LAS VEGAS – Five industry leaders were honored at the ninth annual Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry Awards program held at the Wynn Las Vegas on Nov. 1.
Kristen Felder of Little Rock, AR; Sheri Hamilton of Kansas City, MO; Delores Richardson of Montreal, Quebec; Elainna Sachire of Cortland, OH, and Donna West of Tukwila, WA, were honored at the 2007 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry award ceremony. Collectively, their careers represent more than 100 years of experience and demonstrate influence in many aspects of the industry, including shops, suppliers, associations, consulting and automotive insurers.
“The Most Influential Women program recognizes outstanding leadership in the collision repair industry and sets an example for others to follow,” said Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes Americas Director of Marketing Tim Loden. “In addition to those we honor from year to year, this program has a positive impact on the lives of young people beginning their careers through the I-CAR education scholarship. Our 2007 honorees reflect great passion and commitment, and they challenge each of us to make a difference in the area of the industry that we serve.”
Three of the women bring lifelong experience in collision repair to their current positions. Sheri Hamilton’s parents owned a shop in Kansas City, MO, and her interest in the industry led her to join the Automotive Service Association of Missouri and Kansas in 1993. Under her leadership as director, the association has grown to 350 members and sponsors the Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo, a three-day event that offers training, education and networking for shop owners from 37 states.
Delores Richardson, along with her father, founded AtPac Auto Parts in Montreal almost 25 years ago to bring quality aftermarket market p rod ucts to North American collision repair shops. A leader who is passionate about the collision repair industry, Richardson has served as president of the Automotive Body Parts Association for the past three years.
Kristen Felder, who is Arkansas claims manager for Nationwide Insurance Companies, also learned about the business in her father’s shop, learning to do small repairs, painting and estimating. In her current position, she brings an open mind to the problems shops face in balancing the needs of their businesses, customers and the insurance agency. Kristen is an active board member at Pulaski Technical College, working to attract young talent to the industry and making sure they have the education and encouragement needed to succeed.
As president and owner of Square One Systems, Elainna Sachire facilitates 20 groups made up of collision repair shops owners and managers. These groups meet regularly to compare financial data, discuss current issues and encourage one another to raise their business benchmarks. As a former partner in an accounting firm, Sachire helps shops improve their operational and managerial practices.
Sacchire believes the opportunities for women in the industry are unlimited. “Many women have a gift for building relationships and relating to customers, many excel at handling the details of estimating and running a business, while others are skilled technically. We can be proud of what we can accomplish and encourage others to succeed.”
Donna West is co-owner of Southtowne Auto Rebuild, and she has worked for the past 30 years in the business that she and her husband built. West is a visible force in Washington state’s collision repair industry: she served as president of the Autobody Craftsman Association, served on a committee to develop questions for the Automotive Service Excellence B-6 estimator test and she worked with the Independent Technician’s Education Council to develop the collision repair curriculum.
At the awards program, Akzo Nobel also recognized the Women’s Industry Network, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, developing and cultivating opportunities to attract and retain women in all aspects of the collision repair industry. “This organization will play an important role in the future of our industry as its leaders provide mentorship and reach out to recognize, promote and support one another,” said Frederica Carter, communications manager, Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes America.
Akzo Nobel continued its awarding of a scholarship of $25,000, in the name of the Most Influential Women, to the I-Car Education Foundation. The funds will be used for prospective female students pursuing a career in the collision repair industry.
The Most Influential Women program began in 1998, by Akzo Nobel to recognize the unique leadership characteristics, accomplishments and contributions of women to the collision repair industry.
