The AskPatty team attended SEMA last week: members of the Specialty Equipment Market Association make, buy, sell and use all kinds of specialty parts and accessories to make vehicles more attractive, more unique, more convenient, faster, safer, more fun and even like-new again. The TIA (Tire Industry Association), NACE (International Auto Body Congress & Exposition), and  the CARS (Congress of Automotive Repair & Service) conventions overlapped week in Las Vegas and we attended them all. (My feet are still sore from all that walking).

Each year at these events I see more and more women entering the automotive industry or women I know growing in their roles and careers. THIS makes me smile. So to the GUYS; "If you missed seeing them in 2009, these are some of the 'real' women to watch at SEMA in 2010."

Enger Tire won 1st place and one of AskPatty's Certified Female Friendly® tire and service center groups in Virginia Curry's Auto won 2nd place in the Tire Review Magazine Top Shop 2009 awards held during the TIA event on Monday. Judy Curry Co-Owner of Curry's Auto was also named "One of 2009 Women Who Mean Business" of 2009 by the Washington Business Review recently.

At the Car Care Council Women's Board event they announced Lisa Kranc, senior vice president of marketing for AutoZone Inc., as the sixth annual Aftermarket Woman of the Year. I also did some networking with Susan Medick CFO of the AAIA (Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association) and interestingly many key executives of this large automotive association are women: Kathleen Schmatz is CEO and Susan Kalish heads up their education programs! We were also very excited to see Helen Winkler of Activant Solutions receive her award.

A the SBN Breakfast (SEMA Business Women's Networking Group), legendary motor sports hero to women  Lynn St. James was honored with the 2009 Athena Award and so enjoyed networking with many women in leadership in the automotive aftermarket including AskPatty expert woman Director of Business Development - Chop Shop Customs Dana Schaeffer, Erin Gilhuly, TRD Business Administrator Toyota Motor Sales USA and many other amazing women. The speed-networking portion of this event is one of my favorite events each year during SEMA, one can never know enough amazing women (and men supporters a growing number at this event each year), in the automotive aftermarket industry!

During my time at NACE events met with Debby Robinson of Victory Management Group, Dick Cross CEO and Bill Garoutt, SVP of Marketing for CarStar who do a wonderful program in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation with their 375 locations in the US and Canada. Shared a delightful  dinner of coconut pancakes and hot chocolate with Jeanne Silver of Butterfield Bodyworks CarStar Collision shop owner in Mundelein, Illinois, who is very involved in leadership development for women in the collision industry. Jeanne and the Women in Collision are mentoring a young woman named Rachel Fonseca who is seeking a career in the collision industry as a custom body builder in Bedford, Ma. Rachel is currently employed as an Adult  Education Instructor (teaching Collision Repair and Small Engine Repair) at Voc. While studying at Voc she participated in SkillsUSA, becoming the first female in the 34 year Massachusetts's state history to win gold in Collision Repair. Many "Women in Collision" gather to network on a Ning network called CollisionHub, founded by Kristen Felder, a woman of course!