What the SEMA Show means to me.

Posted on by Charlton Ochoa

This year marks my 14th at the SEMA Show, and every time, it’s an absolute honor to stand among my peers in this incredible industry we all know and love. A large part of our growth as a team is thanks to this show. It’s been a space where we’ve forged long-lasting relationships that go far beyond just work. We always look forward to catching up with old friends, seeing what everyone has been up to, and immersing ourselves in the energy of it all—it’s truly an incredible experience.

One thing that always amazes me is the new wave of automotive enthusiasts and builders. They’re doing such an incredible job carrying the torch for our industry. Despite the challenges that come with evolving technology, I have no doubt about the bright future of our community. However, I’m not a fan of the “rage-bait” culture that sometimes creeps in. It’s unfortunate that low-quality or even deceptive work occasionally gets an outsized amount of attention. Meanwhile, truly deserving builds often don’t receive the recognition they’ve earned. Sure, the very best builds usually get their due, but the way algorithms propel the wrong things forward can be disheartening. This isn’t limited to the automotive world, but it’s something I hope to see change. My goal is to showcase the incredible experiences and benefits the SEMA Show has brought to us, shining a light on the positivity that fuels our passion.

Our team has grown significantly over the years. From those early days of putting everything we had into earning our place in the industry as honest, high-quality contributors, to now running production on a Concours event, it’s been an incredible journey. One of my favorite parts is bringing new people to the show—especially those who have never been before. Seeing their faces light up as they walk the halls, overwhelmed by the stunning builds, talented people, and the electric atmosphere, is a joy that never gets old.

Bisi Ezerioha of Bismoto Engineering and Christopher Harris of the African American Automotive Association

This year, our focus was a little different. We teamed up with our good friend, The Big Mike, and leaned even heavier into our style—the JDM/Sport Compact community. It was an honor to interview some incredible builders, industry contributors, and more. Sharing their stories with the world brings us so much joy. The week itself can be intense; the time-sensitive reveals and stories require quick action. But we had so much fun pumping out viral reels and high-quality photos in such a short timeframe.

Even after 15+ years, we’re still learning. You’d think it might get harder to find new lessons, but staying open to growth is what keeps us ahead of the curve. It’s a simple truth, but one that sometimes requires conscious effort. This year, we walked away not only with new content and stories but with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. And that, to me, is what the SEMA Show is all about.
There’s a plethora of blogs that provide technical details about cars, and while we’ve done that in the past, it’s not the direction we chose to take this year. Instead, our interviews and reels will tell that story in a more dynamic and engaging way. Our goal is to take you along on this incredible journey—from South Florida to Las Vegas—as what started as a group of kids who loved cars has grown into an up-and-coming brand making meaningful contributions to the automotive culture. It’s surreal to see our efforts recognized and celebrated in this space we’ve always admired.
So stick with us as we spend this time post-SEMA not only preparing for other events but also taking you back with us in the highest quality possible. Hopefully, if you’ve never been, we’ll inspire you to find your place in the industry and make your way to the show next year. Or, if you’ve been going for 20 years, reignite that flame and continue growing our beloved culture through one of its many avenues. See you next year. In the meantime—let’s go!