Celebrating Women's Impact in the Auto Industry at the Chicago Auto Show 2025
The Chicago Auto Show, renowned as the nation's longest-running auto exposition, recently concluded its 2025 edition, featuring the notable 'What Drives Her' awards. Holding its eighth annual event during the Media Preview, this initiative aims to honor and empower women in the automotive sector, showcasing their immense contributions across various categories. The program, a collaboration with A Girls Guide to Cars, seeks to amplify the voices and success stories of women within the industry, driving meaningful discussions on trends and challenges they face.
This year’s ceremony was graced by influential industry leaders, who participated in panel discussions and shared personal narratives, all centered around the theme of women's purchasing power and their pivotal role in shaping automotive trends. Moderated by Scotty Reiss, founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, the panel discussion titled 'What Drives Her…To the Off-Road Trail' featured key figures such as Kelsey Gerken from Ford and Bridget Kramer from Jeep. Their insights provided inspiration and sparked conversations about the future of women in the auto industry.
Jennifer Morand, co-founder of the What Drives Her program, expressed her excitement, stating, "It's incredible to think that an inkling of an idea to spotlight amazing women in the industry has grown into what it has today. This event not only celebrates the achievements of women who have made it in the field but also inspires those still on their journey."
The 2025 awards recognized outstanding individuals across several categories:
This year, the Industry Trailblazer Award went to Audrey Moore, Vice President and Chief Engineer at Stellantis. With a remarkable 25-year career, she has held various pivotal roles, including overseeing the development of the new Dodge Charger lineup. Moore is commended for her technical expertise, which has earned her recognition and respect among her peers. The finalists for this category included Claudia Marquez from Hyundai Motor America and Tricia Morrow from General Motors.
Emme Hall, an acclaimed freelance journalist, received the Best in Craft Media Award for her extensive work in automotive journalism. Her writing has reached numerous leading automotive publications, making her one of the prominent voices in the industry. Although unable to attend, she sent a heartfelt video message, expressing her gratitude for the recognition.
This category also had notable finalists such as Elana Scherr from Car and Driver and Nicole Wakelin from CarBuzz, each making significant contributions to automotive journalism.
The Automotive Ally Award was presented to Joel Feder, Senior Producer at Internet Brands. With over 14 years in the automotive field, Feder is recognized for his leadership, particularly in media relations and syndication partnerships. His efforts in promoting inclusivity and collaboration within the industry have solidified his reputation as a pivotal ally for women and diverse voices within the automotive community. The finalists for this category included Dean Case and Kimatni Rawlins.
Kelly Donku, Sales Manager at Bill Jacobs BMW, was honored with the Best Retailer Award. Her leadership has fostered a culture of mentorship within her team, with a remarkable 64% of the sales team being internally promoted. Donku is highlighted as a champion for diversity and inclusion, shaping a supportive environment for future leaders in the automotive industry. She was joined by finalists Valerie Nazimek from Smith Chevrolet and Angel Pieniazek from Hopkins Ford.
Lastly, Roz Varon, a veteran journalist renowned for her coverage of the Chicago Auto Show, received the Lifetime of Inspiration Award. Her commitment to media and reporting has left a lasting impact on the industry, celebrating her legacy as she retires after an illustrious career.
As the curtains fell on the 2025 Chicago Auto Show, the What Drives Her program not only celebrated the achievements of women but also set the stage for future generations of female leaders in the automotive industry. This year’s awards reaffirmed the commitment to progress, pushing for an inclusive future that recognizes and empowers women in every echelon of the automotive world.
This year’s ceremony was graced by influential industry leaders, who participated in panel discussions and shared personal narratives, all centered around the theme of women's purchasing power and their pivotal role in shaping automotive trends. Moderated by Scotty Reiss, founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, the panel discussion titled 'What Drives Her…To the Off-Road Trail' featured key figures such as Kelsey Gerken from Ford and Bridget Kramer from Jeep. Their insights provided inspiration and sparked conversations about the future of women in the auto industry.
Jennifer Morand, co-founder of the What Drives Her program, expressed her excitement, stating, "It's incredible to think that an inkling of an idea to spotlight amazing women in the industry has grown into what it has today. This event not only celebrates the achievements of women who have made it in the field but also inspires those still on their journey."
The 2025 awards recognized outstanding individuals across several categories:
Industry Trailblazer Award
This year, the Industry Trailblazer Award went to Audrey Moore, Vice President and Chief Engineer at Stellantis. With a remarkable 25-year career, she has held various pivotal roles, including overseeing the development of the new Dodge Charger lineup. Moore is commended for her technical expertise, which has earned her recognition and respect among her peers. The finalists for this category included Claudia Marquez from Hyundai Motor America and Tricia Morrow from General Motors.
Best in Craft Media Award
Emme Hall, an acclaimed freelance journalist, received the Best in Craft Media Award for her extensive work in automotive journalism. Her writing has reached numerous leading automotive publications, making her one of the prominent voices in the industry. Although unable to attend, she sent a heartfelt video message, expressing her gratitude for the recognition.
This category also had notable finalists such as Elana Scherr from Car and Driver and Nicole Wakelin from CarBuzz, each making significant contributions to automotive journalism.
Automotive Ally Award
The Automotive Ally Award was presented to Joel Feder, Senior Producer at Internet Brands. With over 14 years in the automotive field, Feder is recognized for his leadership, particularly in media relations and syndication partnerships. His efforts in promoting inclusivity and collaboration within the industry have solidified his reputation as a pivotal ally for women and diverse voices within the automotive community. The finalists for this category included Dean Case and Kimatni Rawlins.
Best Retailer Award
Kelly Donku, Sales Manager at Bill Jacobs BMW, was honored with the Best Retailer Award. Her leadership has fostered a culture of mentorship within her team, with a remarkable 64% of the sales team being internally promoted. Donku is highlighted as a champion for diversity and inclusion, shaping a supportive environment for future leaders in the automotive industry. She was joined by finalists Valerie Nazimek from Smith Chevrolet and Angel Pieniazek from Hopkins Ford.
Lifetime of Inspiration Award
Lastly, Roz Varon, a veteran journalist renowned for her coverage of the Chicago Auto Show, received the Lifetime of Inspiration Award. Her commitment to media and reporting has left a lasting impact on the industry, celebrating her legacy as she retires after an illustrious career.
As the curtains fell on the 2025 Chicago Auto Show, the What Drives Her program not only celebrated the achievements of women but also set the stage for future generations of female leaders in the automotive industry. This year’s awards reaffirmed the commitment to progress, pushing for an inclusive future that recognizes and empowers women in every echelon of the automotive world.
Topics Other）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.