Professional Devleopment Program is Back. SEMA Garage Detroit May 4-10, 2024 Professional Devleopment Program is Back. SEMA Garage Detroit May 4-10, 2024

 

Professional Development Program

May 4-10 - SEMA Detroit Garage
Open exclusively to FLN members*

Applications are now open for the 2025’s programs! Register for either, or both programs below. Email Denise Waddingham at deniselw@sema.org if you have any questions.

Hear from past attendees on their experiences and the benefits of joining this event.

2023

"The program made me have an all-new appreciation for SEMA, its mission, and the automotive industry as a whole. The attendees were all exceptional people who were highly engaged in the material. I particularly enjoyed the discussion around appropriately and effectively sharing your opinion using evidence, which I feel everyone should learn whether they are in a leadership position or not. It was also awesome to tour the SEMA Garage and understand that facility and its function for the industry."
—Jake Gisseman, Battle Born Offroad

"The FLN PDP program provided me with insight and knowledge I am unable to receive in regular training at my job. I found it very enlightening. Professional leadership is tricky to teach yet this course laid it out in a very engaging way which helped me retain the lessons taught. The automotive industry can be very diverse and it was great hearing the perspective of others as well. I learned a lot not only through the PDP training but also from the stories and experiences of other attendees."
—Ryan Ehlers, Diode Dynamics

Small group having discussion
Seated people in a classroom setting filling out a form

"The PDP is an amazing opportunity for any young professional. The Dale Carnegie program is world-renowned, and it helped me to refine my people and relationship skills. Only a few days after the program I started to see the difference it has made in me and improving communication with my team."
—Jonny Wood, Yakima Products, Inc.

"The training has some sneaky yet straight forwards ways of making you think of how you are, what you should be doing and how to improve on the things you have thought you were doing but not willing to see it. The training helped me see that I am not alone in my worries and concerns. I now have a group of people who I can rely on and bounce ideas off of when I run into hard times or challenges."
—Andrew Hodgson, Timbren Industries

2022

"I wanted to get a better foundation for communication skills as a young leader. I had an excellent experience in the program and walked away with a lot of invaluable skills that I can take back to my current employer and help me develop myself as a professional leader in the industry."
—Robert Fisher, Power Automedia

People having group discussion in a classroom setting
Seated people in a classroom setting smiling for the camera

"I took the class to try and gain some better leadership and motivational skills. I learned a lot of different strategies on how to motivate my sales reps and move forward with my business. I recommend this class to everyone who wants to advance their careers."
—Dan LaRou, Chrome Enhancements/LKQ

"Reflecting on my experience in Diamond Bar for my first-ever FLN Professional Development Program, I am more than excited about the knowledge that I was able to absorb along with the lifetime of friendships I was able to walk away with. The instructors instilled excitement within the group with their teaching style, which in turn allowed all of us to be extremely open and vocal about our experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and would do it again in a heartbeat!"
—Kia Aghai, WARN Industries

WHO IS FLN?

The Future Leader's Network (FLN) provides industry young future leaders with an opportunity to network with other SEMA members in various market segments and influential industry leaders. It also gives you a unique chance to listen and learn, as well as provide the industry a youthful voice to be heard. FLN members are industry leaders who are 39 years of age or younger and are actively pursuing a higher level of professionalism in the specialty equipment market. The current membership roster represents some of the top technology, marketing and sales, operations and executive minds in the automotive industry.

FLN DIRECTOR

Denise Waddingham - FLN Director

Denise Waddingham

deniselw@sema.org
909-979-4144