Mike Spagnola, SEMA & PRI CEO, is passionate about ensuring that SEMA gives back to the community. He wants to help bring the next generation of students into the industry successfully. One way the association does this is through its scholarship program. The program gives out hundreds of thousands of dollars to students every single year, Spagnola said.
“We offer a scholarship program for students. I’m really passionate about that. My ability to come through the automotive network really affords me the opportunity to give back now in so many ways.”
Creating Career Pathways Through Job Boards and Fairs
SEMA also operates a career center with a job board on its website. Students can apply for jobs in the industry through this platform.
SEMA also hosts career fairs at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. At a recent event, the association welcomed over 300 engineering students from 30 colleges. These colleges included institutions from Colorado, California and Nevada, said Spagnola.
“My big pitch, especially to the engineering crowd, is that you can go to work for Boeing or some of these other companies and you might work on a hinge for the next two years. Or, you can come to work for an automotive aftermarket manufacturer and be right in the thick of things, developing the next supercharger or the next water pump or the next whatever it might be. So, if you’re a car enthusiast or an engineering student, there’s no greater career than in the automotive industry. We spend a lot of time talking about that.”
To hear more from SEMA & PRI CEO Mike Spagnola, including his outlook for this year’s SEMA Show in November, be sure to watch the above video.
Episode Overview:
• Spagnola’s professional background of more than 40 years in the specialty auto parts industry (1:05);
• SEMA initiatives that actively give back to the community (5:08);
• How the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will benefit SEMA member companies (8:58);
• Spagnola’s outlook for the SEMA Show this year and its engagement among the professional community (19:05);
• Lightning Round (21:55).
