BEDFORD, TX — The first-ever Women’s Professional Development Track will debut at the 2007 International Autobody Congress & Exposition, with four brand-new sessions to further develop the skills and careers of women who are directly or indirectly involved in the collision repair and automotive service industries. NACE will be held Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The courses are reviewed and approved by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and will be worth credits toward the institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. The following courses are scheduled: “How to Communicate Like a Pro,” which will focus on developing powerful spoken and written communication skills; “A Brand-New You … Assertive Skills that Lead to Success,” designed to develop women into strong, gutsy decision-makers and risk-takers; “Developing Your Own Road Map,” which will focus on self-improvement and how to achieve goals; and “Overcoming Obstacles,” a session that will cover time management techniques and assertive training.
Gone are the days when only a handful of women held prominent leadership positions in many industries. Women who might once have been discouraged from pursuing some careers are now not only encouraged to do so, but are also in high demand.
“This new Women’s Professional Development Track will provide education and training for women who are directly involved in the business as owners, managers, partners and service advisors, as well as women who have their own careers and interests outside of the business,” said AMI Executive Director Toni Slaton, AAM. “As a woman in the industry, it’s very exciting to launch a relevant program that will help women further develop the business skills necessary to be even more successful,” said Slaton.
The sessions will last 1-1/2 hours and will take place throughout NACE. “How to Communicate Like a Pro” will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Oct. 31, with “A Brand-New You” taking place from 1:30 – 3 p.m. on that same day. “Developing Your Own Road Map” will be held Nov. 1, from 4 – 5:30 p.m., and the final session, “Overcoming Obstacles,” will run from 4 – 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Like all AMI-approved courses, both men and women are invited to participate. For more information, contact AMI, (800) 272-7467, ext. 241, or visit the Schedule-At-A-Glance portion of the NACE Web site, http://www.NACEExpo.com. Registration for the Women’s Professional Development Track will be available on the NACE Web site.
For more information about AMI, go to: http://www.amionline.org.
