Glenda Gill is the Executive Director of the Rainbow/PUSH Los Angeles, formerly Director of the Rainbow/PUSH Detroit Bureau. Ms Gill’s current responsibility has been the day-to-day bureau operations, management and leading the effort to promote diversity of minorities and women among the global automotive community. The bureau has focused on building strategic partnerships within the industry in an effort to promote, increase and sustain diversity participation at every level. The work has provided invaluable to transformation of the automotive manufacturing industry – leading to increased minority participation from the boardroom to the assembly line.
In her new capacity, Ms. Gill added to her plate the entertainment industry. The effort will be to forge new relationships in the entertainment industry and have goals that are similar to automotive. Advocacy, education, building strong relationships, strategic partnerships and expanding minority opportunities behind the scenes as well as in front of the screen will be the chief focus in entertainment.
Glenda Gill has vast experience in several areas of work including public affairs, public relations, community relations, public involvement, marketing, public events and management of special projects. She also served as a partner in a firm as a public involvement and public awareness consultant for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Projects - CSO Basin and Water Works Park.
She began her work career at Xerox Corporation spent over fourteen years in retail management, with Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor and others.
Ms. Gill left the retail industry to become immersed in national politics by joining Rev. Jesse L. Jackson’s 1988 Presidential campaign as assistant director of fundraising. After the campaign, Ms. Gill worked in various capacities for other presidential and senatorial candidates national and a stint as a union organizer for AFL-CIO. These positions fueled her ascent to fund development director of the Southern Regional Council in Atlanta.
In 1993, Ms. Gill returned to Detroit to work as a coordinating producer for a national cable and public television program. Additionally she began to hone her talents as a special event publicist, manager and promotion consultant working with National television, radio and literary talent.
Ms. Gill sees herself as a change agent along with having a drive and passion to the commitment of economic empowerment for people of color. Currently living in Los Angeles, Ms. Gill has one son, Brandon a graduate of Stanford University.
Auto Expressions™ accessories are available at auto parts stores, the automotive aisles of mass merchant discount stores, food, drug and dollar stores, and other retailers nationwide.
CarMax: Purchasing a Vehicle Remains a Hassle for Women
RICHMOND, Va. (May 19, 2006) -- According to a recent poll conducted by CarMax, women say purchasing a vehicle remains a hassle. Executives said this year's study showed dealerships had made no improvement in women's biggest gripes in the buying process since the last time the poll was conducted in 2004.
"Women continue to experience stress when buying a car as demands on their time and need for convenience increase," explained Donna Wassel, regional vice president for CarMax. "That's why it is important to find a car retailer that focuses on providing a transparent, customer-friendly and easy car-buying process."
Women ranked "a quick, effortless transaction" at the top of their list as most lacking when they purchased a vehicle. A total of 21 percent of women said this was their biggest issue, which is exactly the same percentage who listed it last year.
Next in line, 15 percent of women said they had a hard time finding a salesperson they liked and trusted, as compared to 16 percent in 2004. Lowest pricing, or fair pricing, was the next largest gripe from the women, as 14 percent listed it as what they found most lacking, which is flat when compared to 2004.
Women also showed concern when it came to a fair trade-in value, with 14 percent naming this as lacking in their last purchase process, which is steady from 2004. After trade-in value, came the desire for respect and attention for a female's wants and needs, which 14 percent reported lacking, as opposed to 13 percent in 2004.
Another 6 percent of women identified "a fair, reasonable finance rate," as their biggest complaint, as compared to 7 percent in 2004. CarMax also found that women thought the paperwork they were handed during the buying process needed to be more understandable, as 4 percent cited this as their biggest problem, remaining flat from the 2004. As for the "other" category, 12 percent of women questioned listed items not covered by CarMax's list, compared to 11 percent in 2004.
The company said it surveyed more than 9,800 women on carmax.com for the study.
Cotton Balls In Our Ears: Women Are Your Lost Radio & TV Demographic
Jen Helfer »
We re all too familiar with the hard sell spokesman, yelling about how "Everything Must Go!" and "We re Slashing Prices!" as if it were a monster truck rally and The Rock was the emcee. Oooooh! Enough already! As an automotive professional, you know who's holding the purse strings in most households...and it's not who many would expect.
Women are responsible for the purchasing decisions of over half the automobiles--cars, trucks, and all the rest-- sold in this country. With this in mind, perhaps the person speaking to your potential customers is of the wrong gender. Women buy emotionally--so don't scare them away with unfriendly, "male-targeted", "hard-sell" antics. We want to trust and feel familiar with who we buy from. We want to know your dealership truly under-stands our unique automobile needs. You can scream about prices til the cows come home and we aren't listenin .
As a female voice artist, I am your demographic. And I am your solution to this problem. My goal is to make people feel "at home" with your dealership--whether male or female. Men may enjoy listening to a woman's voice for obvious reasons, but women respond simply because it's a woman sharing information about a large and sometimes challenging buying decision. Face it, fellas; we love "girl talk", even if it's about cars.
Keep in mind that a majority of the dealerships in the U.S. who use radio or television advertising regularly use male voice talent to sell their vehicles. It doesn't matter how good the talent is, after a while it all starts to sound the same.
Might I suggest boosting your sales in 2004 by targeting your untapped female market, while captivating male interest in the process! People--male or female--can only take so much of the monster truck rally approach! So tell me ladies, is it safe to take our earplugs out now?
Jen Helfer offers full service audio production from her Seattle-based studio, Candle Fly Creative.
Many people often ask me about the "Women's Automotive Basic Maintenance Class" and I love to tell the story of its conception and birth.
A few years ago, my husband had the ideal to start a automotive repair center, in addition to the motorcoach business we were currently operating. This would be the beginning of something wonderful......
I love my car because it very reliable has a great safety record, and a fantastic resale value.I like the way she looks and the way she drives. She is a 6 cylinder and has the necessary get up and go!Mercedes is a luxury car, and it makes me feel good to be able to finally afford one now.In my line of work, it is important to look the part, and I like what Mercedes represents in terms of success.Like the commercial says.. “You’ve got to like what you drive”.And I do!!My Mercedes’ design offers a smooth quiet ride, and gets good gas mileage on the highway.Approximately 30MPG.My car came Stocked with all power features, sunroof, leather, alarm and wood grain inlay.The GPS was optional and maybe next time.When it comes time to bring her in for her ‘tune-up’ the dealership is top notch.They are courteous, confident and always soppy a loaner car.I am very impressed with everything about Mercedes from the design to the service after purchase.
J.K. "Kim" Tinkham - Owner and Editor Tink Ink Publications
About Kim Tinkham:
Kim is the Editor and owner of Tink Ink Publications. She is an Editor and Freelance writer for several magazines dealing with family issues and youth sports. She is currently working on her book ‘Well Wheeled: Women taking control of their car buying experience’. Her research is in conjunction with Texas Woman’s University and includes a national survey with input from women and men on their car buying experiences. Kim hopes that the results will send an important message to the automobile industry about how best to work with women and their distinct buying wants and needs. To participate in this very important survey, visit www.wellwheeled.com.
Kim is a licensed ‘Path’ facilitator, motivational speaker and has over 30 years of sales background in various service oriented industries. She was co-owner of one of the largest corporate transportation companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area for twelve years and has devoted the last three years researching and speaking to companies regarding marketing concepts to the most influential purchasing group in the world: women. Her research has run the gamut from P.T. Barnum to Mary Lou Quinlan.
Kim is married and lives with her husband, Scott, just outside of Paradise, Texas. Their son, Garrett, plays hockey for the Junior Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
“Dare To Dream” – that is exactly what Deborah Renshaw does everyday. As women increase their efforts and opportunities in auto racing, the 28 year-old native of Bowling Green, Kentucky continues to set new marks in the sport.
The dream began as a youngster at local race tracks around Kentucky and Tennessee where her father, Dan, was a team owner. Eager to learn the sport, Deborah attended races with her father and helped with anything she could – such as lap times, tire pressures, etc... With racing in her blood, she went off to college at Northwood (MI) University where in 1997 she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business along with an Associate’s Degree in Automotive Marketing. With this education in tow, Deborah chased that racing dream with the support of her family by competing at local tracks near Nashville, Tennessee. The 1999 and 2000 race season saw Deborah compete in the Late Model stock car division at Highland Rim (TN) Speedway where she finished fifth in the points while earning a runner-up finish for the Rookie of the Year award. The dream became even bigger in the 2000 – 2001 seasons with participation in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at the famed Nashville Speedway USA and Riverview (TN) Speedway. She made 27 starts throughout the season accumulating three top-ten finishes, six top-15 finishes and one pole position which also set a new track record at Riverview.
At the Nashville Speedway USA, Deborah earned her way to the top of the championship point standings and made history in the process by becoming the first female to lead the point’s race in a NASCAR – sanctioned series.
Deborah took her dream and emerging talent to the ARCA RE/MAX Series for the 2002 and 2003 campaigns where she impressed many with six top-ten starts and three top-ten finishes.
Determined to continue down this path, the 2004 season saw Deborah make another big step into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In 14 starts, she earned two top-20 finishes with a career best finish of 15th at Martinsville Speedway in late October. She also became the first female to lead a lap in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race after doing so in the race at Darlington Raceway.
As the dream progresses, so does this determined female racer. During the 2005 campaign we saw Deborah climb behind the wheel of the #8 DODGE from the stable of Bobby Hamilton Racing. She completed the full schedule of the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and will continue to wake up everyday and “Dare To Dream”.
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Glenda Gill is the Executive Director of the Rainbow/PUSH Los Angeles, formerly Director of the Rainbow/PUSH Detroit Bureau. Ms Gill’s current responsibility has been the day-to-day bureau operations, management and leading the effort to promote diversity of minorities and women among the global automotive community. The bureau has focused on building strategic partnerships within the industry in an effort to promote, increase and sustain diversity participation at every level. The work has provided invaluable to transformation of the automotive manufacturing industry – leading to increased minority participation from the boardroom to the assembly line. 
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