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Women in Wrenching: How Can We Attract More Women to the Industry? A WrenchWay Roundtable
By Chasidy Rae Sisk “How can the automotive and collision repair industries attract more women to these fields?” That’s the question Christen Battaglia, director of strategic partnerships at WrenchWay, posed during the organization’s “Women in Wrenching” roundtable on March 24th. Four female industry professionals shared their thoughts on this complex problem: Carolyn Coquillette, founder and CEO of Shop-Ware; Audra Fordin, owner of Great Bear Auto Repair and founder of Women Auto Know; Cheryl Thompson, founder and CEO of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement (CADIA); and Brittany Parker, Master Subaru technician at Maple Hill Auto Group. After introducing the panelists, Battaglia explained the reason for the roundtable: “We’re…
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Getting to Know WIN’s 2021 Most Influential Women
By Chasidy Rae Sisk The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) recently announced that TEN collision repair industry professionals will be honored as Most Influential Women (MIW) in 2021. This year’s list of honorees is the largest group to be recognized in the 22 years since the award’s inception. “This year presented the panel with 10 high scoring individuals. This is a testament to the caliber of women in a wide variety of roles who are extreme shining examples of opportunities in the collision industry,” said Kathy Mello, Chair of WIN’s MIW committee. WIN’s 2021 MIW honorees are: Jennifer Boyer, director of strategy, customer service division, Ford Motor Company Kelly Broderick, global…
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Female “Circumcision”
Chasidy Rae Sisk Poetry Female “Circumcision” A Sonnet They hold me down. “For your own good”, they say. “Won’t be a whore now. No man would want you.” He hurts me there. Nothing to ease the pain. I don’t want this; nothing I can do. He uses a thorn to cut off my clit, next takes my lips with a sharp shard of glass. They hold me together while he sews it. Parents say, “Now, no one can think you’re fast.” Fast forward five years, fifteen, wedding night. Nervous and shaking, I was a virgin in bed; Intent on slitting me open, he unsheathed his knife. I took it and…
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Women Encouraging Women in the 2021 Collision Repair Industry
by Chasidy Rae Sisk Although the automotive industry is typically considered “a man’s world,” women have been impacting the automotive sphere since it began. In addition to financing the development of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1885, Bertha Benz promoted the first automobile by taking the first long-distance road trip, proving the vehicle’s capability. She also proved her capability, contributing to the vehicle’s design by inventing brake lining, suggesting extra gears, and identifying solutions to other problems she encountered during her field test. Mary Anderson created the first functional windshield wiper in 1903, and Florence Lawrence invented the first turn signal seven years later. In more recent years, Danica Patrick was…
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AWAF Welcomes Ford’s Lisa Drake and Presents Annual Awards and Scholarships at 2020 Holiday Event
By Chasidy Rae Sisk The Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation (AWAF) virtually held its 2020 Holiday Event on Dec. 2, featuring Lisa Drake, COO, North America, Vice President, Global Purchasing for Ford Motor Company. According to AWAF Coaching Co-Chair Kim Ziomek, “The event was flawless, and Ford Motor Company was extremely supportive in hosting the virtual event.” AWAF’s goal “was to host our Holiday Celebration with a featured speaker to offer her knowledge, wisdom, words of advice, and how her career developed to our membership and guests. Lisa’s very genuine approach to addressing the group and answering questions was very impactful, and attendees enjoyed the event,” Ziomek explained. Drake began by…
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Earn Her Business: A Guide to the Female Consumer for Collision Repair Shops
“You have to look at the female as a consumer and recognize the differences between men and women – why do men buy compared to why do women buy,” said Katie Mares, Author, Keynote Speaker, and Brand Experience Expert, during ASA’s Bonus Webinar Wednesday on June 3, entitled “Earning Her Business: A Guide to the Female Customer.” Mares discussed women’s impact on businesses, the physiological differences between men and women, and how to provide the connect that women crave as well as how to cultivate a culture that female employees want to work in. Women are the biggest consumers and chief purchasers in most households, influencing 90% of household purchases,…
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Getting to Know WIN’s 2020 Most Influential Women
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) recently announced that three collision repair industry professionals will be honored as Most Influential Women (MIW) in 2020. Although WIN’s 2020 Educational Conference has been cancelled due to the coronavirus, the association plans to recognize these women within the next year. Originally established by AkzoNobel in 1999 and taken on by WIN in 2013, the MIW program aims to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. “It is an honor to recognize these three women this year as the Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry,” said Marie Peevy, President Automotive Training Coordinators, a 2018 MIW…
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May 25, 2020
George Floyd: prone on the street, knee to his neck, “I can’t breathe!” He pleads, “Don’t kill me.” Onlookers object; he’s not resisting arrest, “He’s human” falls on deaf ears above knees, Unyielding. The man’s pleas for his life continue, treated with no merit – A father to two daughters, a friend and a son, Big Floyd, the “gentle giant,” a “beautiful spirit,” Only 46 years old – and over $20, he’s gone, Unnecessarily. On May 29th, after three days of protests all over the nation, One officer is charged for his crimes and those of his brothers, But three other policemen were present for this sin. Will justice be…
