Five industry leaders were honored at the 10th annual Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry awards program held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas on Nov. 6.
Judell Anderson, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Denise Caspersen, Bedford, Texas; Lillian Maimone, Monterey Park, California; Gloria Mann, Thornhill, Ontario; and Rochelle Wicklund, Liberty, Missouri, were honored as the 2008 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry.
“For the past decade, the Most Influential Women program has honored women who have enriched the industry with their leadership, vision and commitment to excellence, and the program itself has become a part of the chassis of the industry,” said AkzoNobel Car Refinishes Americas Director of Marketing, Tim Loden. “In keeping with a culture of innovation, AkzoNobel established this platform to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of women in a traditionally male-dominated industry and allow them to tell their stories, and by encouraging young women who will become the leaders of tomorrow through mentoring and the I-CAR education scholarship, we are creating a path for sustainable opportunities.”
Two of the women honored have helped to build successful collision repair businesses. Rochelle Wicklund is co-owner of Wicklund CARSTAR Collision, a family-run business that will celebrate its fortieth anniversary. She has worked to improve the industry with her contributions to many organizations including I-CAR and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists.
As CEO, Lillian Maimone has helped Marco’s Auto Body to grow from one shop to eight shops in the Los Angeles area with 180 employees. Named a distinguished alumna of Pepperdine University, promoting education is a top priority for Maimone. Maimone serves on the board of the Women’s Industry Network (WIN), and she is president of one California Auto Body Association and serves on the board of another.
Denise Caspersen, Collision Division Manager, Automotive Service Association (ASA), works to promote the interests of the collision repair industry by building relationships with other industry groups and tackling important issues. An advocate in her community, she initiated a successful campaign a few years back to revitalize her neighborhood’s streets and sidewalks.
Another honoree, Gloria Mann, Vice President of Industry Relations for Media Matters, Inc., is helping to unite the collision repair, insurance and auto recycling industries. She helped launch a new magazine, Canadian Auto Recycler, designed to increase awareness of the strides being made by the industry, as well as a Web site designed to help repair shops convert to waterborne refinishes.
As Executive Director of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota, Judell Anderson represents over 600 independently owned mechanical and collision repair shops, plus suppliers and schools. Protecting their interests before the state legislature is an important part of her position, and her achievements are many. She recently led the association’s Lights on for Safety, an event held in partnership with the state patrol to improve vehicle safety and collect food.
