At the Management Success! Fall Convention in Universal City, female
automotive professionals from around the country launched WE CARE - Women’s
Excellence, Careers in Auto Repair Equality - an advisory board that will work to
raise awareness of the auto repair industry as a viable career path for young
women as well as men.
According to Kate Jonasse, owner of K-Tech Automotive, “The automotive industry offers numerous
opportunities for young people, including women. Mechanics aren’t ‘grease
monkeys’ anymore. They are akin to engineers or doctors in the skill level
required to diagnose and repair the modern automobile. The goal of WE CARE is
to steer people toward the automotive repair industry as a viable career
option, not only because there is a real need for qualified auto technicians in
the U.S., but also because auto repair jobs are often lucrative, without requiring
years of college and the debt that comes along with it.”
Along with Kate, the founding members of the group are Debbi Jennerjohn
of Ultimate Truck Service, Lacee Cunningham of Eureka Brake & Automotive,
Lynda Archer of Aardvark Automotive, Nancy Knight of Knight’s Automotive,
Lynnetta Rogers of 2nd-to-None Service, Tess McKenzie of Top Shop Automotive,
Stacy Conner of Equipment Experts, Jackie Halvorson of Narvi’s Auto Service, Tracey
Cardono D’Addario of D’Addario Auto Service, and Michelle Jordan of Ricky
Jordan’s Auto Repair.
The women of WE CARE hope to serve as mentors and advisors
for young people who may never have considered auto repair as a career path. In
the words of Stacy Conner, “I believe the WE CARE group is poised to make a real difference in how people perceive the
automotive repair field. As more qualified and able people are attracted to
careers in auto repair, we can help them get connected with shops that are
hiring.” Lacee Cunningham of Eureka Brake & Automotive, Inc. commented,
“It is an honor to be part of a group of
powerful businesswomen who are dedicated to helping others by offering up
their resources for career opportunity, training, and ideas.”
For more information about the WE CARE Advisory Board, please visit our
website, wecareadvisory.org, or
call Management Success! at (818) 500-9631.
