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

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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/

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

METAIRIE, LA (2.10.26) — ORACLE Lighting proudly announces the launch of its Linear Universal LED 3rd Brake Light (CHMSL) Module — Red, a versatile and high-performance lighting solution engineered to elevate both vehicle safety and aesthetic presence. Designed for universal application across automotive, utility, and custom-build platforms, this modern LED module delivers a crisp, continuous “blade” of red light that enhances visibility in critical signaling applications. 

“This new linear LED brake light module reflects ORACLE Lighting’s commitment to blending cutting-edge design with real-world functionality,” said a spokesperson for ORACLE Lighting. “Whether enhancing rear-facing safety lighting on a truck, trailer, or specialty build—or adding a refined red accent in unique applications—this product sets a new standard for versatility, durability, and clarity.”

Innovative Design Meets Universal Utility

The new module produces a modern continuous red-light signature that significantly improves visibility over traditional point-style LEDs, making it ideal for center high mount stop light (CHMSL) use as well as marker, stop, or accent lighting. 

• Universal Application: Engineered to serve as a third brake light, stop/marker light, trailer light, or interior accent across OEM and custom applications. 
• Modern Blade Illumination: Ultra-bright linear red light enhances both safety and contemporary vehicle aesthetics. 
• Engineered for Harsh Conditions: Featuring an IP68-rated sealed design and UV-stable red acrylic lens, the module withstands water, dust, and vibration for dependable exterior or interior use. 
• Flexible Installation: Dual mounting tabs and pre-installed VHB tape provide secure screw-in or quick-adhesion options, simplifying integration across varied surfaces. 
• Wide Voltage Compatibility: Operates on standard 12V–24V DC electrical systems, supporting a broad range of vehicles and equipment. 
• Compact Form, Big Impact: At approximately 7″ in length, this sleek module fits tight spaces while delivering strong output, drawing only 0.15A with a 6W output. 

Built to meet the demands of daily use and challenging environments, the Linear Universal LED CHMSL Module is backed by ORACLE Lighting’s reputation for high-quality engineering and performance-driven innovation. 

Availability

The ORACLE Lighting Linear Universal LED 3rd Brake Light (CHMSL) Module — Red is now available through the ORACLE Lighting online store. For additional information, technical resources, and imagery, visit www.oraclelights.com.

TEMPE, AZ (2.10.26) – 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

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (2.5.26) – MB Quart Q Speakers are German-built and unleash higher quality sound in every aspect and detail of audio. Superior sound meets dynamic playback that sets the bar for any song. The QSE-216 Q Series 6.5-inch 2-way component speaker system features 1-inch Military A-Spec Titanium dome tweeters with Butyl rubber surrounds in a cast-aluminum housing, and innovative cone materials with lightweight mica-filled poly blend.

Balanced Temperature Technology (BTT) is used through every component in the Q Speaker system as a diecast aluminum basket frame is designed to be lightweight and extremely rigid as the low-profile form can be easily installed in most factory locations with little or no modification required. Embrace every feature that redefines your speaker gains to the Q LEVEL of performance with Q speakers.

To learn more, click here.