In addition to exciting programming and education, this event was supposed to include the announcement of the Women Driving Auto Retail Award winners, sponsored by RouteOne. After a public call for nominations, NADA received over recommendations from people across the industry — ATAEs, supervisors, peers, customers, and even self-nominations.
All the stories were inspiring, and a voting committee of NADA leadership and board directors had the difficult task of selecting the winners.
This award recognizes a woman early in her dealership career who is driving her path in auto retail and serving as a role model and champion for her female peers in the industry. Alicea graduated college with high honors in automotive and applied technology, but her work ethic shows that the learning never stops.
She continues to attend seminars and other learning opportunities — both to advance her own skills and to bring ideas to her dealership to recruit and retain more female technicians. In addition to her ongoing training, Alicea has stepped up to teach the younger technicians. She has a female apprentice who she mentors with warmth. She strives to show other women they belong in the dealership, especially in the service bays. This mid-career level woman has demonstrated success not just in advancing her own career but in accelerating the careers of women around her.
Her goal is to give other women the same opportunities she has benefitted from, showing them they can achieve financial independence, stability and passion in an industry that often seems inaccessible.
