DENSO has joined Women in Auto Care as a corporate sponsor. The move builds on DENSO’s longstanding support for organizations and initiatives that promote the advancement of women in the aftermarket industry.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to create spaces in which people of all backgrounds feel valued and heard, we are thrilled to join Women in Auto Care,” said Denise Carlson, vice president of DENSO’s North America Production Innovation Center and executive lead of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. “The women of DENSO include leading engineers, designers, programmers, technology developers, logisticians and managers, and some are already individual members of Women in Auto Care. DENSO is proud to follow their lead in supporting the organization’s commitment to elevating women.”
Women in Auto Care is dedicated to connecting, empowering and mentoring women in the global industry who manufacture, distribute and sell vehicle parts and components, as well as services and repairs for every class of car and truck on the road today. Through conferences, networking, scholarships, education, awards and other programs, the organization provides opportunities, education and career leadership to women in the industry. The group is part of the Auto Care Association.
“Women in Auto Care is a great resource for all our employees,” said Kelly Dickens, a senior national sales account manager for DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., the company’s aftermarket unit. After less than two years as an individual member, Dickens was so impressed with the organization she led the drive for corporate sponsorship. “This reinforces the message that diversity of experience and the personal and professional growth of all the women and men of DENSO make our company stronger. It’s also a huge win for the future because DENSO’s sponsorship supports scholarships for women entering the automotive aftermarket industry.”
The women of DENSO include award-winning leaders in their own fields of expertise. Among them is industrial engineer Hannah Pearl, who was recently named a 2023 Women MAKE Awards Emerging Leader by the Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers. Pearl is a leader in manufacturing processes and on-the-job safety at DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. She also chairs the DENSO Women’s Network, a business resource group at the site.
Formerly known as the STEP Ahead Awards, the Women MAKE Awards recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their companies. Previous DENSO recipients include Monique Radersma in 2022 and Carlson in 2021. Radersma, the former director of engineering at DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario, won the award shortly after she retired with more than 35 years in the automotive industry.
DENSO is also a corporate sponsor of Women in Manufacturing, which it joined in 2020. Dedicated to supporting women who work with or within the manufacturing sector, the nonprofit trade organization has more than 17,000 members representing more than 2,500 manufacturing companies across the U.S. and around the world. Its programs for helping women succeed in manufacturing include career fairs, networking groups and professional development opportunities.
