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WIA Recharge – Dallas June 22 – 24

June 22 - June 24

Summary

The annual Women in Automotive Conference returns – LIVE! – at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel on June 22-24, 2023. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this special automotive community dedicated to helping women in the industry navigate their individual lives and careers.

RECHARGE! as you network, share and learn at this important industry event designed to support, empower and develop women in the industry. Topics include: 

  • The (Female) Customer Journey
  • Paths to Promotion
  • Personal Growth and Development
  • Recharging Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Allyship.

Join the more than 300 professionals from across the country that are expected to attend.

Register Today

Agenda

*(Final agenda timing and program order is still in process. Times are subject to change.)

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Mentoring Panel and Speed Mentoring Session (optional/space is limited). Headshot station open until 6:00pm 10:00 AM
Networking buffet lunch 12:00 PM
Welcome and introductions
Eliana Raggio, CMO, Dealer eProcess / WIA Board 1:00 PM
Opening Keynote Presentation
Katie Mares, Brand Experience Expert I TITLE: A Message for the Ladies (and Gentlemen) 1:10 PM
Panel
• Danielle Cumbee, Director of Sales Integration, Spectrum Automotive Holdings
• Gina Dewar, Group Vice President of Human Resources, Spectrum Automotive Holdings
• Brandie Linfante, Chief Marketing Officer, Spectrum Automotive Holdings
• Bobbie Herron, Founder & CEO, The Bees Knees Automotive Agency (MODERATOR)
TITLE: Investing in Women: Empowering Careers & Accelerating Sales 1:50 PM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (15 mins) 2:35 PM
Track Sessions
• Paths to Promotion
Brooke Furniss, Founder/President, BZ Consultants I TITLE: Fuel Your Career: Empowering Women to Take Charge and Drive Success in the Automotive Industry
• Personal Growth & Development
Fleming Ford, President, Culture Ignited I TITLE: How to be a REAL Success
• The (Female) Customer Journey
Kirsten Von Busch, Director, Product Marketing, Experian Automotive I TITLE: It's Electrifying! Key Insights Into the EV Market
• Recharged Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, Allyship
Kathleen Long, Chief Revenue Officer, RepairPal I TITLE: From The Start: Making the Most of Your WIA Experience 2:50 PM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (15 mins) 3:40 PM
Track Sessions
• Paths to Promotion
Bri Newman, Vice President, HR4 I TITLE: Develop Great Teams Across the Multi-Generational Workforce
• Personal Growth & Development
Dr. Martha Rader, Principal, Rader Leadership I TITLE: Growing and Succeeding by Understanding Your Personality Traits
• The (Female) Customer Journey
Maria Espinoza, Director of Inside Sales, Dealer eProcess I TITLE: She's in the Driver's Seat: How Improving the Customer Experience for Female Car Buyers Drives Sales and Builds Brand Loyalty
• Recharged Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, Allyship
Paige Goodwin, Director, Digital Retailing, Group 1 Automotive I TITLE: tbd 3:55 PM
Conclusion / Reception 4:45 PM

Friday, June 23, 2023

Yoga with Katie Mares (optional/space is limited) 7:00 AM
Continental breakfast and networking (breakfast sponsored by BMW) Headshot Station Open (until 5:30pm) 8:00 AM
Welcome and introductions
Eliana Raggio, CMO, Dealer eProcess / WIA Board 9:30 AM
Opening Keynote Presentation
Carrie Pasch, Partner, Pasch Group I TITLE: Being Teachable 9:45 AM
Sponsorship Award 10:30 AM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (10 mins) 10:45 AM
Workshop
Laura Murphy, Senior Automotive Specialist, Google I TITLE: I AM REMARKABLE 10:55 AM
Lunch 12:30 PM
DEI Panel
• Tia Battle, Director and General Manager- Hyundai Central Region, Hyundai Motor America
• Arabah Woodberry, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Sandy Zannino, Founder/CEO, Innovative Auto HR (MODERATOR)
• Additional panelist(s) tba 1:45 PM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (15 mins) 2:35 PM
Track Sessions
• Paths to Promotion
Audrey McKinley, President and Founder, Auto Network Consulting Inc. I TITLE: To B or Not To B: Learn How to Become & Belong
• Personal Growth & Development
Robin Wilson, CEO and Founder, SCP Agency and Epic BDC I TITLE: Attract Abundance
• The (Female) Customer Journey
TBD
• Recharged Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, Allyship
Melissa Cartagena, Senior Director – Digital Advertising, AutoNation I TITLE: Momma Told Me When I Was Young; Passing Down Mentorship Through Generations 2:50 PM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (15 mins) 3:40 PM
Track Sessions
• Paths to Promotion
Megan Mahon, Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Remarketing+ I TITLE: Car Chick Confessionals
• Personal Growth & Development
Lisa Gener, Chief Strategy Officer, Dealer Alchemist I TITLE: Strength in Softness and Female Leadership
• The (Female) Customer Journey
Lena Bourgeois, General Manager, Automotive Services, Equifax I TITLE: Who’s Holding the Automotive Purse Strings?
• Recharged Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, Allyship
Meredith Demay, Director of Sales Recruiting & Development, JM&A Group 3:55 PM
Networking Reception 4:45 PM
Conclusion
Evening Dinners With the Board 6:00 PM

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Yoga with Katie Mares 7:00 AM
Continental breakfast and networking
Headshot station open (until noon) 8:00 AM
Welcome and introductions 9:15 AM
Opening Keynote Presentation
Judy Farcus Serra, CFO, Headquarter Auto Group I TITLE: From C to C (Cashier to C-Suite) 9:25 AM
Workshop
Rochelle Morton, Director, Damsel in Defense I TITLE: Situational Awareness 10:10 AM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (10 mins) 11:30 AM
Track Sessions
• Paths to Promotion
Heather Pridemore, Founder and Coach, Pridemore Coaching I TITLE: Rising to the Spotlight: Transforming Invisible Talent into Career Success
• Personal Growth & Development
Dara Koenig, Founder, Changing Your Conversation I TITLE: Who Do You Think You Are?
• The (Female) Customer Journey
Cassidy Spring, Director of Business Intelligence & Data Science, Dealer World I TITLE: Understanding the Female Automotive Audience
• Recharged Relationships: Mentorship, Sponsorship, Allyship
Andrea Schliessman, Head of Talent and Content Strategy, The RockED Company Inc I TITLE: Fueling Success: Why Mentors and Sponsors are Crucial for Women in the Automotive Industry 11:40 AM
Coffee & Refreshment Break (10 mins) 12:30 PM
Closing Keynote Presentation
Jodee O’Brien, Senior Partner, ActionCOACH and Andy O’Brien, Global Senior Partner, ActionCOACH I TITLE: Cut the Crap - Leading Through Your Authentic Self 12:40 PM
Awards/Prize Drawings and Closing remarks 1:25 PM
Conclusion 1:30 PM
Tear Down

Speakers

Tia Battle

General Manager of the Central Region
Hyundai Motor America

Tia Battle
General Manager of the Central Region
Hyundai Motor America

 Tia Battle is the General Manager of the Central Region for Hyundai Motor America.

Tia joined HMA in 2013 as a District Sales Manager.  She continued to grow in her career with both the Hyundai and Genesis brands, gaining valuable leadership experience in various roles in Regional Service Business Development, Genesis Retailer Experience, and Regional Genesis Operations.

In her role as Senior Group Manager, Regional Sales in the Central Region, Tia was instrumental in leading the team to exceed retail sales objectives, all while building trust, engagement, and a future pipeline of leaders.  She also currently serves as the Chair of the Women’s Employee Resource Group, championing a positive and inclusive environment that empowers female employees, customers, and business partners.

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Lena Bourgeois

General Manager, Automotive Services
Equifax

Lena Bourgeois
General Manager, Automotive Services
Equifax

 

Lena Bourgeois is the automotive general manager at Equifax, responsible for driving customer value and accelerating company growth in the automotive market. Bourgeois brings a strong background in data and information technology systems to the position, critical as automotive dealers and lenders embrace a digital automotive experience and navigate a challenging economic environment.

 

Bourgeois has held senior management positions within Equifax for nearly a decade. Prior to joining the Equifax Automotive team, she served as vice president of consumer markets for the Equifax IXI Network, where she led business development in the automotive, communications, insurance, restaurant, retail and travel/leisure industries. Bourgeois also held senior sales and business development roles with Nielsen and Claritas.

 

Bourgeois holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Jönköping International Business School. She received a master’s degree in International Business from McGill University.

 

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Melissa Cartagena

Senior Director – Digital Advertising
AutoNation

Melissa Cartagena
Senior Director, Digital Advertising
AutoNation

Melissa Cartagena is a seasoned digital marketing leader who presently spearheads AutoNation’s digital marketing strategy. She has executed digital marketing initiatives across a wide range of verticals, including Automotive Retail, Residential Real Estate, Telecommunications, Web Hosting and CPG.

With over 20 years of digital media experience, Melissa has a wealth of knowledge in SEO, Paid Search, Programmatic Display, CTV/OTT, Social Media (earned/owned and paid), Reputation Management and database marketing. She specializes in omni-channel methodologies by tapping into technology platforms who leverage customer data and analytics to drive insights and results. It is with an entrepreneurial spirit and drive for continued innovation in the digital space which has allowed her to become a true leader and mentor to many.

Melissa holds a BA degree from Florida International University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix, further strengthening her skillset and expertise in digital marketing strategy.

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Danielle Cumbee

Director of Sales Integration
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

Danielle Cumbee
Director of Sales Integration
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

Danielle Cumbee is the Director of Sales Integration for Spectrum Automotive Holdings. Her expertise evolved through various roles from F&I Agency sales, CRM and sales training implementation, to building high-performing sales teams for Agencies and Administrators. Danielle started her career in B2B sales with success in industries including manufacturing, conservation, hospitality and automotive.

Danielle has both presented Women in Automotive in previous years and was part of the Women in Automotive Fixed Ops Panel in 2022.

Danielle’s unique skills, and understanding of the sales team mindset, ambitions, goals, and objectives give her the ability to effectively advise and capitalize on strengths required by both individuals and teams to drive success.

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Meredith Demay

Director of Sales Recruiting & Development
JM&A Group

Meredith Demay
Director of Sales Recruiting & Development
JM&A Group

 

Meredith Demay leads JM&A Group's Sales Recruiting & Develpoment team at JM&A Group, an Automotive Finance & Insurance company dedicated to dealership growth. 

 

In her previous role as Director, Strategy & Innovation, Meredith spearheaded the ongoing efforts of the company to craft dynamic strategies to accelerate the performance of every area of the company's dealer partner's businesses. 

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Gina Dewar

Group Vice President of Human Resources
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

Gina Dewar
Group Vice President of Human Resources
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

Gina Dewar, Group Vice President of Human Resources, joined Spectrum Automotive Holdings in June 2020. Prior to joining, she held positions of Chief Human Resources Officer/VP of Human Resources for Mid-Size Service Companies. Over the span of 20 years, she has honed her skills in human resources through working in various industries such as Electronics, DOD Contracting, Medical Devices, Luxury Retail, and now Automotive. She has led teams across US, Canada, Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico with employee populations as large as 10,000+ and has extensive knowledge in Organization Design and Effectiveness, Talent Management, Compensation and Benefits, Compliance, Succession Planning, Coaching and Development, Employee Relations, and Employee Experience.

Gina holds a M.S. in Management and Human Resources, SPHR-CP Professional Human Resources Certification, Data Analytics Certification, and certification in DDI Interview Selection and Training. She prides herself on partnering with key stakeholders to drive strategic planning that accomplishes business results through human capital initiatives.*Gina’s expertise in pairing talent with opportunity offers those willing to invest in their careers the roadmap to their next destination within their company.

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Maria Espinoza

Director of Inside Sales
Dealer eProcess

Maria Espinoza
Director of Internal Sales
Dealer eProcess

Maria Espinoza is a highly accomplished professional with 24 years of experience in the automotive industry, working on both the retail and vendor sides. She currently serves as the Director of Internal Sales at Dealer eProcess, where she uses her expertise in websites and digital marketing to help mid to large size dealer groups reach greater online success.

Maria is a third-generation automotive industry professional, with both her grandfather and father having worked at General Motors in Michigan. She is also a sought-after speaker at industry conferences such as Digital Dealer, Driving Sales Executive Summit, WIA, and DMSC.

Maria is an active volunteer with the Chicago Veterans Association and The Girl Scouts of America, where she helps to support and empower members of these important organizations. With her extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, her dedication to her community, and her love of life, Maria is a true inspiration to those around her.

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Judy Farcus Serra

CFO
Headquarter Auto Group

Judy Farcus Serra
Chief Financial Officer
Headquarter Automotive

Judy Farcus Serra is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Headquarter Automotive, a group consisting of four dealerships: Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Hyundai. In this role, she is responsible for Headquarter’s financial health and growth. Much of her day is spent on project planning and implementation, manufacturer relations, vendor relations and negotiations, finance negotiation and lending source dealings. Judy also oversees the development and management of Headquarter Automotive’s senior management. She is an industry veteran with three decades of experience in the automotive sector. As CFO, Judy continues to remain heavily involved in Headquarter Automotive’s operational leg.

Judy came to Headquarter Toyota in 1997 as Office Manager, after working at two Chevrolet dealers for 12 years. From there, Judy continued to earn promotions being that she is innovative and resourceful. In 2001, Judy was promoted to Controller; and in 2005, to Assistant General Manager due to her invaluable involvement in long-term planning, and in matters relating to the financial and operational sides of Headquarter Automotive – a transition that led her to earn the group’s first (and only) Chief Financial Officer title.

Judy has been instrumental in expanding Headquarter Automotive’s portfolio. Most recently, in 2019, she spearheaded the group’s Hyundai store relocation – a project she executed in under 7 months from clearing the land to constructing the building to getting the store fully operational. Throughout the Hyundai store build out, Judy prioritized the development and execution plan to recruit and retain talent from the emerging workforce, while ensuring Headquarter’s recruitment efforts encourage diversity. The Hyundai store saw a 30% revenue growth in 2019 versus 2018. Judy has been critical in expanding Headquarter Automotive’s portfolio. In 2013, she took the lead on acquiring a Hyundai dealership. Shortly thereafter in 2014, she took the lead on applying for—and helping secure—a Mazda dealership in Clermont, Florida. In 2010, she played an invaluable role in opening Headquarter Honda, a then-newly awarded franchise to Headquarter Automotive.

Judy is celebrating her 26th year with Headquarter Automotive. She is incredibly passionate about empowering women—in and out—of the automotive industry. She has taken on numerous mentorship roles.

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Fleming Ford

President
Culture Ignited

Fleming Ford
President
Culture Ignited

Fleming Ford, leadership and culture coach, DEI strategist and speaker has more than 20 years of leadership and team development experience. Fleming has been a trusted advisor to hundreds of companies, boards and managers. She equips leadership teams to develop those around them, attract top talent, build inclusive cultures, and ensure their teams are working to their highest potential. She is sought to speak and coach on her expertise across human capital strategies, leadership effectiveness, DEI, and the tactical skills needed for renovating culture. Fleming has worked with clients such as BMW, Toyota, Liberty Mutual, BB&T, Penske, MileOne, Sonic Automotive and Hyundai, and many large and mid-size companies.

Fleming co-founded the DEI Champions Council for Retail Automotive and moderates the HR Chiefs Roundtable for the large and public dealer groups. Fleming is certified in John Maxwell Leadership (Speaker and Coach), Objective Management Advisor, Omnia Profile Behavior Assessments, DISC Profile, ESI Employee Engagement Surveys and a CADIA Consultant for DEI.

Ultimately Fleming’s aim is to help companies build their brand as an employer of choice – where both people and profits thrive and grow. She is passionate that no matter the business or industry – it’s people that fuel innovation, customer excellence, and business growth.

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Lynette Foxhall

Senior Vice President, Relationship Management Strategy & Support Business
Execution Director Wells Fargo Auto

Lynette Foxhall

Senior Vice President, Relationship Management Strategy & Support Business Execution Director

Wells Fargo Auto

 

Lynette Foxhall is the Business Execution Director for Auto Relationship Management Strategy & Support at Wells Fargo where she is responsible for leading the Relationship Management Strategy and Support team to drive sales effectiveness in support of the Head of Auto Strategic Alliances and Relationship Management. She works closely with Market leaders and various business partners across Auto to evaluate strategic processes and ensure clear communication and proper execution of auto strategies and dealer engagement.  

 

Lynette joined Wells Fargo in June 2021 as Strategic Alliances & Business Development Leader for Wells Fargo Auto Finance where she was responsible for the identification, evaluation, and implementation of strategic partnership opportunities to enhance the Wells Fargo customer’s digital shopping experience.

 

Since beginning her career in automotive, nearly 30 years ago, Lynette has navigated a uniquely diverse and progressive career – including OEM sales service and marketing, relationship management for both consumer and commercial dealer financial services, executive leadership in consumer credit and operations, plus retail dealership sales and service management.

 

Lynette earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and actively participates in multiple initiatives dedicated to mentoring and sponsoring diverse leaders. 

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Brooke Furniss

Founder/President
BZ Consultants

Brooke Furniss
Founder & President
BZ Consultants Group

Brooke C Furniss is a highly accomplished professional with over thirteen years of experience in the automotive industry. Her extensive work in various sectors such as retail, OEM, consulting, fixed ops, body shops, and entrepreneurship has given her a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the industry. As a result, Brooke has a unique perspective on the dealer's needs and opportunities for growth.

Driven by her passion for advancing the automotive industry, Brooke founded BZ Consultants Group to be a champion for dealers and provide them with education and guidance. BZ Consultants Group focuses on helping dealers examine what they should expect from their vendors, especially their digital vendors. By separating facts from feelings and holding them accountable, Brooke is committed to moving the automotive industry forward and making a positive impact.

With her expertise in the industry, Brooke is skilled at turning complex data into actionable insights that maximize a dealer's profits. Her dedication to advancing the industry is evident in her speaking engagements at conferences, teaching, being featured on podcasts, webinars, and writing educational articles. Brooke's involvement in various boards and panels allows her to share her insights and expertise with others while also learning from fellow industry professionals.

Brooke is a committed advocate for the automotive industry and is dedicated to helping dealers achieve their full potential. Her deep industry experience, passion for advancement, and dedication to education and guidance make her an invaluable asset to the industry.

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Lisa Gener

Chief Strategy Officer
Dealer Alchemist

Lisa Gener
Chief Strategy Officer
Dealer Alchemist

Lisa Gener is an accomplished Digital Advertising Strategist who contributes 18 years of retail automotive marketing and management expertise. Lisa’s success and experience has evolved through working in all aspects of Automotive initiatives including: Dealer Profitability, Digital Advertising, Employee / Customer Experience, Engagement, Advocacy and Customer Loyalty. Lisa’s focus is implementing transparent digital technologies and e-commerce processes, while educating dealer operators through a deeper understanding of digital advertising, best practices and attribution correlation. Lisa is hyper dealer-centric and her mission is to implement front-line technologies and solutions that eliminate wasted spend and increase net profit.

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Paige Goodwin

Director, Digital Retailing
Group 1 Automotive

Paige Goodwin
Director, Digital Retailing
Group 1 Automotive

 

Paige Goodwin has had a 20-year career in automotive marketing. She began at a startup company in 2003 with a Customer Service role and grew to hold positions in leadership at GS Marketing and Group 1 Automotive. While at GSM for over 13 years, she spent time in the field consulting with dealerships and later managed the field for the western half of the U.S. Paige also held roles as Product Director and Director of Major Accounts, implementing national programs for OEMs and dealer groups. She took a role at Group 1 Automotive in October 2019 as Director of Digital Retailing for U.S. dealerships. In the last 3.5 years at Group 1, Paige has developed and implemented AcceleRide, Group 1’s digital retail platform, at 150 dealerships. A big passion for Paige is to volunteer with various organizations like Child Advocates, Junior Achievement, Kid’s Meals and the Jacksonville Education Foundation.

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Bobbie Herron

CEO & Founder
The Bees Knees Automotive Agency

Bobbie Herron
CEO & Founder
The Bees Knees Automotive Agency

 

Bobbie Herron has served in leadership roles across the Auto Industry for the last 20 years, most recently within two incredible POWERHOUSE Automotive Groups Alongside Automotive Investment and Performance Partner ZMOT Auto. Five years ago, she transitioned, from her role as an Executive Leader for the Garber Automotive Group; an incredibly successful privately-owned organization that operates 16 franchise dealerships and over 25 Independent Operations into the Director of Dealer Performance role within the Cardinale Group of Companies. The Cardinale Group operates 19 retail locations and is recognized as the #1 Wards e-Dealer in the North America. Bobbie now serves both Dealers and Vendors as the CEO & Founder of “The Bees Knees Agency”, a premier Automotive Operations Training and Consulting Agency with an emphasis on CRM, High Performance Culture, BDC/Sales & Leadership Training, Lead Conversion, Process Improvement and Digital Marketing. She is also a presenter at numerous conferences including Digital Dealer, Women in Automotive and Driving Sales, a guest lecturer at Northwood University, and a named winner of the 2015 Automotive News “40 Under 40”. Bobbie can be reached at PartnerWithBobbie@Gmail.com or by text at 989.672.9945.

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Dara Koenig

Founder
Changing Your Conversation

Dara Koenig
Founder
Changing Your Conversation

Life coach, author, and public speaker Dara Koenig is all about empowering others and helping fellow females to reach their goals. For as long as she can remember, Dara has always been focused on people, spending the better half of a decade of her career helping others. From working with large-scale companies to market their services, hiring employees for their dream jobs, launching a nonprofit to uplift women, career coaching, and publishing a devotional series, Dara has worked in every facet of helping others reach new heights and wouldn’t have it any other way.

In addition to her Director of Recruiting Hiring and Training position with Motoix, she runs the nonprofit, Changing Your Conversation. Dara founded Changing Your Conversation to be a safe space for at-risk or low-income women to receive free life and career coaching services. The purpose of this nonprofit centers around changing the narrative to yourself. Instilling confidence in fellow females is Dara’s key mission through her work at Changing Your Conversation because she believes you can “change your conversation; change your future”. Because of her efforts, women across the country are moving closer to their goals of financial and economic stability daily! In addition to the tactical skills women need to negotiate a change in their lives, Dara is also passionate about leading them to a deeper understanding of who they are created to be. Her devotional, “Filled: Hopeless to Hopefilled in 30-days” was #3 in Amazon’s Best-Seller list and gives other women a month-long framework to change their spiritual mindset for the better

The more people she helps, the more fulfilled Dara feels. Bringing people together is a passion she prides herself on, and making them happier than they were when they got there is a must. The saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world” is how she chooses to live her life, and she hopes to help others see life through the same lens.

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Brandie Linfante

Chief Marketing Officer
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

Brandie Linfante
Chief Marketing Officer
Spectrum Automotive Holdings

As the Chief Marketing Officer for Spectrum Automotive Holdings, Brandie Linfante has a wide range of skills and expertise to drive growth, profitability, and customer loyalty. She manages a high-performing marketing team and is focused on brand management, positioning, content, and visual identity. She has a deep understanding of customers and is adept at using data and analytics to make informed decisions about marketing and strategies. She understands the competitive landscape, identification of target markets, and develops plans for successful engagement.

Brandie brings a wealth of skills and expertise to her role, allowing her to drive growth, profitability, and customer loyalty, and she understands the importance of creating authentic connections with customers. She is always looking for innovative ways to engage with audiences, leveraging the latest tools and technologies to drive success.

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Kathleen Long

Chief Revenue Officer
RepairPal

Kathleen Long
Chief Revenue Officer
RepairPal

Kathleen Long is the Chief Revenue Officer at RepairPal, a San Francisco-based company focused on helping families find auto repair they can trust. RepairPal’s teams support over 3,300 independent auto repair shops and franchise dealers, helping them grow their businesses and connecting them with customers through partners like USAA and CarMax, who know that their customers will get high-quality repairs at a fair price. Kathleen is proud to stand for these ethical principles, and to be a female executive in a male-dominated industry. She was honored as Women In Auto Care’s Woman of Excellence for 2022, and has been honored by Babcox Media as a member of the 2023 class of AMN Women at the Wheel.

Kathleen is absolutely insistent on making a difference for people, by connecting them with disruptive useful technologies, aided by humans who are given space to be themselves at work. She has built and developed award-winning business development, marketing, sales, success, support and operations teams, centered on principles of authenticity, hard work and empathy. She has been described by some as the literal voice of the company, and is proud of having a laugh that once set off glass break alarms in a conference room.

Over the years, Kathleen helped transition a startup through a successful acquisition exit, created revenue and monetization streams that supported another startup going public, grew her career from a chair in a call center employee to a seat at the executive table in 10 years (happily mentoring others to do the same) and has a degree in General Studies and Philosophy from the University of Nevada, Reno.

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Megan Mahon

Vice President Sales & Business Dev.
Remarketing+

Megan Mahon
Vice President of Sales & Business Development
Remarketing+

Megan Mahon’s passion for cars took root early in life as the daughter of a dealer who later formed his own successful automotive wholesale operation. Megan has spent much of her childhood, teen years, and professional life in auction lanes and with the industry's top vendors, immersed in all aspects of the automotive industry and in particular, used vehicle remarketing.

In 2005, Megan joined her father’s wholesale company and during her career there, gained invaluable knowledge about automotive wholesaling, including the inspection, reconditioning, and appraisal processes. In fact, Megan has appraised over 100K vehicles across all brands in her career, earning her the reputation as one of the standout expert vehicle appraisers in the nation.

In 2013, she joined The Appraisal Lane, a real-time used car trade network and communications platform, as employee number five. There, she served in various roles, including Director or Training, Director of Sales/Account Management and Director of Operations. In April 2021, she became a Strategic Account Executive for ACV Auctions where she was promoted to National Director of Major Accounts in a little under a year, and served the nation’s top 500 dealer groups while managing a team of over 30 talented people.

Today, she is the VP of Sales & Business Development for Remarketing+, powered by Advent Resources. In her latest role, Megan manages sales and business development efforts to help consignors make more, spend less and de-fleet vehicles faster and more efficiently than ever before.

Megan loves to share her knowledge and passion as a public speaker and author, and she routinely mentors women, and men, about achieving personal success while making the most of their automotive careers.

Inheriting unbridled enthusiasm for vehicles from her father, Megan is a self-proclaimed “car chick.” While she absolutely loves her career, she is equally driven about changing the mindsets of people who think women aren’t (or could never be) knowledgeable about cars.

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Katie Mares

Brand Experience Expert
.

Katie Mares
Brand Experience Expert

As a brand experience expert, Katie Mares knows firsthand the challenges organizations encounter as they strive to design a sustainable and effective CX program tailored for the female consumer. Using her experiences as a Chief Inspiration Officer, building company infrastructure, and designing customer experience programs, she is now a leading voice for positive, actionable change in the organizations with which she partners. Katie has a master’s degree in Adult Training and Development from Schulich School of Business and a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) certification.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Katie has inspired audiences around the world to think differently about the female consumer, customer experience, and leadership. She has worked with globally recognized brands, including Honda, Celebrity Cruises, and Canada Post.

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Audrey McKinley

President and Founder
Auto Network Consulting Inc.

Audrey McKinley
President and Founder
Auto Network Consulting Inc.

Audrey McKinley is the President and founder of Auto Network Consulting Inc. She is a trailblazer for women in automotive as she has been serving dealerships for over 30 years in multiple roles. She is Latina Style Magazine Top Executive for 2021 and 2022. She has been featured in Agent Entrepreneur Magazine, in the Hispanic 100 Foundation, CBT News, the Daniel Gomez show, HSBN broadcast, Auto Success magazine, and many more platforms. She is a best-selling author, speaker and coach to many. McKinley started her career in Automotive as a receptionist in Southern California and quickly worked her pathway to promotion, breaking all glass ceilings.

In 2015, she realized that she would never truly reach her full potential in Corporate America, so she took a leap of faith and left her highly sought after role as an Executive for a large OEM manufacturer to start her own business. Today she has built a multi-Million-dollar company that creates products, processes and profits for dealerships across the US. She consults with owners on their wealth strategies along with training and developing their management teams while empowering them to reach their next level. She recently launched thehivekingdom.com and a TV show called the Hive Live aired on HSBN in hopes to inspire women to go their next level in business, leadership, mindset. She is dedicated to bringing that same passion she did for herself to others. Her mission is to share her story and business strategies so they too can change the trajectory of their lives and businesses.

In addition to her success in the automotive industry, she has a passion for serving her community and sits on several nonprofit boards such as Women in Automotive and the Pure Hope Foundation. She also serves as a mentor to young adults in the Latino community with the Hispanic 100 program. As a motivational speaker and author, she strives to have a global impact with people on their pathway to success.

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Rochelle Morton

Director
Damsel in Defense

Rochelle Morton
Director
Damsel in Defense

Rochelle M. Morton is a certified project management professional with over 15 years of project management experience. Morton possesses a diverse background in the project management and consulting fields supporting various health insurance, energy, automobile insurance, automobile manufacturing, and laboratory testing industries. Most recently, her professional experience has been focused on the successful implementation of multi-million-dollar projects supporting BCBSM, BCN, Senior Health Services, Network Management, Federal Employees Program, and Care Management programs.

Rochelle Morton graduated Cum Laude in December 2015 from Northwood University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Morton obtained her certification in project management in 2004 from the Great Lakes chapter of Project Management Institute. She is also a very proud graduate of the Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Detroit XLI. Morton serves as one of five members of the board of directors for Detroit Edison Public School Academy, and Northeast Integrated Health. She also served as a chair of the State Public Affairs Committee as well as the Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence sub-committee for the Junior League of Detroit. Morton also partnered with Damsel in Defense, where she holds the title of Director with a national team of over 100 Independent Damsel Pros.

As a concerned resident for the state of Michigan, and an advocate for personal protection, Morton is a director with Damsel in Defense as an independent consultant and is aggressively partnering with the state’s legislative body to amend laws that restrict access to non-lethal options for personal protection. Morton’s passion for her city is also allowing her to volunteer as the project manager supporting a community development initiative with a focus on making the community a clean, decent, and saft place to live.

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Laura Murphy

Senior Automotive Specialist
Google

Laura Murphy
Senior Sales Consultant
Google

Laura Murphy (“La”) is a senior automotive retail consultant at Google Detroit with 25+ years of experience in digital advertising. La graduated from Michigan State University & started her career on the agency side in account management & TV/media commercial shoots. She spent 8 years at Microsoft building custom digital reach programs on platforms like Xbox and Bing. She joined Google in 2015 where she is uncomfortably challenged and motivated on a daily basis.

La is a certified #IamRemarkable facilitator training women and underrepresented groups across Detroit how to speak confidently about their accomplishments.

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Bri Newman

Vice President
HR4

Bri Newman
Vice President
HR4

With over a decade of experience in the field of HR and human capital management, Bri is a true expert in her field. As the Vice President of an HR software company focused on the automotive industry, she has led the development of innovative HR solutions that have revolutionized the way in which dealers manage their human capital.

She has been recognized as an industry thought leader and has been invited to speak at several conferences including being a two-time NADA speaker. Her presentations have received high praise from attendees for their insights into the unique challenges faced by the automotive industry in managing its human capital.

Drawing on her extensive experience in the field, she has developed a deep understanding of the importance of human capital in driving business success. Her expertise in leveraging technology to optimize HR processes has helped numerous automotive companies to streamline their HR operations and achieve significant cost savings.

In addition to her role as Vice President, she is also an active member of several industry associations and has contributed to numerous publications on the topic of human capital management. Her passion for the industry and dedication to advancing the field of HR has earned her a reputation as a respected voice in the industry.

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Andy O’Brien

Global Senior Partner
ActionCOACH

Andy O’Brien
Global Senior Partner
ActionCOACH

As one of the top coaches in ActionCOACH Business Coaching, Andy O’Brien brings over twenty years of remarkable leadership, business and personal development experience to executives and business owners. Andy’s brand promise is threefold: Advance a career ~ Transform a company ~ Achieve incredible results. To fulfill these promises, Andy defines what he does in four words: Awareness, Education, Implementation and Discipline.

Andy’s career as an award-winning business coach since 2011 and 16 years in the building products industry has prepared him in his thought leadership journey. Andy has proven success in sales, sales training, sales management, business development, vice president of sales & marketing, and customer relationship marketing management.

Andy is certified and supported by the world’s #1 leadership guru, John C. Maxwell, the world’s #1 business coaching team, ActionCOACH Executive & Business Coaching, and the world’s #1 sales motivation expert, Jeffrey Gitomer.

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Jodee O’Brien

Senior Partner
ActionCOACH

Jodee O’Brien
Senior Partner
ActionCOACH

Jodee started her career working for a national nonprofit in communication/marketing. Since that time she has held leadership roles in businesses and nonprofit organizations. In 1991 Jodee started her own consulting firm in communications/marketing and project management. In 2012 she was drawn back into the nonprofit world in an executive role that let to honing her skills as a turnaround expert. Over the next 12 years, she led major change within three organizations. In 2022, after her work to merge a county based United Way into the Regional organization, she decided that it was time to join their ActionCOACH business. Her merging experience was also used as three companies decided to merge and create a regional firm, ActionCOACH Central Texas. Using her nonprofit background and the ActionCOACH tool box, Jodee became a Certified Coaching For A Cause coach. This program is part of the Global ActionCOACH Foundation that provides coaches and firms support to guide nonprofits in having a greater impact in their community by using the ActionCOACH business toolkit adapted for nonprofit organizations.

Jodee’s skill set enables her to look at the big picture, break down main areas of need, prioritize key items and guide her client to achieving the results they desire. This ability is reflected in Malcolm Gladwell‘s book, Blink, the concept of being a thin slicer, which refers to the idea that people are able to make accurate decisions or judgments with very little information. This is especially true for experts in their respective fields, as they can easily identify patterns and draw conclusions with only a small amount of information.

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Carrie Pasch

Partner
Pasch Group

Carrie Pasch
Partner
Pasch Group

Carrie Pasch is a partner at the Pasch Group as well as an active public speaker and author. Carrie has published two books: Your Story for His Glory (2019) and Thank You Cancer (2022).

After fifteen years of event planning experience in the automotive industry, Carrie has started a new endeavor. Using her event planning and marketing skills, she is now organizing and hosting inspirational events for women and business leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

With an incredible heart for Italy, Carrie has also become fluent in the Italian language and loves to speak and encourage the women in Italy. Carrie is also pursuing her Masters of Divinity at Southeastern University in Lakeland Florida.

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Heather Pridemore

Founder and Coach
Pridemore Coaching

Heather Pridemore
Founder and Coach
Pridemore Coaching

Founder, coach, student, wife, mother, and aspiring mermaid - with over 12 years of experience in the automotive industry, both on the retail and vendor side. Heather’s success is fueled by a strong work ethic and perseverance, values instilled in her by the tribe of women who raised her. She seeks inspiration from a variety of disciplines and is dedicated to personal growth and development, as well as helping others. Heather’s goal is to encourage others to stretch and grow, to think differently, and to never be afraid to ask hard questions.

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Dr. Martha Rader

Principal
Rader Leadership

Martha E. Rader, Ph.D.
Principal
Rader Leadership

Dr. Martha E. Rader is a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, the principal of Rader Leadership, a professor, consultant, and an MBA Northwood University graduate.

As an independent leadership and teams developer, coach, trainer, and culture consultant, Dr. Rader has over 25 years of experience as an executive, leader, and manager in the automotive and banking industries and has had the opportunity to study the effects of generational differences in organizations. She has the knack and passion for creating a safe authentic space that invites exploration of culture, skills, the reasoning of behavior, and gaps that limit growth.

She works with individuals and companies to develop and align an inclusive culture and leadership to reach higher levels of potential and performance (Developing MVP Champions; Mission, Values, and Priorities ©). She also develops teams to reduce conflict to work more cohesively and effectively together, which in turn helps to improve engagement, motivation, inclusion (employee experience), productivity, performance, and retention, which all influence the bottom line.

Dr. Rader is certified in Denison Culture, MHS Emotional Intelligence, DE&I, Coaching, Training, and Speaking (John Maxwell Independent Certified), and is an Authorized Wiley-Lencioni Partner for DiSC Behavior Analysis and the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team.

She has assisted in building positive, purposeful, productive, inclusive, and performance cultures in the automotive, banking, hospitality, non-profit, small business, and higher education industries. Rader was nominated for the Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry in 2010, has served as a board member for non-profit organizations, and national dealer councils, and is an active volunteer within her community.

Her mission is: “To build trust, to passionately develop leaders and teams to inspire a positive, productive, inclusive culture to achieve meaningful growth, goals, and fulfilled lives.”

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Andrea Schliessman

Head of Talent and Content Strategy
The RockED Company Inc

Andrea Schliessman
Head of Talent and Content Strategy
The RockED Company Inc

Andrea believes in the magic power of connecting people with purpose. She’s spent over 20 years accelerating the skills and capabilities of front-line employees and dealership leaders. She has created innovative talent development programs for a wide range of organizations including a technology start-up, multibillion dollar family business and Fortune 500 industry leader.

Throughout her time in automotive, Andrea has championed the use of technology to foster talent and career mobility, amplify professional development efforts and grow employee engagement. She knows, deep down in her heart, that people are what makes the car business special, and people are the best investment a dealer can make in their success.

When she’s not transforming work experiences on the sales floor or on service drive, you can find Andrea walking in the woods, paddling through the waves or sitting on the beach with a great book.

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Cassidy Spring

Dir. of Business Intelligence & Data Science
Dealer World

Cassidy Spring
Director of Business Intelligence & Data Science
Dealer World

Cassidy Spring has been the Data Intelligence Director of Dealer World for the past 4 years. Over this time, she has gained experience and expertise in the automotive industry through different roles. Those roles include paid search management, working directly with dealerships assisting them with managing and consulting for their marketing and performance in these areas and more. Her true passion lies in data analytics and business intelligence. She has now led the Analytics division for more than 5 years. By continuing to push the company forward towards more intelligent data, she is consumed in new and different ways that assist clients in these areas by providing easily digestible, relevant, and actionable insights.

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Kirsten Von Busch

Director, Product Marketing
Experian Automotive

Kirsten Von Busch
Director, Product Marketing
Experian Automotive

Kirsten Von Busch has over 20 years of experience in the auto industry. As Product Marketing Director for the Experian Automotive team, she supports solutions in the commercial automotive space, including the AutoCheck® vehicle history report and the Experian Marketing Engine. Prior to joining Experian in 2014, she held various operations, product management, product marketing and sales operations roles in automotive retail technology.

Von Busch holds a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in marketing, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

 

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Robin Wilson

CEO and Founder
SCP Agency and Epic BDC

Robin Wilson
CEO and Founder
SCP Agency and Epic BDC

Robin Wilson is a successful entrepreneur and founder of SCP Agency and Epic BDC. She has been serving the automotive community since 2013, offering innovative solutions and delivering outstanding results. With a passion for the industry and a drive to succeed, Robin has established herself as a leader in the field.

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Arabah Woodberry

Exec Director, Auto Dealer Commercial Serv
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Arabah Woodberry
Executive Director, Auto Dealer Commercial Services
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

Arabah Woodberry is an Executive Director in Dealer Commercial Services supporting minority owned dealerships. She is focused on helping members of the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers (NAMAD) by providing specific programs focused on financial literacy, industry insights, succession planning, advisory services and a full spectrum of financing capabilities. Arabah works closely with NAMAD to determine how Chase can become a better partner and best support their mission to support and increase the number of minority-owned dealers across the United States.

 

Arabah is based in Phoenix, Arizona and has been working within the Chase Auto line of business at JPMorgan Chase & Co. for 13 years. She has experience in commercial underwriting, relationship management and new business development. 

 

Originally from Vancouver, BC Canada, Arabah received a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Western Washington University and an MBA in Finance from Grand Canyon University. She remains an active member of several community organizations in the Phoenix area, including Girls on the Run and Valley of Sun United Way. 

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Sandy Zannino

CEO & Founder
Innovative Auto HR

Sandy Zannino
CEO & Founder
Innovative Auto HR

 

With 25 years in the automotive industry, Sandy Zannino is passionate about protecting profits through compliance, programs, training & people processes.  She opened IAHR in 2017 and in 2019 received Tampa HR’s award for HR Consultant of the year.  Sandy is a processed based problem solver who believes deeply in offering exemplary customer service to her clients, earning their loyalty and trust.  Sandy holds SPHR & SHRM-SCP certifications as well as ADCO’s Dealership Compliance Officer certification.  Sandy is deeply passionate about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and is a Certified Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practitioner through The People Company’s Inclusion Institute. 

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Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Sponsors

Tickets

Early bird registration (Valid through May 8th): $599
Standard registration: $699

Terms and Conditions
EXCLUDES 3% TRANSACTION FEE.

Registrations may be transferred to another colleague at no additional charge. We do ask that you notify us so that we can amend appropriate records. If you have to cancel your registration, please advise Women In Automotive in writing. There is a $150 handling fee for cancellations received on or before Friday, June 2, 2023. We regret we cannot process any refunds for cancellations after that date.

Registered attendees who fail to attend the conference will be liable for the full fee. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact:

Libby Irwin
E-mail: libby@irwin-events.com

Venue

Renaissance Dallas Hotel
2222 N Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
Ph: (214) 631-2222

The Women In Automotive hotel room block at the Dallas Renaissance Hotel is sold out. Please contact the hotel directly to book accommodations. If you find that the hotel is sold out in full, you can try these nearby options:

Comfort Inn & Suites Dallas Medical-Market Center
Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Medical/Market Center
Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/Market Center
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dallas – Market Center
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Dallas Medical/Market Center
Hilton Anatole
Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Market Center
Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, an IHG Hotel
Sheraton Suites Market Center Dallas
Hotels.com
Airbnb – Dallas



Contact

For all event questions, contact:
Libby Irwin
Email: libby@irwin-events.com

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact:
Veronica Dunford
Email: veronica@womeninautomotive.com

 

Details

Start:
June 22
End:
June 24

Venue

Recharged
Dallas, TX United States

Organizer

WIA
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