SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)

Meet ARMO Select Committee member and ARMO Chair Randall Bates! Unlike most of the other SEMA and ARMO leaders, he didn’t grow up working on cars and trucks, they were simply tools to him at a young age. Born and raised in Georgia, he grew up with a passion for the outdoors and all it has to offer. What he lacked in the automotive field, he made up for by being born in the carpet capital of the world, Dalton GA. Fun fact ➤ 70% of the carpet in the world is made within a 30-mile radius, so you really have to try hard not to be impacted by the world of carpet. After his schooling, he joined the glorious US Marine Corps and served all over the world. After service, he came back and started working in the automotive carpet field where he still works today, 28 years later. Randall got involved with ARMO through friends who served on the select committee and he became a member at large by helping set up at events. He was asked to run for the select committee, served two terms and is currently the elected Chair of ARMO. Through the years of working and volunteering for SEMA and ARMO, this industry has become a passion and a way of life for him. The people in the industry are what Randall has become interested in, calling them not only co-workers but friends. Randall is married and has three sons. #ARMOselectcommittee #SEMA #automotiveindustry #SEMAevents #ARMOevents

Happy Independence day from all of us at ARMO 🎆 Celebrating the land of the free and the home of the brave.🏅 #independenceday #armo #4thjuly

It's that time! ARMO is accepting nominations for its Person of the Year and Business of the Year awards to honor leaders who have made a significant impact on the automotive restoration market over the past year. Get your nominations in now at https://lnkd.in/gRxiQ3xP. Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the 2024 SEMA Show ARMO Reception. 🎉

2024 SEMA Council & Network Award Nominations Now Open ✅ Unlike the SEMA Industry Awards that honor individuals and businesses who have made significant contributions to the specialty-equipment industry at-large, council and network awards recognize members of SEMA's nine specialized market communities. Winners represent outstanding council and network members who enhanced the stature of their market segment through their contributions, outstanding business practices and positive influence on others. Nominations are due by Monday, August 2nd, nominate today! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eMHnTxuD

ARMO is hosting an online General Membership Meeting and Panel Discussion on Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET! Join the ARMO Select Committee as they share important council updates, followed a discussion on how to address and manage online business reviews. The discussion will be led by Jeff Farina of JEGs; Barry Alt of Motorhead Digital; Bryan Stone of Classic Recreations; and Jeremey Dominick of SMG Speed. Participants will learn the the importance of online reviews, different social media platforms where reviews can be posted, and how to respond to positive and negative comments and reviews. We hope to see you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/echdEki6

To all the amazing dads, thank you for your love, patience and guidance. Happy Father's Day! #FathersDay #happyfathersday #dadlife #dadlove

Meet ARMO Select Committee Member Ed “Blake” Burgy! 🥳 Ed “Blake” Burgy is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket. Currently, he serves as the Director of Merchandising for Moss Motors, Ltd., a leader in the automotive restoration market for classic British marques and Miata. Since joining Moss in 2016, Blake has focused on new product development while also overseeing R&D, Engineering, QA, and Returns departments. Throughout his career, Blake has held key positions at several respected companies, including Summit Racing Equipment, CORSA Performance, Mr. Gasket Company, and Fidanza Performance. His roles have spanned sales, merchandising, product management, and marketing, providing him with a comprehensive view of the automotive industry. Blake’s experience has allowed him to engage with a diverse array of customers, suppliers, manufacturers, builders, media, and enthusiasts globally. Blake's passion for cars began early, and although he holds a degree in Secondary Education for History, his career path led him to the automotive world. His background in education has been valuable in training sales teams and educating customers about automotive parts. His commitment to sharing knowledge extends to his involvement with SEMA councils, including ARMO, MPMC, SCC/SPC, and YEN. Blake's dedication to the industry is reflected in his diverse personal car collection, which includes models like the 1965 and 1995 Impala SS, a 1977 Datsun 280Z, a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, and a 2013 Mustang GT Convertible. His enthusiasm for automobiles is a legacy he proudly shares with his family! #armo #armocommitee #SEMA

ARMO Select Committee Member Sean Sawyer of Classic Recreations will join SBN as a guest speaker for their webinar "Motivating Employees" on June 18 at 12:00 p.m. PT. Join this session to learn different ways to motivate your team members, regardless of your company size. You'll learn strategies that you may not have considered, and insights into what has worked for Sean and his company. Register here: https://lnkd.in/exks2XnH

Taking today to reflect and honor all of our soldiers. Honor the fallen soldiers and never forget the importance of their sacrifice 🏅 #memorialday #fallensoldiers #memorialday2024 #neverforget #honorthesoldiers

ARMO Select Committee member Barry Alt and SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) Select Committee member Cora Jokinen and other SEMA Members from New York spent time in Albany to drive industry advocacy forward.