Five industry leaders were honored at the ninth annual Most Influential Women (MIW) in the Collision Repair Industry Awards program held during NACE 2007. Elainna Sachire, President, Square One Systems, Inc., Cortland, Ohio; Kristen Felder, Arkansas Claims Manager for Nationwide Insurance Companies, Little Rock, Arkansas; Donna West, Co-owner, Southtowne Auto Rebuild, Tukwila, Washington; Delores Richardson, President, AtPac Auto Parts, Montreal, Canada. Sheri Hamilton, Executive Director of Automotive Service Association of Missouri/Kansas, St. Louis, were all honored at the 2007 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry award banquet.

Collectively, their careers represent over 100 years of experience and demonstrate influence in many aspects of the industry, including shops, suppliers, associations, consulting and automotive insurers.

“The Most Influential Women program recognizes outstanding leadership in the collision repair industry and sets an example for others to follow,” explained Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes Americas Director of Marketing Tim Loden. “In addition to those we honor from year to year, this program has a positive impact on the lives of young people beginning their careers through the I-CAR education scholarship. Our 2007 honorees reflect great passion and commitment, and they challenge each of us to make a difference in the area of the industry that we serve.”

Three of the women bring lifelong experience in collision repair to their current positions. Sheri Hamilton’s parents owned a shop in Kansas City and she joined the Automotive Service Association of Missouri and Kansas in 1993. Under her leadership as director, the association has grown to 350 members and sponsors the Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo, a three-day event that offers training, education and networking for shop owners from 37 states.

Delores Richardson founded AtPac Auto Parts in Montreal 25 years ago, with her father, to bring high quality aftermarket products to collision repair shops. A leader who is passionate about the collision repair industry, Richardson has served as president of the Automotive Body Parts Association for the past three years.