DIAMOND BAR, Calif. — The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has expanded the education program at the 2022 SEMA Show to include more than 70 free and premium sessions within 14 tracks.
The education program begins on Oct. 31 — the day before the SEMA Show opens — and continues through the closing day, Nov. 4.
All sessions are held in meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center, site of the SEMA Show. Registrants can sign up for the education program while applying for SEMA Show credentials at semashow.com/register.
Showgoers may choose individual sessions across different tracks, SEMA said, mixing and matching the offerings to create a personalized agenda that meets one's individual needs.
"The education program is one of the SEMA Show's key pillars, and it's always been highly rated by participants," Pamela Brown-Matthis, SEMA director of education, said.
"We challenged ourselves and pushed to make the program better than ever. We focused heavily on bringing in elite subject matter experts and high-profile industry leaders."
New this year are four sessions focused on challenges and opportunities associated with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
The first DEI session, "Diversity and Inclusion: How You Can Advance Equal Opportunity in Your Workplace," takes place Nov. 1 and will presented by James Pogue, president and CEO of JP Enterprises.
"Celebrity Insights," moderated by Chris Harris, co-founder of the African American Racers Association, will feature automotive celebrities, legends, and luminaries with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The one-hour discussion will give attendees a glimpse into the lives of some of their favorite personalities. "Celebrity Insights" takes place on Friday, November 4, along with five other sessions that comprise the brand-new Enthusiast Track program.
Returning by popular demand is the Leadership Essentials Track, presented by Dale Carnegie & Associates Inc. Consisting of six courses spread out over three days, the program can be taken as a whole or individually.
These and other sessions will run parallel to educational programs organized by the SEMA Show partners, including the Society of Collision Repairers (SCRS), the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA).
"The SEMA Show has a lot to offer, from seeing new products and vehicle builds, meeting with manufacturers, learning from experts and developing meaningful relationships that you can only get from an in-person event," Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events, said.
Those who are already approved for credentials can add education sessions by going into their SEMA Show dashboard or by using the SEMA Show mobile app.
