WTC News

Ford Motor Co. and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) teamed up to present the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women. Under the direction of the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) and built entirely by SBN members, the project is designed to shine the light on women working in the automotive aftermarket and encourage more women to pursue careers in the industry.

Wheel manufacturers, perhaps more than any other segment, are showing strong signs of confidence in the economy by securing booth space for the 2012 SEMA Show taking place Tuesday-Friday, October 30, November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Election materials for the SEMA Board of Directors election have been mailed to the primary contact at all eligible SEMA-member companies. Voting takes place May 14-June 12, 2012.

After debuting at last year's SEMA Show, the Collision Repair & Refinish section will return to provide buyers with a dedicated area on the Show floor where they can quickly and easily meet with major refinish companies, paint booth manufacturers, parts suppliers and manufacturers, estimating and management software companies, manufacturers of structural repair and welding equipment, safety equipment and other related products. The section has been identified as one of the fastest growing areas of the show, and is on track to surpass last years' numbers for the 2012 SEMA Show taking place Tuesday - Friday, October 30 - November 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 452 (S. Res. 452) at the request of the SEMA Action Network (SAN) designating July 13, 2012 as "Collector Car Appreciation Day." The date marks the third commemoration in what has become an annual event to celebrate and raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.

More than 1,700 exhibitors have demonstrated confidence in the 2012 SEMA Show by confirming booth space for the world's premier automotive trade show, taking place October 30-November 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada. These exhibitors will select their locations on the Show floor through the Priority Space Selection process beginning the end of May.

Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame, an honor that recognizes an elite group of individuals for raising the stature or growth or the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

Hundreds of leaders and professionals from the SEMA industry will gather to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time.

With about 200 days to go before the 2012 SEMA Show, exhibitors are poised to make a strong and lasting presence at the annual event taking place Tuesday-Friday, October 30-November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Attendee and media registration for the 2012 SEMA Show is now open at www.SEMAshow.com/register. The annual trade-only event takes place Tuesday-Friday, October 30-November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bringing many years of specialty parts and aftermarket data management accomplishments to the table, DATAgility, Inc. of Chicago has been engaged to provide on-boarding, data sync and data quality services for the new SEMA Data Co-op.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI), producers of the motorsports business magazine and trade show, finalized plans to be purchased by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). The transaction is set to close in late March 2012.

Eleven individuals will be running for seats on the SEMA Board of Directors election, taking place in May. The candidates are vying for five open seats within three categories.

Bringing 30 years of specialty parts aftermarket experience to the table, Jon Wyly has been hired to launch and manage the new SEMA Data Cooperative.