Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) President and CEO Chris Kersting will retire at the end of this month following a 30-plus year career with the association.
SEMA Senior Vice President of Operations Bill Miller and Mike Spagnola, the association's vice president of OEM and product development programs, will serve as interim co-CEOs after Kersting steps down.
Kersting, who will continue to serve the association in an advisory role through July 2022, joined SEMA as vice president of legislative and technical affairs.
He took SEMA's helm as CEO in 2002 and guided the association "through two decades of growth," according to SEMA officials.
"Milestones include launching the SEMA Data Co-op, the SEMA Garage and Emissions Lab, SEMA Ignited" and others.
SEMA also credits Kersting with helping to grow the annual SEMA Show.
"Chris led SEMA through tremendously successful stretches and also skillfully helped the association navigate the challenges of COVID-19," as well the "worldwide recession back in 2008,” says James Lawrence, SEMA's chairman.
“On behalf of the SEMA board and millions of automotive enthusiasts everywhere, we wish Chris the best of luck in the next stage of his life.”
