LEESBURG, Va. – Women’s Industry Network (WIN) has announced that nominations for the prestigious Most Influential Women Awards are now open and will be accepted through Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014.
 
The winners will be recognized at the Most Influential Women gala held during the 2015 WIN Educational Conference, May 4-6, 2015, at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott in Baltimore, Md. Nomination forms may be downloaded from the WIN website at http://thewomensindustrynetwork.ning.com/page/most-influential-women. Nominations from every segment of the industry across the United States and Canada are welcomed, and WIN membership is not a requirement.
 
The Most Influential Women award recognizes women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision and commitment to excellence. Leanne Jefferies, director of collision programs with AIA Canada and a 2014 MIW honoree, said, “To be recognized as an Influential Woman by WIN was one of the highlights of my career. I am passionate about finding ways to improve the collision repair industry for all stakeholders, and I was honored to have this recognized.”  
 
At the MIW awards gala, honorees will be presented with a Tiffany’s crystal award and commemorative pin. They also will meet the WIN Scholarship winners as part of the mentoring program.
 
Jefferies added, “One of the most rewarding aspects of this award is that it provides an opportunity for MIW honorees to mentor the next generation by sharing their experience and providing guidance to young women, as they transition from education to a career in collision repair.”
 
Honorees have held positions in every facet of the collision repair industry as shop owners, body and paint technicians, managers, wholesalers, lobbyists, suppliers, insurance adjusters, consultants, educators, editors and writers, and industry association directors. “This award is not about the individuals that have the honor to receive it nor is it about male vs. female. This award is important to the Collision Repair industry because it says to all that are interested in a career in the automotive industry that collision repair is a sector where opportunities exist and that skill, creativity and a strong work ethic are recognized as valuable assets to the industry,” said Frederica Carter of F. Carter Events LLC, a 2014 MIW honoree and co-chair of the 2015 MIW Committee.
 
The program’s charter aligns with WIN’s mission to “enhance the role of women in the industry.” For more than 14 years, it has recognized more than 80 women for their professional accomplishments and for going beyond requirements of their positions to give back to their communities.
 
“We are proud of the fact that MIW recipients are active and visible for years after they received the MIW award,” said Margaret Knell, director of Corporate Administration at I-CAR, a 2001 MIW honoree, and co-chair of the 2015 MIW Committee. “We recognize that, as women, we have the ability and responsibility to support each other to achieve greater heights and to nurture others in the industry at the same time.”