Three industry leaders are being inducted in the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Hall of Fame: Russ Deane, Ron Funfar and Nate Shelton.
“Hall of Fame inductees are all leaders who have made huge contributions to shaping the industry,” said SEMA CEO and President Chris Kersting.
Russ Deane is SEMA’s longtime general counsel. He has worked with local, state and federal governments to ensure a healthy and cooperative business environment for SEMA members and the industry, the association says. His efforts have been instrumental in helping to protect the legal rights of automotive specialty-equipment businesses. Deane also has been active on a variety of SEMA committees and task forces to help lead the association to its current size and stature in American commerce.
Funfar is president and COO of Hedman Manufacturing in Whittier, Calif. In addition to volunteering on a variety of SEMA committees -- often as chairman -- Funfar was elected to the SEMA Board of Directors in 1987 and served three consecutive two-year terms until 1992. He also served as SEMA’s secretary/treasurer and was a focus group leader for the National Management Conferences.
Shelton also served several terms on the SEMA Board of Directors, including one term as chairman of the board. He began his career in the industry in 1969. A significant portion of his career was spent at K&N Engineering. He later started S&S Marketing, a rep business, in 2002. By June of 2005, the company bought B&M Racing and Performance, followed by subsequent purchases of McLeod and Hurst. Today, Shelton serves as chairman of the B&M Automotive Group that is headquartered in Chatsworth, Calif.
The hall of fame inductees will be officially introduced at the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, in Irvine, Calif. Tickets and details are available at www.sema.org/gala.
