GROWTH: POWERED BY EDUCATION

SEIZE THE MOST FROM YOUR SEMA SHOW WEEK BY UTILIZING THE EVENT’S EDUCATION PROGRAMS

BY CRISTIAN GONZALEZ

SEMA Show attendees seeking to sharpen and tune their knowledge and skills within the industry should explore the many programs offered by SEMA Education. This Show feature comprises courses designed to develop new skills, inform industry members, and foster business strategies in an engaging classroom setting at the Las Vegas Convention Center(LVCC) during Show Week.

Understandably, some attendees may hesitate to leave the Show floor, but SEMA classes and seminars are worth their time in gold, and most are only an hour long, so you can get right back into the action. In addition, several educational experiences and activations can be found in key Show areas, so it’s a good idea to check out the many options. SEMA Education runs a three-day schedule, from Tuesday, November 4, to Thursday, November 6. A full schedule with breakdowns of all the tracks and sessions is available at SEMAShow.com/education.

Additionally, for 2025, SEMA Education returns to its traditional venue in the North Hall, a centralized location easily accessed from any point at the convention center. "It’s going to be a lot easier to get to than last year, and we want to encourage aftermarket attendees as well as exhibitors to come, learn something that can advance their professional and business growth, and leverage that content in the coming year,” says Gary Vigil, SEMA senior manager of professional development, who heads the education program.

Previously, many sessions came with a registration fee. However, “This year, Education is doing something different,” says Vigil. “SEMA has always encouraged learning and self-advancement through education, so this year, we are offering free sessions within our eight tracks to encourage more attendees to take advantage of these educational opportunities.”

EDUCATION TRACKS

Each SEMA-run education session falls under one of eight tracks. These tracks categorize sessions according to subject matter, allowing attendees to more easily find programs that fit their interests. Take a look and see which tracks catch your attention to begin planning your Show education schedule.

• Aftermarket Updates and Future Trends: An abbreviated track with two thought-provoking sessions, this category offers a fast way to learn about the current state of the specialty-equipment market and the long/short-term impacts of top trends. If you want to give yourself the intellectual tools to understand the automotive aftermarket and see how your business can be affected by future changes, these sessions should not be missed.
• Emerging and Executive Leadership: Sessions under this track heading cater to current and emerging industry leaders. Returning this year to assist is the Dale Carnegie organization, which will teach attendees how to listen and communicate to a workforce encompassing differing generations. Also, the SEMA Women’s Leadership Symposium returns this year with a new format “designed to empower leaders with the skills, mindset and strategies needed to drive exceptional performance within their teams and organizations.” Explore these and other leadership-development courses offered under this track.
• Inside the Shop: Trucks, hot rods, off-road vehicles, tires and wheels—whatever you work on, this track is all about what goes on in your shop. In these sessions, panels of technicians, shop managers and builders discuss current trends and challenges you might be contending with in your operations. (Also, be prepared to see big names announced for these panels soon.)
• Legislative and Regulatory: The Trump Administration has shaken up the California Air Resources Board’s(CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to regulating automotive emissions. These track sessions aim to clarify changes and misconceptions in emissions compliance under a Trump presidency. Discover how to manage risks, ensure compliance and drive business success by hearing from experts from all sides: manufacturers, distributors, retailers and regulators.
• Sales and Marketing: This track features some of the Show’s most popular education sessions, focused on advancing your business through targeted social-media strategies. Learn how to engage your audience using platforms like Instagram, YouTube and Facebook, and gain insights from top industry sales and marketing experts. Whether you’re looking to generate buzz for your brand or build a marketing plan for your repair shop, there’s a session for you.
• Small Business Strategy: Find hacks and tools to help you grow your small business with these track programs aimed at small mom-and-pop shops and up-and-coming companies alike. Learn how to leverage AI, cloud computing and entrepreneurial operating systems (EOS), or how to run a functional family business while avoiding a feud. SEMA is always ready to help small businesses take the next step. With 12 sessions available, this is the most comprehensive track in the SEMA Education program and something every small-business owner should consider leveraging.
• Talent Management: Just as skills and knowledge evolve with the market, so does SEMA Education. Last year, courses under this header were highly popular with attendees, who voiced that they would like to see even more topics. Vigil says the team is always listening to such feedback, and is happy to build on the clear appeal of the talent-management track. “These sessions focus on hiring and retaining young talent in the automotive industry through training, management and motivation,” Vigil explains. “It’s all about turning your team into a well-run machine.”
• Vehicle Technology: Vehicle technology is becoming increasingly complex, making it tricky to repair, upgrade or modify consumer vehicles. These sessions aim to help aftermarket players stay up-to-date on the latest changes in advanced fuels

SEMA Education sessions are content rich. Be sure to bring a note pad.

These courses keep attendees engaged through qualified instructors who interact with the class, along with hands-on technical sessions. and powertrains, suspension technology, and even advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

PARTNERED PROGRAMS

SEMA Education also features tracks in partnership with third-party entities, adding more supporting sessions to the program. These organizations include the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair(I-CAR), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS)—all of which broaden the Show’s range of specialized courses.

I-CAR will host hands-on MIG welding courses, ranging from basic to advanced features as well as courses on safety protocols for working on electric vehicles with high-voltage systems. Additionally, becoming more prevalent in modern vehicles, modifying or repairing these newer cars often requires correctly working with ADAS hardware.

“This training is essential for technicians who want to ensure ADAS-equipped vehicles are repaired accurately, enhancing vehicle safety and restoring critical functions. You’ll leave with practical strategies to diagnose and correct ADAS calibration failures while ensuring compliance with OEM guidelines, ”according to I-CAR. (Be sure to leverage I-CAR’s 2-Course Bundles to save.)

Meanwhile, Show attendees in the wheel and tire industry will find great value in any of the TIA courses. Not only is TIA offering technical programs, but the organization is also leading courses that can help tire retailers protect themselves from liability with a10-step defense outline in the event of customer lawsuits. Plus, TIA seminars will teach attendees how to navigate the current employment market and retain talent in the tire segment.

SCRS programs are densely packed with knowledge and tips for anyone in the collision repair industry, especially if you’re trying to put your business ona path of maximum efficiency, gain an online presence, view incoming trends and technologies and so much more. Register or purchase an SCRS full-series pass before September 26 for significant savings at SEMAShow.com/education.