KRYSTA ARNADA

Operations – GSI Machine & Fabrication

KRYSTA ARANDA was introduced to cars at a very young age. She grew up with an amazing father who shared this passion with her early on. In high school, she joined autoshop class despite being a cheerleader and ballet dancer. She didn’t let that stop her. She wanted to learn everything she could and really enjoyed being around all things automotive and horsepower related.

Over the years, she has only had jobs in the automotive industry and has pursued growing that passion. At one point she was a service advisor and also worked as a parts manager at a speed shop. Currently, Krysta works for GSI Machine and Fabrication where she has continued her desire to learn everything she can in this industry. She has soaked up shop life like a sponge and learned all about the processes in manufacturing, machining, welding, and chassis design. It also helps that she really does have a huge passion for all things custom trucks, and even has a truck project of her own. Krysta is currently building a 1965 C10 with her husband. He has taught her much about these trucks, including LS swaps, air ride, the complete restoration process, and unfortunately, even wiring.

Krysta shared with us that she truly hopes her story and those of others will inspire more women to get out there and get involved!

“Ask anyone you know who has experience to teach you,” she shared. “Don’t be afraid to get dirty and make mistakes. You will learn how capable you are and you will enjoy every minute of it.”

We fully agree—get out there and show them what you’re made of!

MICHELLE GARCIA-MCGAUGHY is an absolute superwoman! Super mom, super human, and super business owner/ operator extraordinaire—she really does it all with unmatched grace and humbleness. Michelle also grew up around cars her whole life and would eventually grow up to become partners in one of the largest aftermarket suspension companies in the US! Michelle and her husband Steve run and operate McGaughys Suspension as a small family-owned business, although “small” is not a word that would accurately describe anything about their now quite large operation.

No matter how big McGaughys Suspension has grown over the past few decades, the McGaughy family is truly the definition of the American dream, while still keeping family value intact. Sports, family, business, building custom cars together on the weekends—they do it all together! And like many women, Michelle is truly the glue that holds it all together for both the family and the company. The custom automotive aftermarket thrives in the States because of families and companies like the McGaughys. Michelle is truly one of the best examples of encouraging women in the industry to foster leadership roles, volunteer, give back, pursue their dreams, and continue to push further, setting a great example for others to follow. We’re awfully proud to call her a friend!

Nicole Hamilton is not only an extremely passionate person when it comes to custom automotive culture, but she’s also an integral part of behind-the-scenes operations with the largest and most widely distributed automotive publications in the country. A logistical mastermind is a simple way to describe the way Nicole’s mind works. If Motortopia were a circus (which, sometimes it feels like it is), Nicole would be the best juggler in the show replacing bowling pins with national brands. She is embedded throughout each and every automotive genre, and there’s not a style of custom ride that she dislikes. She has owned them, wrenched on them, and now takes part in publishing the most amazing rides in the country. If you’ve ever had a chance to meet Nicole at SEMA, you know how passionate she is, and how high her quality standards are when it comes to our brands. She always has a smile on her face and a mind focused on branding and marketing.

Moving into 2024, Nicole has taken on a new challenge by accepting the lead editor role of our newest title, Tesla Trends. It’s exciting to watch her grow professionally and fascinating to see her function day to day. If you have a chance, stop by our booth at SEMA 2024 and meet this master of success. Passion, process and much more than just a pretty smile – we are very proud and lucky to have Nicole on our side!

ANNA GLENNON is a world champion and eight-time national champion jet ski racer and digital media and communications specialist working as a senior account executive at Kahn Media. Before she could talk, Anna was making engine noises. She shadowed her father, a master mechanic and fluent gearhead, throughout her childhood and learned the ins and outs of engines and fell in love with going fast. Together, they restored a variety of cars, trucks, jet skis, and boats.

Anna’s experience in powersports media began as a side hustle to promote her budding jet ski racing career. It evolved into early jobs as a powersports journalist and photographer. Expanding outside of the watercraft industry, Anna kickstarted a career in motocross as a team media and sponsorship manager at Monster Energy Supercross and

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross before she graduated from college. Anna uses her decade of marketing experience in personal watercraft racing, professional motorcycle racing, off-roading, and more to help Kahn Media’s off-road aftermarket and powersports clients navigate the changing marketing landscape. Specializing in influencer and digital media communications, Anna has worked to expand Kahn Media’s existing portfolio of influencer opportunities and connected clients with content creators with more online followers than many of the world’s leading media outlets.

In her spare time, Anna spends too much time keeping her 1987 Jeep Wrangler YJ running and trying to find new ways to make her 1500cc, 4-cylinder four stroke jet ski go even faster.

ASHLEY MCATEE of Mesa, Arizona, entered the custom car and truck world when she turned 16. Growing up in Oregon, she had a 1994 Acura Integra two-door—a car that was very popular in the scene back then. She saved up her money to buy 18-inch wheels, a Wings West body kit, and a killer stereo, then topped it all off with a custom license plate: TZNYA.

Fast forward to today, and Ashley is the controller at Switch Suspension, where she’s been since its founding back in 2012. All of the money that goes in and out of the company goes through her first, making her a massively important part of the team. What once was a small shop that did installs and sold a few parts is now a multi-million dollar operation with Ashley taking care of the financials, employee oversight, payroll, and other HR related duties. And if that wasn’t enough, Ashley is also at every one of the many events that Switch attends, sponsors, or runs. She makes sure everything is set up properly, merch is on hand, and even conducts transactions on site, giving each customer a personalized experience along the way.

While Ashley doesn’t have that Integra anymore, she does have a ‘bagged 1970 Chevy Nova that’s pretty cool, and a few ideas for what’s next. Ashley loves her job and her place in the automotive industry and can’t wait to see what the future looks like for her and Switch Suspension. We sure know it’s a bright one!

THERESA CONTRERAS is a born-and-bred generational automotive lifer. Now a staple in this industry, Theresa hails from Southern California and is the founder of Baja Forged, but she has been a steady part of the automotive aftermarket for more than two decades already. Growing up at the shop with her dad, sister, and her now husband, the family business has always been automotive. Theresa was the head painter and helped run LGE/CTS in San Dimas, California, for 20-plus years before recently venturing out to begin her own line of custom truck parts that include bumpers, fenders, custom Bronco parts, and more.

Theresa has served on several SEMA/SBN councils, taken part in many Ford specialty builds, magazine covers, and has earned many various awards and accolades. Alongside Jessi Combs, Theresa helped launch The Real Deal to help encourage more women to pursue their passions within the automotive and motorcycle space through charity rides, events, and awareness campaigns. You’ll find Theresa surrounded by anything with wheels and a fun custom flare!