Denise Johnson Waddingham: Can you hear me?
Jesse Stoddard: I can hear you just fine.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Okay.
Jesse Stoddard: Hi Denise and your
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I was and my cat.
Jesse Stoddard: cat.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: When I first when I first joined it’s like speaker not working. I’m like no.
Jesse Stoddard: Who is what’s your cat’s name there?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: His name is Pepper.
Jesse Stoddard: Pepper. Oh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes. And our dog’s name is Sarge.
Jesse Stoddard: Pepper.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So we have Sergeant Pepper. Right.
Jesse Stoddard: That is great.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I know.
Jesse Stoddard: Uh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So good.
Jesse Stoddard: does Pepper just kind of take over? Um,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: The thing is anytime he hears me get onto a video
Jesse Stoddard: he needs attention.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: call, boom, he’s right here.
Jesse Stoddard: Yeah,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m like, dude,
Jesse Stoddard: he’s Well,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: not very professional,
Jesse Stoddard: maybe he’s just trying to help you.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: right?
Jesse Stoddard: He feels like you need a
 

00:01:04

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Well,
Jesse Stoddard: co-pilot.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: most of the time it’s his backside that everyone sees. And I’m like, nobody needs to see that. Nobody needs that. H You know,
Jesse Stoddard: I’m so sorry.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m sorry for everyone who sees it
Jesse Stoddard: That’s great. Oh, how uh how old is that cat?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: exhibitionist. I think he’ll be five this year.
Jesse Stoddard: All right.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I think he’ll be six. He’s a COVID cat. So,
Jesse Stoddard: Okay.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: we got him during CO because we thought Sarge needed a brother.
Jesse Stoddard: Nice.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He’s the alpha and weighs nine pounds.
Jesse Stoddard: I love it.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So,
Jesse Stoddard: Ah,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: yeah.
Jesse Stoddard: nice. Yeah, we have two Pomeranians.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I love
Jesse Stoddard: So, uh they are um they are sleeping over on the floor right now.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: palms.
Jesse Stoddard: But they’ll come and bug me soon.
 
 

00:01:54

 
Jesse Stoddard: They they they conserve energy all day long sleeping so that they can harass us all night and all morning.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Of course,
Jesse Stoddard: Yeah. So they Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: they’re like a cat.
Jesse Stoddard: When when nobody’s here, they just like go on dormant mode, preserve energy, wait till we come in, and then go nuts.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yep, that’s about right.
Jesse Stoddard: Constant
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I mean,
Jesse Stoddard: harassment.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: he has plenty of things over by the window he could be sitting on because he’s staring at birds, but he chooses to be on the edge of my desk.
Jesse Stoddard: Oh, well, hey, I hope Josh shows up. If he doesn’t, I’m going to interview you. But I hope he shows up because um and he might be just running a couple minutes
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He’s breaking up with me.
Jesse Stoddard: late.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Jesse tell you,
Jesse Stoddard: I’m going to send out the link again just in case. And I’m just I’m good.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: how are you doing?
 
 

00:02:48

 
Jesse Stoddard: Thank you. I’m I’m really I’m I’m doing good. Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Good.
Jesse Stoddard: Um Yeah. Uh busy like crazy busy. Lots of change. This year was a lot of change.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: All
Jesse Stoddard: Um I’m excited about the SEMA Pro stuff.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: right.
Jesse Stoddard: Uh I’m excited about um being more involved in that. I think that’s actually one of the more fun things I get to do. It’s kind of like the highlight of my of my year. Uh not just this not just SEMA, but like when I went to California, that was a big deal. Um, I really really uh learned a lot and I I really enjoy it. So, and I like doing the volunteer stuff. Um, I think that’s all been great. The the things outside of of that are what are more of a challenge,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Good.
Jesse Stoddard: you know, so we had to let some people go. Uh, I’ve had like a really a lot of highs and lows.
 
 

00:03:38

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh my gosh.
Jesse Stoddard: It’s been like a roller coaster this year for my business. some we had our our really great one of the best years ever, but also some of the worst months ever, you know, and it was just so a lot of lot of stuff to grow and learn from and challenges, but I think you come out stronger.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: All good.
Jesse Stoddard: Come out
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Jesse Stoddard: stronger.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Seriously, I’m gonna have to move this cat out of my I mean,
Jesse Stoddard: The tail. The tail. Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: come on. Why don’t you go over there? child.
Jesse Stoddard: And uh how about you?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: That’s it.
Jesse Stoddard: How are how are you doing in general? Doing well.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m doing well. Yeah. Um, you know, family’s good. That’s all good. It’s just for work. It’s a crazy time because all of our long range planning meetings are coming up now.
 
 

00:04:35

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So getting ready to do travel and meet with all my incredible volunteers and um so yeah, the chaos is going to start here pretty soon.
Jesse Stoddard: Uh there’s there’s a lot that you do.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: That’s okay.
Jesse Stoddard: There’s a lot.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: A little bit.
Jesse Stoddard: Well, um I tell you what,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: A little
Jesse Stoddard: if Josh doesn’t show up,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: bit.
Jesse Stoddard: which he isn’t, I’m going to just start. Can we just start?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah, I am going to ask him if he broke up with me.
Jesse Stoddard: He might have.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I tell
Jesse Stoddard: We’ll give I’ll give him one more
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you,
Jesse Stoddard: minute.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I hope everything’s
Jesse Stoddard: And uh yeah,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: okay.
Jesse Stoddard: sometimes he gets busy.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Sure he does. Sure he
Jesse Stoddard: I I actually think he’s insanely busy now and and tries to cover it up.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: does.
Jesse Stoddard: Like I think he he like doesn’t let on, but he’s probably totally overwhelmed, but he’s just good at playing cool.
 
 

00:05:33

 
Jesse Stoddard: So, but I actually think he’s probably insanely busy and then putting a lot of pressure on him.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that
Jesse Stoddard: All the stuff that he’s trying to do. And that’s what you get for being for for being like ambitious.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: right.
Jesse Stoddard: That’s his punishment for being ambitious.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He wants to do it all. He wants to do it
Jesse Stoddard: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: all.
Jesse Stoddard: Well, let’s get started. I we do a little bit of editing to these. So, you know, we get rid of the the front and the end,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Jesse Stoddard: but I’ll just do a quick intro and then we’re just going to have a nice conversation, dive right into it. If Josh joins us, wonderful. And if he doesn’t, no big deal. Um because I I actually am excited to just interview you.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Okay.
Jesse Stoddard: So,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: The more you
Jesse Stoddard: I’ll do my I’ll I’ll do I’ll we’ll keep it light and easy.
 
 

00:06:12

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: know
Jesse Stoddard: I’ll do a quick intro here. Okay. So, hey, uh welcome to another episode of the Ride and Style podcast. Uh really excited today for our guest Denise Wattingham who’s the director of council and
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Those
Jesse Stoddard: networks for SEMA and uh works with FLN Pro Torah. Uh am I missing anything?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: three. Those
Jesse Stoddard: And also helps immensely with the SEMA show with those councils and networks.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: three.
Jesse Stoddard: And uh you’re involved a little bit in the PRI show. Is that correct?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: There’s some of our groups that do things at the performing racing industry show.
Jesse Stoddard: Okay, great.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Jesse Stoddard: Well, thank you for being here first of all.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Thank you for having me. I’m
Jesse Stoddard: Awesome. I want to get I want to start with the the history.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: excited.
Jesse Stoddard: We like getting backgrounds on folks. So, I would I would like go into the time machine.
 
 

00:07:05

 
Jesse Stoddard: Let’s go back to the beginning. Like, how did you even get involved in the industry at all and where did you get started? And oh, before you do, Josh Pollson’s here, my co-host. Hey, Josh.
Josh Poulson: Sorry.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: That was scary for a minute, Josh.
Josh Poulson: She’s like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: A little frightened
Josh Poulson: “Did she sent me a text? Did you break up with me?” And I was like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: there.
Josh Poulson: “Oh, man. I thought it was supposed to be in seven minutes, but like most of our dates, I was late.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s all good. It is all good.
Josh Poulson: Man, you even you look so fancy.
Jesse Stoddard: I was just
Josh Poulson: You look beautiful. Look how dressed up she is, Jesse,
Jesse Stoddard: great.
Josh Poulson: for our podcast.
Jesse Stoddard: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: for you guys. Yes, that’s
Josh Poulson: I feel I feel
Jesse Stoddard: Uh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: right.
Josh Poulson: honored.
Jesse Stoddard: and and I think I think she has a necklace and it was made and it says Ry and Style Podcast on it.
 
 

00:07:51

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It does.
Jesse Stoddard: So, see if
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s exactly what it Yes,
Josh Poulson: Oh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: it’s in your handwriting, too,
Jesse Stoddard: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Jesse.
Josh Poulson: wow.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Fantastic.
Josh Poulson: Wow.
Jesse Stoddard: Uh Josh, I was just asking her how she got into the industry and where she started and uh that’s where that’s where when you jumped in. So,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: Great.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Josh, do you want to answer this for me? You’ve probably have done all your research.
Josh Poulson: Oh, I know everything about
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh my goodness. When did I get into the industry?
Josh Poulson: you.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: That that dates me. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in the late 1900s. So, it would be 1995, I think. Um, and moved back home and started working for a manufacturing company in De Mo, Iowa, DZ manufacturing.
Josh Poulson: Very popular.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s my first Yes.
Josh Poulson: Very popular in the aftermarket world.
 
 

00:08:49

 
Josh Poulson: DZ.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes. Um, my very first real job.
Josh Poulson: DZ.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I was the receptionist there. You know, I needed a job. Um,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I knew people who worked there. So I started working there and then I jumped to doing some accounting for them and then some marketing. My my degree was in communications at uni. So marketing really fit in. And when you’re young and naive, you think everything is greener on the outside. So something came up that offered me more money. And when you’re 20ome years old, you think, yes, that’s that’s what we do. So I I left DY and seven years
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: later I went back to Dezy. So I had lots of lots of different different jobs within there. I even sold cars for a while. Do you remember Saturn?
Josh Poulson: What? Oh, yeah. I do remember that.
 
 

00:09:42

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Do you remember the Saturn car company?
Josh Poulson: Oh, yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh yeah,
Josh Poulson: You sold Saturns.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I was a I was a Saturn car salesperson.
Josh Poulson: The LS1 and two.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I had an SL1 manual transmission. My first car. Yeah.
Josh Poulson: It’s very stylish.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: It was. Let me guess. It was probably blue.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: No, it was not blue.
Josh Poulson: No.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It was green. It was green. Yeah,
Josh Poulson: Oh.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: manual transmission. It was green, but I still kept in contact with everyone at DZ. So, I had a really good support group there and something came up and I went back and I was there until 2020. So, 15 years at DZ. um anywhere from I started in scheduling out on the production floor and then I moved to customer service and then I created a position for customer service manager. We didn’t really have anyone who was managing things.
 
 

00:10:36

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So I took the the reigns on that got to go to my first SEMA show in 2011 as an exhibitor and started volunteering for SEMA with the SEMA business women’s network. That’s the first time I got to meet Josh and No,
Josh Poulson: Wait a minute. That wasn’t 2011, though.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: no, no,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that that was a few years after that.
Josh Poulson: Okay.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um,
Josh Poulson: Okay.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: and so I got more involved with SEMA and this position opened up for council director and I always said I thought I was going to retire from DZ. great company, great people, um very supportive, and I always said to myself, if I ever left Easy, I would work for SEMA and thought, that’s not going to happen, you know, and then it it kind of happened and put me in a spot of, oh my gosh, now what do I do? Do I stay here? Do I go? Um, and with lots of soulseeking and talking with Jamie, my husband and family, I’m like, you know what?
 
 

00:11:42

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You need to invest in yourself. You need to go with what your heart’s saying. And I joined SEMA as staff and get to work with incredible volunteers and haven’t looked back. So, yeah, it’s good.
Josh Poulson: Now tell I mean she shortch changed herself on all the stuff she did for DZ.
Jesse Stoddard: It’s
Josh Poulson: I mean think about all I mean think about all the times Jesse do you know what it takes to move an exhibitor in and out of a SEMA booth.
Jesse Stoddard: got to be
Josh Poulson: It’s oh and Denise is like oh here you go do that every year
Jesse Stoddard: horrible.
Josh Poulson: too.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah, I I handled our SEMA stuff. the the marketing team really dealt with the booth, creating the booth, getting the booth in there and everything, but logistics wise, I did, you know, the travel and the hotels and doing the meetings and getting everyone’s um shirts ready and what are we
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: wearing and you both are familiar with the survival guide that I send out when we go to
 
 

00:12:39

 
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: long range planning meetings that came from my time at DZ. So, um, yeah, kind of a lot of getting the right people in the right spots.
Josh Poulson: And I think every company has that person, Jesse, where it’s like, okay, well, if we don’t know who this should do this, then give it to this person. And that was Denise probably at DZ in a lot of ways. Like, we don’t know exactly where this fits in. So, my job description is miscellaneous.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s true. It’s it’s on that job description,
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you know, and other other assignments. It just it opens up. But the really cool thing is when I then joined SEMA, I still got to work with all of those people that I had worked with for 15 years, not only at DZ, but all of the other members and companies and volunteers that I had worked with when I’d go to trade shows um when I was at DZ and I’d go to other events.
 
 

00:13:33

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So, I still had that same community, which was really nice. It’s really nice.
Jesse Stoddard: So, Denise, I need to know. I’ve been afraid to ask for a while, but in your like um in your emails you send out, you have some um you have letters after your name, those acronyms.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I just made those up.
Jesse Stoddard: I was going to say,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: They don’t mean anything.
Jesse Stoddard: did you just kind of randomly type and just whatever landed
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I did.
Jesse Stoddard: there?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I used GPT and it pulled those up.
Jesse Stoddard: like it’s Swingingham,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: There are a couple things.
Jesse Stoddard: PhD and director of NASA something like that right
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes, Dr. Wattingham is my name. Um, no, there is MBL.
Jesse Stoddard: doctor.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So when I was in my early 40s, I decided to go back to school and get my masters. So I was working 40 hours a week and I was going to school night classes and got my master’s of business
 
 

00:14:20

 
Jesse Stoddard: Wow.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: leadership. So that’s the MBL,
Jesse Stoddard: Cool.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: not to be confused with an MBA. So I know how to lead, not administer. I guess we could say that’s what it is.
Josh Poulson: Oh. Oh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I am a leader.
Josh Poulson: MBL is way more important.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It is. It is.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: And then QAS is qualified association specialist.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I think you need to look at that one again. So I did some trainings to get qualified to be an association person because I came from, you know, the private company forprofit to association and there is there’s a big difference there. And so I wanted to learn some ins and outs. So I did that on my own too and got some some background so I could better support not only see of the association but the volunteers and members who are part of
Jesse Stoddard: So, now that we’re in the present day, tell us what you’re doing now.
 
 

00:15:14

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: it.
Jesse Stoddard: What what tell us a little bit more about your role and what what do you do and and what actually we have some people listening to this I know that are there’s restylers that aren’t even a part of SEMA yet or
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Mhm.
Jesse Stoddard: they’re not a part of SEMA pro or or anything and so maybe just tell a little bit of overview on that too like what is it and and what what do you do there?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Gosh, how much time do you have?
Jesse Stoddard: We have some time.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: There is a lot.
Jesse Stoddard: Couple
Denise Johnson Waddingham: A few minutes. Um, so what I do,
Jesse Stoddard: minutes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: my role, SEMA, for um those of you who may know and who may not know, you know, there we have over 7,000 member companies within SEMA. And those member companies, their employees are members of SEMA. So I work directly with individuals within SEMA member companies in a specific segment of the industry. Take for instance pro that’s your restylers.
 
 

00:16:14

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um you know I I work with I think about 13 of their we we call them select committee members. They are elected spots and um they the way I describe it is they are the the board of pro. So they would the be the ones who are leading pro and and I work with them directly with initiatives with resources with programs events that really benefit their members. I do that as well with Torah, which is your truck and off-road alliance, and then with FLN, which is your future leaders network. Um, so you have councils and networks, which can get confusing as well. Um but I work directly with the members and the volunteer leaders like we like like to call them to create those resources, those events, those programs that actually make an impact on their members in that segment of the industry. By doing that, I work with not only volunteers, so you have you two who are volunteering your time to help serve SEMA and the restyling segment, and then I work with my internal team to get those things done, whether it’s marketing needs or market research, advocacy with our public and government affairs team, the show team, um sales team.
 
 

00:17:38

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So, I’m kind of the conduit between this is what our members need, what they’re seeing, what we need to do. How do we make it done? Yeah,
Josh Poulson: Jesse,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that was a big
Josh Poulson: that is the that is the most politically correct statement I have heard in
Denise Johnson Waddingham: overview,
Josh Poulson: a long time. Okay, so let me tell you what I’ve what she should be typing on her
Denise Johnson Waddingham: please.
Josh Poulson: business card. Okay,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Okay, go.
Josh Poulson: is she is a mediation specialist.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Opposites.
Josh Poulson: Okay. Meaning she has this multi-million dollar nonprofit organization that is very well known, 150 employees of SEMA. She’s got a president, some VPs, a board of directors that are running this huge ship. All right? And that’s all. And then you have all these different segments and you got all these volunteers. So you got you got the mother ship saying, “These guys need to be doing this.” And then these volunteers come in,
 
 

00:18:36

 
Josh Poulson: go, “We’re not getting paid. we here’s what we think we need to be doing and they say and and they say Denise tell them this is what we’re going to do and then Denise has to go to the mothership and the mother ship says no tell those guys no we’re not doing this this is this so she has to very politely listen to
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s moving.
Josh Poulson: ideas and issues and problems and consoling and
Jesse Stoddard: an opinion. a lot of
Josh Poulson: opinions and and try yeah console and and try to appease
Jesse Stoddard: opinion,
Josh Poulson: both parties at all times times and she’s very good at
Denise Johnson Waddingham: cons.
Jesse Stoddard: which is which should be impossible except for somehow she pulls it
Josh Poulson: it. Somehow she pulls it off. And I think take for instance somebody I mean Jesse you’re low maintenance.
Jesse Stoddard: off.
Josh Poulson: I am what you call high maintenance. Okay. I have a um a little a little bit larger pie hole when it comes to opinions and wanting things done a certain way.
 
 

00:19:28

 
Josh Poulson: And in our normal everyday businesses that we own or run, we can do it. We can make decisions. It’s no big deal.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Love it.
Josh Poulson: If we want to change it, we just do it. And here’s what makes sense logically. Let’s do it.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Mhm.
Josh Poulson: Boom. We are fast little movers. She is asked, she’s holding on to the side of a battleship cruiser that’s going in one direction, yelling up to the captain, hey, here’s where I think some of these toeboats want to take us and expecting him to listen. So, you know, I really do feel for Denise in this role and she does a phenomenal job just with organizing, keeping people volunteers in line and everything like that. So, those are the little things that she doesn’t get credit for that nobody sees the hurting cats.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Is it the the hurting cats thing. Is that what we’re gonna do?
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: Yeah. I mean volunteers can you get different opinions you get you different um
 
 

00:20:18

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: personalities and then each and each council’s a
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You do and they change. So your volunteers, you know,
Josh Poulson: friend.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: they have term limits and then you you get build that rapport and you’re on the right track and then the leadership might change and it wants to pivot. So then you have to pivot with it. while still guiding it in the right direction.
Josh Poulson: And the chairs last two years and sometimes you want them to last longer and sometimes you want them to last just two years.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So,
Josh Poulson: I mean, let’s be honest, everything needs to move.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I mean, I was a volunteer. They I’m sure there was a few times my council director was like,
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: “She’s nuts. She’s nuts.” I’m like,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: “Why? Why can’t you do it?
Josh Poulson: Well,
Jesse Stoddard: Um,
Josh Poulson: go ahead,
Jesse Stoddard: speaking of challenges, what would you, if you had to think of maybe one of your biggest challenges in your career?
 
 

00:21:08

 
Josh Poulson: Jesse.
Jesse Stoddard: Uh, and it might be something from in the past too, maybe not, or it could be more recent. What What would you say is your biggest challenge and how do you get through it?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: The biggest challenge in my career, the biggest challenge for me period is
Josh Poulson: was Colby.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: the was not Colby
Josh Poulson: Oh, okay.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: was Josh
Josh Poulson: Ian,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Pollson.
Josh Poulson: I want names. Jesse wants stuff. I want name.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, let’s see. It was No. Um, it was my husband,
Josh Poulson: Scott. I called him Scott.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Scott.
Josh Poulson: I called him Scott one time wrong and she’s like, “His name’s Jamie.” I was like, “Well, it’s now it’s Jamie Scott because he doesn’t look like a Jamie.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You know, it’s Scott.
Josh Poulson: He looks like a Scott.” So, so now Denise and I both call him Jamie Scott.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He’s Scott. Um,
Josh Poulson: Yeah,
 
 

00:22:07

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: my biggest challenge has always been the ability to say no.
Josh Poulson: you are.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I I am a people pleaser.
Josh Poulson: Yeah, you are a people pleaser.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I am what you would call a harmonizer. I want to make sure everyone Yes. Get your harmonica out.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Let let’s let’s sing Kumbaya.
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I I want everyone to feel heard.
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I want to support everything and um like you said Josh with like at DZ who’s gonna do this well we know someone will do it and yes
Josh Poulson: We know somebody that won’t say no. Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: so that has always been a struggle but I have learned through dealing with both volunteers and with teammates that if you don’t put up some boundaries the the gray hair that’s coming in is going to come in a lot faster than it does. So, it’s a con continuing challenge that I work on daily. Saying no.
 
 

00:23:12

 
Josh Poulson: Well, I think you said that a lot to me,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: so you’re doing a good job.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I learned from Josh.
Josh Poulson: Um
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It only took two years to get through it and now I can finally say that’s the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. Never going to look back.
Josh Poulson: yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: Can you tell uh I mean and it’s and listen, you have the select committee, Jesse, you’re on the select committee. Um she has different select committees. Um but then once then then you have what’s called the leadership role. So you have the chair elect, the chair and then the immediate past chair IPC.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yep.
Josh Poulson: Uh speak to a little bit Denise on the difference in the relationship with the select committee members versus maybe
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Christ.
Josh Poulson: the uh leaders. What’s the difference in relationship the working? Because I mean listen I did all three of those roles and I I ca you were you came in when I was the uh you were with Dino.
 
 

00:24:03

 
Josh Poulson: So yeah, so I was I was just chair. So I got to work with you on all five or six years of those roles and and really you you get to
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yep.
Josh Poulson: really work together with people, get to know them. Obviously that’s why you know I love you to death and you were my work wife for five years and then before you divorced me but speak to that different what’s the difference in the relationship between the select committee members and
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m sorry. Sure.
Josh Poulson: the leadership part of the select comm and what do you what do you want to get out of them or what do you try to teach them?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So with all of our councils and networks, you have your members at large, which are every single individual or company that is a part of that specific council or network. Then the step up from that is you have your select committee. Jesse, you’re part of the select committee. So that’s kind of the board that they hear from their constituents, their members of this is what we need done and then I work with the select committee to get those things done.
 
 

00:25:01

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Now you can’t you should not have 13 or 14 people at the realm of any ship telling you what to do. That’s where your leadership roles come in. Your chairle, your chair, and your IPC. If you are new to SEMA, you will learn quickly that we love acronyms. So, IPC is immediate past chair.
Josh Poulson: I always called it something different, but that’s fine. Go ahead. It’s fine.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh,
Josh Poulson: That’s probably what it really Yeah,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I don’t even want to know what you what rating is this show.
Josh Poulson: you don’t want to know. You don’t want to know.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It’s G, right?
Josh Poulson: Well, it could change quickly,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: so let’s just move
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Good. Yeah. um your chair each of those positions they they hold a two-year term.
Josh Poulson: on.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So two years as chair elect, two years as chair, two years as IPC. So you are gifting me with six years of your life.
 
 

00:25:55

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: And what I mean by that is we get to know each other very very well. Jesse, as part of the select committee, you know that you attend a monthly select committee meeting for an hour where we talk about our strategic priorities and such. You attend long range planning meetings which are in person. Um you also attend some subcommittee meetings that talk specifically about whether it is um bless you whether it is communications or membership. The chair and chair elect they deal with all of that. So 1 hour meeting a month is is nothing. It’s an it’s an everyday conversation that we’re having whether it’s text, it’s email, they are the ones who are guiding the ship, talking with their select committee members, getting them either on board or pivoting if there’s something that we know can’t be done or we need to look at it in a different way. they are the leadership role that I work with directly to then relay that information down to those volunteers.
 
 

00:27:00

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So, it’s a you have to have a lot of um trust and respect for those people. That’s why Josh and I can laugh and joke because you really get to know them. And um what I look for in a chair and chair elect is someone who is very passionate about that segment of the industry. Someone who is willing to look outside the box. maybe we don’t do things the way we have because we’ve we’ve done that. Um, and someone who I know that we can we will have each other’s backs. While we may not always agree,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you have that joint trust and respect that you can have open dialogue as to how things are going. Um, and then moving on to your IPC, that’s when people like Josh go Bye everybody.
Josh Poulson: I stuck around. I stuck around.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes. Yes.
Josh Poulson: It’s because now because they changed
Denise Johnson Waddingham: And that has changed. Yes, that has changed.
 
 

00:28:00

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Immediate path chairs used to be there just as kind of a guide for those chair for the chair and chair elect to help them um better understand how to lead and if they have any questions or concerns they can they can go to them if they don’t want to come to me and talk about something.
Josh Poulson: But they didn’t but they didn’t have a vote,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: A few years they didn’t have a vote.
Josh Poulson: so their vote didn’t
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes, about four years ago,
Josh Poulson: count.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: the board changed it so the IPC’s had a vote. So, they’re not just there now to sit and listen in and give some guidance. They are still a part of the everyday conversation. And if there is a motion to approve something or want to do some new initiative,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: they have a say in that. So,
Josh Poulson: And it’s it makes so much more sense.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that really helped keep them engaged.
 
 

00:28:43

 
Josh Poulson: It makes them so much more sense because that,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It does.
Josh Poulson: you know, you could have a person that has 11 they’re in their 11th or 12th year guiding people that are in their first or second year and they’re not allowed to have a vote.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Mhm.
Josh Poulson: The most experienced person in the room can’t have a vote. It’s kind of crazy, but no, they did a great job in changing that, which just shows the reasonleness of SEMA.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: So, let’s get to some juicy stuff, Denise, without getting you in trouble because I know uh uh Spags might be listening or whatever.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: No.
Josh Poulson: So, so here. What is it?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Mhm.
Josh Poulson: What? Tell me something. And it’s okay. I listen, you can tell me. You Nobody Nobody really listens to this podcast anyway. What was a time when I ticked you off? And don’t ever say no.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: When you when you’ve ticked me off.
 
 

00:29:29

 
Josh Poulson: Don’t ever say it never happened. What? and or I made you feel like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m sure you have. Um,
Josh Poulson: “Oh, I want to stab him right now.” Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: it might be the I’m just going to do it.
Josh Poulson: Go ahead. Do it.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I think I think that’s what I’m just going to do it.
Josh Poulson: Oh, you mean when I said that?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes.
Josh Poulson: Oh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes.
Josh Poulson: yeah. Well,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You say that. Well,
Josh Poulson: that was that was a couple times.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m just gonna do it. I I’m like,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Josh, no. No. Please don’t. Okay. He did that.
Jesse Stoddard: I I thought Josh concluded every meeting with that statement.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He
Jesse Stoddard: So, isn’t that the end of every meeting like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: did.
Jesse Stoddard: “Oh, that’s it’s been nice hearing everyone’s opinion. I’m just going to go do
 
 

00:30:14

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m just gonna do this.
Josh Poulson: Yeah,
Jesse Stoddard: it.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m just I’m just I I’ll do I’ll pay for it.
Josh Poulson: I think the social media thing probably the social media thing probably put her in
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’ll pay for it.
Josh Poulson: the worst position. So, yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you know, but um in doing that, it was a good test pilot to really start pushing some things. Would I recommend anyone go about it the same way? Absolutely not.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I would not.
Josh Poulson: No,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I wouldn’t.
Josh Poulson: no, no. you you’ve done a good job of um probably seeing that coming and curtailing it
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: for because of the I felt like we were going 100 miles an hour and I was blindfolded driving and you were in the front seat going Josh please slow down and I was like listen what’s the worst thing that could happen yeah but
Denise Johnson Waddingham: We’re fine. We We got bumpers.
 
 

00:31:04

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: We’re fine. We’ll just run into
Josh Poulson: Jesse she really you know her and her her and the other directors they do a phenomenal job of
Denise Johnson Waddingham: something.
Josh Poulson: keeping cats hurting It’s unbelievable. What would you uh what do you see in five years? What do you see different in the volunteers? Because that’s what you touch a lot of. Uh what do you see? I mean, what would you like to see even?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: What would I like to see in five years? Retirement.
Josh Poulson: Whatever.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: No, not gonna have that.
Josh Poulson: You’re only 38.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh, you’re so sweet.
Josh Poulson: That always worked,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You are so sweet.
Josh Poulson: Jesse.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, I would really like to see as far as my groups go and my volunteers, some of the programs really grow more and and I’m talking in particular with Pro Cup
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Challenge. Um, when when I came in, you know, in 2020, I think 2019 was the first year for the Pro Cup Challenge.
 
 

00:32:03

 
Josh Poulson: Yep.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So, I came in in 2020 all raring to go, pandemic hit, there’s no show. So, it’s uh kind of put on the back burner for a little bit. But just seeing um that grow and make an such an impact for our not only the restylers but even for dealerships in those restyler areas for SEMA member manufacturers who can showcase their products. I would love to see that grow even bigger, you know, like Battle of the Builders bigger. Make it a big thing.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Make a show out of it. Maybe a podcast. Do you know anyone who who does a podcast that um No.
Josh Poulson: No, no.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um I I really want to help those programs grow. Sometimes it feels like you get stagnant in the way things are going. You just keep things going and going and going. I really want to find a way to excel all of those for all of our councils and networks.
 
 

00:33:12

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: show the true importance of those communities and how they can um bring benefits to all of SEMA members. If SEMA members aren’t a member of our council or network, I really think they’re missing out on some great opportunities. So maybe that should be a goal for me is how do I get the word out to get people more involved,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you
Josh Poulson: Do you think do you think that’s a why has that always been a struggle?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: know?
Josh Poulson: I mean, you were a volunteer for SBN.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Mhm.
Josh Poulson: We met in Panama City area.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes, we
Josh Poulson: Yep. And because you were they had a leadership summit.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: did.
Josh Poulson: So, you were a leader role for SBN. I was for pro and they had all the leaders down there. But that was even a topic way back then.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yep.
Josh Poulson: Why do we struggle getting volunteered? Why do you think from the from your perspective about both
 
 

00:34:03

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I think it’s because we don’t do I
Josh Poulson: sides?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: should say a good job. we could do a much better job of explaining and getting the word out as to what all SEMA offers people. When you say, “Hey, I work for SEMA.” Oh my gosh, that’s so cool. You work you go to that car show and yes, the SEMA show is a big part of SEMA, but that is not what SEMA is all about. There’s so many different avenues and I believe we need to do a better job of informing people of that. So it’s not like, oh, you work for SEMA, it’s a show. Oh, you work for SEMA. You were on Capitol Hill voting for my right to repair, my right to modify or saving my trails. There’s so many other things that we do to help our member companies and the off aftermarket industry. We just need to get that out to people. Even when I was at DZ before I joined SPN, I had no idea there were councils or networks.
 
 

00:35:12

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: My boss Troy was on tour and I’m like,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: “What is that?” You see people with the hard badges, right?
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: The hard badges around the show,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you’re like, “Oo, I want one of those. What is that?” And so that’s how I learned about it was through him.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So, you know, is there a better way that we could do that? I’m working
Josh Poulson: I thought a friend was taking me to an Amway meeting when we were at SE SEMA.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: with
Josh Poulson: He’s like, “Come on, get up tomorrow. We’re going to a meeting.” I’m like, you walk in. I’m like, “Oh, great. Here we go.” And and they’re like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: a time
Josh Poulson: “Yeah, a time share.” I’m like, “Great.” But no,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: share.
Josh Poulson: I mean, people I went to the show for 20 years and didn’t realize it. So, yeah, you’re right. People Kevin Gillis, same thing.
 
 

00:35:51

 
Josh Poulson: Went to the show for a hundred years and didn’t know it. Um, so there’s a lot of there’s a lot of people that just don’t recognize that’s out there. And you’re right, we could do a better job of saying get involved in your industry. You have a voice. And I will tell you, you know, from your experience as a volunteer, I know Jesse,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes.
Josh Poulson: I did it for 12 years. I’ve gotten so much more out of it than what I probably put in. So, and sometimes you don’t realize it for years later, but even now today, I’m still reaping the benefits of being volunteer. Um, so, and they do take care of you.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: We do. We try. We
Jesse Stoddard: Denise,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Jesse Stoddard: what is you you talked about some things you’d like to see and and some of the challenges,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: try.
Jesse Stoddard: but what are you most excited about? What is what is what is something that either maybe about the industry or or your job or what what’s the most exciting thing?
 
 

00:36:45

 
Jesse Stoddard: Something that you’re looking forward to that that gets you gets you all, you know, pumped up.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: golly. Well, I love cars. I’m just saying that because Josh is on here.
Josh Poulson: No,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He I drive
Josh Poulson: you don’t. You and I are in the same camp. We both hate car. We don’t care about cars.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: a Mazda. Come on.
Josh Poulson: Come on.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Come on.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um I love board
Josh Poulson: She’s really excited about the Q1 board report.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: reports. Board reports are my favorite. No one likes board reports. No matter where you’re working, no one likes a board report.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um,
Josh Poulson: I wish chat GPT was around when I did my board reports.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: what I always think I just throw it all in there. This sounds good.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Let’s change this word around so they can’t they can’t tell.
 
 

00:37:31

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I really thoroughly enjoy my job. And I don’t really even want to call it a job. Yes, it’s a job. It pays the bills, but I get to work with some incredible people um, volunteer-wise that are members, especially my team. Honestly, a lot of where you work and how happy you are depends on who you’re working with. Um,
Josh Poulson: Mhm.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: and the team I work with, Nicole and Marcy, and we brought Angela in. Angela’s first day was the first day of the SEMA show, by the way. So, we just threw her in there. Um,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: just bouncing ideas off of each other, just calling each other up. And then you have our ops team with Byron and Jericho and Sam and Brandon and Joe. Um, well, Joe does our student programs and Hall of Fame now. So, um, he’s Yes, I know. Look at Joe go.
 
 

00:38:29

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, I thoroughly enjoy working with my volunteers. I just love the ideas that they come up with come up with. Um, what really gets me excited is I worked with the future leaders network which for some of you used to be yen, the young executives network. So those are employees of SEMA member companies under the age of 40. So I am forever the oldest member of FLN. I learn a lot from them. They made sure I got a new phone because mine wasn’t the most updated. So you know they were taking care of me. But seeing those members grow and then move up,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: whether it’s in their own career at their company or with a different company, and then seeing them move into other councils or networks and making an impact,
Josh Poulson: Heat.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that really excites me. I mean there’s there’s some members of FLN who quiet shy afraid to say anything who now are you know doing webinars and out there in front of people talking and just it’s kind of like like watching my kids grow up you
 
 

00:39:45

 
Josh Poulson: A so
Denise Johnson Waddingham: know I know and making a change and thinking I might have had a little bit of
Josh Poulson: cute.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: that you know a little bit to do with that.
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, and it’s never a dull moment. You when you’re rotating through with volunteers and volunteer leaders, new ideas might come about and I can learn from all of them.
Josh Poulson: So you take your three,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So,
Josh Poulson: you you got the FLN, Future Leaders Network, you got Torah, Truck Off-Road Alliance, and you got Pro, Professional Reestylers Organization. I’ve always kind of said, well, FLN, yeah, you got the younger people who are very energetic. They’re um they’re growing in their careers. They got fresh ideas. And then you got Tora who’s very um uh enthusiasts, retail, they’re really into trucks, Jeeps, they’re in the whole world and overlanding, everything. Then you got Pro, who the restylers who And you would probably think most of Pro is um most of the people that are in Pro are usually on the executive level, owners, um uh things like that.
 
 

00:40:46

 
Josh Poulson: So, how what’s the difference in dealing with the with the three bra? I mean, you got the kids, the owners, and the fun people.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You got the kids,
Josh Poulson: What What What do you Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: the parents, and the grandparents. Is that what you’re
Josh Poulson: Something like that. Yeah. Do you have to do you have to Can you be the same for all the three groups or do you have to change it up?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: saying?
Josh Poulson: Do you have to be Denise Torah, Denise Pro, Denise LN, or is it just
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I try I try to be my authentic self with all of them. And I I think you would see that.
Josh Poulson: Denise?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I honestly don’t think it’s the different council or network, the different segment of the industry where you have to kind of pivot the way you are presenting yourself. It’s really who is involved at that time. Um, that’s one thing that I learned very early on that you can’t always tell the same thing to a person like you you have something that you need to say.
 
 

00:41:40

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You can’t say it the same way to this person as this person. you really need to get to know who they are and what really um you know sparks their interest and feed into that. Um so it’s not specific to the council or network. It’s to the members who are in it. Now I will say when I came in to SEMA I knew nothing about restyling. Can you imagine that? You knew nothing about race.
Josh Poulson: Uh, I’d like to think that you still don’t,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I even worked at a dealership.
Josh Poulson: but I maybe you do. Maybe you probably know more than me.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: H well I probably um
Josh Poulson: probably you’ve had to
Denise Johnson Waddingham: so I take it upon myself I I think education is something very important and that doesn’t mean you need to go to a 4-year college you know it could
Josh Poulson: learn
Denise Johnson Waddingham: be a trade school or it could be some classes that you take online um I really kind of dove in I I think my first week or the first let’s say the first month with SEMA I did the SAS exam because I’m like, I better know they’re big on this.
 
 

00:42:46

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You know, the Pro has the sales training manual and their their SASP exam that goes with it. So, I was like, “Okay, I better take this and I better pass the first time otherwise.”
Josh Poulson: Wow. And did you did you pass?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I did. I passed the first time. Yeah.
Josh Poulson: Wow.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: And it’s not even open book.
Josh Poulson: John Proer didn’t even pass the first time and he’s been in for 30 years.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh, crosser.
Josh Poulson: That’s hilarious.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Well, does he need to know anything?
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He knows everything, right? He already knows
Josh Poulson: I don’t know. He didn’t know the He didn’t know the answers to the SASP questions.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: everything.
Josh Poulson: So, I still tease him about
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah.
Josh Poulson: that.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: But like with with Torah, I came from the the trucking side, you know,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: DZ manufacturing and doing all of the um products for truck and then they got into off-roading, but I really didn’t understand much about overlanding and off-road itself.
 
 

00:43:39

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So really learning more about that. Um talking with our government affairs team about um you know saving our trails and getting a better understanding. I think one thing someone can never take from you is your education no matter how you get that. So I just keep educating myself as much as I can when something new comes up because I don’t want to go into a conversation pretending like I know something and someone goes, “She just pulled that out of her
Josh Poulson: Mhm. It’s fun.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah,
Josh Poulson: You can You should do it more, but um I do it every day.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: maybe. Maybe I will with you.
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah,
Josh Poulson: Yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: you’re pretty good at
Josh Poulson: I do it with Jesse all the time when he starts talking about marketing stuff. I’m like, “Jesse, come on.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: it.
Josh Poulson: I already know that.
Jesse Stoddard: Well, Denise, um, thank you for being on today. This is really good stuff.
 
 

00:44:28

 
Jesse Stoddard: I I actually think a lot of people need to know more about the councils and networks. I think you guys do. Well, I’m a volunteer, so I can say we now, right? I can use the word we. We do make a difference. There’s a lot of people that are learning a lot, getting more help,
Josh Poulson: Mhm.
Jesse Stoddard: getting more connections. Um, and, uh, where do people follow, you know, how do people learn more about you or ask questions or learn more about the councils and networks?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: They can reach out to me directly. I only give certain people my personal cell phone number.
Josh Poulson: It’s a low blow right there.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Josh H.
Josh Poulson: Mhm.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: No, they can reach out to me anytime via email. Um, it’s denislw. You got to put my middle initial in there. lwma.org. Um, go to sema.org.
Josh Poulson: H.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You know, on the worldwide web. It’s quick.
 
 

00:45:22

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Do you know it’s quicker to say worldwide web than www? Did you know that?
Josh Poulson: Oh, you’re right.
Jesse Stoddard: Sounds cooler,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yeah, I know.
Josh Poulson: Colobby yelled at me the other day.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I
Josh Poulson: He goes, “You know,
Jesse Stoddard: too.
Josh Poulson: you don’t have to put in WW.” I was like,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: know.
Josh Poulson: “Uh, listen, I’m from the 1900s and that’s how we do it.” Oh,
Jesse Stoddard: I like to say I like to say the interwebs.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Right.
Josh Poulson: the interwebs. Yes. Yes.
Jesse Stoddard: The interwebs.
Josh Poulson: Yes.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, yeah. And on sema.org, you can click through and find councils and networks. You can also go to sema.org/v org/vunteer and that gives you right into the councils and networks where you can learn about that. It gives contact information for Nicole, Marcy, and Angela too if there’s a specific council or network that you’re interested in. But I’m always open having conversations if anyone has any questions on SEMA the association on the councils or networks or you know how you can get more involved.
 
 

00:46:14

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: So let’s
Josh Poulson: any events you’re going to coming up in the next couple months.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: see.
Josh Poulson: Are you going to King of Hammers or
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I am not going to King of the Hammers this year.
Josh Poulson: Okay.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: We We do have a networking event there with
Josh Poulson: Don’t care about it. Only where you’re at. Where are you going to be
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Oh,
Josh Poulson: at?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I will be traveling with my incredible volunteers to the long range planning meeting starting
Josh Poulson: So, basically,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: next.
Josh Poulson: just email you because they’re never going to find you at a uh event.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I’m all over the
Josh Poulson: Yeah. When you It’s just too much security.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: place.
Josh Poulson: You got to bring all these people in to protect you. It’s just And the cars and the different limos.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Sure.
Josh Poulson: It just It’s too much for you to go to events these days.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: True.
 
 

00:46:53

 
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Yes,
Josh Poulson: So, I understand.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: I I am a very important person.
Josh Poulson: I Oh,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um, so just by giving you my email address might have put me into some trouble there.
Josh Poulson: I don’t Are you kidding me?
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Um,
Josh Poulson: That’s part of your pay plan? I t I t I teased him one time,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: it’s so
Josh Poulson: Jesse. I said all these directors,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: true.
Josh Poulson: these uh SEMA directors, they don’t get paid salary or hourly. They get paid per email. So that’s why cuz you
Denise Johnson Waddingham: He said that at one event and it stuck like uh that’s all anyone ever talks about and myself included. I will bring it up a lot. But it is true because I do send a lot of emails.
Josh Poulson: yeah.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: That is how I communicate. Yes.
Jesse Stoddard: They’re well structured and they’re very informative emails.
Josh Poulson: Yes, they
Jesse Stoddard: To be fair,
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Thank I’m glad someone reads them and appreciates them.
Josh Poulson: are.
Jesse Stoddard: I’m not saying I read them.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: Thank you.
Jesse Stoddard: I just I can just tell.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: It looks
Josh Poulson: Well, thanks. Thank you,
Jesse Stoddard: I can tell.
Josh Poulson: D. Nice for showing up and being here on our podcast.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: good.
Josh Poulson: We love you very much. You’re the you’re the reason pro uh and Torah and FLN do um great things. There’s always got to be someone fighting the fight on the back end that never gets any of the glory.
Denise Johnson Waddingham: You may take the glory. I will gladly share with you all.
 
 

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