| The 2014 Most Influential Women honourees. From left: Leanne Jefferies of AIA Canada, Frederica Carter of F. Carter Events and Jordan Hendler of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association. |
Leesburg, Virginia — May 22, 2014 — The prestigious Most Influential Women in Collision Repair (MIW) Awards were presented to three women during a celebratory dinner in San Diego during the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Conference. The MIW Awards recognize women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence. Doug Holmberg, representing AkzoNobel, formally transitioned the MIW program to Margaret Knell, Chair of WIN, by giving WIN a framed issue of AkzoNobel’s Profit Magazine with a commemorative note officially marking the transition. Profit Magazine has highlighted Most Influential Women honorees since inception of the award.
This year’s honourees were Frederica Carter, President of F. Carter Events, LLC; Jordan Hendler, Executive Director of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association; and Leanne Jefferies, Director of Collision Programs at AIA Canada. Each honoree was introduced by an industry peer and former MIW who nominated them for the award.
In a welcome message, Knell thanked those being honoured as well as award recipients from prior years, “for your visibility and ongoing example of most influential women in the collision repair industry by your leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence – both in your professions and in your communities.†She then recognized AkzoNobel for their vision and elevation of the societal issue of the advancement of women in the collision repair industry.
The recognition program’s charter aligns with WIN’s mission to ‘enhance the role of women in the industry’ and has recognized more than 75 women for their professional accomplishments and for going beyond requirements of their positions to give back to their communities. Honourees have held positions in every facet of the collision repair industry, as shop owners, body and paint technicians, managers, wholesalers, lobbyists, suppliers, insurance adjusters, consultants, educators, editors and writers, and industry association directors.
Established in 1999 by AkzoNobel, WIN assumed management of the MIW program in 2013. The Most Influential Women program has supported the industry by funding scholarships for prospective female students interested in pursuing a career in collision repair.
“The Women’s Industry Network has, in a very short period of time, become a pillar association within the North American collision repair market,†commented Doug Holmberg, Director of Vehicle Refinishes for AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings North America. “It was both a pleasure and honor for AkzoNobel to be part of the 2014 WIN Conference and formally transition the Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry program from our stewardship to WIN for their continued mentoring. WIN will be able to advance MIW and create sustainable resources to the full benefit of the entire collision repair industry.â€
To learn more about WIN and the MIW Awards, or to see a list of past recipients, visit thewomensindustrynetwork.ning.com.
