SBN Recognizes Contributions to Women

Each year, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) recognizes top individuals for their contributions to women in industry. The organization honored the winners of these awards at the 2012 SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast Powered by SBN on November 1, 2012, at the Las Vegas Hotel during the SEMA Show. The honorees for 2012 included Ford Motor Company, winner of the Athena Award; Doug Evans of Source Interlink Media, winner of the Mentor of the Year Award; and Lauren Fix of Classic Tube/Automotive Aspects, winner of the Woman of the Year Award.

Athena Award

The SBN’s Athena Award was established to honor an industry female, male or company for outstanding contributions to women in the automotive aftermarket. For 2012, the SBN selected the Ford Motor Co. for its support of women through the SEMA Mustang Build—Powered by Women.

Ford donated the 2012 vehicle that became the centerpiece of the SEMA Mustang Build—Powered by Women, showing tremendous support to the build’s initiative and to women in the automotive aftermarket industry. Throughout the project, Ford continued to provide a lasting impact through the contributions of its female staff and significant media support. In addition, Ford has produced multiple initiatives in support of women over the years, including safety training, mobile breast screening and female recruiting.

Mentor of the Year Award

The Mentor of the Year Award was created to acknowledge and honor an individual for wisdom, encouragement and willingness to “help others along” as a foundation for growth within and for the industry. The winner for 2012, Doug Evans of Source Interlink Media (SIM), has been a long-time supporter of women in the automotive aftermarket industry. Evans has mentored and promoted women within SIM and has used his influence and connections to help the advancement of others.

Evans promoted the SBN mentoring effort with ads in multiple Source Interlink Media publications, and he was the most crucial supporter of the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women project, providing everyone involved with invaluable help and advice. He was instrumental in securing the Mustang, providing media support and allowing the SBN the use of the “Hot Rod Garage” for the build. The project would not have been the success it is without him.

	Special Sponsor Thank You Toyota Motor Sales, Platinum Source Interlink Media, Gold Alliant Insurance Services Inc., Silver Skyjacker Suspensions, Silver Steele Rubber Products, Silver COMP Performance Group, Silver Flex-a-lite Consolidated, Silver Mickey Thompson Perf Tires & Wheels, Silver DCi (Direct Communications Inc.), Silver Magnaflow, Silver Hypertech, Silver JR Products, Silver

Evans has shown his support of mentees throughout his career, assisting in the growth of many within his own organization. He is always willing to lend his help, whether on business issues or just as a sounding board for advice.

Woman of the Year Award

The SBN Woman of the Year Award was established to honor a female SEMA member for her outstanding achievements and contributions in the automotive aftermarket. Throughout the past year, Lauren Fix of Classic Tube/Automotive Aspects traveled across the country to educate America about a wide range of automotive topics and issues.

Fix is the founder, vice president and a board member of Classic Tube and is a past SBN Select Committee member. She is an award-winning author of three automotive books and is a columnist for AOL Autos and The Buffalo News and is a national automotive correspondent for Time Warner Cable, The Weather Channel and QVC. She has represented the role of a woman in the automotive industry well through her appearances as an expert on numerous national television shows, including “Oprah.”

In 2012, Fix expanded her audience through keynote speeches, media tours and through her consulting firm, Automotive Aspects Inc. Despite multiple industry awards and recognitions, Fix says she is most proud of her credibility with consumers. Her passion is to educate drivers across America.