The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a non profit organization dedicated to helping aftermarket businesses succeed. Every two years, SEMA selects a new volunteer Chairman of the SEMA Board of Directors. Tim Martin of K&N Engineering has been chosen as one of two finalists for the 2013 SEMA Chairman election. The other finalist is Doug Evans of Source Interlink Media. Many candidates were considered, and it is an honor for Tim and Doug to be selected as finalists. Both have served on the SEMA board and other industry working groups and committees. Doug is an industry veteran in automotive publishing. Tim is a K&N Vice President responsible for sales, marketing, and information technology. Both are qualified and will serve the SEMA membership effectively.

The SEMA Chairman is elected by a vote of the thousands of SEMA-member manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, retailers, and other related businesses. The current SEMA Chairman is Scooter Brothers of Comp Cams. The current Chair-Elect is Nate Shelton of B&M. Nate will serve as SEMA Chairman from 2013-2015. The 2013 election will select a new Chairman to serve as SEMA Chair-Elect from 2013-2015 and then Chairman of the Board from 2015-2017. The election voting takes place in May, where SEMA members select a Chairman as well as other board members that serve 3 year terms.

SEMA members are actively involved in selling specialty automotive parts and accessories used to improve the performance, appearance, functionality, or safety of vehicles. SEMA members represent tens of billions of dollars of economic activity helping them to employ hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. The 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas will be attended by over 100,000 people visiting about 1,000,000 square feet of exhibits. It is the most important automotive parts trade event of the year. The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show is also operated by SEMA. The 2013 PRI show will be held in Indianapolis in December. It is the premier event focused on the business of racing products. SEMA also conducts market research, monitors and advises on government regulations and legislative issues, provides marketing and product development support services, provides educational opportunities, and supports councils and networking events where industry professionals can share ideas and help shape our industry.

SEMA has many programs that provide valuable services to help manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and industry professionals grow and succeed. More information about SEMA is available at www.sema.org. If you are not already a SEMA member, then please consider joining and participate in the many programs available. More information on membership is available at www.sema.org/membership.

About Tim Martin

As SEMA Chairman, Tim Martin will work to focus SEMA resources on programs that directly benefit SEMA manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and marketers. He will work to expand programs that promote career development for people within our industry. He will work to create programs that grow and protect lifestyles that use vehicle accessories and performance parts sold by SEMA members.

Tim has over 25 years of experience in business process development, engineering, marketing, and management. He has worked in the SEMA marketplace and automotive parts manufacturing for 15 years. He has expertise in business processes, sales, marketing, distribution, manufacturing operations, data exchange standards, business software, and information technology. He has extensive experience with aftermarket product data standards, technology standards, product testing, and industry best practices.

Industry Involvement:

Member, SEMA Board of Directors
Member, SEMA Data Coop Board of Directors
Member, SEMA Business Technology Committee (BTC)
Chairman, SEMA Next Gen workgroup
Member, SEMA Garage Advisory Group
Member, SEMA Heath Care Task Force
Member, SEMA Fuel Economy Task Force
Speaker, Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) conference
Speaker, SEMA Manufacturer’s Rep Network (MRN) annual meeting
Speaker, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Technology Conference
Speaker, AAIA National Catalog Managers Association (NCMA) conference
Speaker, AAIA Aftermarket eForum conference (co-sponsored by SEMA)
Participant, AAIA Technology Committee oversight on EDI specifications
Member, University of California-Riverside School of Business Administration Dean’s Advisory Council

Work Experience:

1997-2013, K&N Engineering Inc. Vice President with responsibilities in sales, marketing, operations, and information technology. Previously Director of Information Systems. Originally hired as consultant on business processes and software development.

1995-2000, Consultant, working on business processes and software development for a variety of clients including K&N in industries that included maintenance, electronics manufacturing, sporting goods manufacturing, medical industry, and energy resource management.

1988-1998, Engineer and Branch Manager, Naval Warfare Assessment Center, performed engineering projects and managed team of up to 12 engineers working on projects related to product testing, vehicle maintenance, logistics, and test system development for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

1980-1988, Various positions in equipment testing and food service

Education:

1991, Master’s Degree, Systems Management, University of Southern California
1988, Bachelor’s Degree, Computer Engineering, University of Missouri
1988, Bachelor’s Degree, Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri

Let’s hope Tim gets the nod!