October 2001
In This Edition:
SEAMO Update
Miami Auto Show Update & Press Schedule
Toyota To Host Media/SEAMO Dinner In Miami
Industry Week Update & Press Schedule
SEAMO Members Invited to AAPEX Breakfast
Welcome To General Motors & Toyota
Member Profile - Michael Cohn
Member Profiles - Michael McHale & Andrew Cutler
McLaren To Exhibit At SEMA
On The Lighter Side
Contact Info & Links
Next Issue Due Out 12/15/01 - Deadline For Materials 12/10/01
SEAMO Update
Wow! Things can really change in just a few short weeks. We've added several new members, including two OEMs and have also received commitments from two sponsors for the SEAMO website.
Thanks to SEAMO member Tom Harley of Eisbrenner PR, work is now complete on a logo for our group. Tom's son TJ, a design student at Clemson, has patiently worked with us to develop an eye-catching logo. TJ had recently won a contest to design the 50th anniversary logo for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). His winning logo will be used in all of the ACC print and television ads for the 2002-2003 school year, as well as on football fields, basketball floors and so on. TJ graduates from Clemson in December, so if you're looking to hire a first-rate graphic artist, let us know.
We'd like to plan some sort of holiday get-together during mid-December, possibly in the Atlanta area. Please let us know if you'd like to participate in this sort of event. Due to the vast geographic region covered by our group, we feel it's also important for members to have the opportunity to meet on a local basis in the interim of our major regional events. As such, we'll be contacting a few members from each metro area to set up some informal, no-host luncheon get-togethers.
Hopefully, we'll get a chance to meet with all of you during various automotive events over the next few months. Together, we can make SEAMO into a great organization.
Miami Auto Show Update
As of press-time for this edition of SEAMO News, the Miami Auto Show officials report that everything is moving ahead as planned. Check with your OEM contacts for any last-minute additions to the Thursday evening schedule.Preliminary Schedule Of Press Events
Thursday, October 25 OEM Receptions Invite Only Location TBD Friday, October 26 Saab 10:30 a.m. Saab Display DaimlerChrysler 11 a.m. DaimlerChrysler Display Hyundai . 11:30 a.m Hyundai Display PRESS LUNCHEON Noon Mezzanine General Motors 1:30 p.m. General Motors Display Latinos On Wheels 2 p.m. Lobby D Toyota - SEAMO - Press Dinner 7:15 p.m. Offsite - The preliminary press schedule is subject to change. To schedule a press conference call Kiskinis Communications at 305-447-1224. .
Toyota To Host Media/SEAMO Dinner In Miami
Toyota's new Southeast Regional Public Affairs Manager, Bill Ussery has cordially invited the media attendees of the Miami Auto Show to dinner at (11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-0365) on Friday, October 26 at 7:15pm. Come meet Bill and find out what's new at Toyota. John Harper from SEAMO will also be on hand to answer any questions about joining the organization and talk about plans for upcoming SEAMO events.
RSVP to Toyota via e-mail or (305) 375-8090 by Wednesday, October 24.
Industry Week Update
SEMA reports that everything is on schedule and ready to go for this year's Industry Week show. Extra security will be in place, so be ready for bag searches and carry only what you absolutely need to the exhibit halls. Make sure to bring a photo ID and at least one other form of identification when picking up credentials. As a veteran of the Atlanta Olympics, I can assure you that patience and a good sense of humor will be valuable assets at this year's show.
SEAMO Members Invited to AAPEX Breakfast
SEAMO members who are at AAPEX or the SEMA Show are invited to attend the annual breakfast between the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) and the Automotive Communications Council (ACC). The networking event will take place Thursday, Nov. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in Room 107 of the Sands Convention Center.
Welcome To General Motors & Toyota
SEAMO recently welcomed another two OEMs into its membership. Just after we circulated our previous newsletter, we heard from both General Motors and Toyota, expressing their wishes to join and help out with sponsoring the website. OEM participation is crucial to the long-term success of an automotive media group, so adding our third and fourth OEM members represents a critical milestone for SEAMO.GM's Southeast office, located in Atlanta, is headed up by Ron Updyke. GM has an extensive online media site, , complete with event schedules, press releases and photography. Some areas of the site require a password for access, so register today to avoid a delay when looking for last minute info.
For those who missed last month's newsletter, Bill Ussery was recently named to head up Toyota's Southeast region office, based in Miami. Toyota's media website, located at , also requires a password for certain features such as downloading photos.
Member Profile - Michael Cohn - Rockcrawler.com
Since very early in his life, Michael loved Jeeps. But it wasn't until 1996 that he actually bought one for himself. While living in Austin, Texas, Michael took that '97 Wrangler to a few trail events and was hooked. In 1997, he started Rockcrawler 4x4 and Off-Road Magazine . In 1999, Michael relocated to Birmingham, Alabama.
Beginning this month (October), Rockcrawler is starting its fifth year online. What began as a hobby has become one of Michael's full-time jobs. Rockcrawler is an online magazine that caters to off-roaders who really use their trucks to the fullest extent. Beginning this month, Michael is also kicking off SUVMag.com, which will cover a broader spectrum of vehicles with a much wider demographic. Both sites feature news releases, reviews, trail coverage, and more.
Michael spent most of the 90's as a professional audio engineer, working in world-class recording studios and touring North America doing live sound. The time on the road made long trips to far-away off-road trails a much easier ride. Michael has driven his Jeep to cover events in AL, NC, TN, TX, UT, CO, and OK - all without a tow rig.
For a more in-depth look at Rockcrawler.com, check out what the SEMA News had to say in the issue.
Member Profiles - Michael McHale & Andrew Cutler - MINI USA
Michael McHale began work with British Leyland in 1981 at the Jaguar car plant in Castle Bromwich, England. He served an apprenticeship as a body patternmaker before moving into engineering design with Austin Rover in 1985. A short spell in finance for Land Rover was followed by a move into Rover Group Corporate Communications in 1996 where Michael worked on all of the Rover Group products; Rover, Land Rover, MG and MINI. Michael transferred to BMW NA to take up the role as Press Manager, in 2000. An avid soccer fan, he lives in New Jersey with his wife Carole and new born son, Aedan. Michael is 36.Andrew Cutler is currently the Communications Specialist for the MINI division of BMW. The second member to be appointed to the MINI division in North America, Andrew was promoted to his current position in April of 2000 to help launch initial communicatiosn for the MINI brand. Prior to his transfer to MINI, Andrew worked on the BMW side of the business in Corporate Communications from 1997. In this role he served as company spokesperson, handling product placement to the media. Andrew started his professional career in 1993 at BMW NA Corporate Communications working on product launch and media communications activities in the Product Information Group. He is 31 and resides in New Jersey.
McLaren At SEMA
This note from In The Fast Lane, the official newsletter of McLaren Performance Technologies (MPT). SEAMO member and MPT boss Steve Rossi reports that, for the first time, MPT will be on hand at the SEMA Show as an exhibitor. "Do stop by space number 6214 to see us--just West of the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Mopar exhibit in the Center Hall (North of the Hyundai stand)," said Steve. "While we are participating in our own small way, our booth will be a re-creation of what you now see on our recently redesigned website: ." For those who may not already know Steve, before he took over the reigns at McLaren, he was the U.S. PR boss for DaimlerChrysler, having also held similar positions at Mercedes and GM.
On The Lighter Side
You know you're having a "Really Bad" day when:You wake up face down on the pavement.
You jump out of bed in the morning and miss the floor.
Your wife says, "Good Morning, John!" but your name is Dave.
Your bar of Ivory soap sinks.
You put both contact lenses in the same eye.
The bird singing outside your window is a vulture.
A 60 Minutes news team is waiting in your outer office.
The Gypsy fortuneteller offers to refund your money.
Your boss tells you not to bother to remove your coat.
Your pet rock snaps at you.
You call suicide prevention, and they put you on hold.
Your twin sister forgets your birthday.
Your income tax refund check bounces.
Your doctor tells you that you're allergic to chocolate.
Your blind date turns out to be your ex-spouse.Next Issue Due Out 12/15/01 - Deadline For Materials 12/10/01
Contact Info & Links
Here's how to join SEAMO, be added to or removed from the mailing list, submit news items or photos for upcoming newsletters, or just make your opinion known.Send your comments, complaints, newsletter submissions or mailing list updates to:
South East Automotive Media Organization
4429 Back Creek Church Road
Charlotte, NC 28213-5251Or e-mail to: Tom Kelley, Executive Administrator