Women in the Industry
While the automotive industry remains heavily comprised of men, women continue to make their mark, adding diverse value and ideas within the culture. Last month we shared the story of Girls Behind the Gun. This month we talked with four women who have forged different paths in the industry. In our December blog we will meet Cheryl Boswell, Chief Financial Officer of DCR Systems and Debbie Menz, Strategic Accounts Manager – Axalta Coatings.
Cheryl Boswell
Chief Financial Officer—DCR Systems
Cheryl began her career in the collision industry in 1998 when her entrepreneurial spirit was sparked by the opportunities of change and improvement.
“I didn’t plan to be in the industry, but here I am. It’s so interesting because it touches so many areas.”
As the CFO of DCR Systems, Cheryl provides strategic leadership, overseeing the company’s financial functions while developing best practices and processes aimed at facilitating growth. She believes there is untapped potential in our everchanging industry, which means there is always a way to make it better. This is her favorite part of the job.
Cheryl networks with other women through WIN (Women’s Industry Network), an organization dedicated to encouraging, developing, and cultivating opportunities while fostering a network of women in the collision industry. For Cheryl, WIN is a group of women who provide personal and professional support to each other. She sees it as place to talk about her challenges as a woman and hear others share in similar issues, such as work and family life balance.
“Being a working mom is really challenging. Just having the support of other working moms who also travel for work or also have a lot of responsibility is just so important.”
Cheryl offers this advice to other women wanting to enter the industry: “Look at your skill sets and where you want to grow and where you see yourself in the future. Don’t be intimidated by a job title and don’t be intimidated by an industry. It’s all about your skills and willingness to learn.”
Looking ahead, Cheryl hopes to see an increased synergy within the industry and getting to the point where everyone works together and shares information. She hopes we can better communicate with students in junior high and high school about the endless opportunity the collision industry has to offer.
Debbie Menz
Strategic Account Manager—Axalta Coatings
Debbie Menz started in industry on a whim—working as a temporary driver at her best friend’s paint store. 37 years later, Debbie has never left the industry. Currently the Strategic Account Manager for Texas and Florida, she has been with Axalta Coatings for 20 years.
Debbie’s favorite part of the job is being out in customer’s shops seeking solutions on any issues they have and working on improvement projects. She enjoys identifying gaps and creating programs to fill them.
Debbie is a member of WIN, serving on the Board of Directors and as Co-Chair on the Scholarship Committee. The Scholarship Committee is very important to Debbie as she sees young people as the future of our industry. She also serves on two advisory councils for the local Vo-Techs and is the past Chairman for the Austin and Waco TX ICAR committees.
In Texas, people know Debbie as the “Paint Lady.” She got this nickname for the simple fact there are so few women who work in the field in their state. However, she does not let this hold her back.
“If you approach life with the right attitude, it tends to work out. There are more good people than bad out there.”
Debbie’s vision for the industry is that it continues to be a respectful place of employment and become a place that attracts professionals seeking a great career path.
Stay tuned in January to hear from Jenny Anderson, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Director of the Collision Segment, and Regional Vice President of Operations for Maaco, Melissa Miller.