Coker Tire has announced Executive Vice President, Wade Kawasaki, is being recognized as one of the newest members of the Specialty Equipment Marketers Association (SEMA) Hall Of Fame for 2013. In making its decision, SEMA cited Kawasaki’s position as one of the automotive hobby’s most influential business leaders and his more than 30 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket.
In addition to Kawasaki, the ceremony, held July 26 at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center in Pomona, Calif., will also recognize legendary car customizer George Barris, as well as former SEMA Executive Director Eric Grant and drag racer Joe Schubeck.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers in an industry I truly love,” said Kawasaki. “I’ve been blessed to get to work with so many people I enjoy, and if it wasn’t for the mentors that I met in getting involved in SEMA, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
Kawasaki’s passion for the auto industry reflects why SEMA chose him for the 2013 Hall of Fame class. Kawasaki was introduced to the hobby at 10 years old when he began working for his father at a local Shell station pumping gas and doing light mechanic work. In the following years, Kawasaki worked for a number of SEMA member companies where he had a variety of retail and managerial responsibilities.
In 1987, Kawasaki founded Exports International – a company his wife, Rose, runs today – specializing in the wholesale distribution and export of American-made automotive aftermarket products to overseas customers. Currently, Kawasaki serves as the Executive Vice President of The Coker Group where he is responsible for overseeing new business acquisitions, structuring global distribution and manufacturing, as well as managing corporate governance, marketing and overall corporate infrastructure. He is based out of the Coker Group’s new West Coast headquarters in The City of Industry, Calif.
Prior to this year’s Hall of Fame recognition, Kawasaki has also been honored with several prestigious awards and has held key positions with SEMA including:
• 1994’s SEMA Young Executive of the Year
• 2007’s SEMA Person of the Year
• Recipient of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Athena Award in 2010
• SEMA Board member for three consecutive terms from 1996-2002
• Member of the Automotive Parts Advisory Council focusing on the auto parts trade in Asian markets from 1999-2004
For additional information on Wade Kawasaki or the Coker Group, visit www.cokertire.com.
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