Spirit of Leadership and NY Auto Show Networking Breakfast Inspire Women in Automotive

Every year we honor women for their "Spirit of Leadership" in the automotive industry.   This NADA we embarked on a wonderful journey down the Mississippi River aboard the Creole Queen in New Orleans, Louisiana.  As we traveled down the river, we enjoyed our jambalaya and Creole cuisine, listening to the band play jazz, with friends, colleagues, sponsors, and others who have supported us through the years.   It seems that each year as we move forward, we are all touched by the amazing individuals that we meet and befriend at these events.  This year was no exception. 

The four women honored were Monica Emerson, former Executive Director of the Global Diversity Office at Chrysler, Sarah Fisher, Indy Car Series and Indianapolis 500 driver, Ellen McKoy, Senior Director, Dealer Relations of SEMA, Executive Director of SEWA, and Judy Schumacher, Dealer Principal of Tilton Automotive, Gearhart and Schumacher Chevrolet.  

In April, we had our annual networking breakfast at the New York Auto Show. This year's panel consisted of five industry experts, Anupa Bhise from Mercedes-Benz, Allan Cooper from OneCommand, Charlie Vogelheim of Vogelheim Ventures, Sharita Crawford of Ford Motor Company, Bree Sandlin of Quaker State Global and our moderator Judy Schumaker of Schumaker Chevrolet discussing the "Power of Branding and Surviving the Economy." The conversation was spirited and the networking plentiful.

A special thank you to all of our sponsors and our event chairs for both events.

Spirit of Leadership Event Chair: Lynn Wilhelm
Sponsors: Schumacher Chevrolet, General Motors, Automotive Hall of Fame, SEMA/SBN, AAA Insurance, AskPatty.com, Northwood University

New York Auto Show Networking Breakfast Event Chair: Marcela Fink
Sponsors: AskPatty.com, AutoTrader.com, Choice Technology, Inc., Greater New York Dealer’s Association, Mercedes Benz of USA, Northwood University, NY Auto Show, Schumacher Chevrolet

WAAI Welcomes the Cobalt Group as a Corporate Sponsor

The Women's Automotive Association International welcomes the Cobalt Group as our latest corporate sponsor. We now have 21 members from the Cobalt Group and most all of them have joined the social networking site, where they have their own "group within a group." The women are located around the country and have already started participating and discussing topics on the networking site with other WAAI members and co-workers they rarely see in person.

The Cobalt Group is dedicated to empowering women in their organization and throughout the Automotive Industry, as a whole. When the Cobalt Group began, they were a small software company trying to help dealers sell more cars and stay profitable by marketing their inventory on the internet - a hard sell in 1995. Now, 14 years later they still hold to their mission of helping dealers and manufacturers increase retail effectiveness and profits and have grown to be one of the largest solution providers in our industry

We look forward to having them as partners and know their enthusiasm will help the WAAI grow and strengthen in 2009!

Meet A Member: Karolyn Hart

This month's member to meet is Karolyn Hart, Business Development Director for Wireless Ronin Technologies and founder of Thrive - a site dedicated to empowering women.

How long have you been in the Automotive Industry?
Since 2003

How did you get started in the industry?
I was hired as a Solutions Consultant for a vendor servicing one of the Big Three. Prior to that I had spent 8 years in the Financial Services industry working in IT. Even in these tough economic times I feel incredibly grateful to be working in automotive. It is a challenging but very exciting time.

How did you learn about the WAAI?
My teammates and I (there are three) were eager to connect with other women in the automotive industry and googled "women in automotive". The rest is history!

What has been the most important/significant moment in your career up to this point?
In 2003 I had the idea for a television show and managed to gather a talented team and get it airing nationally. Sitting with my team and watching it be broadcast for its Premiere was incredibly surreal. It made me realize that with the right group of people anything is possible.

Have you had the opportunity to attend any WAAI events? If so, what did you think?
Yes! Absolutely fantastic. I truly appreciate the ability to network with people who genuinely are passionate about the automotive industry.

If you could name a woman who has inspired you in your career - who would it be?
My mom. She is a lifelong learner and always consuming information. She went back to school when I was newly married just to continue on with her success. When we arrived for her graduation ceremony they mistakenly assumed I was the graduate. The most important thing she has taught me is that if we should never come to a place where we feel we have nothing left to learn.

What's one piece of advice someone gave you that you would like to share with other members?
Remember these two words always - one life. As you make your decisions and go after your achievements remind yourself constantly that you only get "one life". It will help you focus on what is really important and be extremely efficient!

If you could try any other job for just one week what would it be?
I actually tried numerous other jobs through my television show and here is what I've learned: Whenever you think your job stinks just remember that nothing compares to working on a fishing tug. Whenever you feel your job is too much work just remember that it takes hours of shoveling coal to get a 200-Tonne locomotive moving down the track. And, the next time you feel pressure squeezing you? Just be grateful that you aren't wearing the restrictive clothing of the 19th century!! Those women wrote the book on pressure and squeezing! (And yes, I actually did all of those things!!)

If you aren't at your office, where would we find you? (Hobbies/Fave Travel Spots, etc)
On my dock - researching. At the library - researching. Surfing the internet - researching. I can't get enough of it! When not doing that I'm spending time with my husband, walking my dog, and writing.

Nominate a Woman You Know for the Professional Achievement Award

Every year, the WAAI honors one woman deserving of the Professional Achievement Award. In 2008 we honored Susan Scarola, CEO of DCH Automotive Group at our Professional Achievement Award dinner at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Recipients of this award all have in common the following qualities:

a) outstanding accomplishments in career,
b) leader in business and community and
c) influence and support of other women in the automotive industry.

Does this sound like someone you know? If so, please let us know! The Professional Achievement Award Dinner is moving out west to Los Angeles this year and we need nominees. The event will be held in November, probably around the time of the Press Preview Day for the Los Angeles Auto Show, therefore we need your help in finding a recipient of the award.

Please email Jody Devere (jdevere@askpatty.com), our President, and let her know the woman you would like to nominate, her current title and company, and the reasons you believe she meets the criteria for "Professional Achievement." A recipient may be actively engaged in or retired from the automotive industry when selected. The International Board of Directors of the Women's Automotive Association International ratifies selections.