2025 SEMA Content Creator, Gen-III Innovator & Person of the Year Announced
The awards recognize the recipients’ outstanding contributions to the specialty equipment industry over a yearlong period…
SEMA announced the winners of its Content Creator of the Year, Gen-III Innovator of the Year, and Person of the Year awards. Presented during the SEMA Industry Honors at the 2025 SEMA Show, these awards recognize industry members for their significant and transformative contributions to the automotive aftermarket during the past year, SEMA officials stated in a press release.
Person of the Year: Dean Case (Motivo Engineering)
An unwavering advocate for SEMA and the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), Dean Case played an instrumental role in bridging the gap between the aftermarket industry and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) community in 2025, noted the release.
SEMA says Case was pivotal to the success of the ETTN/SAE student career event at the SEMA Garage, the largest career fair the association has ever hosted. The impact of this event extended far beyond attendance numbers; it also created meaningful connections with students and educators, helping to attract fresh talent into the industry.
Through Case’s contributions, the event brought together a diverse range of experts, actively engaged schools, and was carefully documented through professional videography, amplifying SEMA’s mission to a wider audience, officials said.
Gen-III Innovator of the Year: Andrius Liskus (LABA7, UAB)
SEMA says Andrius Liskus solved a major barrier in advanced suspension testing: accessibility. High-speed, high-precision damper testing typically requires large, stationary machines with high-voltage, high-amperage power inputs, which limits their use to specialized R&D facilities.
With the EMA, or Electromagnetic Damper Test System, Liskus and his team developed a solution that delivers lab-grade performance—up to 7,000 mm/s velocity, 100 G acceleration and 150 Hz frequency—while running from a standard 110V socket. The system condenses energy using supercapacitors to drive electromagnetic motors efficiently and with precision.
This means cutting-edge damper testing no longer needs to be tied to infrastructure-heavy environments, the release continued. Race teams, independent developers and workshops can now run the same level of dynamic testing that was once only available inside OEM labs. The EMA is even transportable, making it viable for on-site testing and trackside diagnostics.
Content Creator of the Year: Westen Champlin
The SEMA Content Creator of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates a content creator’s exceptional dedication to enriching automotive culture. This accolade applauds Westen Champlin’s significant impact in shaping a vibrant community and fostering a positive environment among automotive enthusiasts.
Garnering over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, 3.8 million followers on TikTok, 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 3.3 million followers on Facebook, his creative efforts on social media have not only elevated the discourse around automotive passions but have also inspired a deeper appreciation for the art and innovation within the industry, officials stated.
