About Susan Schalk:

My automotive career began in 1973 and encompassed a few firsts—the first woman to be in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting contest (1974), first to attain a California smog license (1974), first to attain ASE certifications (1974, then called NIASE). I was a dealership tech for 3 years specializing in driveability and electrical, worked at service stations or for myself for 4 years, and spent 9 years at an auto restoration shop where my work switched from mechanical to predominantly body and paint work. Because of this wide range of experience I was able to pass all the tests required to attain ASE Master Technician status for Automobile Repair, Engine Machinist—Gas, Medium/Heavy Truck and Collision Repair and Refinishing (2004).

Twelve years ago (1998) I joined Mitchell 1, the company that used to make the “Mitchell Manual”—a name still widely recognized in shops. At Mitchell 1 I worked my way through different departments and positions from researcher to editor to data processer to business analyst to my current position of continuous (process) improvement manager.

I enjoy designing and building projects, gardening, traveling and continuing education. I have been attending college on and off since 1976. Along the way I’ve earned a B.A. and M.A. in psychology, a Web Publishing certificate and, most recently, an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Finance.

About Mitchell 1:

Mitchell 1 provides automotive repair data to repair shops and dealers throughout the United States and Canada. It also provides electronic auto repair shop Management Tools and ERP systems. It provides loyalty management (CRM) services for small, medium, and large automotive repair shops as well as Branded Web Sites and Specialized Repair Information for Automotive Enterprises.

http://www.m1products.net/

Recommended Reading by Susan Schalk: Drive It Forever: Secrets to Long Automobile Life by Robert Sikorsky

Julie Scroggins is Vice President, Comptroller of Waukegan Tire & Supply. Located forty minutes north of Chicago in the populous and diverse city of Waukegan, IL, Waukegan Tire is truly the big kid in town, committed to serving the Chicagoland and Milwaukee metro area with excellence since 1968, with four locations and growing.  As a family business, Julie has worked twenty-seven years alongside founder Gerald Nerheim, brother and Vice President Sales & Operations Steve Nerheim, and husband and Wholesale Division Manager David Scroggins.  The “family” doesn’t stop there, with eighty plus employees and many of their own relatives working for the company to boot!

Having been established as a family business, it actually makes sense that Waukegan Tire has been a consistent supporter and sponsor of children’s foundations and events.  Uniroyal Tire and Waukegan Tire have been partners in Youth Soccer since Fall 2000.  Since that season, Waukegan Tire has sponsored several local soccer leagues, giving away more than 11,000 soccer balls to children in surrounding communities.  According to Julie, their proudest accomplishment came in partnership with the City of Park City, through a young officer named David Alarcon.  Officer Alarcon had a vision of bringing the sport of soccer to Park City and took it door-to-door, signing up the city’s youth to participate in a soccer program in an effort to keep them off the streets.  As a result, the City of Park City restored an area in an existing park into a soccer field, providing a safe place for the children to play.  Waukegan Tire provided each child with their own soccer ball, and Uniroyal and Waukegan Tire donated money towards equipment and other needs for the children of Park City.  This partnership continues today.  Julie remarks, “You can drive by the park in Park City and see children playing soccer outdoors now, and it gives all of us at Waukegan Tire tremendous satisfaction to be a part of that outstanding effort brought about by David Alarcon, now City Administrator.”  She adds, “There is no greater investment any of us can make than in the future of our children.”

You can learn more about Waukegan Tire by visiting their website at www.waukegantire.com.

10 Fun Facts about the Uniroyal® Soccer Program

1. The Uniroyal Soccer Program is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year.

2. Uniroyal has donated nearly one million soccer balls to youth soccer leagues since the program began.

3. The soccer balls Uniroyal has donated could fill 4,000 station wagons.

4. In the last ten years, the Uniroyal Soccer Program has raised almost $12 million in donations for youth soccer leagues.

5. The Uniroyal Soccer Program could fill more than eight 747s with the soccer balls it has donated to youth soccer leagues!

6. The Uniroyal Soccer Program started in 2000 with around 200 dealers and has grown to over 1,000 in both America and Canada!

7. Forty-eight out of 50 American states, plus the District of Columbia had dealers participating in the Uniroyal Soccer Program in 2008.

8. All the soccer balls Uniroyal has given away since 2000 could fill more than three Olympic size swimming pools.

9. The Uniroyal Soccer Program has donated funds and equipment to over 3,000 youth soccer leagues.

10. Uniroyal donates $2 for every Uniroyal tire a dealer sells during a 30 day period to leagues in the program.

Susan Givens is the Owner and Publisher of AutoSuccess Magazine. Susan started with AutoSuccess Magazine in her final semester at the University of Louisville where she received her degree with a major in Business Management and a minor in International Business. The focus of the magazine is to create a positive avenue for the readers to learn and grow. Susan has made this way of thinking part of her everyday life.

"By staying positive, you can learn and grow so much faster!"

Since starting with AutoSuccess Magazine, she has seen the industry changing. "More women are influencing the automotive industry than ever before, it’s an exciting time for both consumer and automotive industry women!"

Attend the Auto Success Synergy Sessions October 5th - 7th 2009 in Atlanta by registering here.

http://www.synergysessions.com/

With signs of recovery and optimism growing every day in the auto retailing industry, Dealer Synergy along with media partners, AutoSuccess Magazine and Dealer Marketing Magazine are scheduling the fourth Annual Synergy Sessions Conference.  This year’s theme is “Restructure to Maximize Performance.” 

The events of the last twelve months have been a strong wakeup call to all of those working in the auto retailing market. Dealers recognize they need to adapt to new ways of doing business in an ever changing marketplace.   After last year’s very successful Synergy Session event in New Orleans and over 300 industry attendees, this year’s event in October will be even bigger.

The Keynote speaker will be John Ferber, who along with his brother Scott was the Co-Founder of Advertising.com, which was acquired by AOL in 2004 for $495 million dollars. Advertising.com now has a book value of approximately 10 billion dollars and is the cornerstone of AOL's future. John and Scott were named in 2000 as Entrepreneurs of the Year by Ernst and Young LLP. John is currently the CEO of USO Networks, the premier Video Search Engine Optimization Company.

Introduction:  Karen Salvaggio's twenty-four year racing career began in 1985 on the NASCAR Winston Series dirt track events of Central California. After securing a Most Improved Driver award and numerous top five finishes in stockcar racing, she made the move to road racing with the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA).

Driving a 1959 Corvette, Karen competed in night endurance races and competition events across the Southwest. Her growing passion for racing and a desire to develop highly refined driving skills led her into performance driving Corvettes in high and low speed events with the SCCA and National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC).

In 2000, Karen joined the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), competing in the Women's Global GT Series. Karen has also competed in NHRA drag racing events, garnering the Gardei Memorial Overall Competitor Award in 1997 (Firebird Raceway), and Top Eliminator at the Pomona Drags in 1999. She also serves as an instructor driver at NCCC, NASA, and SVTOA driving school events, and enjoys working with novice drivers as they develop confidence through driving mastery.

Karen has secured more that 160 first place finishes in driving competitions, and was awarded the 2005 West Coast Region Championship for the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC), a title she previously secured in 1998, 1999 and 2001. In 2008, she competed with Team DivaSpeed, the first all-woman endurance racing team to run in the Western Endurance Racing Championship (WERC), and stood on the podium four times, including a 1st place in the 6 Hours of Buttonwillow, and 1st place in the 4 Hours of Infineon. Success followed her throughout the 2008 season, and consistent performances resulted in her earning the Runner-Up FFR Championship award for the 2008 FFR West Coast Challenge Series.

Current Season: Awarded 2009 FFR West Coast Championship! 2009 finds Karen competing in the Factory Five Challenge Series (FFR) in her 1965 Cobra replica racer with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA).

Current season:
2009 Stats:  7 Pole Positions, 7 1st place race victories, and 10 podium finishes, including competition at Infineon, California Speedway, Buttonwillow Raceway Park and Thunderhill Raceway. Now in her fourth year in the cars, Karen has really mastered the unique driving style required to pilot the Cobra. In 2008, her driving skill resulted in 13 pole positions, fourteen podium finishes, and two overall race victories. She competes at the local and national FFR Challenge Series levels though participation in the FFR West Coast Series, and at the NASA Nationals to be held at Miller Motorsports Park in September 2009.

Endurance Racing: Endurance racing is Karen’s true passion, and in 2008, she and her intrepid race team, took on the most extreme endurance racing challenge on the planet, competing for a second time in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Her team completed 470 grueling laps, (more than 1,100 miles under racing conditions), and finished 8th in class and 48th over (in a field of 72 teams). Team Thunder Valley Racing is already making plans for the 2009 25 Hours race in which they will field the first ever Type 65 “Daytona” Coupe to compete in the longest race in its marque’s history Racing the GTM-R: 3 Hour Enduro: Karen had the opportunity to co-drive the fast and oh so beautiful GTM-R at the 3 Hour Enduro of Buttonwillow in June 2009. Along with her talented co-driver Chris Durbin, the pair secured first in class and stood atop the podium as the overall race winners!

Thunder Valley Racing: Karen is now in her eighth year as Editor-in-Chief for Thunder Valley Racing, and travels nationally to support women in racing efforts. She is an instructor driver with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and the SVTOA Clubs, and feeds the competitive spirit through high speed competition events.

Racing Goals:  Karen’s racing goal is to compete on a national or international level with a road racing team at endurance events. Her personal goal is to bring widespread, international attention to the efforts of the women in racing through her work with the dedicated team at Thunder Valley Racing.

Personal: Karen served nine years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic on B-52's and KC-135 aircraft. She had several stateside assignments, as well as tours in Japan and the Philippines. In 1985 she left the military to pursue a career in education, and used the GI Bill to secure her college education while working full time as a service manager at a motorcycle shop. She earned her bachelors degree in social science in 1989, and became an elementary school teacher for the next seven years. She served as a school principal for the last eight years, and now Karen serves as Assistant Superintendent of Education Services for the Romoland School district in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. She holds a Doctorate in organizational leadership, and a Master's Degree in education.  Her daughter Tracy is an aspiring driver, garnering the SCCA Novice Driver of the Year award when she was just 16 years of age.

Special Thanks to: Karen is grateful for the support of her loving family, professional colleagues, and many racing friends who believe in her and helped her follow her dreams. Karen’s racing efforts would also not be possible without the support of her awesome sponsors: Levy Racing, Ezlogy, CarboTech Brakes, HeadOn Photos, Indian Hills Auto Body, and of course, Thunder Valley Racing.

Karen is also an expert women for AskPatty.com on racing and the motorsports world!

Dr. Karen Salvaggio

http://www.thundervalleyracing.com
http://www.teamcobra25hours.com

Type of Racing: Sports Car

Race Series: Factory Five Challenge Series (NASA FFR); Editor in Chief: Thunder Valley Racing

Personal Motto: "Dream big; Work hard!"

As the first female test driver at Michelin North America, Sarah K. Robinson is paving a new road for women in the automotive world. Robinson’s current responsibilities as a subjective test driver for Michelin include evaluating tire performance in both objective (e.g., wet braking) and subjective tests (e.g., wet and dry handling, noise) then delivering her results to Michelin’s designers and engineers to ensure the best possible tire is brought to market. She also develops and coordinates all visitor demonstrations, product launches and promotional activities occurring at Michelin’s test track, Laurens Proving Grounds (LPG) in Greenville, South Carolina.

Prior to becoming a test driver, Robinson was an industrial engineer for Michelin, responsible for establishing and maintaining machine standards, manpower needs and process improvement.

Robinson is also a driving instructor, most recently at Xtreme Measures and Richard Petty Safe Driving Program, where she instructs students to develop car control skills, situational awareness and basic automotive understanding.  She considers this one of the most rewarding experiences in her career. Robinson has also competed in SCCA Autocross and Rallycross.  

Robinson is a resident of Simpsonville, SC, and a pet lover who owns two dogs, Roux and TrackDog, and a herd of cats. She is a graduate of Auburn University. 

Some days you're bringing home the latest masterpiece and some days you're celebrating a magnificent performance. The only constant is you need a tire that can keep up with a balance of performance, safety and fuel-efficiency. That's why we created the MICHELIN^® Energy™ Saver A/S Tire, a tire designed for your modern life.

Visit Michelin Life Balance on Facebook and get a chance to win free coffee and learn about the Michelin Energy Saver A/S Tire.

Soon Nguyen has nearly a decade of agency experience with high end consumer products and the luxury market. She was recently Vice President of Client Services at a lifestyle media relations agency in Los Angeles where she was instrumental in creating long lasting partnerships with some of the firm’s most prestigious brands including Automobili Lamborghini, Vespa Scooters, Boyd Gaming Corporation and Ducati Motorcycles as well as headed the account team that launched eBay Motors. She also worked for nearly two years as a field producer and assignment editor at KCOP-TV Los Angeles.

Her approach to media relations at Luxe Communications is to work hand in hand with brands to truly dissect what makes their product and service different from their competitors. While working in news television in the #2 media market in the country Soon was on the receiving end of hundreds of company pitches claiming their product or service was either “the best, the most innovative or the hottest trend.” Her experience in deciphering what actually was considered newsworthy provides her the ability to quickly ascertain what really makes headlines and can impact consumer opinion.  She relies on this knowledge at Luxe Communications to hone effective media strategies to ensure that her client’s products/services can be quantified or qualified to the relevant media they wish to reach in order to warrant placement.

Soon’s true strength is her ability to connect with the client and understand their desire to work with a communications partner not just a public relations or marketing agency. Her approach at Luxe Communications is not just to “get them out there” but to create sustainable campaigns that truly make an impact and influence opinion for a brand.

Favorite Guilty Pleasure: 80s music (not the fashion, just the music!)
Favorite Food: French fries                  
Food That “Sucks”: Black licorice
Favorite Movie: LA Confidential or any Russell Crowe film                                 
Worst Movie Ever Seen: Shallow Hall (it was a free screening and I still walked out)      
Best Joke: I can not repeat it due to my professionalism as a PR executive

www.luxecommunications.com

Dianne Ely
Campus President - Orlando
Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Dianne Ely has 30 years of experience in education and business, and held various positions in management, operations and human resources. Ely joined Universal Technical Institute, Inc. in 2003 as campus president of Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) in Orlando. She is responsible for providing overall leadership to management and staff.

In alignment with UTI’s core values and leadership principles, Ely directs campus initiatives for the three distinct brands at the Orlando campus. Her responsibilities include the evaluation, revision, implementation and communication of school policies and procedures as well as maximizing new student enrollments, maintaining regulatory and accreditation approvals, and the day-to-day management of staffing, training, development and performance of campus employees.

Prior to joining UTI, Ely worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. for 25 years. Starting as a part-time employee, she advanced to store manager and finished her tenure as regional manager. During this time, Ely gained significant experience in management, sales, motivation, training, customer service and operations, for which she received company-wide recognition.

Ely is a member of the National Association of Female Executives. She has also served as a unit chairman for the United Way and the American Red Cross blood drives. Other volunteer memberships include Be An Angel Dog Ministry, Therapy Dogs, Inc. and Central Florida SPCA.

Ely earned a Masters of Business Administration with a specialty in global management from University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Ariz and a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.


About Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is a leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. The company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 10 campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-sponsored advanced programs at 19 dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. offers specialized technical education programs through several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit www.uti.edu.

In an effort to bring light to the issue of heart disease, Jiffy Lube has collaborated with the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women campaign to raise money for the fight against heart disease. Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy heart and a healthy vehicle through basic preventive maintenance practices. Last year, Jiffy Lube raised over $1 million for the cause.

This year’s goal is to raise $1.5 million, and from January 28 through March 16 you can support the cause by making a $3 donation at one of more than 1,700 participating Jiffy Lube service centers across the country. In appreciation for the donation, you will receive a Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life savings book with heart-healthy recipes and $100 in savings from Jiffy Lube and other AHA supporters.

The facts are really startling. 

·         Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease  each day- an average of one death ever 37 seconds.

·         Heart disease is the number one killer of adults.

·         Despite more women dying of heart disease than the next five causes of death combined, only 21 percent of women view heart disease as their greatest health threat.

Empowering You to Care For Your Vehicle

Another goal of the campaign is to empower women to take more control over the maintenance of their vehicles and stress the importance of preventive maintenance. A big part of that is educating yourself and asking your service provider questions. However, a good rule is to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, which can be found in your owner’s manual. This will help keep your vehicle running properly and help you avoid a costly breakdown. 

Learn More

You can learn more about the campaign by visiting a special web site we created at www.JiffyLubeGoesRed.com. You will find the nearest participating locations and find tips on fighting heart disease and properly maintaining your vehicle. There is also a community page that allows you to share your personal story related to heart disease. You can also visit www.GoRedForWomen.org to learn more about Go Red for Women and their efforts to combat heart disease.

Yvonne Williams is a road safety educator and member of the Australasian College of Road Safety.  She is a freelance journalist, motoring writer and co-founder of The Survival Group, a road safety education development organisation.Her avid interest in cars began when she met her husband David who belonged to a car club.  They started competing in motor sport events and still enjoy tarmac rallies today.  Their son Tristan who is also involved in The Survival Group is an aspiring race driver and Advanced Driver Training Consultant.Yvonne and David became involved in road safety education in 1996 when their children started driving.Because of their motor sport background and the fact that David was a driving instructor, they knew very early on what their kids needed to concentrate on when out driving.  They also spent over 120 hours supervising their teens under varied driving conditions.

During this time Yvonne developed a range of road safety training resources for schools and teachers.  The SKID Program and Young Driver Survival Kit were eagerly received by Senior Schools in Australia and New Zealand. In a bid to empower parents and make an impact on the dreadful young driver road toll, The Survival Group has gone global with their special training resource for parents with teen drivers – Coach a Rookie Guide.   The CaR Guide is now part of the PATTI Road Safety Program.  Parents Actively Teaching Teens Initiative.

A group of racecars piloted by the best drivers in NASCAR are turning a corner.  Without warning, one of the cars suddenly hits the outside wall.  None of the cars touched, there were no engine failures or flat tires… so what happened?

This is the question that sparked physics professor Diandra Leslie-Pelecky’s interest in the science of NASCAR.  What she thought would be ten-minute search of the web turned into a book, The Physics of NASCAR, that takes NASCAR (and science) fans behind the scenes at top race shops, onto the asphalt at Texas Motor Speedway and into the garage with the Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ No. 19 car.  Her popular website, www.stockcarscience.com includes a blog with weekly entries about topical science-related happenings in NASCAR.

About the Author

• Diandra Leslie-Pelecky earned undergraduate degrees in physics and philosophy from the University of North Texas and a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Michigan State University.  She joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1994, and moved to The University of Texas at Dallas as Professor of Physics in May 2008.
• Professor Leslie-Pelecky is a nationally recognized researcher in magnetic nanomaterials.  Her work, which is funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, focuses on fundamental understanding of magnetic materials and application of those materials to medical diagnosis and treatment processes such as magnetic resonance imaging and chemotherapy.
• Professor Leslie-Pelecky is also nationally recognized for her work in science education for K-12 schools, future science teachers, and the public.  She has directed projects aimed at improving science education at all levels, supported primarily by the National Science Foundation.  Educational materials on the science of motorsports are being developed for middle and high schools (www.buildingspeed.org).
• Professor Leslie-Pelecky has given numerous presentations for technical and non-technical audiences, including addresses for the public sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society. Her book, The Physics of NASCAR, was excerpted by TIME magazine and has been featured in Sporting News magazine. She appears periodically on the Sirius Speedway satellite radio program to update listeners on the scientific principles that affect their favorite drivers.

Jennifer Justice-Haley shares her tips and about her auto industry career in the collision industry. Jennifer is the Corporate Secretary and General Manager of Valley Paint & Body, Inc., DBA; Mercedes Benz of Cincinnati Collision Center, where she’s been employed since 1984. Co-Owner of Elite Collision Service, Inc., DBA; Mercedes Benz of West Chester Collision Center since 2005. Member ASA Ohio Legislative and Insurance Committees. In 2007 appointed by Governor Strickland to the Ohio Collision Repair Board, overseeing collision repair business registration in the State of Ohio. She is a Board Member of the Women’s Industry Network, a collision industry organization attracting women to the industry and vocational schools as well as a promoting leadership and networking within the industry. She also serves on the Automotive Program Advisory Board for US Grant Joint Vocational School in Bethel, Ohio. Mother of Stephen Haley and Kevin Haley who both work in the automotive industry! www.womensindustrynetwork.com www.mbcollision.com

Annette Sykora the first women "Chairman" in the 91 year history of the National Automobile Dealer Association shares her thoughts on being a women working in the auto industry and some of the excellent programs and initiatives that the National Automobile Dealer Association offers that women will love.

Annette Sykora was recently featured by Forbes Autos as one of the most influential women in the auto industry. Check out the article in Forebes Autos by clicking here.

She is was very excited to announce the NADA Green Campaign featuring Green Checkups. More than 300 dealers in 43 states have signed up to offer Green Checkups.

To help motorists save money at the gas pump and—at the same time—cut greenhouse gas emissions through proper vehicle maintenance, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has created a check list of Green Maintenance Tips, which can be found at a new Web site for consumers, www.GreenDrivingUSA.com.

September is Child Passenger Safety month. Thousands of new-car dealers around the country will host free child safety seat inspections at their dealerships as part of the national "Boost for Safety" campaign, developed by NADA, in conjunction with NHTSA. 

About Annette Sykora:

Annette (Smith) Sykora started her career in the automotive industry in 1982 as title clerk at Smith Ford Mercury. In 1983 she was the Finance Manager and by 1989, took over as General Manager. Shortly thereafter she purchased controlling interest in the family dealership. Annette has been active on many factory committees, such as chairing the Ford Dealers Advertising Fund for Greater Texas, and serving on many other Ford committees as well.

Currently she serves her fellow automobile dealers as the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) director for Northern Texas, a position she has held since 1999. Elected by her peers, she assumed the office of Chairman of NADA on February 11, 2008.  She also serves as a Trustee for the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation. During her tenure as Chairman of the NADA Public Affairs committee in 2000 and 2001, the Code of Ethics was written and adopted by a number of state dealer associations and was also well received by the dealer body.  NADA and NHTSA also began their partnership on a National Child Safety Seat Campaign.

Mrs. Sykora has served on the Slaton Chamber of Commerce Board and was named Chamber Member of the Year, 2005.

She and her husband Patrick also have another dealership, Smith South Plains Ford Lincoln Mercury Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Levelland Texas. They also have five children, Haylee (18) Nicole (18) Hannah (14) Holden (13) and Ryan (9.)

Visit Smith South Plains Ford Lincoln Mercury Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Levelland Texas an AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly Dealership:

http://femalefriendlydealer.askpatty.com/?d=Smith_South_Plains

Carlana Stone, author of the acclaimed book “Never Give In, Never Give Up”, was paralyzed in a car accident at age 17. In the blink of an eye, Carlana went from cheerleader and gymnast to paraplegic. Not adhering to the stigma and physical restraints of her injury, Carlana forged ahead.

Carlana has chosen to embrace her wheelchair as a force, rather than a hindrance. In stark contrast to the stereotypes placed on the physically disabled, since her accident Carlana has become a certified scuba diver, learned to pilot airplanes, and enjoys sky diving, sailing and skiing.

Using her “chair” as a “platform” for social change, Carlana has become a strong voice in support of stem cell research. “The possibilities are limitless,” Stone says. “Stem cell research will impact millions of lives. I’m committed to doing all I can to make this promise a reality.”

And she’s not all talk. Carlana’s get-up-and-go philosophy has turned many of her dreams into realities. At 25, Carlana became the first wheelchair-bound reporter for ABC in Miami, featured 5 days a week on the evening news. As the station’s dynamic human-interest reporter, viewers could not help but be influenced by Carlana’s infectious enthusiasm and genuine concern for the people behind the stories she shared during her 2-year tenure on WPLG-TV.

Broadening her scope, Carlana moved to Los Angeles to launch a career in talk shows, producing an array of daytime talk shows, such as Leeza, Judge Judy, and Ben Stein, just to name a few. She then went on to produce and Senior Produce Prime Time Network Specials. Currently, Carlana is the Senior Casting Producer for “Intervention” the award-winning documentary series on A & E.

Carlana is also a highly sought-after International Speaker; delivering keynotes in venues ranging from Britain’s illustrious House of Lords to being highlighted at FAWCO International’s annual convention in Berlin, Germany, to keynoting for one of America’s largest employers, Entertainment Partners, in Los Angeles.

Over the last 2 decades, Carlana has toured a variety of schools here in America and England alike, including world-renowned, TASIS, The American School in England. Her passion is to provide content-rich opportunities, a warm and nurturing environment where diversity is prized. Through her personal struggles, Carlana empathizes with others and can share her unique insight to be a vehicle for empowering children and young adults to believe that ANYTHING IS and CAN BE POSSIBLE.

Carlana is called on regularly to represent and speak on behalf of a number of charities, including Americans for Cures Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and the National Pain Foundation, which honored Carlana as 2007’s Pain Awareness Patient Ambassador of the Year.

Fueled by her own philosophy, “Pay no attention to boundaries,” in 2006, Carlana founded The Courage Community and is using her own experience in the face of adversity to support our veterans as they confront the brutal aftermath of war. Carlana is helping soldiers realize their true potential and achieve their dreams. Carlana states:

“It is my dream and ambition to offer our injured Veterans the hope of a better future, and a richer quality of life. We will be sponsoring initiatives which will provide our service men and women access to resources to address even their most basic needs - programs that have enhanced the quality of my own life in spite of my disability. The sky’s the limit!”

The Courage Community will schedule events, appearances, and targeted awareness campaigns in virtual communities as well as launching grass-roots campaigns in local communities, establishing Courage Community Chapters nationwide, engaging community members to become directly involved in supporting their own hometown heroes.

Following her record-making solo-flight as one of the first female paraplegics in the world to solo-pilot a single-engine aircraft, Carlana was featured on every local LA news affiliate, including, KABC, KNBC, KCBS, KTTV; Carlana was also featured on numerous local and national radio shows including, KABC and KFWB; Carlana has appeared in several articles in a host of national and international flight magazines.

In March, 2008, Carlana was chosen to become one of ten contestants on Oprah Winfrey’s Big Give, airing Sunday nights on ABC. This marked a critical day in history for Carlana, as she became the first paraplegic to appear on a national primetime network reality show. “I applaud Oprah and ABC for their willingness to step outside the box and cast me on the show. It’s an honor to be on an equal, level playing field with the other contestants, and have the onus focused on my ability, not my disability.”

----

A veterans’ self-help guide from the United Spinal Association advises all veterans with disabilities how to establish that a current disability or condition is related to military service or existed before military service and was aggravated by such service.

Any claim to the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability compensation must have a valid medical diagnosis of a current disability, medical evidence that the disability had its onset during active military service and medical evidence of a linkage between active military service and the current disability.

The online guide, available at www.unitedspinal.org/publications/vetsfirst/, also provides information about VA pensions for veterans whose disabilities are not related to military service and the circumstances under which such pensions might be available.

Other important VA programs covered in the guide include: benefits for dependents and survivors of veterans; the VA health-care system; appeals of claims for VA compensation and pension; and, getting help from VA-authorized veterans service organizations such as the United Spinal Association.

While this publication contains some information specific to VA benefits for veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases such as multiple sclerosis and ALS, much of its content is applicable to any veteran of U.S. military service.

The United Spinal Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders, especially through its VetsFirst program. For more information, visit www.unitedspinal.org or call (800) 404-2898.

Karen Vonder Meulen is the new Corporate Communications Manager for Rolls Royce North America and shares her automotive career path, aspirations and experience in this enlightening podcast interview.

Karen Vonder Meulen brings more than 15 years of communications and media experience to Rolls-Royce. She joined BMW North America in 1998, where she was the Marketing, Events, Sports and Cultural Communications Manager. In this role she was responsible for media relations and communications strategy for a wide range of projects and initiatives, including the development of the company’s arts and culture program.

In her new position, Vonder Meulen is responsible for Rolls-Royce corporate communications across the United States, Canada and Mexico. She will be located at the company’s North American headquarters at Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Patty is responsible for overall brand management for Shell Rotella^®, Shell Rimula^® and Pennzoil Long-Life^® products. Her duties include managing all advertising, public relations, promotions, tradeshows, research, event marketing and racing sponsorship needs.

Prior to joining Shell, Patty was a Partner and an Account Director on the agency side for Shell’s advertising agency of record working for 10 years on the Shell lubricants business. Patty oversaw strategic and tactical planning, market analysis, budget management, broadcast and print production, promotions, tradeshow marketing, direct marketing and integrated communications.

Patty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications and Journalism from Texas A&M University. She is currently a member of the Houston Advertising Federation.

For more information and consumer tips on oil and gas products go to:

Shell Answer Columns

www.Rotella.com

www.Shell.com

About Shell Lubricants

The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to the companies of the Shell Group engaged in the lubricants business. Shell lubricants companies are global leaders in lubricants and operate in approximately 120 countries worldwide. They manufacture and blend products for use in a range of applications from consumer motoring to food processing and heavy industry to commercial transport. The Shell portfolio of top-quality lubricant brands includes Pennzoil^®, Quaker State^®, FormulaShell^®, Shell Tellus^®, Shell Cassida^®, Shell Rotella^® T, Shell Spirax^® and a portfolio of car care products and Jiffy Lube^® services.

Sarah Draley is the Vice President of Marketing and Acquisitions at Rocket City Automotive Group, Inc.

In 2002, eBay Motors invited Sarah Draley to jump start their “Dealer Assistant” program in the Chicago market. Since then, she has assisted hundreds of dealerships throughout the United States sell vehicles on eBay Motors. In early 2007, her second company, SODAauctions.com, was acquired by the Rocket City Automotive Group, Inc. (RCAU), holding company for CompleteAuto.com. Ms. Draley joined the RocketCity team as Vice President of Marketing and Acquisitions.

Sarah has earned the reputation as an expert on how to buy and sell on eBay Motors. She provides extensive training to dealerships and private parties on how to approach the “world’s largest online marketplace” with confidence and success. Her podcast will give you tips on how to buy, sell, and traverse the online vehicle auction world.

Her tips will help you buy smartly, sell your vehicle safely and gain eBay Motors savvy!

You can visit Complete Auto at www.CompleteAuto.com

You can see Sarah Draley's full bio here .

Mary Aichlmayr is managing editor of Tire Review magazine, a business publication read by more than 30,000 independent tire dealers in North America.

Tire Review is dedicated to the success of tire dealers serving the passenger, commercial, agricultural, specialty and off-the-road tire markets. Mary writes several feature articles for the monthly magazine as well as a regular column that focuses on business operations and management strategy. She also manages the Tire Review Web site.

Mary will be sharing tips on tire safety, including checking your tire pressure and making sure your tread is sufficient. Aren’t those sidewall measurements a mystery? Well, not any longer with Mary’s help. She will tell you how to easily read the sidewall of your tire!

You can visit Tire Review at www.tirereview.com

You can see Mary Aichlmayr's full bio here.

Heather Conary is a founding partner of Illumination Design Creative Services, based out of Orrington, Maine. She also works in communications at Downeast Toyota-Scion-Buick in Brewer, Maine.

Heather is currently attending the University of Maine’s Orono campus, working towards a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Heather has published articles in AutoSuccess Magazine, an automotive trade publication, as well as online at SitePoint and SEOChat as well as AskPatty.com! Heather brings her marketing experience, professional knowledge, and her willingness to learn and adapt to Women's Automotive Association International, and serves us as the Director of Women Dealer Relations.

Heather will share tips on how to make the most of your private=party sale, from the cleaning to the price negotiation. Her tips will take you through the entire process and take the guess work out of selling your car on your own. She will even provide a resource for printable checklists to help you even more!

You can visit ID Communications at www.illuminationdesign.com.

See Heather Conary's full bio here.

Kim Walker is Owner and Marketing Director of Peak Automotive, an independent auto shop in Apex, North Carolina. Recently Peak Automotive was selected by Motor Age Magazine as one of the Top Ten Shops in America and is recognized as “The Most Female Friendly Shop in the Triangle,” which consists of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

One of Kim’s favorite quotes is “Those who never risk going too far never know how far they can go.” Kim has taken her career from that of an Elementary School Counselor to becoming fully involved in the day to day operations and marketing of their family business, Peak Automotive.

Kim will share tips and background on pre-purchase inspections. When you are ready to purchase a used vehicle, you should definitely get a pre-purchase inspection on the vehicle. Kim will offer advice on what to do before you buy and what to make sure you to look for before you make a purchasing decision!

Be educated and be safe! Get your pre-purchase inspection!

You can visit Peak Automotive at www.peakautomotive.com .

See Kim Walker's full bio here.

Lori Johnson, Owner and Instructor of Ladies, Start Your Engines!, automotive classes for women, will offer advice and step-by-step guidelines for proper engine fluid maintenance. She will go over oil and coolant and what they do and how to maintain them in order to stretch the life of your vehicle.

Lori has 7 years experience as an automotive technician and a new car service manager for a Honda dealership and has prepared test preparation guides for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

Ms. Johnson holds professional licenses and certifications in a number of areas including Air Conditioning Refrigerant, Pennsylvania Emissions Inspection and Pennsylvania Safety Inspection and is ASE certified. She is a qualified Motorcycle Safety Instructor and is a Pennsylvania State Inspection instructor.

Lori earned a certification in Automotive Technology from Pennco Tech and in Client Server Technology from Penn State University. She has an A.A.S. degree in Automotive Technology and is currently pursuing a B.A. in Women's Studies at Temple University.

To find out more about Lori’s classes, go to www.ladiesstartyourengines.net

Go here for a complete bio on Lori Johnson

Marti Barletta, CEO and Founder of The TrendSight Group, a consultancy specializing in marketing to women, will offer information and tips on how to market and sell to women correctly and successfully. She will bring you insight into the woman's mind during the sales process, as well as share some personal experiences and stories to highlight the most successful sales and marketing techniques for women.

Barletta, author of Marketing to Women, and co-author with Tom Peters of Trends is a recognized authority on building marketing, sales, recruiting and retention results through better communications with women. Her third book, PrimeTime Women: How to Win the Hearts, Minds, and Business of Boomer Big Spenders, which was released in January 2007, focuses on the golden bulls-eye of target marketing, PrimeTime Women™.

Marti's passion is figuring out what women want and showing her clients how to grow their business by boosting their appeal to the world’s biggest spenders, women.

Marti combines gender expertise, marketing experience and a lively sense of humor. I think you’ll agree that she delivers eye-opening insights and practical “how to” pointers that you’ll find enlightening, entertaining and easy to apply.

You can learn more about Marti and Marketing to Women at www.trendsight.com.

Jenny Trostel, President and Owner of Saab of Baltimore (a Female Friendly dealer), will give you tips on financing a vehicle, leasing a vehicle, new car warranties and gap insurance. She will give you pointers on the steps you should take to know what vehicle price is best for you and how to know if you should lease or buy.

When Jenny was learning to drive, her father told her, “if you are going to drive them, you need to know how to fix them.” Jenny spent a summer working on cars and working in the family business. In May, 1999, Jenny opened Hunt Valley Saab with 2 business partners. In October, 2004, Jenny purchased the ownership from her 2 partners and In March 2006, the business changed its name to Saab of Baltimore.

Click here for a complete bio on Jenny Trostel.

Amy Mattinat, author of “How To Buy A Great Used Car”, will give you advice and helpful tips on how to shop for, inspect, test drive, and negotiate the sale of a used car. Amy will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to create a budget for your purchase and how to factor in insurance and warranties when you are looking for that perfect vehicle.

Amy Mattinat has written both newspaper and magazine columns on automotive repairs, maintenance, car care and safety. After selling used cars for 6 years, she penned her easy-to-use manual, “How To Buy A Great Used Car,” available at www.usedcarexperts.com.

Click here for a complete bio on Amy Mattinat .