More than 200 top university students met and connected with industry professionals at the recent SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN)/Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Career Fair, held at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.
The students, who are members of formula and Baja SAE competition teams, are among top prospects who have been challenged to design, fabricate and compete with Formula-style race cars. They had an opportunity to network, get a close-up look at resources available through the SEMA Garage and meet with established companies to discuss potential career opportunities. Students also gained feedback from industry professionals on their engineering and business presentations in advance of the forthcoming SAE competitions.
SEMA-member companies in attendance included Acceler8, Antigravity Batteries, Automotive Testing and Development Services, Battle Motors, California Air Resources Board, Closed Loop Engineering, Denso, Hellwig Products, High Expectations, Moog Aircraft, Motivo, Performance Machine, Rail Propulsion Systems, Redline Detection, Scorpion EV, Steamericas, Toyota and 4 Wheel Parts.
Participating schools included Cal Baptist, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State University Northridge, Long Beach State, USC, University of San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Merced, Chico State, Loyola Marymount University, Caltech and five high schools.
ETTN and SAE will host a second event on April 29 at the SEMA Garage in Detroit. SEMA-member manufacturers in the area are invited to sign up their companies to participate in the career fair, where they will help students explore career opportunities and inspire them in their career paths.
TORONTO, CANADA (04.06.23) – From Friday, March 24th, through Sunday, March 26th, over 300 mobile enhancement experts from retailers across Canada assembled in Toronto to attend the first-ever CMA Expo dealer training and networking event. The CMA EXPO was a collaborative effort to connect retailers, distributors and leading top Industry trainers. The team at CMA Networks executed the event which showcased booths and training seminars from the leading Canadian 12v distributors which featured over 80 brands, making it a unique offering in the Mobile Electronics Industry.
What made the event unique was the ability for dealers to work with their sales representatives to place booking orders and kick off the 2023 season with some serious momentum and knowledge. The success of the CMA EXPO can be attributed to the unwavering support of Canadian retailers, the tireless efforts of the industry leading trainers, the incredible participation of the exhibiting distributors and their partnering brands. In addition, each company had access to classroom-style training rooms to provide in-person education sessions on product features and applications.
Attendees waiting for the opening bell
Over 80 brands were featured on the event floor.
Frank Spezzano, the President and Executive Producer of CMA Networks, noted, “being able to provide retailers across Canada with an event that was custom-tailored to our country’s unique business model worked perfectly to launch the 2023 season. The support from all the companies and retailers involved was remarkable.. We are honoured to have been chosen to facilitate this distinguished gathering of professionals.
” Ben Woo, Content Director and Webcast Host for CMA Networks added, “I think the appetite for the Canadian 12V industry to get back to the in-person experience that only a live event can deliver was definitely long overdue. There’s still a buzz about the ‘Delivering the Best Car Audio Systems’ and ‘The A to Z of Car Audio Retailer Marketing’ presentations from Friday and Saturday evening.”
Rick De Sclafani showcased his RDV products in expansive Importel Ltd area.
CMA EXPO training sessions were packed.
Hot on the heels of this event’s success, planning is underway for next years CMA EXPO. Information will be available at www.cmaexpo.ca.
CMA Networks would like to send a special thank you to all our exhibiting partners for making the inaugural CMA EXPO a huge success.
STILLWATER, OK (04.05.23) – KICKER Marine Audio brings premium sound to two large powerboating events on Lake Havasu, Arizona–Desert Storm April 19-23 and Super Cat Fest West, April 26-29. The two events take place on back-to-back weekends of boating action to bring performance boat enthusiasts to Lake Havasu City, a boating Mecca for the country’s West Coast.
KICKER Marine Audio again joins the new owners of Desert Storm for this 25th Anniversary event. KICKER is especially visible as presenting sponsor for the annual Street Party on Thursday, April 20. Jim Russell, an event producer for 30 years, co-owned the event with its founder, Jim Nichols, Sr., who several years ago, sold it to his daughter-in-law and son, Christina and Jim Nichols, Jr. After several years under their operation, Russell and Lake Havasu realtor and community leader Steve Tichnor wanted to ensure that the event stayed in Havasu, so they invested in buying it back.
Says Russell, “Thanks to the wonderful long-term sponsorship of KICKER Marine Audio, joining with new title sponsor, Anderson Powersports, we were able to acquire the event and make minor changes, making sure it stays in Lake Havasu. We are boating enthusiasts and this event has a place in the hearts of everyone in Havasu—it deserves to stay here and grow!”
KICKER Marine Audio has traditionally brought its XRV (Xtreme Recreational Vehicle), a travel edition of its famous headquarters’ “Wall of Boom” to Havasu’s Main Street for the “Eye of the Storm” Street Party. KICKER’s Real Marine sound equipment will also be seen on many of the millions of dollars of state-of-the art performance boats that will be displayed from 1-9 PM, including boats like the DCB owned by Rod Voegele of California-based Gatorwraps, also located in Lake Havasu, and the Rinker Flotilla owned by Jeff Cuvelier of Elite Audio of Havasu. Both boaters and businessmen are big KICKER Marine Audio fans as Gatorwraps adds the visuals to many KICKER-equipped customer boats, while Cuvelier has installed KMA products for years.
“Jeff provides an excellent example of what KICKER can bring to the party,” says Jeremy Bale, KICKER Marine Audio brand manager, “His own Rinker boat and his customers can attest to the top-sound quality of KICKER and its excellent performance in the marine environment. We are pleased to add our continued support to this anniversary event.”
Eliminator’s new Speedster with KICKER Marine Audio and Jeff Cuvelier’s Rinker loaded with KICKER gear!
Jake Fraleigh of Eliminator Boats is also planning to bring a new Ferrari Red 27 Speedster with twin Mercury 400 engines loaded with KICKER sound equipment to the event. Fraleigh calls the open-bow boat “a perfect example of the company’s dedication to lifestyle, functionality and performance—both with speed and sound.”
The event is moving this year to Havasu State Park where the white sandy beaches of “Windsor 4” will serve as VIP headquarters. On Friday, April 21, the Parade of Power will travel from Thompson Bay to the Bridgewater Channel, passing under the London Bridge. Then, a Poker Run where Russell says “the waters will boil” with over 100 participants, led by the area’s First Responders and a KICKER Boat, will round out the day and end with a party for all participants.
On Saturday, April 22, the Sugrue’s Shoot Out event will run from 9 AM- 4 PM from the Site Six Launch Ramp. The ¾-mile closed course Shoot Out is being organized by Russ Wallach of RPM Racing Enterprises and promises to be an exciting event with the best fan viewing from the park’s surrounding bluffs. The King and Queen of the Desert top speed title awards will be presented at the party that evening with record breaking speeds expected.
Preceding the performance events on Wednesday, April 19 is the annual Kruisin’ for a Kause as volunteer powerboaters with big engines and big hearts take area residents with special needs on boat rides, culminating in a BBQ lunch with karaoke entertainment at Lake Havasu State Park.
The next weekend, Super Cat Fest West takes the annual Lake of the Ozarks event to Lake Havasu, thanks to event producer Alvin Heathman, joined by sponsor River Dave of River Dave’s Place. This boaters’ event boasts Title Sponsors KICKER Marine Audio, Eliminator Boats, Franko’s DLA-M44, Gatorwraps and Dixxon Flannel, the latter which will show its Dixxon Eliminator 28’ Fundeck, and new Eliminator 27’ Speedster. Other sponsors include Elite Sound; Ilmor Marine who will unveil a new power package; Horizon Motorsports, a local boat dealer sponsoring the Saturday night party; Hamilton Marine Finance; Detail Specialties; and Barrett Custom Marine. Private sponsors will also bring notable boats, like DCB and Mauricio & Angie Vivanco with their DLA-M44 DCB, Kenny Gonzales and his well-known 48 MTI, “Wave Adios” and many other high-performance cats.
Heathman says they are looking to get the town “more involved” as the event draws boats from across the country to explore Lake Havasu, which he sees as a similar boat culture to Lake of the Ozarks, “just with different scenery and smaller—but more concentrated. Lake Havasu is amazing in its own way—there is always something performance going on here—it’s a giant playground and I think it is the perfect setting,” he adds.
Since Heathman found logistics a bit more challenging in Havasu, he engaged a new development, Havasu Riviera Marina, to host the event. The marina has a new dock, boat ramp, well over 100 boat slips and can accommodate the many visiting boats and trailers for a three-day street party with food trucks, vendors and entertainment. “It will be like an offshore racers’ village,” says Heathman. He also plans a two-day fun run on land or water where people can explore on their own, visiting local businesses and bringing back receipts to turn in for poker hands. “It will be more casual—come and go as you please,” he says. The Friday and Saturday night parties include the popular Boom Bandits Entertainment group, along with awards, hot rods and boats—including the KICKER-outfitted “Boom Toon.”
The Saturday fun run and evening party will feature an auction for $5,000 in KICKER Marine Audio sound equipment for Super Cat Fest for Kids. The event benefits the “forgotten kids” of Lake Havasu and will give money directly to local schools for lunch programs that some underprivileged kids’ families cannot afford.
TAMPA, FL (04.05.23) – DOW Technologies, the leading independently owned technology distributor, was recently awarded three Quest for Quality Awards in CE Pro’s 13th annual competition. DOW has received awards in the competition each of the past three years.
CE Pro’s Quest for Quality Awards recognize the services offered by distributors and manufacturers that supply custom integrators. The Awards are open to distributors across the nation with winners determined by votes from CE Pro’s readers. This year, over 18,000 votes were cast in this prestigious competition.
DOW Technologies received the Platinum Award for the Best Customer Service category. This is the second year in a row that DOW received the top prize in the category. DOW was awarded silver in the Best Technical Support and Best Shipping Policies categories.
“I am so proud of the team’s effort to retain the Best Customer Service Platinum award,” stated Eric Friedman, custom integration strategic sales manager. “We put a lot of focus on ensuring our customers have the best experience on every interaction, anywhere from complex system designs to easy product returns.”
“We feel honored to have been recognized in the Quest for Quality awards again, and are thankful for the support of our customers,” added director of sales Drew Fischer. “Awards like this are representative of the strong company culture that puts customers first. Whether it’s our shipping policy that continues to provide customers new benefits, or the way we work with vendors to make returns easy, every employee at DOW is focused on the best customer experience.”
To learn more about DOW Technologies, please visit www.dowtechnologies.com or call 1.800.627.2900. To read more about the CE Pro Quest for Quality Awards 2023, click here.
PALM BEACH, FL (04.03.23) – ZZ2 has announced another great addition to the Lexus ZZPLAY family. The new ITZ-GX-A is compatible with Lexus GX460 with factory navigation from 2014-2021.
The ITZ-GX-A provides a wireless CarPlay and Android Auto solution for most Lexus GX460, fully integrated with the factory touchscreen. The new GX kit allows the customer to use the factory mic, Bluetooth (for phone calls), retaining the factory audio quality during phone calls. It also supports Siri and Google assistant, for voice commands, and it provides a front and rear camera input, USB playback and it allows drivers to mirror their smartphone. With the ITZ-GX-A there is a solution for all Lexus models from 2013-2021.
The ITZ-GX-A is now available and it retails for $850. It comes with our standard ZZ2 warranty of 3 years.
Click above to watch the ITZ-GX-A demo video. For more details please check our website for more details about it.
To know about ZZ2 solutions and also to become an authorized dealer please contact our sales team at 929-220-1212 or email us at sales@zz-2.com.
NEW YORK, NY (04.03.23) – SiriusXM will continue to provide the most comprehensive national audio coverage available for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Starting with tomorrow’s Opening Day presented by Chevrolet and all through the Postseason, SiriusXM will provide subscribers access to live play-by-play of every game, as well as 24/7 news, talk and expert analysis on the exclusive MLB Network Radio channel.
MLB Network Radio (channel 89) will broadcast live on Opening Day from Nationals Park, where the Washington Nationals will host their National League East rivals, the Atlanta Braves. Former general managers Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips will host live from the ballpark starting at 10:00 am ET. On April 6 at 1:00 pm ET Phillips and Duquette will head to Baltimore for a live broadcast from Camden Yards, where the Orioles will play their home opener against the New York Yankees. MLB Network Radio is available to subscribers nationwide in the cars (channel 89) and on the SXM App: https://siriusxm.us/2Pdwnu6
The SiriusXM podcast Baseball Bar-B-Cast will also be heading out on the road for a special April 8 broadcast from Camden Yards. The podcast’s hosts, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, will record in front of a live public audience at Section 771 outside of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. With new episodes available three times a week, Baseball Bar-B-Cast gives fans a fun and entertaining perspective on the world of baseball.
Tomorrow’s Opening Day also marks the return of a new season of SiriusXM’s award-winning podcast series Black Diamonds. Hosted by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president and historian Bob Kendrick, the podcast showcases the history of the Negro Leagues, highlighting the players, people, and events that shaped them. In the premiere episode Kendrick talks to Sony Brand Strategist Ramone Russell about bringing the Negro Leagues to life in this year’s edition of the video game MLB: The Show. Episode two, available the following Thursday, will feature a conversation with Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker about becoming the third Black manager to win a World Series, and more.
Listeners get the most in-depth coverage of the league 365 days a year with MLB Network Radio. MLB Network Radio’s roster of expert hosts includes former GMs Jim Bowden, Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips, former players David Aardsma, Kevin Frandsen, Chris Gimenez, Jensen Lewis, Brad Lidge, CJ Nitkowski, Eduardo Perez, Ricky Romero, Xavier Scruggs, Ryan Spilborghs and Mike Stanton, former manager Kevin Kennedy, national baseball writers Tyler Kepner, Scott Miller and Jon Morosi, as well as Robert Brender, Jenny Cavnar, Mike Ferrin, Dan Graca, Jeff Joyce, Jim Memolo, Grant Paulsen, Ed Randall and Dani Wexelman.
Throughout the season, listeners will hear regular one-on-one interviews with several managers including: Alex Cora (Red Sox), AJ Hinch (Tigers), Bob Melvin (Padres), Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Derek Shelton (Pirates), Terry Francona (Guardians), Mark Kotsay (Athletics), Scott Servais (Mariners), Torey Lovullo (Diamondbacks), Dave Roberts (Dodgers), Bud Black (Rockies), and Brandon Hyde (Orioles).
MLB Network Radio also re-airs Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo’s MLB Network show, High Heat with Christopher Russo presented by Liberty Mutual, every weekday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET as well as simulcasts of additional MLB Network television programming, including the flagship studio show MLB Tonight on weeknights at 6:00 pm ET.
The SXM App offers 30 play-by-play channels dedicated to streaming the official radio broadcasts of every MLB team, giving fans the choice between the home and visiting team announcers for every game, all season long. All 30 MLB play-by-play channels are also available on vehicles equipped with SiriusXM with 360L radios.
For a schedule of games and where to find them on SiriusXM go to SiriusXM.com/Sports.
VACAVILLE, CA (03.31.23) – Aegis Distribution Incorporated (ADi) has announced its agreement with Eton Car-Audio GmbH of Neu-Ulm, Germany, makers of Eton car audio loudspeakers and amplifiers, to become the exclusive distributor of their car audio products in the USA.
“We have been fans of the Eton products since the 90s,” stated Scott Welch, President of ADi, “but they’ve been hard to get in the US. We consider ourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to change that. Eton produces a wide range of top performing speakers from their middle ranges to their esoteric audiophile separates. In addition to speakers, Eton has developed some remarkable compact amplifiers that are both great sounding and bullet proof, making them ideal for the ride-it-like-you-stole-it American consumer.”
“Not only do we get a great lineup out of the gate with Eton,” Welch continued. “But they have products coming during the year that will take both the esoteric speaker category and DSP/Amplifiers up to a new level. So it’s going to be an exciting 2023 for us.”
Eton Audio, founded in 1983, has long since been known for their quality “Made in Germany” car audio products. Their manufacturing standards, combined with over 40 years of loudspeaker development, make for top tier products that you can both see and hear.
ADi, headquartered in Vacaville, California, was formed in 2022 by a group of manufacturers and investors with the goal of bringing high-end car audio products to the Americas, tailored and fine tuned to fit the unique needs of these regions.
For more information or dealer inquiries, please contact ADi at sales@aegisdis.com or by phone at 707.446.6749.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.31.23) – The road to the 2023 SEMA Show begins with the annual Priority Selection Process—where companies choose a Show floor location based on exhibitor seniority. The process literally builds the SEMA Show section by section, booth by booth.
“It is like the order of a pro sports draft; we rank each exhibitor by seniority, determined by how many SEMA Shows an exhibitor has participated in and by Show section,” said Andy Tompkins, SEMA’s trade show director. “To do this, we call every single exhibitor; we speak to brands that are just starting out, all the way to established companies that have been part of the Show for years.”
Every approved exhibitor that submits their Exhibit Space Rental Application (ESRA) and deposit prior to the April 3 deadline has the opportunity to select their booth space. During the exhibitor’s time to pick, a SEMA Show account representative will call the primary SEMA Show contact and help locate and assign the exhibit space that best suits the company’s needs.
“This is a fair and equitable way for companies to select their best possible location—part of our commitment to providing the best exhibit experience possible,” Tompkins said. “We even have tie-breakers built into the system in case companies have the same seniority. The process is never the same, which is one of the ways we keep the SEMA Show so cool, exciting and new each year.”
One of the most important aspects for having a successful Show is pre-Show marketing and promotion. The Priority Selection Process allows exhibitors to understand their Show floor location and how large their exhibit is going to be so they can begin to envision their display design, product presentation, staffing and promote their presence at the Show.
“This process creates the Show floorplan that we publish each year, which buyers, media and other Show attendees preview, helping to promote participating brands to a world of buying power and getting thousands of people ready to attend and work the Show like a pro,” Tompkins said.
To date, nearly 1,500 companies have committed to exhibiting at the 2023 SEMA Show. Organizers expect the number to increase to more than 2,000 by Show time. See who is exhibiting.
There is still time to get involved in this process; submit your ESRA application by April 3! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the world’s most iconic buying organizations, media, manufacturers and influencers.
The 2023 SEMA Show will be held October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas. For more information about exhibiting, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor or check out the exhibitor brochure.
HOUSTON, TX (03.30.23) – Wednesday, March 22nd, was the date of the latest Alpine Training for Houston TX area dealers. The location was Pappas BBQ in Houston, TX. Alpine invited both Direct Alpine Dealers & Tri-State Enterprises Alpine Dealers to the event.
When dealers arrived at Pappa’s BBQ for the Alpine training they were directed upstairs to the private Party Room.
The training was conducted by Alpine’s Texas based Brand Specialist, Dan Greenwood. Dan also brought the Alpine Toyota Tundra Demo Truck equipped with a completely new system for 2023, featuring Status Series Hi-Res Amps, Speakers, DSP & Head Unit.
The newest addition to the Tundra system is Alpine’s brand-new R Series Shallow Subwoofer Enclosures, which feature the new RS series shallow subwoofers. Dealers were able to come away with valuable information about many new products that Alpine is shipping NOW for 2023!
Dan Greenwood, Alpine’s Texas-based Brand Specialist, set to get the Alpine training meeting started.
Lucky Alpine Turn 1 Bluetooth Speaker winners flank Dan Greenwood. Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Buluc from Stereo Max are both with Houston-based 12volt retailers.
There was a lot of excitement about the new product – especially the new RS Shallow woofers. Jake Jesty, from Sound Evolution in Houston, said “These are the best sounding shallow woofers on the market. They sound just like a standard woofer…but with less than 3.5” of depth needed!”
In addition to tasty hot BBQ from Pappa’s, Alpine also gave away Turn 1 Bluetooth Speakers to two lucky attendees. The winners were Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Bulux from Stereo Max. Both stores are located in Houston, TX.
Andy Allen, Alpine Brand Representative in the South Texas, contributed this coverage of the Alpine Houston training.
ENGLEWOOD, CO (03.30.23) – VAIS Technology has released new satellite radio integrated solutions specifically designed for 2022-23 GM and GMC vehicles. This solution allows owners of these models to add SiriusXM satellite radio to their existing factory stereo, without compromising factory functionality.
“Since 2003, VAIS Technology have been developing satellite radio adapters for vehicles that aren’t equipped from the factory with SiriusXM tuners,” Dennis Hopper, EVP, says. “While satellite radio is more popular than ever, many new OEM vehicles still don’t come equipped from the factory with satellite tuners. For 2023 several more OEM’s have removed satellite tuners from their platforms. Over the last few years Ford, Honda, Kia, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedes, and other have removed satellite tuners from their base model vehicles. VAIS Technology develops simple, easy to install integrated solutions that add satellite radio, but preserve factory functions.”
The new kits provide coverage for new GM and GMC models. Also, all these models are compatible with the GSR-UV01 (universal unit) which can be flashed using online software. This allows dealers to only stock one unit to do almost all applications. This adapter connects directly to the original factory radio and allows the vehicle owner to listen to satellite radio through the existing factory system. The VAIS integrated solution also allows for full control of satellite radio functions – changing stations, setting presets, steering wheel functions, etc.
GSR-GM05 and GSR-UV01 is available for order now. Retail price is $349.99 with SXV300 tuner included.
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