Category: Press

Posted on August 16, 2017 - Press

Martin Kia General Manager aims high in the dealership world

Wadette Bradford is a “gearhead”. As a high school student in Tuskegee, Ala., she took an advanced mechanics class as her elective. And in English class? “I would always write my essays about high-performance super cars,” Bradford tells Automotive Buy Sell Report. It was only natural then, that she would end up in the car business. As General Manager of Martin Kia in Bowling Green, Ky, Bradford is leaving her mark on the dealership and the industry at large. She… Read more »

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Posted on July 12, 2017 - Events, News, Press

What I Learned at Women in Automotive

By Kathy Gilbert The past few days have been filled with inspiring women, supportive men, innovative ideas and unrelenting passion. The third annual Women in Automotive Conference was held this summer in Orlando, Florida, and we welcomed our largest group yet. Throughout my career at CDK Global, I’ve spent more and more time dedicated to minority and women dealerships. When I got the opportunity to be a part of founding the Women in Automotive conference a few years ago, I… Read more »

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Posted on June 30, 2017 - Press

Are You Really Listening to Your Biggest Customer – Women?!

Women in the US buy or Influence over 80% of all car purchases yet most automakers, dealers, and salesmen treat them like a niche. Consider these three facts: Women in the U.S. Buy, 65% of all new cars, 45% of all light trucks and SUVs and influence 80% of all car purchases 75% of women feel misunderstood by car marketers 95% of the country’s 20,000 auto dealers are owned and operated by men She-economy Guide, Stephanie Holland The Next Killer… Read more »

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Posted on June 26, 2017 - Press

New Keynote Speaker Jeffery Tobias Halter Rounds Out All-Star Lineup at Women in Automotive Conference

Orlando, FL – Women in Automotive (WIA) today announced the addition of Jeffery Tobias Halter, President of YWomen, to their keynote roster for its upcoming conference in Orlando, July 9-11. WIA is a collection of industry leaders focused on empowering and developing women in the automotive sector. Halter is a highly sought-after speaker whose company, YWomen, focuses on engaging men in women’s leadership issues. He is the author of two books, Why Women, The Leadership Imperative to Advancing Women; and… Read more »

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Posted on June 1, 2017 - Press

Plans Coming Together for Women in Automotive Conference

On July 9 through July 11, Women in Automotive (WIA) will be holding its Summer Conference at the Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate, FL. The conference is designed for automotive manufacturers, suppliers and dealerships, including collision repair centers, and Jody DeVere, Founding Board Member of WIA, notes, “We are very excited about this summer’s conference. We will have an all-star lineup of over 100 speakers, and our focus is on educating and empowering women and men in the automotive community… Read more »

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Posted on April 27, 2017 - Press

Men Champions Advance Careers for Women

Many men execs, managers and trainers are uncomfortable with one-on-one mentoring in cross-gender relationships. A recent survey revealed that “half of junior women and almost two-thirds of senior men shied away from one-on-one mentoring relationships due to concerns that someone might perceive a sexual relationship where there was none.” These apprehensions build walls that deny access to the power holders and potential career mentors that can advance careers, and subsequently talented women find themselves excluded and marginalized. Thus, the organization… Read more »

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Posted on March 24, 2017 - Press

‘Rock Star-Wanted’ Dealer Job Listings Appeal to Men, Not Women

Some car dealerships seeking to hire ambitious people will say in job postings they are looking for “rock stars” and “ninjas.” Those lively descriptors may resonate with alpha-male go-getters. But they tend to turn off women who might otherwise apply, says Candice Crane, vice president-dealer solutions at Hireology, a talent-search company specializing in auto retailing. “Get those words out of your job descriptions,” she advises. “Women won’t respond to that. They respond to ‘collaboration,’ ‘autonomy,’ career development’ and ‘empowerment.’” The… Read more »

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Posted on March 20, 2017 - Press

7 Tips for Attracting, Engaging, and Supporting Women in Your Workplace

Why leveling the playing field will provide you with a distinct competitive advantage. Although Congress declared March National Women’s History Month 30 years ago, it only seems to have entered the national consciousness of late. When I joined the public relations industry shortly after Southern forces had bombarded Fort Sumter, there wasn’t a single female CEO among the top 50 PR firms! Today, according to a leading industry trade publication, 17 of the 50 largest PR firms are female-led. Attracting,… Read more »

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Posted on March 13, 2017 - Press

Jody DeVere: Building a bridge between women and auto industry

Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, says her passion for the auto industry started early—growing up in Southern California’s car culture, being raised by an engineer father and marrying into an automotive family. So when she began consulting in 2000, after more than 20 years working in the high-tech world, it was not surprising “that 80 percent of my clients were in automotive,” she says. She had an eye-opening experience during a rebranding effort for one client. “My idea was to… Read more »

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Posted on February 27, 2017 - Press

Why Aren’t There More Women General Managers?

After a decade of progress of women gradually emerging as an important and recognized segment of contemporary automotive business, it is frustrating to read statistics stating that only 8% of women occupy key positions in our national automotive dealerships. (NADA Workforce Study – www.nada.org/workforcestudy) This study also reports that women still work in positions of 91% office and administrative support, with only 18.5% total in the dealerships. These are disappointing statistics, especially considering the extensive efforts and achievements by women… Read more »

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