PRESS RELEASE: Kersting Named SEMA President

FOR RELEASE ON OR AFTER
MONDAY, JULY 1, 2002

Media Contact:
Rosemarie Kitchin::<mailto:rosemariek@sema.org>
SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 104

CHRISTOPHER J. KERSTING NAMED SEMA PRESIDENT

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. - Christopher J. Kersting, CAE, J. D., has become the new president of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. Kersting succeeds Chuck Blum, CAE, who becomes SEMA president emeritus after 22 years as the association's chief of staff.

Kersting is explicit about his goals for SEMA. The 39-year-old association represents companies providing appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. SEMA research tallies the domestic market for these products at $26 billion in 2001.

"We want to continue the world-renowned excellence of our SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and we intend to raise our member benefits to that same world-class level. Now is the right time to lead the SEMA-member industry to the next level of domestic and international commerce," Kersting said. "Our SEMA leadership and staff are working very hard to earn 'first call' status from SEMA members seeking information, help, and tools to enhance their sales, marketing and manufacturing efforts."

SEMA Chairman Nate Shelton, chief marketing officer for K & N Engineering Inc., Riverside, Calif., said of the two SEMA chief executives, "We're trading the best for the best, as Chuck steps aside and Chris moves up. SEMA prepared for this executive move with a deliberate two-year transition period, and our preparatory work will pay off well not only for the association but also for the entire industry.

"As far as Chuck's concerned, I can't say enough good things. He's been the builder and the keystone during these two past decades of phenomenal growth for SEMA. He has extraordinary insight, great business knowledge, and almost a sixth sense about what to do next," Shelton said.

"Looking forward to Chris' tenure, I'm confident about SEMA's future. Chris is bright, young, full of new ideas, and has great organizational skills. He, and I, and our board of directors agree on many things, like continued growth for the association, and the expansion to new opportunities not only domestically but also overseas. With his guidance, SEMA will become a truly global organization. I believe Chris will achieve really positive things for SEMA."

Kersting has worked with the approximately 4,500 member-company association for more than a decade. In 1989 he became SEMA's outside legal counsel and one of its government affairs representatives. He joined the SEMA staff in 1996 as vice president of legislative and technical affairs, and headed SEMA's Washington office until 2000.

In 2000, he became SEMA executive vice president and relocated to SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar. During his two years as SEMA evp, he has reorganized several SEMA departments to better use existing talent and facilitate growth.

Kersting received his credential as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) earlier this year. His professional credentials include a law degree from Washington College of Law, American University (Washington) in 1989. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science degree in business in 1985.

Before he joined the SEMA staff, Kersting also handled legal matters for many SEMA-member companies and served as general counsel for such industry institutions as the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) and the Auto International Association (AIA). AIA chose him as its AIA Person of the Year in 1995.

Kersting, 40, resides in Sierra Madre, Calif., with his wife Lisa and his daughters, Kate and Sarah.

For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.enjoythedrive.com::<http://www.enjoythedrive.com>.
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Images of Chris Kersting and Chuck Blum are available at www.sema.org/press/photos.asp::<http://www.sema.org/press/photos.asp> in the General Photos section.