SEMA Spring Expo rolling into Indy
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.-The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Spring Expo, March 24-25 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will showcase what the trade group's calling ``the hottest brands and newest products'' from more than 130 exhibiting manufacturers.
Sponsored by SEMA's Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) and Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), first-time exhibitors and other manufacturers will display truck and auto specialty equipment such as restyling accessories, intake and exhaust systems, suspension components, mobile electronics, performance parts, wheels and tires, the Diamond Bar-based association said.
The event will give retailers an opportunity to see the industry's latest products and speak directly with the manufacturers creating them, according to SEMA. Over a four-day period, the expo also will host on-site educational seminars and roundtable discussions by specialty equipment industry business experts.
For more information, contact SEMA at (909) 396-0289 or visit its Web site at www.sema.org.
La. group to meet March 29-30
BROUSSARD, La.-The Louisiana Independent Tire Dealers Association (LITDA) will hold its annual convention and trade show March 29-30 at the L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino in Lake Charles, La.
The association's program includes a golf outing at Contraband Bayou Golf Club, educational seminars and a hall of fame banquet. Mary Sliman, LITDA's executive director, said the group is planning a roundtable discussion on disaster management, which will be led by LITDA members who were directly affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
``I think it will be interesting and helpful to see what everyone did to prepare their businesses for the disasters,'' she told Tire Business.
For registration information, contact Ms. Sliman at (337) 837-4445; Pat Kass at (504) 367-8685; or visit LITDA's Web site, www.litda.org.
NCTDRA show coming to Raleigh
RALEIGH, N.C.-The North Carolina Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NCTDRA) will hold its annual convention and trade show March 31 through April 1 at the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in Raleigh.
The association will kick off the gathering with golf followed by the show, a reception and dinner. Mike DeSorbo, vice president of marketing and development for auto parts distributor CarQuest, will deliver the keynote presentation for the evening.
On Saturday, April 1, Tire Business Editor and Publisher Dave Zielasko will moderate an industry panel whose members are: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of education and technical services for the Tire Industry Association; John Zentz of Hunter Engineering Co.; Jack Phillips of American Tire Distributors Inc.; and Allen Neely of the North Carolina Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The group will discuss tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel service profits and challenges, business budgeting and mathematics, and business needs.
For registration details, contact NCTDRA Executive Vice President Reece Hester at (877) 784-0111 or visit www.nctdra.com.