LAS VEGAS — The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) presented the SBN Athena Award to Mike Eaton, president of Eaton Detroit Springs, and the SBN Woman of the Year Award to Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). The awards were announced at the annual SBN Breakfast held last week at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Luanne Brown, chairman of the SBN’s select committee, said of Mike Eaton: "He truly believes in the contributions and accomplishments of women in our industry. His company employs females in the positions of chief financial officer, vice president, marketing manager and shipping manager.
In fact, more than 50 percent of his managerial and office staff is female. As a non-believer in glass ceilings, he gives females the resources and opportunities to advance themselves and their careers. He deserves to be recognized as an exemplary standard which other company owners and managers should follow."
The SBN Athena Award, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, was established in 1994 to honor a SEMA member, male or female, or company for outstanding contributions and dedication to women in the specialty equipment industry. Athena Award winners must have spent considerable time working in the specialty equipment industry and have made substantial changes to the fulfillment, quality and advancement of women working in the industry.
Eaton, who worked tirelessly to advance not only his company, but the aims of the automotive aftermarket as a whole, also served in a leadership role as member of the Armo select committee, and as a major supporter of the "Take a Kid to a Car Show" program. His company, Eaton Detroit Springs, evolved under his direction from a small manufacturer, to a nationally recognized leader in the industry. He can often be heard remarking on how he couldn’t have done it without his female staff.
"This is a surprise and an honor," said Eaton. "However, this award does not belong to me; it belongs to the women in the industry and their tireless effort to move ahead. I applaud them for doing so and I hope their involvement and growth in this industry continues."
The SBN Woman of the Year Award was established in 2002 to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of a woman in the specialty equipment industry. Taken into consideration is the perception of her as a role model, including knowledge and expertise, leadership and management roles and her industry involvement.
"This year’s recipient definitely fits the criteria. She has spent more than 30 years working in this, an industry she loves, and has achieved a level of accomplishment many women — and men — only dream about," said Brown.
Schmatz came to AAIA after 30 years with Babcox Publications, where she served as vice president and group publisher. She has served as an officer of the Auto International Association, the Automotive Communications Council and was the founding president of the Car Care Council’s Women’s Board. She has also contributed as a curriculum advisor to Northwood University and as chair of AAIA’s marketing communications committee.
Some of her past honors include the 1998 Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award from the American Marketing Association, Auto International Association’s Person of The Year in 2001, Northwood University’s 2003 Distinguished Woman’s Award, and the Martin Fromm Lifetime Achievement Award from the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association in 2004.
Schmatz is also a nationally recognized advocate of the automotive aftermarket and a sought-after speaker and presenter, appearing on the NBC "Today Show," MSNBC and in the New York Times.
Upon receiving the award, Schmatz said. "This is a big honor. After 35 years I have been very lucky, but that luck comes from encouragement and support from friends and colleagues. I feel honored to accept this award and I feel that with the support of others these associations will only continue to become stronger."
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