Incoming YEN Chair Rory Connell foresees YEN being at the forefront of key SEMA initiatives such as youth engagement and member connectivity.
Rory Connell’s career in the automotive aftermarket began when he followed his automotive passion by attending Wyotech, an automotive technical school. While there, he learned trades such as welding, sewing, painting and more. Upon graduation, he worked on cars at West Coast Customs, Barry’s Speed Shop and Callaway Cars. Connell feels that the skills he learned while at school and working in shops were tremendous strengths when he transitioned to the manufacturing side of the industry. He recently began working for Advanced Accessory Concepts, a startup company.
Connell has enjoyed his time serving on the YEN select committee and sees it as an opportunity to lead young people down a similar path to becoming connected to the industry. Under his leadership, he foresees YEN being on the forefront of key SEMA initiatives, such as youth engagement and member connectivity.
Kirstin Stone is excited about her new role as chair-elect and is looking forward to helping other young professionals grow.
Kirstin Stone is passionate about the industry. On an average Saturday, you can find her either at the track watching drag races or in her garage wrenching on her LS-powered Mustang.
Kirstin has a background in marketing, starting with working for a cylinder-head manufacturer and then spending several years with a turbo manufacturer.
When she saw an opportunity to help small businesses and new manufacturers identify new target markets and grow their businesses, she switched gears and started Reaction Time Marketing, which she owned and operated.
Then she was offered a position with COMP Performance Group and saw it as an opportunity to grow and work with industry leaders within the company. She packed up and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and she hasn’t looked back.
Stone is excited as she steps into her new role as chair-elect and is looking forward to helping expand the network to help other young professionals grow their personal networks.