By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Jenni Arnold, owner of Badgerland Offroad, as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.
Get to know Arnold 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?
Jenni Arnold: We have been in business for five years. What I enjoy most is helping my customers learn about their 4x4 and watching them grow, as well as watching their 4x4 become everything they wanted.
SN: What is the most challenging part of your business or job?
JA: Being a woman in the off-road industry has its own challenges. But owning a business requires a lot of balance between all aspects of the behind-the-scenes work, constant learning about industry needs, vehicles and what customers want, as well as making customers happy, and taking time away to spend with family and take a break. Business ownership is a 24-hour job.
SN: How many years have you been in the industry and what was your first industry job?
JA: I have been in the industry on and off for 20-plus years. My first industry job at 18 years old was a service writer for a small independent automotive repair shop.
SN: What three qualities got you to where you are today?
JA: Honesty, ambition and hard work. These qualities have allowed me to advance and progress in working towards my dreams. I was born and raised to be an honest, kind, empathetic person, and I use these qualities through my daily life, including my work.
SN: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?
JA: My biggest challenge is proving myself as a woman and that I do have the knowledge that my customers seek. This has also been my biggest accomplishment. Customers know that they can talk to me and ask me questions and chances are, I have that answer. I don't know everything, and I will research it all day to give them what they need.
SN: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry?
JA: My role model and mentor would be my husband. He has worked so hard his entire life as a professional auto technician and has taught me so much. He challenges me every day. He gives me advice professionally. He always keeps me levelheaded and has me thinking outside of the box.
SN: What is the best career advice you have received?
JA: My best career advice came from several other shop owners. They all said the same thing: take the leap and jump in and open your own shop. There is never a perfect time; you just have to do it. We took the advice, found a place to open shop, quit our full-time jobs and never looked back. I believe this in my personal life and professionally. Life is too short; fulfill those dreams!
SN: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?
JA: I always wanted to work in the automotive field. I started taking automotive classes and auto-body classes when I was in high school at 14 years old. I wanted to become an auto mechanic but at that time, women in the industry were almost unheard of and looked down on. But here I am, a shop owner! My passion for the automotive and off-road industries keeps me here.
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.