TCAA Award Winners Honored During SEMA Spring Expo

Media contacts:
Rosemarie Kitchin, rosemariek@sema.org
SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 104
Lisa Guth, lisag@sema.org
SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 181



TCAA AWARD WINNERS HONORED DURING SEMA SPRING EXPO

	NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 15, 2003) - TCAA, the Truck Cap & 
Accessory Alliance, presented its industry awards to three prominent 
individuals and three show standouts at the TCAA Awards Banquet during 
the SEMA Spring Expo in the Nashville Convention Center yesterday.

TCAA, a council of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, 
hosts the annual event to acknowledge those men and women who lead 
the Council's efforts, and to recognize outstanding product design 
achievements.

"These leadership awards and product acknowledgments are the 
equivalent of our industry's Academy Awards," said TCAA Chairman 
Bobby Combs, CEO of Astro Cap Mfg.-West Inc., Garnett, Kan. "I'm 
honored to recognize these individuals for their great ideas in the 
development of new products, ideas and marketing tools -- in addition to 
their good old-fashioned hard work."

Hartmut Schroeder of SNUGTOP, Long Beach, Calif., received the Ron 
Webster Memorial Award, created to recognize an individual's outstanding 
engineering achievements.

Combs presented The Chairman's Award to Ken Pelt, vice president of 
Custom Vehicle Supply, Milwaukee. Combs praised Pelt for his 
extraordinary service and dedication to the TCAA Council, and his 
continuous efforts to convey the 'take home value' message of being a 
TCAA member. Pelt has been deeply involved for many years as a 
member of the TCAA Dealer Sub-Committee, and currently serves as its 
chairman.

Blaine Loudin, a TCAA Council member since it began as the TCIA (Truck 
Cap Industry Association) in 1989, was inducted into the TCAA Hall of 
Fame. Loudin, founder and CEO of Tricel Honeycomb Corporation, 
Gurnee, Ill., was selected by TCAA members for his overall achievements 
in furthering the success of the truck cap industry. His contributions 
include introducing, 28 years ago, in 1975, the paper-honeycomb method 
of manufacturing truck caps, which has become the global industry 
standard.

Two SEMA Spring Expo exhibitors received New Product Awards. The 
winner of the Best New Product Over $500 award went to SNUGTOP for 
its SL Tonneau Cover. The Best New Product Under $500 honors went 
to Astro Truck Covers for its replica set of truck caps.

Shur-co (Truxedo) received the Best In Show Award for its exhibit that 
presented the best overall display at the SEMA Spring Expo. Kelly Kneifl 
accepted the award from TCAA chairman Combs.

The TCAA evening gala was capped off with post-dinner entertainment 
provided by comedian and singing impressionist Johnny Counterfeit.
The Truck Cap & Accessory Alliance develops strategies and programs 
that address the specific needs of the truck cap and accessory industry. 
The council includes companies that manufacture, distribute, retail and 
install accessories for pickup trucks, vans and SUVs. The TCAA 
addresses such issues as education, installer certification, marketing, and 
consumer awareness. More information about TCAA is available from Vic 
Wood, TCAA Executive Director, at vicw@sema.org or 909/396-0289, 
ext. 150.

SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. Founded in 
1963, the trade association has more than 4,500 member companies. It is 
the authoritative 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. 

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