LAS VEGAS — Instead of converging on Las Vegas this November for the annual SEMA Show and AAPEX, the automotive aftermarket will be sitting at their computers the week of Nov. 2 for virtual versions of the exhibitions thanks to the pandemic.
The Global Tire Expo powered by TIA (Tire Industry Association), normally part of the SEMA Show, also has slated virtual versions of its meetings and educations sessions, Nov. 2-4.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has scheduled more than 30 professional development seminars and unscripted conversations with industry leaders under its SEMA360 program, Nov. 2-6, while the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo will host a Virtual AAPEX Experience with online seminars and product demonstrations, Nov. 3-5.
TIA
TIA is going online with its annual membership meeting, Tire Industry Honors and educational sessions that originally were planned for this fall's Global Tire Expo (GTE)/SEMA Show. These events will take place as Zoom events mostly on the same days they were scheduled had the in-person 2020 GTE/SEMA Show taken place.
Following is the schedule for TIA's GTE/SEMA Show Zoom events. All times are EST. Online registration is required at tireindustry.org.
Monday, Nov. 2
Noon to 1 p.m. — Tire Industry Honors, including speeches by the incoming and outgoing TIA presidents and announcements of the various tire trade publication awards, including Tire Business' Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
1 to 2 p.m. — A Decade of CSA, revisiting the changes to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program.
2 to 3 p.m. — Vehicle Lifting Safety.
3 to 4 p.m. — Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets,where the Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner and other award-winning dealers participate in a question-and-answer session.
Wednesday, Nov. 4
1 to 2 p.m. — Minimizing Risk When Servicing Truck Tires.
2 to 3 p.m. — Correcting Ride Complaints, by experts from Hennessy Industries Inc. and Hunter Engineering Co.
AAPEX
The Virtual AAPEX Experience will feature instructor- and exhibitor-led training, product and equipment demos from industry suppliers, the New Product Showcase, and opportunities to connect one-on-one with exhibitors to talk products and conduct business. Registration is required at aapexshow.com.
Throughout each day, under Joe's Garage Demos, several companies will demonstrate their products and equipment in sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes.
The technical and management online classes are geared toward shop owners, technicians and service advisers. Several classes are accredited toward the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.
The management education webinars include:
Tuesday, Nov. 3
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — "Strategies for Effective Leadership," presented by Bill Haas, president of Haas Performance Consulting.
Noon — Keynote Session will feature a roundtable discussion with panelists sharing their insights on "What to Expect on the Road Ahead." Panelists include: Sue Godschalk, president, Federated Auto Parts; Eric Sills, CEO, Standard Motor Products; Duncan Gillis, CEO, BBB Industries; Tom Greco, president and CEO, Advance Auto Parts; and Greg Johnson, CEO, O'Reilly Auto Parts. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), also will present the state of the aftermarket.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Perpetual Business/Your Ultimate Objective," by Bob Ward, president of Perpetual Business.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Diagnosing and Repairing Your Business," by Cecil Bullard, CEO of Institute for Automotive Business Excellence.
Wednesday, Nov. 4
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — "Breaking the Mold — Getting out of the Price-based Model and into the Value-based Model," by Murray Voth, president of RPM Training.
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — "Social Media from Concept to Engagement," by Sara Fraser, creative director for Haas Performance Consulting.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Creating a Business Culture that Employees Embrace," by Mr. Haas and Ms. Fraser.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Next Generation Diagnostic Sales Skills," by Jeremy Oneal of Advisorfix.
Thursday, Nov. 5
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — "How to Attract Top Talent," by Rick White, president of One Eighty Business Solutions L.L.C.
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — "Introduction to Going Multi-Location, Part 1," by Greg Bunch, owner of Aspen Auto Clinic.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Extreme Communication," by Maylan Newton, CEO, Educational Seminars Institute.
3 to 5:30 p.m. — "Introduction to Going Multi-Location, Part 2," by Mr. Bunch.
SEMA
Each SEMA session will be available via SEMA360.com, the dedicated website set up for the online event. Attendees who register with SEMA360 will be able to sign up for an unlimited number of seminars at no additional cost, SEMA said.
Among the sessions on the agenda are six 15-minute unscripted conversations with industry leaders organized with SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council under the "Stage" format that the WTC debuted at the 2019 SEMA Show.