Women on Wheels: Spotlight on Lorraine Schultz
This week’s Woman on Wheels is Lorraine Schultz, founder of the Women’s Automotive Association, International (WAAI).
Ms. Schultz started the organization to help the development of women as leaders in the automotive industry, and is currently the “ambassador at large” of AskPatty.com, a website devoted to given women a safe place to ask questions about cars - everything from how to fix problems, to how to approach car dealers.
According to her bio at AskPatty.com, Schultz began her automotive industry career with the acquisition of an interest in the Detroit Model Bureau, which supplied talent for various auto shows. She next became the executive director for the AutoLeather Guild of America, where she spent 19 years, traveling all over the world as part of her job.
In 1999, Ms. Schultz was instrumental in the return of the Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service awards being presented to women, for the first time since 1945.
In addition to working with AskPatty.com, Ms. Schultz is the executive director for the WAAI, and a member of the Board of Directors of both the Automotive Hall of Fame and Ferris State University.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Great Post on Lorraine Schultz.
Lorraine Schultz began making history during a time in the automotive industry when there were probably 400 men to ever one woman employed. In 1999, the Automotive Hall of Fame awarded its Distinguished Service awards to women for the first time since 1945. Lorraine Schultz, a member of its Board of Directors and Founder of the Women’s Automotive Association International, had a lot to do with that decision.
Lorraine began her career in the automotive industry when she acquired an interest in the Detroit Model Bureau, a company that supplied talent for the various auto shows. When the company dissolved, Lorraine became the Executive Director for the AutoLeather Guild of America where she worked for 19 years managing the marketing for three major tanners who supplied leather for the automotive industry. This tenure provided her with the opportunity for extensive traveling to auto shows all over the world including France, Switzerland, and Japan.
In 1995, following the dissolution of the Leather Guild, Lorraine introduced the Women’s Automotive Association (WAAI) to the automotive industry. She has received many leadership and humanitarian awards from organizations such as the American Lung Association, the National Association of Women Business Owners, and Women in Communications. She has served as a Board member and volunteer to many companies and organizations such as Society of Automotive Analyst, Women’s Economic Club of Detroit, March of Dimes, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Michigan Opera Theatre, Salvation Army, Kendall School of Art and Design, and The Detroit Metropolitan Woman Magazine. Lorraine is presently the Executive Director for the WAAI, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Automotive Hall of Fame and Ferris State University.
The Ask Patty.com, Inc. website, blog and Second Life venue is a safe place for women to get advice on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive related topics. Women can shop for vehicles at our network of certified female friendly dealerships across the U.S. AskPatty.com is a 2007 sponsor of the No. 112 AskPatty.com Chevrolet driven by the highest ranked professional female race car driver Deborah Renshaw, who heads up the panel of automotive expert women.
AskPatty.com is a member and 2007 corporate sponsor of the Women’s Automotive Association International based in Detroit, MI, Chair of the UnitedSpinal.org Motorsports program, Member of the California SkillsUSA.org board, on the Women’s Board of the Car Care Council, a SEMA member and a member of the SEMA Business Women’s Networking Group.
AskPatty.com is partnered with AutoTrader.com, AutoExtra.com, Arkona, Chrome Systems, Inc., MyCarPage.com, DivineCaroline.com and Maddox Smye, LLC.
Visit Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women in Second Life.
Ask Patty Certified Dealer Program:
Properly armed with the right tools and training your dealerships can increase its share of the largest and fastest growing demographic of new vehicle buyers in the US — Women Consumers. The Ask Patty Certified Dealer program was designed specifically for car dealerships to attract, sell, retain and keep loyal women consumers.
What Is An Ask Patty Certified Dealer?
An Ask Patty certified dealer is a dealer that creates a safe and comfortable environment where women feel welcome and a dealer that makes the experience of purchasing and maintaining her vehicle a pleasant one.
Ask Patty trained and certified dealers are held to a high level of customer satisfaction for women consumers.
Jody DeVere
President of the Women’s Automotive Assocation International
http://www.waai.com and
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.askpatty.com/carblabber
August 15th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Jody, thanks so much for visiting and expanding on our spotlight.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Let’s do a blog cross post. I have many upcoming interviews with great auto women and you have some good content. deal?
August 20th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Jody: Sorry, was away for the weekend. You have a deal.