The Women’s Industry Network announced that nominations for the Most Influential Women (MIW) Awards will open on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 and will be accepted through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. The winners will be recognized at a gala held during the 2014 WIN Educational Conference, May 5-7, 2014, at Paradise Point in San Diego, Calif.
The MIW award recognizes women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision and commitment to excellence.
“Being recognized as one of AkzoNobel’s Most Influential Women in the collision repair industry was simultaneously humbling and empowering,” said Linda Sommerhauser, owner of Autobody Color Company in Kansas City, Mo. “I was humbled because I knew that there were so many within the industry who could have just as easily been recognized for their many contributions. However, I also felt empowered because I was now part of a recognized community of leaders who were committed to making the path a little easier for others to follow.”
In addition to the MIW awards gala, where honorees are presented with a Tiffany’s crystal award and custom commemorative pin, WIN has added a new element to the program this year. Recipients will have the opportunity to invest in the future of collision repair by mentoring a WIN scholarship winner as they continue their education toward a career in the industry.
“We felt this was an important way for seasoned professionals to embrace the future of our industry,” said Margaret Knell, chair of the MIW Planning Committee.
Honorees 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.
"Being honored as a Most Influential Women in 2011 was an amazing experience," said Barbara Davies, co-owner/general manager of Autobody News. "I was thrilled to be a part of such an impressive group of women from so many different parts of the industry. Having the opportunity to get to know this group of smart, inspiring and creative women has been the highlight of my career in the collision repair industry.”
The MIW 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. Although WIN membership is not a requirement for nomination, more than 30 percent of MIW recipients are currently, or have previously been, members of WIN.
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