Originally published on TireBusiness.com October 1, 2019.
TechForce CEO Jennifer Maher named Auto Care Woman of the Year
BETHESDA, Md. — October 1, 2019 — Women in Auto Care, a community of the Auto Care Association, has named TechForce Foundation CEO Jennifer Maher as its Auto Care Woman of the Year.
The 2019 Women of the Year Awards, which also include the “Auto Care Woman of Excellence” and “Female Shop Owner of the Year,” will be presented during the Women in Auto Care awards ceremony and reception on Nov. 5 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas during the AAPEX event.
Ms. Maher serves as CEO of TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofits working to promote car culture and to encourage development of a future workforce of technicians. TechForce provides scholarships and grants to support students pursuing technical education and technician careers. She previously served on the national team of Make-A-Wish America, YMCA of the USA and The Nature Conservancy. She personally raised over $100 million and launched the ESPN SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series, now in its 14th year.
The other award winners are:
- Auto Care Woman of Excellence: Cindy Frasca, chief operating officer of Kukui, a provider of software and websites for auto repair shops. She has spent the last seven years helping the company grow, culminating in the recent $27 million strategic funding by SSM Partners. She is responsible for the company’s financial functions, including accounting, audit, treasury and corporate finance, as well as its human resources activities. Ms. Frasca “is a passionate and active member of Women in Auto Care and a champion for the the advancement of women within the automotive industry,” the association said.
- Female Shop Owner of the Year: Jamie Carlson, owner of Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid of Grand Rapids, Mich. Her shop was awarded the 2018 ACE (Auto Care Career and Education) Award in recognition of her dedication to investing in the growth of their employees’ knowledge and skills through access to professional development and career opportunities. “The Women of the Year Awards honor three outstanding female leaders who have made significant contributions to the auto care community,” Tammy Tecklenburg, president, Women in Auto Care, said. “This is the 16th annual presentation of the Auto Care Women of the Year awards, and we are honored to be able to continue to shine a light on the tremendous value women are bringing to our industry.”
The Women of the Year awards are administered by Women in Auto Care volunteer committee members. The Woman of the Year is chosen based on her significant leadership and contributions to the auto care community throughout her career.
The Female Shop Owner of the Year award is given to an outstanding woman who has a proven record of excellence in the automotive service industry, and the Woman of Excellence award recipient is the Women in Auto Care associate who has provided recent outstanding contributions to the auto care industry.
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