Regarded by many as the industry’s top awards, the SEMA Industry Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the specialty-equipment industry over a year-long period.
Nominations are open for:
Person of the Year
Channel Partner of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year
Gen-III Innovator of the Year
The Channel Partner of the Year award, along with the Manufacturer of the Year award, will be presented for the first time at the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast on Tuesday morning, November 1, before the SEMA Show officially opens. Other industry awards, including the SEMA Person of the Year and GEN-III Innovator of the Year, will be presented at the Thursday evening SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet. Submit your nominations at www.sema.org/awards.
CORNELIUS, NC, July 13, 2022 — Brian Tedesco, President/CEO Blaupunkt Americas, and David Wall, CEO Freeman’s Car Stereo announced a strategic partnership that will relaunch the Blaupunkt brand in the United States with Freeman’s Car Stereo as the first Authorized U.S. retailer. Blaupunkt’s relaunch is aiming to become a premier Tier 2 mobile electronics brand in the United States by offering quality products to select dealers, while vigorously protecting margins and MAP.
The Blaupunkt Monte Carlo 750, a Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto unit with $449. price point, pictured in an installation by Freeman Car Stereo.
Tedesco’s relationship with Freeman’s Car Stereo began in 2021 when he brought his Porsche into Freeman’s Charlotte location to have a Blaupunkt MonteCarlo 750 radio installed. During that job, Tedesco revealed to store manager, Robert Yates, that he was in fact the CEO of Blaupunkt Latin America Division and lived in Charlotte as well. In hopes of finding a new source for radios during a time when they were difficult to acquire, Yates connected Tedesco to Freeman’s CEO David Wall to see what was possible. From there, the relationship has developed and as result, the reintroduction of the Blaupunkt brand in the United States.
“We’re thrilled to be a strategic partner, help Blaupunkt relaunch the brand in the U.S., and be the first authorized dealer to bring their product to market,” said David Wall. “Blaupunkt is still a name that consumers recognize and trust, and we look forward to working with Brian to continue building the brand again here in the United States.”
“Relaunching Blaupunkt in the United States is important to Blaupunkt’s global presence. We have the technology and the know how,” Brian Tedesco said. “Our goal is to build a high quality product that customers love and is profitable to our select dealers. I couldn’t be happier to be going into this launch with a retailer that has the history, reputation, and footprint that Freeman’s does.”
Blaupunkt product is expected to be brought to the U.S. market within the next 60 days.
MSC, North American Distribution Partner for BLAM, Brax, Helix, Match, and Stinger Radar, is proud to announce the addition of Nik Edmonds to their Specialty Dealer Development Team. MSC looks to further enhance their ability to provide unmatched support to Dealer Partners throughout the North American market by adding Edmonds’ experience as a technician of nearly two decades.
Nik’s career has carried him though a wide range of industry experiences including an automotive dealership, big‐box retail, and most recently, more than 8 years with MEA retailer of the year, Handcrafted Car Audio.
“After moving to Arizona in 2014, I took a job with Handcrafted where Jon Kowanetz taught me what it was to be a true high‐level technician. I am forever thankful for the opportunities I’ve had there.” Edmonds stated. “Now, I’m very excited for the opportunity to join MSC America and continuing to serve the 12v community in my new role there. MSC embodies everything that I could ask for in a company and I look forward to getting started with my new family.”
President of MSC, Larry Penn commented “We are ecstatic to have Nik joining the MSC crew. His long‐ standing tenure in the bay will be an asset when it comes to offering practical input and support to our Dealer Partners. His hands on and real‐world insight is what MSC is all about, and Nik will fit right in with our core values and help push our support level to the next tier!”
Nik will be based out of MSC’s Mesa, Arizona office and can be reached at nik@msc‐america.com.
Auburn Hills, Mich. (Jul 12, 2022) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”), will attend the New Jersey Jeep Invasion at Wildwood Beach, New Jersey from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17 where they will have exciting new vehicle-specific products designed uniquely for the Jeep® driver.
Featuring the latest in Jeep®-specific dash and sound system offerings from Alpine, a 2018 Jeep® Wrangler will be on-site for product demonstrations so attendees can experience the new High-Resolution i509-WRA-JL with a High-Definition, Weather-Resistant 9-inch screen and wireless and wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. The i509-WRA-JL was intentionally designed with the Jeep® driver in mind to visually emulate the design identity of the Jeep® interior and retain the features Jeep® drivers use the most. High-Resolution Audio Playback (96kHz/24Bit) can stream music from popular Hi-Res streaming platforms or directly from a smartphone for incredible music detail and high-precision music reproduction.
To demonstrate the head unit integration capabilities, the 2018 Jeep® Wrangler will also feature a premium night vision DVR-C320R Dash Camera with built-in drive assist and impact recording. An Alpine® PSS-24WRA sound system, with front 6.5” component speakers, 6.5” rear custom soundbar replacement speakers, 8” compact powered subwoofer, and 4-channel amplifier will be featured for in-vehicle sound upgrade demonstrations as well as an Alpine® Weather-Resistant PSS-SX01 Sound System mounted to the roll bars to demonstrate exterior sound upgrade opportunities.
Alpine’s 2015 Jeep® Wrangler will also be on-site with similar Jeep®-specific solutions designed for older Jeep® Wranglers, including the i509-WRA-JK, DVR-C320R, PSS-22WRA Weather-Resistant Sound System, PSS-SX01, and HCE-TCAM1-WRA Spare Tire Rear-View Camera and Light System.
“Switchback,” Alpine’s 2020 Jeep® Gladiator, will also be on-site with a custom truck bed build that features 40 motorized Bluetooth® speakers that articulate for optimal sound positioning, and a tailgate designed to look like an early Alpine® stereo, complete with a large, functional volume knob and six classic “Alpine green” buttons on the faceplate to control the automation.
The Alpine Event Truck and Trailer will be open to visitors who want to chat with Alpine event staff and experience the latest vehicle-specific technology, all from the comfort of an air-conditioned lounge area located in the trailer.
All Alpine® products are available for purchase during the event with special, event-only pricing and free giveaways. Alpine Authorized Retailer Proline Car Stereo will be on-site to give vehicle demonstrations, answer product questions, and offer on-site installation so customers can drive home with their Alpine purchase installed in their Jeep®.
MSC, North America Distribution Partner for BLAM, Brax, Helix, Match, and Stinger Radar, is proud to announce the addition of Jon Kowanetz to their Specialty Dealer Development Team. MSC looks to further enhance their ability to provide unmatched support to Dealer Partners throughout the North American market by adding Kowanetz’s experience as a specialty retail store owner and industry trainer.
Jon brings a long history of specialty retail experience, with accolades including MEA Retailer of the Year, Installer of the Year and Best Customer Experience awards. These skills alongside his passion for educating and training provides a tremendous asset to MSC’s Dealer Partners. Jon will contribute to MSC’s Dealer Trainings and will also contribute to the new Systems by MSC product development.
In recent years, Kowanetz has rekindled a love of writing and exploring new creative ways of helping others including public speaking and experiential coaching. As he closes the chapter of Handcrafted Auto Marine & Off‐road, he looks forward writing the next one and to his new roles, both with MSC and outside of the industry. “I have known the MSC team for most of my career and have always admired their commitment and passion. This is why I am so proud to contribute to MSC’s vision,” Kowanetz stated.
Larry Penn, president of MSC commented “Adding Jon to the team was an easy decision. MSC is comprised of team members who live the retail life daily through our proof‐of‐concept retail store. This viewpoint allows us to make sure we are providing what our Dealer Partners need in ways that can only be learned hands on in the trenches. That’s a world we share with Jon, and our shared core values will help to contribute to our Dealer Partners successes even further!”
Jon will be based out of MSC’s Mesa, Arizona office and can be reached at jon@msc‐america.com.
RINGWOOD, IL – July11th, 2022 – Race Sport Lighting has announced that industry veteran JR Stocks will be joining the company as its Vice President in the executive management ranks. As VP of Race Sport Lighting, JR will be tasked with bringing the lighting pioneer to the next level and strengthening the reputation of the Race Sport Lighting and Marine Sport Lighting brands. JR will also oversee accelerating the growth of several strategic buying groups that the company is the premier lighting vendor on record. In addition, look for him to bring the companies award winning products and services global and outside their current North American footprint.
This comes at a pinnacle time in the companies 15th year in the industry since their inception. They have developed a product line of Niche lighting that spans across the 12-volt Industry, Offroad Industry, Powersport Industry, Motorcycle Industry, and the Marine Industry just to name a few. While many companies lost momentum in 2020 from the pandemic, Race Sport Lighting kept its inventory and fulfillment rates high and founds ways to grow and expand. JR will be coming in to support further growth and help manage the company’s growth and make sure they keep the focus on what got them to the top.
Race Sport Lighting announced that industry veteran J R Stocks has joined the company as its Vice President in the executive management ranks.
“Steve has built a great team and it is my pleasure and a privilege to join a company with such a great culture. I look forward to being a part of the evolution and continued growth of such a well-respected brand.” – JR Stocks, Vice President of Race Sport Lighting
Previously, JR was one of the founders of MESA Specialist buying group as well as its director for several years. He also was the CEO or President of a few well-known industry retail chains over the two decades. His last appointment was as the CEO of Wet Sounds for the last 5 years.
“I am looking forward to having JR bring his upper management experience and fresh perspective into our company. He has so many critical relationships in each industry that expand the globe. JR’s expertise is the missing link to help our growing company exponentially grow in the next 5 to 10 years.”. – Steven Jergensen, President and Founder of Race Sport Lighting
ROSENBERG TX (07.11.22) Wet Sounds has revolutionized the marine audio industry once again! When we said something BIG was coming, we meant REAL BIG! A NEW Revolution. A NEW Standard. A NEW Lifestyle.
“Wet Sounds has been building HLCD (Horn-Loaded Compression Driver) tower speakers for 16 years, long before many in the industry even existed as a brand. We redefined the standards of the marine audio industry in 2006 with the launch of our award-winning PRO Series – HLCD tower speakers, and we have now raised the bar once again with the release of our REV 12 HD” says Tim White, Co-founder and President of Wet Sounds.
The Revolution-HD series adds an even higher level of high-definition performance to the marine audio industry, bringing unprecedented volume and sound quality to a tower speaker design never achieved before.
With world leading performance and cutting-edge design, the REV series is thereference standard in the industry. Built upon the success of the Revolution Series, Wet Sounds took a ground up approach to develop a new REV TEC™ driver using proprietary materials to provide amazing mid-bass with a smooth yet powerful high frequency response.
The new REV 12 HD is the WORLDS FIRST 12” tower speaker! FEATURES include Wet Sounds 12” REV-TEC™ HLCD Driver, Integrated Front & Rear RGB LED Rings, Rotatable RGB backlit logo, Rotatable Grille mounting, Advanced Composite enclosure built for the harsh marine environment,1000-hour UV resistance (ASTM-D4587), Salt Spray Resistance (ASTM-B117),Stainless Steel Hardware, Sold in Pairs, 3 Grille Styles Available in Black or White including the all new XZ style grille. The new Wet Sounds Tower Speakers utilize Wet Sounds Patented TC3 Clamps (Swivel) “USA Patent 8,568,162” and New X-Mount. From the company that Revolutionized what a tower speaker is, when you want the absolute best and the absolute biggest, the REV 12 HD from Wet Sounds is the only way to go. Period.
Rockford Fosgate, the industry leader in high-performance audio, launches the next level of on-water sound. The Element Ready™ M2 10-inch speakers create an unmatched audio experience, with class-leading output, complete Color Optix™ lighting control, and grille customization. Available now as a coaxial speaker and wake tower options, all models are crafted with a 1-inch horn tweeter paired with a 10-inch high-efficiency midrange.
These 10-inch full-range horn-loaded drivers are engineered specifically to be BIG and LOUD! Uniquely tuned for “open-air” environments, ensuring listeners will experience the detail in the music the way it was intended to be heard. Couple that with the long-range projection capability of the horn-loaded design. You’ll find these 10-inch horn loaded drivers perfect for enhancing your outdoor audio experience.
The M2-10H and M2-10HB models are intended to be panel mounted to any surface where you want a lot of output. Plus, with a mounting depth of only 4.66 inches, the 10-inch speaker works well in shallow applications where typically only a 7-inch or 8-inch speaker would fit.
The M2WL-10H and M2WL-10HB models include clamps and are designed to mount to bars from 1.5-inch to 3-inch diameter. They’re purpose built for wake/surf/ski towers or UTV roll cages.
Each of the four new models are built with UV, salt-fog, and corrosion resistant materials, and feature industry leading marine plug-and-play connectivity and flexible install options. White, Black, and Stainless-steel grille options are available.
For more information and complete specifications please use the links below.
FULLERTON CA (07.06.22) Vision Tech America, BOYO, provides the 12volt industry with the state-of-the art technology in automotive engineering with aggressive pricing to modernize vehicles.
The new BOYO VTM7000MAHD is a 7” AHD/CVBS Rear View Monitor waterproofed for marine applications. With a Waterproof Rating IP69 this new model can withstand the water jet nozzle from 20 inches or further away.
Richard Hong, VP of Sales related “The rising demand in the automotive aftermarket industry is rear view cameras and monitors with artificial intelligent technology and AHD/CVBS compatibility. Our new VTM7000MAHD adds to our new product introductions and will help consumers with much better safety and convenience on the road.”
Shop managers/owners, technicians and installers often learn how to work with products through manuals and even online training videos. It’s rare for installers to get face-to-face time with manufacturers who can answer technical and sales questions.
The upcoming SEMA PRO Installer Training is a unique event where installers will receive training directly from accessory manufacturers. Shop owners will also network and learn from other shop owners and sales personal throughout the area.
Held in conjunction with the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) General Membership Meeting at Auto Image in Plainwell, MI on August 18, 2022, the event will feature training from the following manufacturers and products:
Katzkin: Leather and Cooled Seats
Llumar: Paint Protection Film and Tint
Brandmotion: 12Volt ADAS
Voxx: 12VOLT Entertainment
Champion Auto: Sunroof
Unlike learning and networking in a typical trade show environment, the PRO Installer Training allows for intimate conversations where shop owners can grow their team’s knowledge at no cost, resulting in lower company expenses and higher ROI. Learn more and register here.
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