First of its Kind Women in Automotive Convention Debuts in August

For women working in the automotive industry or those aspiring to do so, there is a new event aimed and addressing this much-needed segment of the industry.   The inaugural Women in Automotive Convention will help tackle recruiting, retaining and developing female employees and leaders in the automotive industry.  With women making up just 17% of employees at auto dealerships (according to NADA) – organizers of the conference are working diligently on strategies to engage and increase these numbers, beginning with this event.

Women in Automotive co-founder, Christy Roman, is excited for the opportunity to share industry success with other women.

With female consumers making greater than half of the major purchasing decisions, like buying a car, it is ironic that such a low percentage of women are employed by dealers,” says Christy, President of NOW Digital. We think there’s an opportunity to help women see the career possibilities that exist in the industry, and this conference will help facilitate cultural changes inside dealerships to increase the population of female employees.”

Inaugural Women in Automotive Conference

Dates: August 18th, 19th & 20th
The Ballroom At Church Street
225 S Garland Ave
Orlando, FL 32801

The Women in Automotive Conference is set for Tuesday-Thursday, August 18-20 at the Ballroom at Church Street in Downtown Orlando. The three-day conference includes speakers, breakout sessions, workshops and booth displays – all centered on the goal of educating and inspiring women in all areas of the automotive industry.    Special keynote speaker, Lisa Copeland, has been a pioneer in the field of automotive marketing and management for more than 25 years. She is currently Managing Partner of Fiat of Austin, the top Fiat retailer in North America since the brand’s return.

The topic of women in the automotive industry hits very close to home for me, because for women, the struggle is real,” Copeland said. “The event’s organizers are women who have been in the automotive industry for many years, and I am honored to be part of this precedent-setting event.”

Attendees will hear her inspirational journey in the male-dominated industry. Under her leadership, Fiat of Austin was named the #6 Best Workplace in North America by Automotive News in 2013. She is the co-author of The New York Times best-seller Succeeding Against All Odds, a book described as Chicken Soup for the Soul for entrepreneurs, and has been featured in  The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Marie Claire and Automotive News. Copeland is also the co-founder of Women Impacting the Nation and The Project 19 Foundation, nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing leadership roles for women.

Event Agenda

August 18th
9:00am – 2:00pm Recruiting Event
Cocktail Party

August 19th
8:30am – 5:30pm Conference Panels
5:30pm – 7:30pm Cocktail Entertainment

August 20th
8:30am – 12:00pm Conference Panels

Specialized Tracks

The conference is divided into three specialized tracks:

1. Leadership: A track designed for dealership leaders who are looking to attract, recruit, retain women to their dealerships and develop female leaders for their organizations
2. Personal: This track is for women who are in and around the automotive industry or would like to be. From dealer to vendor, service providers, consultants, students and beyond the sessions are geared towards networking with other women in automotive, professional development, career and educational opportunities, personal growth and branding, and discussions on the challenges women face.
3. Retail: This exceptionally important track addresses how to market and sell to women, and includes sharing studies that help understand the female buyer, and focusing on creating loyalty for increased retention.

For more information or to register for the convention, please visit http://www.WomeninAutomotive.com.   Want to contribute to the conversation?  They are also accepting further speaking applications until June 26, 2015.