Modus Announced as 2026 MasterTech Expo Diamond Sponsor

OXNARD, CA (03.06.26) – Modus is proud to announce it will be a MasterTech Expo 2026 Diamond Sponsor as well as sponsor the event’s kickoff party on Thursday, March 12. During the expo, held March 12-15, 2026 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Ariz., Modus will exhibit, conduct two product trainings, and sponsor two EV Evolution Workshops during the annual event.

“Both training sessions will feature Modus’ patented PREACT™ Current Averaging Technology, a unique approach to managing amplifier current for improved efficiency, consistency, and real-world performance,” said Jason Digos, Senior Sales Trainer at Modus. “We are also excited to be a MasterTech Diamond Sponsor as well as sponsor of the much anticipated EV Evolution Workshop featuring Ray West and Tony D’Amore. Understanding the intricacies and complications that may arise with installations of high-end aftermarket audio products in today’s electric vehicles are critical to modern system integration. Our workshop and trainings are a must see for those that want to understand and utilize these technologies that are in both standard and EV mobile audio solutions.”

EV Evolution Workshop:
• #1

  • When: Thursday, March 12 (12:30pm)
  • Where: Convention Center Conference Theater
    • #2
  • When: Sunday, March 15 (8:00am)
  • Where: Convention Center Conference Theater

Modus Tech Trainings:
• #1

  • When: Friday March 13 (4:30pm)
  • Where: Convention Center Conference Theater
    • #2
  • When: Saturday March 14 (5:00pm)
  • Where: Palo Verde Room 2

For more information about Modus products and partnership opportunities, request more information on the web at www.modusglobal.com.

IASCA Celebrates Successful Showcase at Florida International Audio Expo in Tampa

EAST WENATCHEE, WA 03.06.26) – The International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA) concluded a highly successful appearance at the Florida International Audio Expo, held February 20–22 in Tampa. The event brought together audio enthusiasts, manufacturers, retailers, and industry professionals from across the country to celebrate innovation and excellence in sound.

Throughout the three-day expo, IASCA showcased its continued commitment to high-performance mobile audio competition and sound quality standards. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about IASCA’s competition formats, judging standards, and the organization’s expanding role in supporting the mobile electronics industry.

IASCA representatives engaged with both longtime competitors and newcomers interested in entering the world of car audio competition. Demonstrations and discussions highlighted how IASCA events provide a platform for enthusiasts to showcase their builds, compete at the highest levels, and connect with the broader audio community.

“The Florida International Audio Expo provided a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with passionate audio enthusiasts and introduce many new people to IASCA competition,” said IASCA leadership. “The level of interest and engagement we saw throughout the weekend reinforces the growing excitement around high-quality mobile audio and the community that surrounds it.”

The expo itself featured a wide range of high-end home and mobile audio systems, live demonstrations, and educational sessions. IASCA’s presence helped bridge the gap between home audio enthusiasts and the world of competitive mobile sound, highlighting the craftsmanship and engineering behind today’s top vehicle audio builds.

Onsite with indoor displays and demonstration vehicles outside were Florida Sound Quality, HKI USA, MSC America, Prodigy Audio, OTS Audio, Sound Factory, and Kimballs Audio and Interiors.

Top winners of the IASCA Sound Quality event included John Senters, Jeffrey Hald, Justin Armor, Wayne Barron, and Scott Smith.

Visit iasca.com for more.

It’s March And Time To Crank It Up

SHREVEPORT LA (03.02.26) It’s March and time to crank it up across the 12volt industry. Historically the 12volt industry kicks off in March with warmer temperatures, tax refund checks and people getting out on the road. March is a perfect time for proactive vendors, reps, distributors and dealers to connect at public events to let consumers and enthusiasts know about all the exciting products the 12volt industry offers for consumers.

“At 2 huge shows in Pittsburgh at the David Lawrence CC we connected with thousands of consumers” Ed Nuttall-Team Nutz.
“At this year’s Starbird Show we connected with thousands of enthusiasts in Tulsa” Cody Landis.

Most importantly consumers must know what we offer across the 12volt industry. Exciting products must be experienced in-person. Laptop and smartphone platforms do not deliver the in-person experience of a show or 12volt retailers store. Consumer events are the perfect places to make that happen. Cities across the US hold events for consumers at area convention centers.

“This was our 10th year to exhibit at this event and once again it was terrific” Mike Hudson.
“Exhibiting at the Portland Auto Show again was absolutely terrific. We spotlighted our decked out Tesla Model 3 and we’ve been seeing Teslas in our garage for updates and many other premium audio and lighting product upgrades” Kevin Cornutt.

Recently proactive retailer Team Nutz had booths at 2 large events in Pittsburgh. The World of Wheels and Pittsburgh International Auto Show attracted attendance of 50,000 plus. Code Zero Customs was on site at a very well attended Starbird Car Show show in Tulsa OK. The following week Boomer’s Audio was on site at a Marine Show at the same large convention center. Just a week ago Stereo King had a major presence at the Portland International Auto show. Each of these retailers and vendor partners have noted the great turnout from area consumers with an interest in 12volt product categories they saw in the Show floor. This weekend Bike Week kicked off at the International Speedway in Daytona. Kenwood, along with Florida retailer Tunes-N-Tint, has a large booth.

KENWOOD, with dealer Tunes-N-Tint, are on site at Bike Week in Daytona this week.
“KICKER was Livin’Loud at the ArenaCross in the Reno Sparks Center in Reno NV” Lorin Morrell-MADDOG Media.

In addition, KICKER recently wrapped the AMA KICKER ArenaCross Series that was held in local arenas across the US and attended by crowds of local enthusiast that came to see the racing on the track and have an opportunity to check out KICKER’s latest product lineup.

For more see 12voltnews.com

MasterTech Expo Announces 2026 Industry Awards

TEMPE, AZ (02.27.26) – MasterTech Expo is proud to announce its 2026 Awards Program, a prestigious lineup of honors recognizing the individuals, vehicles, brands, and educators who represent the very best of the industry. The 2026 awards will be presented live on Sunday, March 15 at 1:30pm during MasterTech Expo, held March 12-15, 2026 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Ariz.

“Taking place during the Expo’s annual gathering, these awards celebrate not only technical excellence, but also the creativity, dedication, and leadership that continue to drive the industry forward,” said Bryan Schmitt, founder of MasterTech Expo and CEO, founder, and president of Mobile Solutions. “Rooted in the Expo’s long-standing mission of education, collaboration, and professional growth, the awards highlight the people and organizations setting the benchmark for excellence across the community.”

The 2026 awards include:

Industry Awards

  • Clean Wire Tech; recognizes exceptional craftsmanship in wiring execution, organization, and installation standards.
  • Fabricator of the Year; honors an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary skill, innovation, and dedication to custom fabrication within the industry.
  • Lifetime Achievement; the highest honor presented at MasterTech Expo, recognizing an individual whose career has made a profound and lasting impact on the mobile electronics and fabrication community.

Manufacturer Awards

  • Best Booth Experience; recognizes the exhibitor that delivers the most engaging, informative, and memorable presence on the show floor.
  • Best Sounding Vehicle; honors the pinnacle of mobile audio performance and tuning excellence.
  • Best Vendor Training Experience; celebrates the manufacturer or vendor that delivers the most impactful educational session at the Expo.

“MasterTech Expo brings together professionals, manufacturers, educators, and enthusiasts from across North America and beyond for a celebration of achievement and community,” Schmitt concluded. “Each award recipient embodies the passion, professionalism, and innovation that define our industry.”

For event details, registration, and updates, visit: www.MasterTechExpo.com

Team Progressive Is Set To Kick Off The 11th Annual Rock The House Tour

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (02.27.26) – The Progressive Group is set to power the 11th Annual Rock The House Tour. The tour is set to kick off in Grand Rapids MI on Tuesday, May 5th. Two days later on May 7, the Rock the House Tour will stop in Troy MI. The 2026 Rock The House Tour will include nine locations across the US.

At each of the tour stops there will be strong specials, networking with staff and vendors along with giveaways plus entertainment and delicious food.The Rock The House Tour provides dealers in the area of a Team Progressive location to see new products, meet with with industry members plus connect with other dealers in the area. The stops on the 2025 Tour were very well attended and the outlook for the 2026 tour is already very positive.

Jason Dubie, Director of Business-Midwest, “Turnout was strong across the 2025 Tour. At each event dealers from more than two hours away drove in attend our Rock The House stop in their area. We had positive comments from dealers and vendors at each Tour stop. We are looking forward to a very positive 2026 Tour.” 

For more see teamprogressive.com

Feed Your Sound with Compact Power with Autotek

LIBERTYVILLE, OH (02.27.26) – Compact MEAN MACHINE amplifiers are engineered for performance in a smaller, more versatile form. These amplifiers are designed for easy installation and greater flexibility in your audio system while still delivering BIG POWER in compact form.

Unleash MEAN POWER with PRO-FI™ high-speed MOSFETs, that deliver clean, undistorted sound at every level of playback through the Compact MEAN MACHINE amplifier series. POWER FORWARD your amplifier game TODAY!

To learn more, click here.

Code Zero Customs Was A Standout At The Starbird Show

TULSA, OK (02.24.26) – Code Zero Customs had a major presence at the 2026 Starbird Rod and Custom Show in Tulsa. The event, the 63rd Annual, was held in the Tulsa Expo Center February 20th-22nd. This was the 10th year for Code Zero Customs to exhibit and the company’s 10th year to be an event sponsor. As part of the event sponsorship 2500 Code Zero Customs VIP Lanyards were provided to be worn on the show floor by attendees.

AudioControl, Memphis Audio and WavTech products were spotlighted in the booth.

Cody Landis, Code Zero Customs owner, related “Attendance this year was the best to date for us. Being on site up front with a 20 x 40 booth at the Starbird Show is always a real branding opportunity for our company. Attendees are serious automotive aftermarket enthusiasts and it’s a great way to showcase our brand, products and work to the right audience. Our Code Zero Customs apparel also grabbed attention.”

This sick ‘77 Chevy pickup owned by Chris Cortest from Kansas received custom door panels, custom dash and all the lighting by Code Zero Customs
2,500 custom lanyards were part of the sponsorship package.

Continuing “We started setting up on Wednesday for the Friday noon opening. Immediately we were seeing attendees in our booth. I talked with so many people about upgrades for their rides. Saturday was the same with the aisles packed and moving slowly. From our up front booth you could see there was always a line to get in the door.

Several Code Zero Customs project vehicles received awards at the show.

The Code Zero Customs booth area included a large tent set up to feature Audio Control, Memphis Audio and WavTech products. In the adjacent area a super slick custom 1977 Chevy Pickup project for Chris Cortest was showcased. Other project vehicles were close by with show trophies spotlighted.

“Showing great project vehicles by the booth really let attendees see the quality Code Zero Custom work Bobby, Jenny and I do. At the Starbird shows our goal is to put our brand in front of the right crowd. Attendees ask if we are local so they can come to the store to talk about projects on their vehicle. Every year we quote packages to members of the crowd and that turns into business at our store. This event was definitely terrific and we certainly look forward to the 2027 Starbird Show” Landis concluded.

Visit codezerocustoms.com for more.

SSR Distributors Sets 2026 Dallas Dealer Show For May 17

DALLAS, TX (02.24.26) – “We are excited to officially invite you to participate in the SSR Distributors 2026 Dallas Dealer Show on Sunday, May 17, 2026” Tracy Farr, VP of Sales & Operations, related.

This will be our fifth annual Dealer Show, and we plan on making it bigger and more exciting than our previous four events. Each year, the momentum continues to grow, and 2026 will be no exception. We are targeting 175–200+ dealers in attendance, bringing together some of the strongest independent retailers in our region for a full day of networking, show specials, product education, and relationship building.

Our Dealer Show has become a key annual event for our dealers, and we would love for you to be part of it again this year.

Opportunities to Participate Include:

  • Booth space to showcase new and existing product lines (limited availability)
  • Show-only promotions
  • Dealer training sessions — let me know if you’re interested in hosting a training, and we will work to get it scheduled
  • Goodie bags for dealer registration — if you’re able to contribute items such as stickers, bags, shirts, hats, keychains, pins, or other giveaways, please ship them to:

SSR Distributors
Attn: Gary Durham
2880 Virgo Ln.
Dallas, TX 75229

In addition, we will be hosting two raffle drawings with dedicated raffle tables during the event. We will be requesting product donations to raffle off to attending dealers. Raffles are always a highlight of the show and a great way to generate excitement and brand visibility. We hope you will consider participating in this as well.

This is a prime opportunity to increase brand exposure, strengthen dealer relationships, and drive meaningful business in our territory.

Please let me know if you would like to reserve booth space, as availability is limited and will fill quickly. Once your invitation has been accepted, booth space details, show registration information, and hotel arrangements will be sent to you.

We truly value our partnership and look forward to building an even stronger 2026 together.

Contact Tracy@ssrdistributors.com or see https://ssrdistributors.com/

2026 MasterTech Expo Sells Out Show Floor; Expands Hotel Partnerships

TEMPE, AZ (02.18.26) – MasterTech Expo 2026 is shaping up to be its biggest and most impactful year yet, proudly announcing a completely sold-out show floor and expanded hotel partnerships to accommodate record attendance. MasterTech Expo 2026 is scheduled March 12-15, 2026 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, AZ.

“With exhibit space officially sold out, attendees can expect an elevated show floor experience featuring a top-tier mix of technology innovators, fabrication leaders, and major audio manufacturers, creating one of the most diverse and hands-on learning environments in the industry,” said Bryan Schmitt, founder, CEO, and president of Mobile Solutions. “Selling out our exhibit space is a huge milestone. It allows us to curate a higher-quality experience for attendees — more brands, better education, and better connections across every segment of the industry.”

Due to overwhelming demand, the MasterTech Expo host hotel has officially sold out. To support the growing attendee base, new hotel partners and room blocks have been secured, offering convenient options close to the venue. Attendees are encouraged to book early as availability continues to move quickly.

Hotel information and booking links are available at:
www.MasterTechExpo.com/hotel

Register today at www.mastertechexpo.com

KENWOOD Announces 2025 Reps and Rep Firms of the Year by Region

LONG BEACH, CA (02.10.26) – KENWOOD, a leading manufacturer of premium mobile electronics solutions, proudly announces its 2025 Reps and Rep Firms of the Year, recognizing outstanding sales performance, leadership, and partnership across its regional representative network.

These annual awards honor individuals and firms that consistently demonstrate excellence in sales execution, dealer support, and brand representation throughout the year.

Mark Gliesner holds the Eastern Region Rep of the Year plaque flanked by Tim Hill, National Sales Manager and Kelly McDaniel Eastern Regional Sales Manager on the right.

Eastern Region
Rep Firm of the Year
Progressive Southeast
Patrick Eiland, Christian Venn, Mark Gleisner
Territory Rep of the Year
Gregg Gagnon – Progressive Florida
Progressive Southeast and Gregg Gagnon were recognized for their strong regional leadership, exceptional dealer relationships, and continued commitment to driving KENWOOD growth in the Eastern Region.

Keith Shelby, Cardinal Sales, holds the Rep of the Year plaque for the Mid-West region. Tim Hill, National Sales Manager (L) and Josh Bowen, Mid-West Sales Manager flank Keith.

Mid-West Region
Rep Firm of the Year
Momentum Marketing
Hector Mena, Jimmy Bradfield, Ben Pugh, Katie Lopez
Rep of the Year
Keith Selby – Cardinal Sales
Momentum Marketing and Keith Selby demonstrated consistent excellence through strategic market development, teamwork, and outstanding individual performance across the Mid-West Region.

Connor Roberts holds the Western Region Rep of the Year plaque and is flanked by Tim Hill (L) National Sales Manager and Ryan Christie Western Regional Sales Manager.

Western Region
Rep Firm of the Year
Progressive Northern California
Dennis Medeiros, Paul Francia
Rep of the Year
Connor Roberts – Progressive West
The Western Region awards recognize exceptional leadership, customer focus, and impactful sales results delivered throughout the year.

“These award recipients represent the very best of KENWOOD’s sales organization,” said Tim Hill, Director of sales. “Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to our dealers play a vital role in our continued success.”

KENWOOD congratulates all 2025 award winners and thanks its representative partners nationwide for their ongoing support and partnership.

Visit www.kenwood.com/usa for more.