B&M's Jim Cozzie named SEMA Person of the Year

National Dragster, Jan 28, 2005

Each year since 1969, the Specialty Equipment Market Association has honored one outstanding individual in the industry by naming him or her SEMA Person of the Year. Most recently, the honor was bestowed upon Jim Cozzie, vice president of sales for B&M Racing and Performance Products. The Person of the Year award, one of SEMA's most prestigious honors, is presented in front of thousands of industry leaders and professionals during the annual Industry Awards banquet during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

"I've always known that I've been fortunate to work in an industry I love," Cozzie said after receiving the award in November. "Standing up [to receive the award], I saw all of the people I grew up admiring as my heroes. Being honored by those same people - there are no words to describe that feeling."

Cozzie (pictured) has worked in the aftermarket industry since 1979 and with B&M Racing and Performance for 15 years. He is actively involved with both the industry and with SEMA. In addition to having served on the SEMA board of directors, Cozzie was involved with numerous SEMA committees, councils, and task forces such as the International Task Force and SEMA's Political Action Committee, Show Committee, and Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council.

"I think that the industry challenges that lie ahead of us are far greater than in the past," said Cozzie. "The only way to protect our business is to make sure we have a common voice ... SEMA's that voice."

Other individuals in the motorsports industry who have received the SEMA Person of the Year honor include NHRA founder Wally Parks, Petersen Publishing's Robert Petersen, Hypertech's Amy Faulk; Comp Cams' Ron Coleman, Nate Shelton (formerly of K&N Engineering), and Dick Wells of SEMA and NHRA. SEMA presents the award in recognition and support of ongoing leadership and excellence in the industry.

SEMA Memorial Scholarship applications for the 2005-06 academic school year are now available. Funds are awarded to qualifying students who are pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. Applications are available at www.sema.org/education or by contacting education@sema.org.

Registration information for the 2005 SEMA International Auto Salon, to be held May 20-22 in Atlantic City, N.J., is at www.semaias.com. IAS, the only SEMA-sponsored trade show open to consumers, features new products and leading manufacturers in the sport compact industry. Details are available online.