How did you get started?

In 1987, just after college, I spent a year with the National Automobile Dealers Association Academy traveling the country to study various aspects of the automobile business. In 1989, I opened a paint and body shop in Doylestown (still part of our Fred Beans business), which I ran until 1991 when I transitioned as general manager of Fred Beans Mitsubishi. While managing that business, I also took on the same role for Fred Beans Saturn of Doylestown and Saturn of Devon.

In 1997, I moved into my current position as Vice President, which has enabled me to combine years of experience and industry knowledge with a genuine commitment to both the long-term viability of Fred Beans Automotive Group and the experiences of all those involved – from employees to customers to community partners.

Who or what inspired you most in your line of work?

I can attribute so much of my own success to having my father as a mentor. He has an unwavering work ethic, a drive to keep learning and getting Better (hence our Better at Beans motto), and a genuine interest in taking care of the people closest to him, from his own family to his team, customers, and surrounding community members. During our new employee orientations, I encourage our team members to find their own Fred Beans. These words of wisdom came from motivational speaker Bob Farrell of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant; they are my go-to for ending orientation: “If you want to know where you’ll be in five years, it’s [in] the books you read, the movies you see, and the people you hang around with.”

What about your organization makes you the proudest?

Our management team oversees more than 20 dealerships, our parts business, and other operations, as well as nearly 1,800 employees. Despite our continued growth as a company, we aim to provide clear direction for everyone involved. That helps us maintain consistency and uphold standards as we move forward, together, as a company. Our commitment to communication and connecting with our Fred Beans team also is important for our success and our culture as a family-owned business. That culture means treating customers, employees, and community members as extensions of our Beans family.  We know we are only as good as our people, so we support not only our team members’ professional development but their overall wellness.

What surprised you the most in your organization's history, pleasantly or unpleasantly?

I grew up in this organization, and there weren’t any shortcuts for me! I started in sales and was promoted to manage a dealership. The automotive industry, specifically the sales floor, wasn’t a realistic career choice for most women. As a mother of four, I often felt at a professional disadvantage because I had kids. I never revealed having to leave early to pick up a sick kid from school, and I never considered taking a PTO day to chaperone a field trip. That was just the culture. You worked long hours when the dealerships were open, whether you had a family or not. But I always knew the reason I worked so hard was my family. My four kids have always motivated me to set a good example and to provide the best possible life for them.

The long hours and the night and weekend obligations did not necessarily surprise me, but it did surprise me how long it took the industry to talk about things like flexibility, family-friendly employee benefits, and diversity in the workforce. I am determined to have the Fred Beans Automotive Group lead the way in having these conversations and enacting change. Just this year, we introduced new and enhanced employee benefits that support a better work and personal life balance. This is our first year with paid parental leave, which benefits both mothers and fathers. It’s something I have personally advocated for based on my own experiences. This year, we also increased PTO and bereavement days and offered paid time off for volunteering.

What advice would you share for any woman looking to start or join an organization such as yours?

• Be knowledgeable: Educate yourself about the industry and its trends, technologies, and advancements. Stay up to date on relevant news and developments to enhance your credibility.
• Embrace continuous learning: The automotive industry is constantly evolving. Remain open to new ideas and seek out information to stay ahead of trends and successfully adapt to changes. This is especially important for long-term success.
• Look outside the industry for inspiration and advice: Better yourself by reading books, listening to podcasts, and consulting with experts in various fields. This will help you grow competencies to lead, communicate, work as a team, and develop a positive attitude regardless of what industry you are in.
• Build your network: Connect with professionals in the automotive industry through networking events and industry conferences. Have an expert you can call in each area of the business.
• Find mentors and/or role models: Find mentors who can share their experiences, advice, and own career paths so you can learn from their successes and mistakes and devise your own career plan.
• Be confident and assertive: Believe in your abilities and values. Speak up and contribute your ideas.
• Put yourself out there: Be the first one to shake hands, smile, and connect with someone. This business is all about people, so start meeting them.
• Build resilience: The automotive industry can be demanding and competitive. Develop resilience to overcome obstacles, learn from failures, and persevere in pursuing your goals.
• Support and uplift other women: Encourage and support other women interested in joining the industry.
• Embrace your strengths: Own them and demonstrate how they make the workplace stronger. For example, as a mom of four, I known I am good at multitasking. That's a huge strength to embrace in this industry. Another one that I think I've honed from being a mom is decisiveness. I am comfortable jumping in to deal with any issue in the moment. I give it great thought, but I don't overthink it so we can make decisions and then move on to keep moving forward.

What in your life do you NOT spend time on?

I try not to spend much time on anything that does not support my personal or professional goals. This means approaching each day, each major task with clear intention. I write daily in a journal, which helps make being mindful and intentional more of a habit than an afterthought. I write down five things to fill me with gratitude and one intention statement/goal.

The best piece of advice that a mentor gave to you …could be anyone in your life or on any subject?

Personally, I take great pride in seeing employees grow into management roles and develop into successful leaders in the company. I see great value in spending time as a mentor myself, as I have learned from remarkable mentors throughout my life. The best advice I have received and carry with me often comes from things I read and people I hear speak. I write phrases down that motivate me or change my thinking. One phrase that I've always liked: “Go further than you're told.”

What is next for you?

I hope to continue developing the management team that supports me and empower those team members to have more autonomy in their decision-making. This will help us operate more efficiently and free me up a bit to enjoy my four kids even more. They are now living in different areas of the country, and I would love to spend more time visiting them.

I plan to take on more of a role with the factories, which my dad largely handles now. I think it's important that they see and know the next generation of our company's management. I also would like to develop members of my family who want to join the business so we can continue to operate as a family-owned and -operated automotive company.

Finally, I would like to focus on the dealerships and other operations we have right now before expanding our footprint any further. We have so much opportunity to grow and evolve what we currently have under the Fred Beans umbrella.