Askpatty.com Automotive Expert Advisor (full list of advisors)

Patricia J. Roberts
Director Business Development - AskPatty.com, Inc.

Patricia J. Roberts joins AskPatty.Com as the Director Business Development as of August 1. 2009.  Patricia brings 39 years of automotive experience to the organization.

Prior to joining AskPatty.Com, Roberts was the General Director Women’s Retail Initiative on the General Motors Vehicle, Sales, Service and Marketing Staff in Detroit, MI.  She was responsible for programs to increase the number of females in retailing for General Motors.  This included the recruitment, training and appointment of female dealers, working with dealers to attract more women into automotive retailing positions, and to provide an enjoyable selling and service experience.

Before Roberts worked in Detroit, she worked in General Motors' Western Region where she was manager of diversity marketing for General Motors' Western Region. She was responsible for the development and execution of a strategic plan and the tactics for the diverse markets within the western region.

Roberts joined General Motors in 1967 in the Financial Department with Buick Motor Division.  She served in a variety of financial assignments prior to her appointment in a managerial position as a district sales manager in Atlanta.  Roberts transferred to Cleveland in 1977 and held the position of car distribution and office manager.  In 1979, Roberts transferred to Pittsburgh as the organizational and business manager and in 1983 she became the assistant zone manager for Buick in Boston.

In 1988, Roberts was appointed to the position of business development manager for GMAC in Dallas.  She returned to Buick in 1989 as the zone manager in Charlotte, North Carolina.  From 1993 until February 1996, Roberts served as director of strategic marketing and research at Buick in Flint, Michigan.  Roberts subsequently was appointed to the position of General Director of Marketing for General Motors of Canada, effective March 1, 1996.  In January 1999, Roberts was assigned to the newly structured Western Region as the regional divisional marketing manager for Buick.

Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood Institute in Midland, Michigan and a master's of business administration from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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