SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association,

will produce its annual SEMA Spring Expo in the

Nashville Convention Center the

weekend of Feb. 14-15, 2003. Open to professionals

in the automotive specialty equipment

industry, SEMA says its Spring Expo will capitalize on the

success of its annual supersized SEMA Show held in

Las Vegas every fall, bringing highlights of the

record-setting 2002 event to the Southeast and

Midwest markets.

"We've collected some of the top vehicles, invited

some of our most popular exhibitors, and culled some

of the most pertinent business education topics for

this regional show," said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA

vice president of marketing and sales. "The tank of

gas to drive to Nashville could be the best business

investment an automotive industry professional can

make in 2003."

MacGillivray said that the small investment in

travel expense will pay off several-fold for people

in the automotive accessories business, whether they

be new car dealer personnel, parts store

professionals, truck-cap and accessories dealers and

installers, or manufacturers.

"SEMA Spring Expo 2003

will make world-class manufacturers accessible to

people who want to sell their products. Our seminar

program deals with hard-core business topics such as

proficient hiring, managing multiple stores,

increasing profit through in-store merchandising and

add-on sales," he said.

The educational seminars are scheduled for Thursday,

Feb. 13, the day prior to the show, and Saturday,

Feb. 15. Legendary NFL referee Dr. Jim Tunney will

be the show's keynote speaker the morning of Friday,

Feb. 14.

The SEMA Spring Expo will incorporate some of the

industry's customized cars and

trucks that have earned design awards from the

Detroit-based carmakers, and industry celebrities

like Linda Vaughn.

Action centers on the show floor will have installer

demonstrations of accessories for both cars and

trucks.

SEMA held its 2002 SEMA Spring Expo in suburban

Chicago earlier this year, and its 2002 TCAA Light-

Truck and Accessory Expo in Nashville. The 2003

Nashville event will "meld two key market segments

into one synergistic venue of exceptional broad-

based value," MacGillivray said.

More information about SEMA Spring Expo 2003 is

available at www.semaspringexpo.com.

SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive

industry. The trade association has more than 4,500

member companies. It is a source of

research data, trends and market growth information

for automakers and the specialty auto products

industry. The industry provides appearance,

performance, comfort, convenience and technology

products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs

and recreational vehicles. For more information,

contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond

Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit

www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.