Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women

2012 Hyundai Azera

Willowdiana — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:41:28 -0800

With a V6 - Six-speed electronic automatic with OD lock-up torque converter, shift lock and SHIFTRONIC® manual shift, Hyundai Azera offers more than just power.. it provides unending options.

Safety
With nine standard airbags – includes knee, front, rear, and side curtains, rear view back up camera and child LATCH system. The manufacturer has also implemented their impact-reducing seat system for the Azera. This seat system eliminates the need for active front head restraints and is expected to reduce head and neck injuries by 17 percent over the front seats in the previous generation Azera, which had active front head restraints. This result is achieved through optimization of seat back structure to further absorb impacts.

The Azera also features a state-of-the-art braking package. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes (12.6 inch front and 11.2 inch rear) and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected.

Creature Comforts

Standard leather interior with heated front and rear seats, heated side mirrors, side window sunshades, elegant yet sporty with wrap-around LED taillights, a flow-through center fascia and instrument panel. These flowing surfaces complement the exterior design and wrap around the driver and passengers creating a feeling of comfort and security.

Ten-way power driver and eight-way front passenger’s seats are standard equipment. The driver’s seat has an optional cushion extension and an integrated memory system for the seat, steering wheel and side mirrors. Azera’s climate and seat temperature controls keep occupants in total comfort. Heated front and rear seats standard, dual automatic climate control standard, second row air vents standard and standard cooled glove box make for chilled refreshments and a cool ride!

The Ride
The Azera is equipped with advanced front and rear-suspension using maximized through Sachs Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD), allowing tuning flexibility at smaller damper displacements, (less bumpy).   Azera also features ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS). Vehicle Stability Management, (VSM) works to control two effects. The first is when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-mu surface (slippery on one side, dry pavement on the other) and the vehicle wants to pull in one direction. VSM detects this condition and sends a signal to the MDPS to apply steering assist. VSM counters the pull and automatically provides eight Newton meters of counter- steering. VSM reacts the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering.

At just 3,605 pounds, Azera is lighter than the Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus.   This priority on weight allows the Azera to deliver a great combination of agility, performance and fuel efficiency. The weight difference is 200 – 400 lbs. so no worries about feeling as if driving in an aluminum can. Azera's high level of technology within the vehicle confirms the vehicle offers more than the average ride.

Technology

There is a standard navigation system with seven-inch touch screen, three month subscription of XM Satellite Radio, Real-time XM NavTraffic, XM NAV Weather®, XM Sports Ticker and XM Stock Ticker, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, auxiliary iPod/USB inputs, backup camera is standard on the vehicle. The connectivity system features 8GB of flash memory and comes matched with a sound system that plays compact discs, accesses digital music files, and streaming audio.

Azera offers two choices in audio systems the Infinity 550-watt premium option features the Logic 7 audio system with 12 speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier. An XM Satellite Radio interface is also integrated into the head unit and features channel logos and XM Data services, such as XM NavWeather®, XM Stock Ticker and XM Sports Ticker. Azera also offers standard HD Radio™ technology.

Azera averages 20 city mpg. /29 hwy. mpg. with a price starting at $32k.

Ten Things You Probably Didn't Know About Women Who Ran for President!

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Happy President's Day, Ask Patty Nation! Today, for a little fun, we're bringing you a list of ten thing you probably didn't know about some of the women who have aspired to hold our nation's highest political office. If you're lucky enough to have the day off today, enjoy it - all the rest of you, have a little trivia fun while you work today.

The first woman to run for president was Victoria Woodhull in 1872. The government declined to print her name on the ballot.
1964 is the first year in which any woman had her name on a ballot as a candidate for President.
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (ME) was the first and also the most successful woman to run for the Republican nomination for President. In the 1964 primaries, she received over 83,000 votes from at least six states and at the convention she got 22 delegate votes from 4 states. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith was only on three Republican primary ballots in 1964, though she also received some write-in votes from other states.
Elizabeth Dole raised over five million dollars while exploring a race for the 2000 Republican nomination. She was the most successful fundraiser of all the female candidates, but since she dropped out early, her name was not on any ballot.
Lenora Fulani was the most successful female minor party candidate. Her name was on the ballot in 51 jurisdictions in 1988 and 48 in 1992. No other woman running for President, whether in a primary or a general election, has had her name on as many different ballots.
At least four African-American women have had their names on a Democratic Presidential primary ballot: Shirley Chisholm in 1972; Lenora Fulani in 1992; Mildred Glover and Carol Mosely Braun in 2004. (There may be more since it is hard to determine the race of all 22)
One Asian-American woman has had her name on a Democratic Presidential primary ballot: Patsy Mink in 1972.
At least one African-American woman has had her name on a Republican Presidential primary ballot: Isabell Masters in 1988, 1992, and 1996. (There may be more).
Mary Jane Rachner is the only woman to have her name on a Republican primary ballot in one year (1988) and a Democratic primary ballot in another (1992).
The woman on the most Republican Party primary ballots was Tennie Rogers, who was on nine state ballots in 1992. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith was only on three Republican primary ballots in 1964, though she also received some write-in votes. She got ten times more votes than Rogers.

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

Six Common Car Care Habits that May Be Causing Harm to Your Vehicle

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:25:48 -0800

That Simple Car Wash Could End Up Costing You
More Than You Bargained For

Everyone enjoys a great looking car, but many consumers are unaware of some every day habits that can harm your paint finish. Keeping your car in shape helps to avoid costly damage down the line, which is why Meguiar’s®, the world’s leading surface care company, wants car owners to know how to protect their cars. Meguiar’s reveals six common ways consumers neglect their cars, and easy routine changes to help prevent each.

1. “Using Dishwashing Detergent to Clean the Exterior” – Most household detergents are formulated to strip everything off the surface, including the wax protection on your car. While this might be great for your dishes, your car is now defenseless against the elements. Meguiar’s suggests using a pH balanced car wash product, like Meguiar’s Gold Class Shampoo and Conditioner, that removes loose surface dirt and debris without damaging the car’s surface.

2. “Parking Under Trees” – Although it’s tempting to take advantage of parking in the shade, it’s actually one of the most damaging things you can do to your paint finish. The damage caused by items falling from above like tree sap and bird droppings, is actually greater than leaving your car in the sun, because sap and bird droppings, if not removed quickly enough, can permanently damage your paint finish.

3. “Neglecting Headlights” – Dull, hazy, and oxidized headlights are the first giveaway sign of a neglected car. Not only are they unattractive, they can also be a safety concern as they make it difficult to see the road ahead and avoid potential hazards. To maximize the brightness of your headlights, try using Meguiar’s Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit™.

4. “Leaving Spilled Food and Drinks” – Forgetting to clean up spills is not only unsightly, it can also lead to permanent stains and unpleasant odors in the interior of your car. Meguiar’s recommends leaving a few terrycloth towels and Quik Interior Detailer™ in the trunk in case of emergencies. Cleaning up spilled food right away is key to getting the entire stain out. To tackle any foul odors, Meguiar’s recommends also having a bottle of Odor Eliminator handy.

5. “Using Just One Bucket" – By using just one bucket when washing, you end up transferring dirt back onto the car, which can create swirl marks and defeats the purpose of your wash. Meguiar’s suggests using two buckets: a plain water bucket for rinsing the wash mitt and a wash solution bucket for retrieving fresh suds to continue cleaning. Using a Grit Guard in each bucket also helps to trap loose dirt particles, preventing them from transferring back onto your car.

6. “Using Too Much Product on Your Vehicle” – When applying wax to protect the surface of your vehicle, a common mistake is to use too much product in one application. Not only is this wasteful of the product, but it also creates extra work when removing the product. To get the most out of your wax, Meguiar’s suggests a single uniform thin layer of wax. If you are worried about coverage or protection during tough winter months, a second uniform, thin layer may be applied.

Expert Advice AskPatty.com

Ask Patty CEO Jody DeVere Honored in WE Magazine Who's Who

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:01:41 -0800

Congratulations and celebrations are in order! Our own Jody DeVere has been honored by WE Magaine, who recently included her on their list of the Top 100 women in e-commerce - worldwide. This is a true honor, and all of us on the Ask Patty team would like to send our sincere congratulations not only to Jody, but to all the Who's Who honorees. Read on for the WE Magazine announcement in its entirety, followed by the names of all the honorees. Congratulations to everyone, and thanks again to WE Magazine for such an honor!

WE Magazine is delighted to announce our newest AWARD – The Top 100 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™ for 2012!

Imagine being in a room full of 100 of the top women doing business on the web! And being able to chat with them and find out what makes them tick (or click), why they do what they do, and do it so well, they are considered role models in their industry. Well, maybe you will never get the chance to meet each one of these face to face, but you can connect with them in a way that only a few short years ago we could not. Via the vastness, unending universe known as the internet. In fact you can have access to any of these women with the simple click of a mouse!

You can reach out to Charly Leetham in Australia, Linda Pereira in Portugal, Daisy Wright in Canada, Debbie O’Connor in the UK, Gisele Rufer in Switzerland and several women across the United States.

There are 100 Women in Ecommerce™ who represent their industries and professions as artists, astrologers, authors, internet marketers, photographers, coaches, consultants, manufacturers, clothing designers, inventors, event planners, personal trainers and everything in between.

Some of the women have been in business for more than 20 years and others as few as two years. And what does each of these women have in common? They all promote their products and services on the Internet. Successfully.

According to Susan Ward of About.com, “Ecommerce (or e-commerce) is the art and science of selling products and/or services over the Internet.”

And art and science it is! You have to be a creative person to get people to pay attention to you online and you have to balance that with the science of self-promotion or hire experts to do it for you.

In all, we have gathered 100 women who WE believe truly represent doing business on the WEB.

They are (drum roll please):

Nan Akasha, Betty Audish, Walethia Aquil, Wendy Y. Bailey, Ruthi Backenroth, Leesa Barnes, Melanie Benson Strick, Cathy Berger, Stacy Blackman, Toby Bloomberg, Ali Brown, Holly Buchanan, Karla Brandau, Rosana Santos Calambichis, Anita Campbell,Heidi Caswell, Stephanie Chandler, Claudette Chenevert, Shannon Cherry, Lorraine Cohen, Myriam Cohen, Danna Crawford, Louise Crooks, Debra J. “Debbie” Cunningham, Baeth Davis, Faith M. Davis, Nicole Dean, Elena del Valle, Marla Dennis,Jody DeVere, Yvonne DiVita, Sally Falkow, Andrea Feinberg, Dale Filhaber, Kelli Fox,Stacy Francis, Kathleen Gage, Rosalind Gardner, Sabrina Gibson, Eva Gregory,Christine Guld, Donna Gunter, Penny Haynes, Sandee Hemphill, Jessica Herrin,Rebecca Herwick, Angie Hicks, Linda Hollander, Kyra Howell, Mary Clare Hunt,Kristina Jaramillo, Marilyn Jenett, Nancy Juetten, Lorrie Kazan, Simone Kelly, Jessica Kizorek, Donna Kozik, Lisa Ann Krutzik, Charly Leetham, Diane MacEachern, Beverly Mahone, Nancy Marmolejo, Allison Maslan, Alexis Maybank, Shari McConahay, Sheri McConnel, Fay McLean, Stephanie Mulac, Marie Myers, Andrea R. Nierenberg, Cindy O’Connor, Debbie O’Connor, Kelly O’Neil, Maritza Parra, Michele Pariza Wacek, Linda Pereira, Lisa Marie Platske, Ana Poirier, Rev. Anne Presuel, Morgana Rae, Giselle Rufer, Kerri Salls, Kate Sanner, Lisa Sasevich, Katrina Sawa, Michele Scism, Lynn Scheurell, Beth Schneider, Colleen Slater, Felicia Slattery, Faith Smith, Susan Wilson Solovic, Sheryl Stanton, Kendall SummerHawk, Karen Talavera, Ivana Taylor, Lynn Terry, Tracy Terry, Denise Wakeman, Maureen Whitehouse, Carrie Wilkerson,Alexandra Wilkis, and Daisy Wright!

You can read their stories in the latest edition of WE Magazine for Women (along with some great articles on doing business on the WEB). Here is the link to the Turning page (FLIP) version: http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/WhosWhoRelease2012.pdf

For the PDF version click on the cover or visit: http://bit.ly/whoswho2012

Please join me in congratulating the 2012 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™. Click on their links, visit their sites and offer your own personal congratulations! Special thanks to all our advertisers, those returning and those who have joined us for the first time. Because of their support, WE have been able able to provide you with great content and the amazing women WE continue to showcase on our site and in our magazine (since 2006).

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

Saying Goodbye to Whitney

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:46 -0800

In the swirl of media surrounding the sudden and entirely unexpected death of pop icon Whitney Houston, I remembered that February is also Black History Month in the US and Canada. Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, is an annual observance during which we celebrate the achievements of the African-American community, who literally rose from the ashes of slavery and fought for their rightful place in human society.

Whitney is just such an achievement. One of what now seems to be an ever-dwindling number of musicians and performers with roots in the "Motown" sound, Whitney was a Jersey girl who claimed the heart of Detroit. She was a part of a family of singers - including her mother and sister - who brought soul and R&B music to the forefront of Western society, and Whitney herself was an inspiration in her own right. Had there been no Whitney Houston, there may be no Rhianna, Jennifer Hudson, or Beyonce today. Her voice inspired others to raise theirs and make a "joyful noise."

So - today on the Ask Patty blog I'm not calling for a moment of silence. I just want you to go out and sing today. Any song at all. Doesn't matter if it's in the shower, in the car, in your office, on the street, if people are listening, or if it's a private moment. Just sing. Raise your voice, no matter who you are or where you came from. That's the spirit of Motown, it's what Whitney and her family were all about, and ultimately, I think it's one of the messages of Black History Month. Stand up and sing, even if it's all you have left. Make a joyful noise. Let Whitney's inspiration carry on.

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

It's Valentine's Day - Who's Your Car Crush?

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:24:34 -0800

Happy Valentine's Day, Ask Patty Nation! Today, we want to know: if a car could be your sweetheart, which car would it be? Which ones do you crush on? Do you burn for a Mini Cooper, or does a Mercedes S Class do it for you? Today we want to hear from you, Ask Patty Nation. Tell us your most secret car-crushes, and tell us why. What's your To get things started, I'll share mine. Be warned, they're a little nerdy.

1. The DeLorean. I hope I'm not alone in this, and I'm sure I'm probably not. These stainless steel beauties had a brief burst of fame thanks largely to their creator's legal woes - but would likely be a footnote in car history if not for the 1985 film Back to the Future. There, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd converted a sleek, gull-winged DeLorean into a time machine which propelled them to the 50's, the old west, and now the (now not-so-distant) future. DeLoreans are now essentially synonymous with the film, and the DeLorean Motor Company which until recently dealt only in parts for the old models, are planning an all new, all electric version of the classic car, which I covered here in the past. I came very close to buying one of these in the past, but the price tag and some quality conditions kept me at bay. Still sometimes I wish I'd just done it - if only to crank up Huey Lewis' "The Power of Love" and cruise around town from time to time. DeLorean, be my valentine?

2. The Mazda Miata. This car may have been my first love. Now known as the MX-5 (as it has always been known in Europe), the classic roadster was known simply as the Miata in the US until 2006. These guys are small, sleek, and stylish, and they're just about everything I love in a car. I test-drove a Miata once just to drive one - I wasn't in a postition to buy one, but I was determined to get behind the wheel of one. The newer models have a slightly different silhouette that doesn't quite appeal to me as much, but the second generation Miatas of the late 90's and early 2000's still make me squee whenever I see one. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. This car is a fixture on my "I will own one of these someday" list, when I can afford to throw practicality to the wind and buy a car to just have fun in. You never forget your first love. Oh, Miata, won't you be my valentine?

3. The Tesla Roadster. So if you can't tell, I'm a sucker for a roadster. I'm also a sucker for electric cars, and had a pretty hard time not including the Nissan Leaf or Wheego Whip LiFe on the list, even though those are certainly car-crushes. But no, I decided to focus on pure fantasy for this list. The Leaf and Wheego cars are adorable, practical, and generally affordable - the Tesla Roadster on the other hand, is the automotive equivalent of a celebrity crush for me. Take your Porches and Ferraris, and give me Tesla. Ignoring for the moment that it's named for Nikola Tesla who is one of my nerd-crushes (yeah, I'm like that), this thing is an all electric, high performance, convertible sports car. With a price tag just north of $100k us, it's definitely a dream car, and don't let the electric lithium-ion power cells fool you. This thing outperforms many electrics on driving distance, going 240 miles on a single charge, and hits 0-60 in 3.7 seconds to boot. This car isn't love, this car is pure infatuation. Still - give me one date with this bad boy. Just one. That's not too much to ask, is it? Psst, Tesla. Call me? I'll be your valentine.

Now it's your turn! Tell us your car crushes, and don't skimp on the details! We want to know your most secret automotive desires. Happy Valentine's Day!

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

2012 NADA/ATD Convention & Expo Highlights - Woman's Viewpoint

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:05:00 -0800

There are many wonderful talented women in the auto industry holding important roles in the dealership arena. Women can make a difference in this industry. They are smart, hardworking, can think outside of the box and genuinely want to make a difference in the outside world! There is story upon story of successful women who fought hard to get where they are today. Two women that stand out to me is Tammy Darvish Vice President of DARCARS Auto Group. I read Tammy's book and it gave me an insight to dealers that I had not known and I have been in the automotive industry for 21 years! Another woman I had the pleasure to meet is Cherie Watters, General Manager of three dealerships in the Los Angeles area. Cherie won the Women's Automotive Spirit of Leadership Award. During the downturn Cherie went to work one day and found the dealership where she worked had shut their doors. A year later Cherie found a buyer for another dealership and opened Puente HIlls Hyundai with all of her team following her! She now is General Manager for three dealerships.

I attended the PCG Digital Marketing Strategy Conference as well as the National Automobile Dealers Assocation convention with Jody DeVere CEO of AskPatty.com recently.

My impression of dealers and experiences with dealerships as a consumer has not been positive. I have many stories of how I was treated as a women and as a customer by several dealers with unsatisfactory customer service. So my perception going to this conference was more on a negative view.

What I saw and learned over the past several days is you cannot judge a book by it cover. What I found is many dealers want to have the best customer service to all of their customers no matter what the demographics are. They make a concerted effort to try and understand what will make a customer happy. The are placing emphasis on the experience of you buying the car. Yes,the car is important, but what is going to make the customer feel different about the experience of purchasing a car from my dealership.

We met with Jim Dunn General Manager of JM Lexus. His dealership has been the number 1 Lexus Dealership for the last 20 years. He is not resting on his laurels, he is trying to always improve his customers buying experience. He is now working to reduce the time it takes to purchase a car and runs kaizen workshops to improve this, understanding the customers time is very valuable. He is also very interested in learning how to approach the female buyer. He understands men and women are wired different and wants to approach all customer in the right manner

In attending the conference I was surprised how much focus is on the digital marketing. There were many website, social media, SEO companies presenting their expertise. Dealers want to set themselves apart from the rest 90% of lead generation comes from the internet! They want to be on the cutting edge and are open to ideas and are ready to break away from the old methods of operation.

The last three days have been an eye opener to see how dealerships can help our economy, help their local communities by charities they support and are all not what I perceived them to be!

AutoTex Pink partners with Ask Patty to improved customer relations with female customers. Ask Patty provides training and AutoTex Pink provides wiper blades that benefit breast cancer research.

Paula Lombard, President
Wexco Industries/AutoTex Pink

Carnival of CAR-Nucopia in Vegas During Super Bowl Weekend

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:00:00 -0800

Spent a week in Vegas leading up and over Super Bowl weekend immersed in the world of car dealerships, auto makers and the best and brightest minds at the Digital Marketing Strategies Conference (DMSC) and attending the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention. Wanted to share some highlights to give you an insider view of what goes on behind the scenes with highlights of what happens when 20,000 automotive industry professionals gather in Las Vegas!

Digital Marketing Strategies Conference (DMSC) Tuesday - Friday

Best Speaker by far was Inspiration Speaker - Todd Durkin, CEO of Fitness Quest 10 Strategy. If you ever have the opportunity, run do not walk to hear this man speak! He will energize you and the entire room.

Fitness Quest 10 is a premier health and human performance facility in San Diego CA. We specializing in Sports Performance, Personal Training, Massage Therapy, Pilates, and Yoga. Owner and founder, Todd Durkin, is a leader in the fitness industry training athletes like LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer, and Reggie Bush just to name a few. Todd’s passion for health and fitness has lead Fitness Quest 10 to be recently named one of the top 10 training facilities in America by the nationally publicized Men’s Health magazine. To find out more information about Fitness Quest 10 please visit his website at www.FitnessQuest10.com.

Lots of thought leaders and awesome workshops during DSMC on social media strategies and connecting with shoppers at ZMOT, Winning the Zero Moment of Truth, a new Google 75 page FREE eBook. Attended social gathering galore with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Had the opportunity to keynote on "What is Your Strategy To Dominate Your Market with Women Buyers?" to rally dealerships to deliver a WOW experience to women.

Thank you Brian and Glenn Pasch and PCG Digital for including me in this powerful thought leader educational event.

Go here to watch the video highlights of the DMSC Conference.

ADM Professional Community Member Reception

Attended the ADM Professional Community Member Reception at the Monte Carlo spending time reconnecting with many of my auto industry favorite people like Ralph Paglia, Gary May, Brian and Glenn Pasch, Lizzelle Landino, of PCG Digital , Phil Zelinger, Jim Ziegler and many more, was so much fun!

Saturday got on the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention floor to meet with some leading minds and get updates on new products and market info:

Experian / Auto Check

Met with Cathi Kennedy, Lou Gaz, Jeff Anderson and Melinda Zabritski discussing trends in the automotive market and the latest happenings with auto credit and financing. Experian Automotive launched Velocity(SM) at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention. Velocity is an online business intelligence tool that combines extensive automotive data with advanced analytics, enabling automotive professionals to better understand the market, the vehicles that are selling and the people who are buying them. Velocity's unique combination of data and analytics empowers users to quickly gain actionable insights and make profitable decisions. Visit www.autocheck.com

JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

At the JM Family Enterprises, Inc. booth met with Jim Dunn GM of JM Lexus, the top Lexus dealer internationally to discuss customer service strategies that have kept them #1 for over 20 years! Also met VP Brent Sergot of one of our subsidiary companies, Datascan, which just launched a website called PRNDL.com. PRNDL makes your pre-owned vehicle purchase safer and faster by providing vehicle inspections, auto financing, and vehicle protection plans all in one place.

Women's Automotive Association International

Big Highlight each year for me is the Women's Automotive Association International Spirit of Leadership awards held this year at the Venetian Hotel a gorgeous backdrop for the event featuring noted author, businesswoman and television celebrity Edie Hand, cousin to Elvis Presley and Terre Thomas of the St Judes Children's Research Hospital as the keynote speakers. Entertainment provided by Robbie Rhodes an Elvis cover singer who made all us ladies swoon!

To cap off the evening, three distinguished automotive industry businesswomen received the WAAI Spirit of Leadership Award, presented in recognition of their professional accomplishments and contributions to the automotive industry. Honorees include Jodi Kippe, partner at Crowe-Horwath, a public accounting and consulting firm specializing in audit, tax, advisory, risk, and performance services; Cherie Watters, general manager of Puente Hills Hyundai, South Bay Hyundai and Madzda of Puente Hills; and Audrey Zavodsky, PhD, professional race-car driver and head of human resources, leadership and professional development, for Ford Motor Company.

The focus of the Association is on the development and retention of women leaders and the education and support of all persons, without prejudice, who have an interest in the automotive industry.

Many thanks to our sponsors, special thanks to AutoTrader.com for their continued generous support of women leaders in the auto industry.

Sunday was back on the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention floor to meet with more industry leaders and some new innovators:

ESCORT, Inc.

Met with John Larson CEO of ESCORT Inc., the industry leader of radar detection technology, who announced the debut of its all-new ESCORT SmartSite™ Rearview Camera System at the 2012 NADA Show. Also appearing alongside SmartSite™ is the multi-award winning ESCORT Live™ real-time ticket protection network and ESCORT's business fleet office solution, ESCORT SmartOffice™, and ESCORT MobileTV™, a connected Mobile Digital TV receiver.

LemonFree.com

Lance Schafer of LemonFree.com knows that there are great dealers out there who, like us, believe that buying a car shouldn't be such a difficult experience. They are an innovative automotive market place that delivers this simple and fresh way to search for cars to our users. Plain and simple they aim want to change the story of buying a car. "At LemonFree.com we understand how important and difficult buying a car can be, so we want to help make it as simple and easy a process, any way we can". Visit: www. LemonFree.com Inc.

Autobytel Inc.

President and CEO Jeffrey H. Coats and Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Steve Lind were on hand to discuss the current status of and what the future holds for Autobytel. Autobytel Inc., an online leader offering consumer auto leads and marketing resources to car dealers and manufacturers and providing consumers with the information they need to purchase new and used cars, pioneered the automotive Internet when it launched autobytel.com in 1995. Autobytel continues to offer innovative products and services to help consumers buy, and auto dealers and manufacturers sell, more used and new cars.

Then everyone including me was off to watch the game Super Bowl Sunday in Vegas!!! Congratulations to the New York GIANTS on winning Super Bowl XLVI.

Jody DeVere CEO, AskPatty.com