The Women's Industry Network (WIN) has partnered with Automotive Service and
Repair Week (ASRW) to sponsor and create this year's Women's Professional
Development Track course offerings. The courses will be offered at the
International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), held in conjunction
with ASRW, Oct. 10-13 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las
Vegas.
WIN's sponsorship of the education track stems from involvement with ASRW in
2009, said Kim White, WIN chair and district sales manager for FinishMaster.
The women's professional development track was first created in 2007.
"Last year, ASRW asked WIN to assist with one or two of the panels in the
women's track," White said. "After last year's event, ASRW reviewed the
track and decided to continue it in 2010. ASRW then partnered with WIN to
sponsor and lead the development of the track for this year's event."
"Women are involved in all aspects of the collision repair industry, and
providing education specific to their needs is an important goal of ASRW,”
says Bill Haas, ASA vice president of education and training. "The WIN
organization is the perfect partner for this track, and we're pleased to
partner with them on what we know will be the highest quality information
and education.”
White says the courses, presented by WIN members, will offer information
that cannot be found in other ASRW conference sessions and will help build a
sense of camaraderie among women in the industry.
"The goal was to provide quality personal and professional development
programs that didn't duplicate information shared in other sessions," she
said. "In addition, we wanted to reach women new to the industry, as well as
encourage others to stay in the industry by building networks that will help
their businesses."
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Women's Professional Development Track conference sessions include:
- Strategic Benefits of Female Business Ownership — moderated by
Margaret Klinsport of Allstate Insurance with panelists Kathy Mello, TGIF
Auto Body and Kelly McCarty, Carty's Collision Center
- Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk: Best Kept Secrets for Success in the
Collision Industry
(AMI Accredited - 3 credits) — presented by Denise Caspersen, Automotive
Service Association, and Gigi Walker, Walker Autobody
- 2010: Year of the Woman Panel Discussion — moderated by Kristen
Felder of Collision Hub with panelists Geri Kottschade, Jerry's Body Shop;
Mary Mahoney, Enterprise; Mary Jo Prigge, CCC; and Marcy Tieger, Symphony
Advisors.
- Successful Networking Strategies — moderated by Victoria Jankowski
of State Farm Insurance with panelists Karen Fierst, KerenOr Consultants;
Ruth Weniger, Airbag Solutions; and Liz Stein, Fix Auto
- Developing My Personal Brand — moderated by Stacy Bartnik of CARSTAR
with panelists Petra Schroeder, Dupont; Teresa Bolton, ASE; and Jeanne
Silver, CARSTAR Mundelein.
"After topics were developed, the committee sought people to participate and
made a conscious effort to identify and reach out to women who have great
information to share, but for one reason or another, have not been on the
national stage," White said. "Most, but not all, panelists are WIN
members."
The committee that participated in the development of the track included
Tieger, Kottschade, Jankowski, The committee that participated in the
development of the track included Tieger, Kottschade, Jankowski, Caspersen,
Felder and White.