SEMA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Data Customer Service Coordinator
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- PAC Manager, Government Affairs -
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- Show Registration Coordinator
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- Sales Operations Coordinator
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- Senior Public Relations Coordinator
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- Senior Sales Director
- Sales
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- Project Manager, Member Services
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- Programmer / Data Base Administrator -
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- Compliance Center Project Coordinator
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- Project Manager Recognition Programs -
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- Senior Director, State Government Affairs & Grassroots -
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- Director, SEMA Action Network ( SAN ) -
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- Senior Marketing Director
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- Senior Director, Information Technology
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- Public Relations Director
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- Membership Data Coordinator
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- Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs -
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- AVP Public Relations & Communications -
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- Operations Coordinator / Customer Service Specialist -
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- Senior Coordinator, Member Services -
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- Senior Manager, Professional Development -
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- Director, Market Research -
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- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President
- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer -
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President
- Data Vice President, Operations -
- DATA, Vice President of Operations
Gigi Ho has almost 20 years of industry experience, developing and launching leading-edge, SaaS-based data solutions for the automotive aftermarket. In her role as Vice President of SEMA Data, she will lead the vision, mission, and future direction of SEMA Data.
Prior to joining SEMA, Ho had been an active industry volunteer, serving on the select committees for a number of SEMA councils and networks, including the Business Technology Committee (BTC), which was the foundation for the SEMA Data program, and she continues to speak at industry shows and events on topics of data, eCommerce, and marketing.
Under her leadership, SEMA Data has grown to be the largest data warehouse of product information and expanded its member benefits to connect even more resellers and manufacturers. Ho believes with continuous solutions development and industry education, SEMA Data will help drive the growth of member businesses well into the future.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant / Project Manager -
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- Information Technology Operations Manager
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- Emissions Lab Process Specialist
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President
- Vice President - People and Culture
- Vice President of People
Jaelyn Young is the Vice President of People and Culture for SEMA. Young is responsible for the full spectrum of Human Resources including the Employee Experience, Benefits and Total Rewards, Employee Engagement from hire to retire, and Performance Management.
Jaelyn brings 17 years of progressive Human Resources expertise where most recently she served as Vice President, People & Culture for The Marvin Group. This role afforded her the opportunity to enhance the people function to an operational market of 1100 employees. During her tenure at Marvin, she also supported both corporate headquarters and three subdivision of the company. Her contributions included enhancing the corporate culture through numerous process improvements, implementing technology to provided accuracy in data, and progressive policy transformations to enhance the company brand.
Additionally, Jaelyn has held various leadership roles with increasing responsibility within aerospace organizations such as General Electric and Senior Operations. Jaelyn also was the VPHR for Flagship Inc. in San Jose, CA where she supported 5700 employees across the US. Her professional career is enhanced by her MBA, from Central University, SPHR-CP, Green Belt and Executive Leadership Certification from USC.
Job Titles:
- Product Development Engineer
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- Email Production Specialist
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- Compliance Center Project Coordinator
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- Coordinator, Member Services -
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- Vehicle Procurement Specialist
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- Digital Marketing Director
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- Show Operations Coordinator
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President, Public and Government Affairs -
Karen is passionate about leading advocacy, public policy, and government affairs strategies across local, state, and federal jurisdictions. She has dedicated her career in creating and delivering unique and effective initiatives spanning multiple specializations and industries. Karen has directed strategic and tactical implementation of innovative campaigns, while driving legislative wins, consumer engagement, and industry best practices.Over the course of her career she has worked for leading political advocacy organizations like Americans for Tax Reform and served as a public affairs executive with casino gaming company Penn National Gaming (now Penn Entertainment) and the American Beverage Association. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Leadership Studies and was a graduate of the inaugural class of the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin University. She earned her Master's degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State. Governor Jim Justice appointed Karen to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board in 2021. She also serves as chair of the Jefferson County Board of Health and as vice-chair of the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy. She and her husband reside in Jefferson County, West Virginia and she splits her time between Washington, D.C. and the Mountain State.
Job Titles:
- Registration
- Senior Show Registration Director
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- Sales Assistant, SEMA Sales -
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- Senior VP of Marketing and Events
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- Marketing Operations Director
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- Manager, State Government Affairs
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- Compliance Center Project Coordinator
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- Director of Business Development
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- Executive Assistant
- Member of the EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Team
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- Accounts Payable Specialist -
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- Member of the Board
- SVP Consumer Events
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- Senior Show Director of Operations, CEM -
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- Director of Vehicle Technology -
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- Sales Department Project Manager
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- Special Events Coordinator
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- Coordinator, Member Services -
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- Operations Administrator
- Exhibitor Information
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- Public Relations Coordinator
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- Product Development Engineer
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Product Development and OEM Relations
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- Aftermarket ADAS Engineer
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Member of the EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Team
- President
Mike Spagnola is the CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association. In addition to running the SEMA Garage - Product Development Center in Diamond Bar, CA, Spagnola manages the SEMA Garage near Detroit, Michigan, where advanced testing for advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and emissions will take place when the facility opens in 2022. Spagnola has strong leadership and hands-on business experience and is currently overseeing the association legislative and advocacy efforts, SEMA Data and administrative functions such as accounting and HR.
Spagnola's experience spans across retail, distribution and manufacturing. Prior to joining SEMA he logged over 40 years in the specialty auto parts arena, including more than 20 years of product development and project vehicle work.
Immediately prior to joining SEMA, Spagnola served as President for Street Scene Equipment, where he managed the company's day-to-day business for 16 years. His experience working with OEMs building concept and project vehicles has led to more than a dozen design awards from OEMs and extensive media recognition. Spagnola also completed six years of service on the SEMA Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Emissions Compliance -
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Marketing
RJ de Vera brings over 28 years of automotive industry experience and is currently SEMA Vice President of Marketing. In this role, he leads the strategic, multi-channel direction of SEMA's communications and public relations efforts, promoting the association and its members with a digital-first focus.
De Vera joins SEMA's Executive Leadership team after 12 years at 3M Co., a multi-national Fortune 100 organization, where he served as Global Leader of Digital Marketing and Public Relations for Meguiar's Inc. Prior to his role at the car care brand, de Vera worked in product and business development and was a brand marketing consultant for several OEMs and aftermarket equipment companies. He helped lead the charge for Petersen Publishing's Super "Street Magazine" as a contributing editor and helped organize and promote the first National Import Racing Association (NIRA) events.
Early in his career, he was tapped by Universal Studios to assist in launching "The Fast and The Furious" movie franchise, aidding in the selection of cars and featured parts for the film's main characters, and served as a judge and host for MTV's "Trick It Out" series. In 2012, he was awarded SEMA's "35 under 35" and has been a judge for the SEMA Show's "Battle of the Builders" since 2016.
De Vera holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a focus on Sociology and Communications.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Database Coordinator
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Operations
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- Sales Administrator & Support -
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- Member of the EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Team
- Executive Assistant / Project Manager -
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- Compliance Center Supervisor
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- President, PRW Industries, Inc.
SEMA is governed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. A professional staff is responsible for the day-to-day execution of the programs and services.
The individuals serving on the Board are doing more than just "getting involved" and leading the association. They are serving the industry and all of the businesses within it. They are providing direction and playing a critical role in shaping the future of the automotive specialty-equipment market.
The SEMA Board consists of four officers (chairman, chairman-elect, immediate past chairman/secretary, treasurer) and ten directors. While there is a limited number of seats on the Board, the election process gives all SEMA-member companies the ability to influence the future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.
In addition to having the ability to vote in the election, SEMA-member companies also have an opportunity to play a role in the process from the very beginning.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President of Events -
- Vice President, Events
Tom Gattuso has been involved in producing automotive events for more than 20 years and currently serves as SEMA's Vice President of Events. With a background in both trade and consumer shows, Gattuso brings a unique perspective to building the optimal environments to connect people within the automotive industry. Throughout his career, Gattuso has had a role in every aspect of event production from sales to marketing to operations to management and has lead teams that turn show concepts into reality. A consummate student of shows and events, he also serves on volunteer Boards for the Trade Show industry on both the regional and national level.
Gattuso holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and English from James Madison University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Sales
- Vice President of Sales -
Job Titles:
- General Ledger Bookkeeper
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- Director
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President of Membership, Education, Research and Councils -
Zane Clark serves SEMA as Vice President of Membership, Education, Research and Councils & Networks (MERC). Clark, who previously served as CEO of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) North America, has 23 years of automotive aftermarket leadership experience, including more than 10 years with SEMA from 2010-2020.
Clark first joined SEMA in 2010 as a council director, working directly with volunteer leaders in various niches. He transitioned after three years to lead SEMA's education department, where he directed the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, grew the SEMA Show education program and expanded the SEMA Show Student Program.