The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced the addition of Lauren Wilbor as manager of digital communications and partnerships, a move aimed at expanding the organization’s outreach to automotive enthusiasts and online creators.
“It is with great excitement that we add someone of Lauren Wilbor’s caliber to the SEMA Government Affairs team,” said Karen Bailey-Chapman, SEMA’s senior vice president for public and government affairs. “Lauren brings a unique set of skills to grassroots organizing, and we’re excited to tap into her expertise to engage not just our members, but also the broader community of automotive enthusiasts, to affect change on the issues that matter most to their passions.”
Based in SEMA’s Washington, D.C., office, Wilbor will spearhead outreach initiatives with diverse stakeholders, including influencers and content creators within the automotive community. Her extensive background in grassroots advocacy, including her tenure as Field Director for United Democracy Project, equips her to build connections across political and economic divides. At United Democracy Project, Wilbor led the organization’s first field organizing effort, helping to secure key congressional victories. She has also run nationwide advocacy campaigns focusing on legislative priorities for the oil and gas sector.
Wilbor expressed enthusiasm for her new role, citing a personal connection to the automotive aftermarket industry.
“I grew up around cars, and through my family have experienced first-hand the innovation and excitement that comes from the automotive aftermarket industry,” she said. “The best advocates bring with them an infectious energy and willingness to share their stories and perspectives, and that to me describes perfectly the outlook of those in the community of automotive enthusiasts with whom I’ll be meeting and supporting on a daily basis.”
SEMA, which represents an industry contributing $337 billion annually to the U.S. economy, views Wilbor’s expertise as instrumental in maintaining and expanding this impact. By leveraging her skills in grassroots organizing and digital communication, SEMA aims to unite its members and the wider enthusiast community to advocate for policies that protect and promote the automotive aftermarket sector.
A native of San Diego, Wilbor holds a political science degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her addition to SEMA’s Government Affairs team marks a significant step forward in the organization’s ability to engage with the next generation of automotive advocates.
