Zan is President & CEO of Martin & Company, and has been attending the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show for more than half of her life! SEMA is the nearly 7,000 member strong trade organization governing the automotive aftermarket. The annual SEMA Show, held the first week in November in Las Vegas, NV is the world's largest automotive trade show, and attracts over 100,000 attendees from more than 100 different countries. After working her way from Art Director to Account Executive to Vice President of a prominent agency that specialized in the aftermarket, Zan & her husband Randy formed their agency in 1993. Within the first year, they had landed accounts like Bridgestone/Firestone, Gabriel Shocks & Sruts & Maremont Exhaust. Since then, they have never looked back, and have absolutely loved the ride. In fact, Zan has constantly increased her participation in this industry she so loves, and has been a member of the SEMA Business Women's Network (SBN) for 18 years, and served as its Chair from 2003-2005. During her tenure, her committee implemented the now industry wide SEMA Mentorship Program, as well as the Businesswoman of the Year Award. She has been a member of the Light Truck & Accessory Association for 14 years, and has been a member of the SEMA Board of Directors since 2009, where she serves as Chair of its Marketing Task Force. To date, her committee has raised over three $ million worth of free advertising among the endemic press to raise awareness of SEMA programs such as the organization itself, as well as the SEMA Action Network (SAN) that helps protect the legislative rights of automotive hobbyists nationwide.
Randy is the CFO and creative genius behind the more than 28 Automotive Aftermarket Global Design Awards garnered by Martin & Company. In fact, if it has anything to do with creativity, Randy excels at it. He has designed album covers for nearly every country music artist in Nashville, and is himself a very gifted song writer. He actually quit his job as Art Director at CBS Records when he & Zan formed the agency. Framed images of his artwork, dating back to when he was a young boy cover the office walls. Pencil, chalk, acrylic, watercolor, oil, clay, wood, you name it, he's worked in the medium. His current favorite is wood carving. He has carved hundreds of birds of prey, songbirds and waterfowl for collectors from all over the country and abroad. He was commissioned to carve an intricate Hummingbird for the Vice President of Nippon Telephone & Telegraph Company, Japan's largest corporation, and was chosen to carve a detailed bluebird ornament for the White House Christmas Tree, which is today a part of its permanent collection. It is this type of creativity that he brings to every branding campaign Martin & Company brainstorms and then implements on behalf of its myriad of clients.
Rachal grew up with a wrench in her hand at her dad's shop and traveling around to NHRA Drag Races all over the east. She worked for several Race teams doing public relations as early as high-school and through-out college as well as competing herself. While completing her internship in the marketing department at Jet-Hot Coatings, Rachal attended her first SEMA show in 1994 and was hooked on the aftermarket. After Jet-Hot, Rachal learned more about product management while empoyed at the Eastwood Company on the Product Team. She specifically managed the monthly catalog production and new product introductions. Life sometime takes us on an unexpected path and for Rachal that was moving from automotive to the motorcoach industry, then to travel and tourism and finally to hospitality and entrainment over the past several years. Rachal's return to the aftermarket is described by agency president Zan Martin: “I had this idea, that now was the time to begin forming strategic alliances with events and activities that were not “automotive specific,” but catered to the same demographic as our industry’s core audience. I had occasion to work with Rachal while she served as an sales manager with Gaylord Entertainment here in Nashville, and was so impressed, we began conversation, and it is a dream come true to have her make the decision to join our ranks.”
Gregory has been working in or around ad agencies for most of his decade long professional life. After recieving a degree in graphic arts and marketing at Austin Peay Statue University in Clarksville, Tennesssee he worked for The Maverick Group, a well known agency in the Nashville market. Working with national and international accounts such as DeBeers, Wal-Mart, Service Merchandise, the NHL and more, Gregory learned the ropes at a super fast pace. Entering the automotive aftermarket in 2004 by accepting a position as the Marketing Director for P&E Distributors, a wholesale distributor in the southeast market, Gregory was able to learn the ins and outs of 3-step distribution, new line and new product marketing, and budget creation, as well as staying true to his creative side by over seeing the production of print catalogs, ecommerce websites and more. Gregory is also involved in SEMA by serving as the chairmen of the SEMA Young Executive’s Network and was nominated for the SEMA Young Executive of the Year in 2009 and 2010. Gregory also serves on the SEMA Cares Advisory Committee, which benefits Victory Junction Gang Camp and ChildHelp, and on the SEMA Scholarship Fund Committee, which benefits current and prior college students who are working in or aspiring to start a career in the automotive aftermarket.
Brian brings with him 28 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket where he has served in numerous management capacities specializing mostly in the racing sector. “Brian came to us highly recommended by numerous industry insiders,” says Zan Martin. “And as the agency becomes more and more diversified with the ever expanding effects of internet advertising & the social media explosion, we just could not find enough time in the day to stay on top of everything. Brian is the perfect fit for us, and being a true gear head simply sealed the deal.”In fact, when our newly completed four year long '57 Chevy project car build came to a conclusion, we simply could not figure out why the engine kept racing so high at shift change. Brian checked under the hood, added a second spring to the throttle, and then we were good to go. On-site mechanics are always welcome! Brian has managed automotive dealerships from the east coast to the southern states, and has strong skill sets in both operations management, and human resources. It has taken quite a load off of CEO & President Zan Martin to position Brian as General Manager and Director of Human Resources of Martin & Company.
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