, ’66–’70 Dodge Plymouth B-Body
• People’s Choice: Mr. Mustang, MM350 Wheel 18x8, ’79–’04 Mustang

There is still limited availability to sponsor a table at the ARMO Reception. Table sponsorships support the Jeff Moses Scholarship fund and provide your company with prime seating during the banquet. Book yours today by contacting ARMO Chair-Elect Randall Bates at rbates@accmats.com. 

Breakfast with ARMO  
When: Wednesday, November 3, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Where: Westgate Conference Rooms 7-9

Start off the day with complimentary coffee and light breakfast, as ARMO members and fellow restoration industry colleagues engage in energizing conversations. Attendees will participate in casual roundtable discussions aimed at getting their day focused before venturing out onto the Show floor.

ARMO/HRIA Booth and Feature Vehicles  
When: Tuesday, November 2 – Friday, November 5
Location: LVCC Central Hall, Booth #23295

ARMO select committee members will be available to discuss the benefits of council membership throughout the week inside the ARMO booth. Shared with the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA), the booth will also showcase one-of-a-kind ARMO feature vehicles.  

SEMA Education: Restorations to Restomods Builder Panel, Powered by ARMO
When: Wednesday, November 3, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Location: LVCC N255

Numbers matching is still important to some, but now, so is having the convenience, performance and technology found in modern vehicles. In this SEMA Education session, top restorers and builders will take the stage to discuss how this aftermarket segment has evolved and where it’s heading. Add this session to your Show planner when registering for the SEMA Show.

There is still limited availability to sponsor a table at the ARMO Reception. Table sponsorships support the Jeff Moses Scholarship fund as well as provide your company with prime seating during the banquet. Book yours today by contacting ARMO Chair-Elect Randall Bates at rbates@accmats.com.

By SEMA Editors

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has announced the lineup of speakers for the IDEAS Collide Showcase, Friday, November 5, during the 2021 SEMA Show. The showcase will take place from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in Room S233 in the Upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

IDEAS Collide is a one-of-a-kind event featuring 10 fast-paced presentations designed to stimulate thought, with innovative and disruptive ideas that address collision-repair business challenges, from thought leaders both in and out of the industry.

Explore and register for the IDEAS Collide Showcase, and other SCRS Repairer Driven Education offerings at the SEMA Show by visiting www.scrs.com/2021RDE.

“We’ve always championed that the topics in this session should rattle the status quo,” shared SCRS Chairman Bruce Halcro. “I think the lineup of contributors this year is poised to do just that, and I personally find this to be one of the most ambitious sessions that breaks out of what we traditionally expect from industry education.”

The showcase will feature:

Trump’s Tax Strategies for Body Shops
Brad Mewes, CFO, The Mewes Group CFOs

Ever wonder how Donald Trump, Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos pay little to no tax? Want to discover the strategies they use to permanently eliminate their income tax? Brad Mewes, founder and chief financial officer at The Mewes Group CFOs, will discuss strategies that will reduce your tax bill by at least $30,000 every single year and the one legal entity structure that is secretly stealing tens of thousands—and maybe even hundreds of thousands—of dollars from you (and you don’t even know it). If your accountant has ever told you that paying tax is a good problem to have, then this session is for you.

Telematics: The Collision Repair Game Changer
Jake Rodenroth, Diagnostic Specialist

Telematics is rapidly making a presence in the collision repair space. First notice of loss, customer visibility and access to the vehicle being repaired change the collision business model significantly. What are these systems capable of and how does your shop learn to work with them?

Inaccurate Total Loss Valuations Create a Lose-Lose for Everyone
Sandy Blalock, Executive Director, Automotive Recyclers Association

Inaccurate vehicle valuations lead to increased total losses and everyone—including consumers, professional automotive and collision repairers, and professional automotive recyclers—are negatively impacted. What’s worse is that these economic total losses often don’t end the vehicle lifecycle with the total loss settlement. They are far too often rebuilt outside of a professional environment and find their way back onto America’s roadways. Let’s delve into the conditions that exist today that lead to unnecessary total losses and explore potential solutions that would advantage consumers and professional businesses through better governmental models and industry practices.

Don’t Contaminate Your Repair Plan With Outside Influence
Danny Gredinberg, Administrator, Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG)

We will discuss the importance of utilizing a single estimating system when negotiating repair plans with bill payers who may use a different information provider. Thinking through the process of establishing which estimating system will be utilized in the repair planning and negotiation and establishing which P Pages will be used in negotiating repair plans. The choice may impact the language used within the P Pages of included and not included operations, and understanding the differences in all three estimating systems.

OEM Recommended Materials for Aftermarket Body Repair
Todd Korpi, Global Key Accounts Director, 3M

As new technology continues to be adopted into the vehicles, the repair industry continues to be challenged with ensuring proper and safe repairs. Companies like 3M work hand-in-hand with all the OEMs to ensure recommended materials are available to the repair industry and engaging directly with the OEMs to ensure these materials are OEM recommended, endorsed and called out in the OEM repair procedures. Direct access to OEM repair procedures is the best source of information to repair vehicles, as only the OEM fully understands how the vehicle is designed and how to properly repair vehicles back to pre-accident condition. This session will detail what you need to understand about OEM recommended, called-out, endorsed, and specified material solutions in the repair industry.

What if AI Were Used to Increase Repair Plan Thoroughness, Rather Than Mitigate Estimate Lines
Pete Tagliapietra, Founder, NuGen IT, an OEC Company

With the technology advancements realized with computer vision and machine learning, the possibility exists to proactively deliver all the necessary OEM repair procedures for the actual damages to a vehicle before a repair estimate is created. Most AI solutions have been presented to support the bill payer, rather than the repair professional. This session will explore an alternate reality where the approach will support the utilization of OEM procedures to build more comprehensive repair plans at the start of the process, rather than as an afterthought.

Data Security & The Digital Transformation of the Auto Claims Economy
Brandon Laur, Vice President, CCi Global Technologies (formerly known as ClaimsCorp)

With the digitization of the auto claims economy, what is the impact and opportunity of being “connected?” Who do you trust, and more importantly, how do you trust them? This session will consider best practices collision repairers need to consider, and what to expect over the next 3-5 years for your business to transform by leveraging tools that safely manage and protect your data.

Modifying Vehicles in an ADAS World
Ben Kaminsky, General Manager, SEMA Garage Detroit

In 2021, SEMA purchased a 45,000-sq.-ft. building in the Detroit area to be used as a second SEMA Garage, a newly established ADAS Research and Development Center, where manufacturers will have access to new SEMA benefits. The 5000+ sq. ft. dedicated to ADAS research and development, will feature expert technicians and state-of-the-art scanning and calibration tools to aid in SEMA plans to educate and continue to enable modifications for vehicles with ADAS technologies. Kaminsky has gained a great deal of visibility into the tool selection process and knowledge acquisition in equipping a ground-up facility focused on ADAS repair. He will share the lessons learned and perceptions gained from the process.

Plastic Waste in Collision Repair—The Problems, the Solutions and Sustainability
Michael LoPrete, Vice President of Global Operations, Plastfix Industries

Participants will gain an appreciation for global plastics waste, plastics waste in the collision-repair industry and solutions to address the scale. We will explore stakeholders and the roles they play in this emerging problem for the industry as plastics use in manufacturing continues to increase. This forum is designed to bring significant problems to light and this session will set the stage for efforts to address this important matter.

Making Safety Inspections a Non-Negotiable Item
Mike Anderson, President, CollisionAdvice.com

Most, if not all, OEMs have safety inspections that need to be performed when a vehicle is in a collision—whether the airbags deploy or not. In this event, Mike Anderson of Collision Advice discusses these safety inspections, what is involved and what components need to be inspected. He’ll also discuss how to educate consumers and insurers about these inspections in a way that educates, not alienates. This session will be Anderson’s impassioned plea to the claims and repair industries to place consumer-safety at the forefront, by performing critical steps to ensure safety.

To register for the IDEAS Collide Showcase, click here.

To register for a Full Series Pass to all of the SCRS Repairer Driven Education programs during the SEMA Show, click here.

By Ashley Reyes

Changes to this year’s SEMA Show Student Program will give participating exhibitors and students more quality connections and value than ever before.

Through the Student Program Industry Networking Breakfast, Thursday, November 4, from 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m., exhibitors will host a networking table where they will engage in quality, intimate conversations with a limited number of students. Host companies will build connections by sharing their expertise, helping students explore career opportunities, and inspiring students in their career paths.

“The focus on the Student Networking Breakfast is on quality connections, rather than quantity connections,” said Byron Bergmann, SEMA project manager, member services. “Whether companies are hiring or not, members have a vast amount of knowledge to share and can be a great source for students.” 

Exhibiting companies are encouraged to participate in the program. Participation, which is free to exhibiting companies, simply requires one-and-a-half hours from one company representative. No set-up time or marketing materials are required.

Click here to register your company.

By SEMA Editors

Last week, the bipartisan Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. Why? Because automotive enthusiasts, aftermarket businesses and the racing community have stepped up and made their voices heard in an unprecedented way.

So far this year, RPM Act supporters have come together and written more than 1.5 million letters to Congress, and lawmakers are paying attention. Every letter and phone call matters, and we must continue to remind lawmakers that we are in this fight for as long as it takes.

There have already been several well-known aftermarket businesses that have joined forces with SEMA and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) and have committed to raising awareness and support for passing the RPM Act. The following are some of the outstanding companies that are working to keep the momentum going:

• Titan Motorsports – Orlando, Florida
• Edelbrock Group – Olive Branch, Mississippi
• Callies Performance – Fostoria, Ohio
• JEGS Performance – Delaware, Ohio
• Summit Racing – Tallmadge, Ohio
• Turn 14 Distribution – Horsham, Pennsylvania
• Enjuku Racing – Clermont, Florida

We encourage all aftermarket businesses to join the effort. You or your company—or both—can also do several things to make your voice heard and join the community to move the RPM Act ahead.

Here is a list of five things you can do right now to help the cause:

• Send a personal letter to your lawmakers at: saveourracecars.com. A letter has already been drafted. It takes less than a minute to fill in your contract information, which ensures that your letter is sent to your U.S. Representatives and Senators.
• Sign a letter to your lawmakers on company letterhead. Email erics@sema.org for a template and for more information.
• Post about the RPM Act on your company’s social media accounts using the toolkit of digital assets.

Become a member of SEMA and learn more about SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). SEMA PAC allows SEMA members to support the lawmakers that stand up for our industry in Washington. The racing community must continue to unite and do everything we can to Save Our Race Cars!

To find out more about the details of the bill and the lawmakers who are sponsoring it, visit the latest article, “Senators Introduce RPM Act Into U.S. Senate”.

The SEMA Data Excellence designation recognizes the companies that have worked with SEMA Data to recreate and relaunch industry-leading product data sets. Here are products from current SEMA Data members that have achieved data excellence.

ZyBar

4-oz. Midnight Black Finish

ZyBar 4-oz. Midnight Black Finish high-temperature heat-dissipation coating is designed to reduce radiant heat and under-hood temperatures, while offering outstanding corrosion resistance, providing lasting color stability under the most extreme engine conditions and extending the life of your components. ZyBar is rated to internal temperatures well in excess of 2000 F. ZyBar is a single component, durable polymer coating that far outperforms ceramic paints, wraps and heat tapes. ZyBar is spray-applied inside and outside the component. ZyBar treats manifolds, headers, turbo housings, exhaust, brakes and intakes. ZyBar is a thin .001-.0025 film coating that is either oven cured (2 hours @ 450 F) or air cured (120 hours).

https://zycoat.com
PN: 11004

Oracle Lighting

Bumper LED Reverse Lights for Jeep

Gladiator JT & JL

Designed for function and durability, these lights feature an aluminum housing with PMMA lens while also maintaining the rear reflector function with a scaled-down version integrated into the housing.

These compact lights pack a big punch with a total of 30 high-powered LEDs to add additional lighting to improve your Jeep Gladiator reverse visibility. They come ready to install out of the box, ensuring that you will have rear visibility in your Jeep Gladiator when it matters. Installation uses factory mounting hardware, and these lights tie into the rear light wiring with the included T-taps or with the optional Plug-and-Play adapter for even easier installation.

Additional features and specifications include:

• Connects to existing reverse light power source without error code.
• Integrated rear reflector for OE appearance and function.
• Total of 30 high-powered LEDs with 3,000 raw Lumen output.
• Aluminum housing with black powdercoat finish.
• Optic-focused beam pattern for an extended field of view.

www.oraclelights.com
PN: 5878-504 & 5881-504

HushMat

’75–’78 Dodge Charger Complete Kit

Sound deadening and thermal insulation material is designed to make every type of vehicle cool, quiet and comfortable to drive and enjoy! HushMat is an easy-to-install, USA-made material that molds, forms and adheres to your vehicle’s surface. No tools, glues and or special equipment is needed to install HushMat. Simply peel and stick. HushMat has invested thousands of hours over the past 15 years measuring vehicles to create a year-, make- and model-specific portfolio of 365,000 part numbers. HushMat insulates firewall, floor pan, tunnel, doors, roof and trunk. HushMat even provides installation templates to show where each piece is placed.

https://hushmat.com
PN: 66273

By Ashley Reyes

Mark your calendars for September 30, when Ringbrothers open up for a live video interview. As part of the SEMA Automotive Restoration Organization (ARMO) Builder Series, Ringbrothers’ Jim and Mike Ring will kick off the first live interview in the series.

The unedited, candid conversation will be hosted by Sabra Johnson of City Classic Cars, and include an honest dialogue about Ringbrothers’ career journeys, the road that led them to building custom SEMA Show cars and manufacturing some of the world’s most innovative aftermarket parts.

Join them as they uncover surprising stories and talk about what inspires them to keep breaking industry norms. Register here for the ARMO Builder Series live webinar featuring Ringbrothers.

By Ashley Reyes

Kelleigh Ash, director of sales, marketing and brand management at KW automotive North America Inc., is the latest SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) member to share her insight on how her company pivoted during the pandemic and utilized technology to keep business moving forward.

Get to know what technology tools have increased her company’s speed-to-market and what new trends she is seeing in sales and marketing in her interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: How has your company pivoted during the pandemic?  

Kelleigh Ash: In 2020, we had to run on split shifts for months to socially distance and limit exposure. As an example, we had to run two separate shifts in our R&D department while developing the first-to-market performance coilover suspension system for the new C8. This was a huge challenge, and we pivoted our product development process to utilize virtual tools and new technologies to achieve our goal. In spite of this challenge, our team is made up of some serious engineering rockstars, and they knocked it out of the park and delivered on time.

SEMA: What technology tools—new or old—have you leaned on recently?

KA: We have utilized new 3D printing technology, 3D scanning, 3D animations, AI and augmented reality just to name a few. The past 18 months have forced these new technologies, as it relates to engineering and product development, to the forefront of utilization. These new technologies have increased speed-to-market, decreased costs and allowed us to forge paths for new product innovations in ways we never thought possible.

SEMA: What new trends have you noticed with sales and marketing?

KA: Product data and content have never been more important. Our industry was in the middle of the shift to a majority of digital content and a digital consumer shopping experience. The pandemic has catapulted our industry into this digital market, as consumers had no choice but to shop from their phones during lockdown. Showing off your product features and benefits, immersing the consumer in your product on their phones or tablets and making them feel like they can touch and feel your product in a virtual environment is key to success today.

SEMA: What, if any, changes in business do you feel will outlive the pandemic?

KA: I believe that working from anywhere (not just from home) and virtual meetings are here to stay. Companies learned quickly that certain roles can be managed productively and effectively remotely, and that virtual meetings can be just as effective. Additionally, the consumer shift to a digital-only shopping experience is here to stay.

Fill out this form for a chance to be featured in the next ETTN member insight. By sharing your experiences, you can inspire and motivate other members to learn new tips and ideas. You may also be featured on ETTN’s social media and in SEMA eNews.

By SEMA Editors

Approved media attending the 2021 SEMA Show will have access to the SEMA Show Media Center, one of the many exclusive resources available to help reporters and journalists maximize their time at the November 2–5 trade-only Show in Las Vegas.

Located in Room S219—on the Skybridge between Central and South Halls—the Media Center is where approved media will pick up their credentials for the first industry-wide in-person gathering since 2019. Reporters can use the Media Center as a home base during the week to develop and file stories on the many exhibitors, new products and vehicle reveals at the Show.

New this year, credentialed media will have the ability to avoid the general concession stands in the Las Vegas Convention Center during the week of the SEMA Show by quickly purchasing lunch or snacks in the Media Center. Free coffee, water and limited snacks will still be available in the Media Center, but this new benefit will help journalists save time and allow them to focus on interviewing exhibitors and creating content while at the Show.

Also, complimentary laptops will not be available in the Media Center this year, but journalists will continue to have access to dedicated work areas with free media-only Wi-Fi and electrical outlets to charge all devices. Complimentary copy services, the SEMA Show Directory, exhibitor press materials and limited private lockers will remain available in the Media Center.

“We are committed to helping media before, during and after the SEMA Show, and are working to make their SEMA Show experience a positive and successful one,” said SEMA Media Relations Manager Juan Torres. “We continue to seek ways to better assist media at the SEMA Show, and welcome their input and ideas.”

The 2021 SEMA Show Media Center will be open:

• Thursday, October 28: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 29: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 30: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 31: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 1: 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 2: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 3: 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 4: 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 5: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

For additional information about this year's SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/media or contact SEMA PR at pr@sema.org.