YEN Member Insights

Derrick Johnstone, YEN Member Insights, January 2013 [1]

Derrick Johnstone, SEMA YEN Member of the Month Spotlight, Member Insight, Automotive News, Aftermarket News, January 2013

Derrick Johnstone

Alliance Sales

It is customary for the YEN Member Spotlight to showcase the life and career of a young, up and coming YEN member but let’s face it, we work in and industry that thrives on breaking norms and thinking outside the box. With that in mind, this YEN Member Spotlight focusses on Derrick Johnstone of Alliance Sales, who’s odometer has rolled over the 40 year limit for YEN. All joking aside, Derrick continues to stay involved through Manufacturer’s Representative Network (MRN) where he is a current Select Committee Member. I had an opportunity to talk with him at the 2012 SEMA Show and find out what this former YEN member is all about.

Whenever I ask somebody how they got involved in the industry there is usually a pretty interesting backstory and Derrick’s is no different. He was pretty much born into it as his father, Dave Johnstone, was an instrumental in the Vancouver drag racing scene and is an inductee of the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneer Society (2012) as a racer, car builder and car show producer.

Read more about Derrick Johnstone, YEN Member Insights, January 2013 [1]

Dana Mitchell, YEN Member Insights, November 2012 [2]

Dana Mitchell, SEMA YEN Member of the Month Spotlight, Automotive News, Aftermarket News, November 2012

Dana Mitchell

Sales Manager, Al’s Liners

With a formal background in architecture, Dana has extensive experience in architectural design, environmental consulting, automotive restoration equipment, and DIY truck accessories. Admittedly an "amateur restorer and automotive guy", Dana feels fortunate to be in the automotive industry where he is able to employ his personality working for a company like Al's Liner.

Tell us a little about your diverse professional background and how each of your experiences has benefited you in the position you hold today?

After school and working in a couple of odd jobs I began in Environmental Consulting, focusing on Remediation Project Management and Program Management for Asbestos, Lead and Indoor Air Quality. Working mostly with public and private school corporations I was responsible for maintaining federally mandated programs and educating maintenance staff on handling and maintaining potential hazardous materials.

Read more about Dana Mitchell, YEN Member Insights, November 2012 [2]

Brandy Morrow, YEN Member Insights, August 2012 [3]

Brandy Morrow on Winning Respect in a Male Dominated Industry

Marketing Coordinator
Spectre Performance, YEN Member

About Brandy

Growing up, Brandy Morrow didn’t envision herself behind the wheel of a race car or working on cars in the hot summer sun. Growing up with a father who was a professional motorcycle racer that transitioned into sales and marketing in the performance industry, the car hobby was never forced on Brandy. In fact, while pursuing martial arts and other mainstream pursuits she didn’t even get her driver’s license until she was 17. Her father Mike then taught her basic vehicle maintenance and enrolled her in a defensive driving course. A year later, looking to learn a little more about vehicle control (after wrecking her first car – a Saturn), Brandy enrolled in an all-women’s autocross school at El Toro Airbase in Orange County with her Honda Del Sol.

Read more about Brandy Morrow, YEN Member Insights, August 2012 [3]

Ernie Manansala, YEN Member Insights, July 2012 [4]

Name: Ernie Manansala

Company: Tribe Agency
Title: CEO
Age: 30
Years In Industry: 10

1) Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. How long have you worked in the industry?

I started at 19 years old as the marketing manager of König Wheels. It was a perfect time for me to be a part of that company. We had the best line of wheels that year, and the founder of König believed that I, based simply on my creative passion, could help bring the brand up to the awareness level that he wanted.

2) How did you get your start and what positions have you held at what companies as you progressed to your current position?

I have been on and off in the industry for about 10 years now. The reason I say that is because we launched NOS Energy Drink which now plays a major role in the automotive industry. In reality, it truly is a beverage company that had many learning experiences after we were acquired by Coca Cola where I remained for a few years to bring the brand to the top 5 energy drinks in the nation.

Read more about Ernie Manansala, YEN Member Insights, July 2012 [4]

Eric Schumacher, YEN Member Insights, June 2012 [5]

Eric Schumacher on Balancing Work & Life While Building A Career In A Fast Paced Industry

Eric Schumacher, 36 Years Old
Executive Producer - Power AutoMedia; YEN Member

About Eric
We’ve all heard the saying, “Do what you love and never work another day in your life.” Not only did Eric Schumacher hear that timeless advice, he acted upon it and today has built a successful career in the automotive aftermarket. For the past six years, Eric has lived his dream as Executive Producer and founding member of Power AutoMedia, a young but successful digital media and video production company. In this “dream” position Eric has been able to successfully combine his love for all things automotive and creative design. The Temecula, California, resident has a unique perspective that has been shaped by the tenuous start-up years of Power AutoMedia, which was a true pioneer of digital media within the automotive aftermarket, while trying to successfully balance being a devoted father and husband.

Read more about Eric Schumacher, YEN Member Insights, June 2012 [5]

Matt D'Andria, YEN Member Insights, May 2012 [6]

Matt D'Andria on Futurism in the Automotive Aftermarket

Matt D'Andria, 36
Years Old
CEO - Motorator.com; Co-Host - Adam Carolla's
CarCast; YEN Member

About Matt

If you have spent
any significant time at a SEMA event or media gathering, chances are you have
either met Matt D'Andria or seen his work. The 36 year old Phoenix, Arizona native moved to Southern California years ago to be closer to the
automotive aftermarket and has had been involved in dozens of digital media
projects, from helping top automakers develop a digital footprint, to
co-hosting Adam Carolla's popular "CarCast" and launching his latest venture -
a unique online automotive community called Motorator.com.

Matt was inducted
into the gearhead lifestyle early, helping his father restore a Fiat Spider
when he was just five years old. He "helped" his dad by hitting the freshly
restored sports car with a toy hammer. At 15, Matt restored a '65 Mustang with
his brother, buying parts with money earned from a job at the local auto parts
store.

Read more about Matt D'Andria, YEN Member Insights, May 2012 [6]

Jon Pulli, YEN Member Insights, April 2012 [7]

Jon Pulli

Age: 30

CEO, Turn 14, YEN Member

We recently had the pleasure of catching up with a passionate SEMA member who is a leader in distribution side of the automotive aftermarket, Jon Pulli. Jon is currently the CEO of Turn 14.

Some of our readers aren't familiar with Turn 14; could you give us a brief overview on the company--and most importantly, your role there?
Turn 14 Distribution is a performance warehouse distributor focused on modern, post 2000, vehicle applications. I co-founded Turn 14 with Chris Candido initially to fill a void in the sport compact market for an east coast based distributor. As a co-founder I have done every job in the company but at this point, as CEO, I am able to focus my day-to-day on oversight and future planning. I spend most of my time strategically planning avenues for Turn 14’s growth in the short and long term. I feel a constant, yet welcomed pressure to achieve our target growth numbers. Distributors, when doing their job correctly, act as conductor between retailers and manufacturers. My goal is to grow Turn 14 which in turn benefits the brands we distribute, the retailers we service, and Turn 14 employees.

Read more about Jon Pulli, YEN Member Insights, April 2012 [7]

Mark Stek, YEN Member Insights, March 2012 [8]

Mark Stek on....Building
Value with Celebrity Customers

Mark Stek
Age: 35
Marketing Director, Kelderman
Air Suspension Systems, YEN Member

At age 35, Mark Stek, an Oskaloosa, IA
native, and Iowa State graduate, currently holds the position of Marketing
Director for Kelderman Manufacturing. Also known to SEMA members as Kelderman
Air Suspension Systems, Kelderman is a diverse and unique SEMA member company
that manufactures and fabricates everything from agricultural parts to air
suspension systems for a customer base that is as diverse as their products. A
12 year veteran with Kelderman, Mark grew up around the automotive industry as
the son of a hot rodder, and now applies a synergy of his sports marketing /
management degree emphasis with his hot rodding roots to foster relationships
with celebrities to bring added value to both his company and his customers. We
sat down with Mark to discuss his experiences working with VIP customers and
how they may benefit other young executives in our industry.

How
did you get started with celebrity/VIP builds?

Rampage Jackson approached us a few years
ago at SEMA. He already had a lifted
truck, but really wanted our suspension on it.
Once the logistics were worked out, his truck came to our shop in Iowa
and we totally transformed it. We
created a video for YouTube that showed the build from beginning to end and
that has really increased our exposure. Our
celebrity clients, so far, all have reached out to us to receive our product.

Read more about Mark Stek, YEN Member Insights, March 2012 [8]

John Marshall, YEN Member Insights, February 2012 [9]

John Marshall On Building &
Maintaining Contacts
In The Automotive Aftermarket

Name: John
Marshall

Company: Power Slot
(Performance Brakes Business)

Title: National
Sales Manager

About: John Marshall, the National Sales Manager for
Power Slot, is a graduate of Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL. He is
a first time father with a daughter born early last year. John has worked at
several well known manufacturers within our industry over a period of 17 years
and has great insight into a subject that is critical for young automotive
aftermarket executives - building industry contacts throughout the various
transitions in your career.

Tell us a little about yourself and
what you do. How long have you worked in the industry and what other companies
have you worked for or positions have you held as you progressed to your
current position?

I am the National Sales Manager for Power Slot. I
started in the industry in 1995 with Auto Meter Products. In 2000, I accepted a
position with K&N Engineering as the Eastern Regional Sales Manager. In
2007, I accepted the position of Director of Sales with Power Slot. That same
year Centric Parts acquired Power Slot and my title changed to National Sales
Manager.

Read more about John Marshall, YEN Member Insights, February 2012 [9]

Mike Giles, YEN Member Insights, January 2012 [10]

Mike Giles – SuperFlow Technologies Group

This month’s interview is with Mike Giles, Marketing Manager with SuperFlow Technologies Group headquartered in Des Moines, IA.

Mike, a graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked for SuperFlow Technologies Group, as it is called today - in some way, shape or form since he was 6 years old. At the present, Mike’s main job functions include a whole array of marketing functions, but above all it is his responsibility to manage SuperFlow’s brands and their respective images. Mike also oversees SuperFlow’s web developer and graphic designer, plans the tradeshows and make sure they happen without issue, coordinates the advertising schedule and budget, organizes email blasts, and writes press releases, newsletters and ad copy. “We’re a small company so we’re all asked to go above and beyond our core responsibilities, for me that is usually some minor IT work or building maintenance projects or anything else that needs some extra attention.”

What is your role at company and how many years there?
My current position is Marketing Manager and I have had that position since March of 2011. I’ve worked in the Marketing department since I graduated in May of 2009. Prior to that I’ve held positions ranging from lawn maintenance at age 6, to parts runner, to janitor. My dad was very clear when I was young that he wanted my brothers and me to be involved in his company if we chose to, but that like anyone else we would start at the bottom and work our way up.

Read more about Mike Giles, YEN Member Insights, January 2012 [10]