The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) wrapped up its 11^th annual conference this past May with great success. WIN is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, developing, and cultivating opportunities to attract women to the field of collision repair while recognizing excellence, promoting leadership, and fostering a network among the women who are shaping the industry.

The theme for this year’s event, held in the Mile-High City of Denver, Colo., was “Be Extraordinary.” 271 women attended the conference – more than half the total WIN membership, and the highest attendance to date. And yes, there were a few men, too. WIN welcomes all!

The three-day conference was packed with keynote speaker presentations and breakout sessions on topics such as “The Importance of OEM Certification.” Other activities included a scholarship walk, a scavenger hunt, and the MIW (Most Influential Women) and Scholarship Award Ceremony. Overall, the conference is a great opportunity to meet and network with the amazing women in our industry, learn best practices and things to avoid, and have a little fun. The women in the collision industry have vast reservoirs of knowledge and stories to share. Each day is filled with excitement and lots of takeaways to put to use back at the workplace.  

The keynote speakers were Chuck Gallagher, Ethics Resource Group; Traci Brown, The Body Language and Unconscious Persuasion Expert; Jody Devere, AskPatty.com; Mike Jones, Discover Leadership Training; and Dennis Watkins, The Chicago Magic Company. They delivered impactful and powerful presentations, ranging from “Every Choice has a Consequence” to “Magical Thinking: Find the Extraordinary by Imagining the Impossible,” which combined helpful information with an unbelievable magic show. Women still face many obstacles working in a predominantly male environment, so it was instrumental to hear speakers share their perspectives on how to overcome those obstacles on the road toward success.

The MIW awards were presented to: Renee Ricciotti, Manager of Marketing Communications, Automotive Refinish, PPG, Strongsville, Ohio; Liz Stein, Vice President of Industry Relations, Assured Performance Network, Laguna Hills, Calif.; and Cristina Fronzaglia-Murray, Sales and Marketing Manager, 3M Automotive Aftermarket, St. Paul, Minn. We congratulate all these women for their success and hard work. They devote themselves not only to the industry, but to their communities and families as well.

WIN is dedicated to the growth and education of women in the collision industry. As such, every year, awards are presented to select students enrolled in a post-secondary collision repair program. The recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship, one-year WIN membership, and an all-expense paid trip to the WIN conference. In addition, the recipients have the opportunity to be mentored by a MIW designee or a member of the Board of Directors. The 2017 WIN Scholarship winners are: Chelsie Golden, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Shelbyville, Tenn.; Miranda Herron, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, Ga.; Vicky Lambert, Lake Tech College, Eustis, Fla.; Linda Myers, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville, Tenn.; and Jade Wasson, Spokane Community College, Spokane, Wash. Each of these women were drawn to the collision industry either by growing up watching their dad do bodywork, or by having dreams of owning their own shop one day. Congratulations to each of these ladies – we wish you all the best as you achieve your dreams in the collision industry!

The 2018 WIN Conference will be hosted in Indianapolis. Thanks to its famous raceway, the state has a slogan, “Indiana: Restart Your Engines,” which is the perfect metaphor for the 2018 WIN Conference. To help promote the growth of WIN, let’s get the word out early for next year’s conference and see if we can reach 600 members for 2018!