Ignite Your Industry Impact
UNLOCKING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE 2024 SEMA SHOW
BY CRISTIAN GONZALEZ
Automotive industry legend Lee Iacocca once said, "The only way to make money as a car company is to come up with something so different that people can't look at what you're doing and say 'me too'… You've got to be different. You've got to be adaptive."
Certainly not everyone attending the SEMA Show is designing the next industry-shifting car, but industry experts would agree that specialty-equipment professionals and businesses need to stay adaptive and knowledgeable about emerging trends, new technology-based skills, and the latest ways to make the work culture thrive. This November 5-8, SEMA Education at the 2024 SEMA Show aims to assist individuals from all sectors of the automotive industry in achieving these goals.
Every year attendees ranging from C-suite executives to fleet mechanics sign up for multiple panel discussions and courses offered at the Show to enhance their learning opportunities beyond the Show's exhibits and events. Folks who plan on getting the most out of their Show experience will want to keep an eye out for the full education schedule, soon to be released.
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR SHOW EXPERIENCE
According to SEMA Vice President of Membership, Education, Research and Councils Zane Clark, "This year's robust education offerings are specially designed to amplify the attendee's Show experience."
Clark characterizes the Show education program as a "convergence of various avenues for learning." Attendees witness the industry's latest products, services and trends on the Show floor, then leverage that exposure to deepen their knowledge and insights in the Show's seminars. These educational sessions also facilitate connections with fellow business owners, employees and potential future partners.
>>(Left) From digital marketing to category-specific seminars, SEMA Education covers every aspect of aftermarket business and technology.
>>(Right) SEMA Education partner I-CAR brings practical training in MIG welding and other skills to the 2024 SEMA Show. I-CAR is just one of several high-level SEMA Education partners.
"When you go through these learning experiences with people that are like-minded or have similar challenges, you get the knowledge that's provided to you," he notes. "But you also have the opportunity to expand your network and have conversations with people that are going through similar challenges that your business may be going through, or that you may be going through personally."
SEMA COUNCIL- AND NETWORK-POWERED COURSES
Gary Vigil, SEMA senior manager of professional development, says that SEMA Education seeks to "attract individuals reflecting all our different market segments, job responsibilities and organizational levels." To build this diverse learning plan, SEMA calls upon its various councils and networks. This year, eight of these organizations will be powering nine panels and lectures featuring industry legends and decision-makers. "We have some big names planning on participating in these lectures," says Vigil. Although not available at press time, attendees can keep up-to-date with all the coming presenter announcements on the SEMA Show website. What can be shared here are the program titles and the material they will be touching on:
● SEMA Women's Leadership Symposium: Connecting Women, Empowering Futures, Powered by SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)— Building on their work of empowering female leaders in the industry, SBN's forum will give women a space to collaborate and catalyze change in their respective fields and communities. This five-hour event includes skill-building workshops, fireside chats, the Circle of Women networking luncheon, and a C-suite-level insights panel offering firsthand knowledge on leadership development for women in leading roles. This includes the first-ever "Shining the Spotlight on Women" program honoring women who strive and succeed at the cutting edge of the automotive industry's many disciplines, such as engineering, design, leadership and innovation.
● Empower Yourself: Harnessing the Potential of AI for Women in the Automotive and Specialty- Equipment Market, Powered by SEMA Business Network (SBN)—SBN recognizes that AI is gaining prominence in every sector, and the specialtyequipment industry is no exception. This seminar will introduce how AI is applied in the industry on a beginner level. Using real-world case studies, attendees will also learn AI's various capabilities and how to utilize them to increase output for their businesses.
● Truck and Off-Road Builders Panel, Powered by SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA)—Truck and off-road vehicle accessories hold a prominent position in the market due to the escalating popularity and influence of the off-road and overlanding scenes. Attendees can expect expert insights from this panel of shop owners and managers, who will discuss current trends and the future direction of the truck and off-road sector.
● Hot-Rod Builders Panel, Powered by SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)—This is an excellent opportunity to meet with experienced vehicle builders and craftsmen in a more casual setting. Showgoers can use this time to engage with panelists and gain relevant insights into navigating the business of building hot rods.
● Education of Restoration, Powered by SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)—Armed with increasing disposable income and leisure time, Gen X'ers and Millennials are making a larger impact than ever on the restoration market. Restoration businesses will find great value in ARMO's panel discussion on key methods to attract these younger demographics to their products and services.
● Wheels Up at 10: Vehicle Applications, Powered by SEMA Wheel, Tire, Suspension and Brake Council (WTSBC)—This free one-hour seminar touches on tangible skills such as: how to find tire load at a given air pressure and how tire-rim widths are calculated; lowering a vehicle; alignment; the camber plates needed based on the amount lowered; brake upgrades; and the overall effect on performance.
● Attracting and Retaining Young Talent in the Automotive Industry, Powered by Future Leaders Network (FLN)—FLN recognizes what young recruits can bring to the table for any growing business. This timely panel discussion will address ways to attract fresh young talent and, more importantly, how to retain young employees as valuable assets to your organization.
● Five Successful Strategies Restylers Use to Grow Business, Powered by Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)—In this seminar, panelists will explore the top five strategies crucial for running a successful operation within the automotive restyling sector. Per Clark, "If you're in or operate a small business, you'll find plenty here to help your business succeed, prosper and get to the next level." Whether one aims to enhance vehicle aesthetics, performance or functionality, these tips will provide the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the dynamic world of automotive restyling.
● ETTN Lunch and Learn: Practical Use of Alternative, Synthetic and Hydrogen Fuels, Powered by Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN)—A Lunch and Learn session that features a panel of experts in the industry sharing their knowledge topics related to the use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Following the panel discussions, attendees will have the chance to ask the panel questions on the topics previously discussed.
SEMA EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
In addition to tapping SEMA's own councils and networks, SEMA Education has also partnered with organizations whose missions include professional education, such as the Society of Collision Repair Specialist (SCRS) and Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). Their Show seminars will impart a broad range of industry-specific knowledge, including techniques in MIG welding and electric-vehicle (EV) technology repair (I-CAR), as well as AI and best practices in the collision-repair sector (SCRS). The Tire Industry Association (TIA) will also offer six seminars on various tire-related topics that anyone in the sector will find useful.
Legacy EV, a well-known vehicle electrification/conversion company, is meanwhile set to host two of the most intensive sessions in the entire Show education program. "Their EV 101 program last year was such a success," says Vigil, "that this year we're going out of the gate with courses on two days to offer attendees a chance to attend either session. However, each session is limited to the first 20 registrants."
Electric Vehicles 101 will focus on the fundamentals of EV powertrains and some of the safety practices that come with working with this technology. The class is broken into two sessions—morning and afternoon. The first session is a more lecture-style focus on how these vehicles are powered and how their components function. Attendees will then be able to apply the knowledge from the morning session to diagnosing and solving EV performance issues in the afternoon. Once completed, attendees will receive an EV 101 certification from Legacy EV.
The longest session in the education lineup is Legacy EV's High Voltage Safety Training. Working on electric vehicles carries a large amount of risk because of the high voltage a mechanic could accidentally encounter. To keep shop owners and workers safe, Legacy EV is offering an eight-hour class overviewing essential safety precautions for working on an electric vehicle.
>>(Left) SEMA's educational content is designed to engage and enrich industry pros of all backgrounds, from C-suite executives to fleet mechanics.
>>(Right) A staple of the SEMA Show, the SCRS OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit keeps repair and shop professionals on the leading edge of emerging OEM technologies.
According to Vigil, the curriculum is so in-depth that people signing up for the class will be issued some "pre-work before they even get to the Show." This provides the attendees with certain baseline of knowledge before diving into the workshop. Topics such as proper PPE, electrocution prevention, aiding high-voltage shock victims and much more will be touched upon in this course. This high-value session has drawn much interest from attendees. (Don't be surprised if it fills up quickly in the coming weeks.)
The Dale Carnegie program is well known for its leadership development courses, and this year instructors are offering a tailor-made course for SEMA Show attendees. According to Vigil, "In previous years, Dale Carnegie offered up to six different sessions to choose from, each session presented for a separate fee. This year, the program will comprise one six-hour class encompassing three sessions." The skill-building class blends three interactive workshops with a range of presentations to hone a professional's abilities to lead with assurance, empower their teams and achieve tangible results.
Participants will also develop the confidence, communication prowess and strategic mindset necessary to excel in leadership roles within the automotive sector. Whether aiming to lead a dealership, manage a manufacturing plant, or spearhead marketing initiatives, this program is designed to equip individuals with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in the fast-paced world of automotive leadership.
Summing up SEMA Show education for 2024, Clark says, "It's this kind of immersive learning experience that you can't get anywhere else. No other trade show can compare to the type of learning dynamic SEMA Show attendees can experience. From marketing, leadership, sales, research and trend information, to social media-I think the Show program this year is going to be one for the books."
For further details and descriptions regarding the 2024 education schedule watch for updates on the official SEMA Show website, semashow.com. There, you'll also be able to customize, plan and print out your own itinerary via the My Show Planner feature. The planner helps you create an efficient SEMA Show experience tailored to your specific business goals while getting the most out of this year's event.
