SAN ANTONIO – Some of the area’s most successful automotive professionals attended the first annual Women in Automotive Luncheon at St. Philip’s College Heritage Room April 20, 2009.  It’s no accident that the distinguished panel consisted primarily of women who shared their personal stories, answered questions and provided insight to young aspiring women enrolled in high school and college-level automotive technology classes.

Stephon Kennedy, marketing development sales manager at ACDelco, speaks to young women about her experiences at the first annual Women in Automotive Luncheon at St. Philip's College April 20, 2009.  Photo by Lee Roberts

The event, sponsored by the St. Philip’s College Automotive Technology Department, attracted more than 60 professionals and students in hopes of attracting a higher percentage of women into the school’s automotive programs.

The Texas Independent Automotive Association’s Alamo Chapter also sponsored lunch for the event to help support and promote automotive educational programs in Texas.  Also, TIAA Executive Director Lee Roberts spoke about the great impact women are making throughout every facet of the automotive industry.

Roberts said that with the high-tech electronic packages installed in cars today, and with the large number of cars on the road, the automotive industry needs all the auto technicians, managers and executives it can muster.  “Women are more and more taking the lead both in the classrooms and out in the field and are filling these positions just as well if not better than men,” he said.  “The women in this distinguished panel today are proof that this is no longer a men-only career field.”

The panel consisted of Sonya Laque, service and parts director at Gunn Infiniti; Stephon Kennedy, marketing development sales manager at ACDelco; Felicia Hernandez, manager at Pep Boys; Jennifer Jimenez, service director at Machaik’s Southway Ford; Maggie Schneider, manager of the City of San Antonio Oakridge Community Link; Christi Rangel, service manager at Gunn Accura; and Roberts.

Kennedy, from ACDelco, and a member of TIAA, spoke about her job responsibilities and her experience being a woman in an automotive industry that has catered to men for so long.

John Eichelberger, chair of the automotive technology department at St. Philip’s College, introduces the distinguished panel made up of women who are leaders in the automotive industry.  Photo by Lee Roberts

“You will be a novelty,” she said about coming into the industry.  “So whatever your career endeavor is you bring whatever you bring to the table… and bring you’re ‘A’ game every day.”

Kennedy said it’s important for women to seize the opportunity, be professional, knowledgeable and to maintain credibility to pave the way as more and more women join the workforce.

John Eichelberger, chair of the automotive technology department at St. Philip’s College, said, “There are differences between men and women, and that’s why we’re here today – to look at those differences, especially in the automotive industry.  It’s been male dominated for many, many years and there are problems with that.”

Eichelberger said women are much more detail oriented and methodical with diagnostics, and can positively impact the automotive industry by enrolling in automotive technology classes and choosing an automotive career path.

Lee Roberts, TIAA executive director, addresses the impact of women at independent automotive and collision repair shops during the Women in Automotive Luncheon.  Photo by Wayne Van Den Berghe

At the conclusion of the event, he thanked everyone on the panel for sharing their personal stories about how they overcame obstacles in jobs where there are few women, and for highlighting the great impact and importance of women in automotive careers.

“It’s not the old grease monkey days anymore,” Eichelberger said.  “It’s not how strong you are having to lift an engine block out of a car… it’s so much about electronics.  The field is opening up so much today for women.”

For information about the St. Philip’s College Automotive Technology curriculum, go to http://www.accd.edu/spc/main/catalog/2006_2008/autotech.pdf.  To schedule a tour of the college, go to www.accd.edu/spc/admin/recruit. To reach the St. Philip’s College Automotive Technology Department, call (210) 531-3571 or e-mail Eichelberger at jeichelberger@mail.accd.edu.

(Editor’s Note: Wayne Van Den Berghe, TIAA Alamo Chapter president, attended the event as an official representative of TIAA.)