By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Joalda Lopez of Rebel Road Hot Rod Garage as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.
Get to know Lopez in her interview with SEMA News below.
SEMA News: How many years have you been with your current company and what do you enjoy most about working there?
Joalda Lopez: I have owned my automotive restoration shop for two years! I absolutely enjoy seeing the smiles on my customers' faces when they see their projects that may have been sitting in their garage for years or their dream car come back to life. Watching them drop off their vehicle by tow truck to driving it off the parking lot is my favorite thing in the whole world.
SN: What is the most challenging part of your business or job?
JL: Having no business background. Going from a "nine-to-five" with a set job description to becoming a business owner with every job description within a short amount of time has been extremely challenging.
SN: How many years have you been in the industry and what was your first industry job?
JL: I have "professionally" been in the industry for two years beginning with the start of my business but I have been working on cars since my early teens.
SN: What three qualities got you to where you are today?
JL: Resilience. Resilience because I have personally been through a lot, I have been blessed to have the mindset of "ok, this is an opportunity for learning." Despite how tragic, difficult, or defeating the situation may be. There is only one way to go after hitting rock bottom, right?
Passion. Passion has allowed me to stay focused on my goals. I go through the hard days and fight through the frustrations because I am passionate about what I do. What I have done and what I aspire to do.
Befriending fear. I have learned that success is always on the other side of fear. Fear alone is what keeps people from reaching their dreams. Until I personally saw that happen to me, fear controlled my life, and robbed me of opportunity. I will always be fearful of what I don't know or understand. But, now it never holds me back.
It's difficult in moments of uncertainty to see any of these qualities working in my favor. But without them, I would not be where I am nor who I am today.
SN: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?
JL: I am currently the only female automotive restoration shop owner in my state. Forcing my way into group conversations, earning respect of the local car community and being taken seriously with clients have been my biggest challenges. These are challenges that I will continue to have to overcome for the entirety of my career. With that have come my accomplishments of owning the fastest-growing auto restoration shop in my state, introducing a new "best of the city" category, in "Automotive Restoration Services," which we have been awarded two years in a row, being the highest rated auto restoration shop in the state and other accomplishments. I have had instances where customers have come in and have asked for "the man in charge," "the boss," or "someone who knows cars." (I own the shop with my fiancé.) I Immediately correct those remarks with "I am the man in charge," "I am the boss," and a repeat of " hello, how can I help you." I make it very clear that I expect the same respect and acknowledgment as my male counterparts. This goes for anyone who walks through our doors.
SN: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry?
JL: My mentor has been my fiancé. He has been living and breathing cars since he was a kid. He has done nothing else but be around cars his entire life. He is admirably passionate and is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to old cars. He is also very skilled. In the last four years, he has been working on making me a skilled welder, fabricator and mechanic.
SN: What is the best career advice you have received?
JL: "If you don't fight for you, no one else will." It is 100% up to me to get up every day tackle the day, force my way where I want to be and be treated the way I deserve to be treated.
SN: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?
JL: I honestly, never saw myself working professionally in the automotive industry. Much less being an owner of an auto shop. As mentioned earlier, I have been working on cars since my early teens and always have since, but saw it as a hobby. I had a serious medical career before my transition. That's where I thought I needed to be. Since starting my automotive restoration shop, it was as if the stars aligned for me. This is where I belong! The opportunities that have come into my life, the lives that I personally have impacted and that have motivated me, as well as being able to turn my hobby into a dream come true, keep me here. The idea that I am on my way to changing the world--or at least in the automotive industry--is what pushes me through the hard days.
SN: Who was the most influential person on your career goals?
JL: The most influential person has been my fiancé. He has been beyond supportive in anything and everything I aspire to do. I wouldn't have thrived in this industry without him constantly pushing me. He also advocates for more women in the industry and makes it clear that I am an equal. He truly works harder than anyone I know, which is extremely motivating to prove I can keep up.
Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the sema.org/she-is-sema website.