Women in Auto Care Announces 2024 Women in Auto Care Award Winners

LAS VEGAS – November 7, 2024 – Women in Auto Care, a community of the Auto Care Association, annually distributes awards in recognition of the amazing contributors within the automotive industry. Yesterday, Women in Auto Care announced its 2024 award recipients during the Women in Auto Care Awards ceremony that took place at this year’s Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. The Women in Auto Care awards include: “Lifetime Achievement”, “Outstanding Leadership”, “Female Shop Owner of the Year”, “Women of Excellence”, “Company Ally of the Year” and “Champion of the Year.”

“Each year we are blown away by the incredibly talented women nominated for the Women in Auto Care Awards and 2024 was no different,” said Elle Lawhead, chair, Women in Auto Care. “With over 100 nominations, we are proud to honor eight women and one company during this year’s awards ceremony. Last year, we improved our awards and were able to increase our Women of Excellence winners as well as introduce the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ and ‘Company Ally of the Year’ awards. We were thrilled to celebrate with the incredible talent pool yesterday during the Women in Auto Care Awards Ceremony.”

The winners of the 2024 Women in Auto Care Awards are:

• Lifetime Achievement: Tina Hubbard, CEO, HDA Truck Pride
• Outstanding Achievement: Sheila Sarkozi, senior growth and industry marketing manager, RepairPal
• Female Shop Owner of the Year: Julie Holmes, co-CEO, Virginia Tire & Auto
• Women of Excellence: Lauren McCullough, CEO and co-founder, Tromml
• Women of Excellence: Christine Mobley, vice president, talent management and belonging, Dorman Products
• Women of Excellence: Sarah Srock, manager, distribution center, Highline Warren
• Women of Excellence: Jillian Weishaar, manager, education and diversity and inclusion, Parts Authority
• Company Ally of the Year: Parts Authority
• Women in Auto Care Champion of the Year: Anna Gluck, chief human resources officer, Nexa Motion Group (NMG)

Lifetime Achievement: Tina Hubbard

Tina Hubbard is the president and CEO of HDA Truck Pride. Hubbard began her career in the aftermarket 35 years ago. Right out of college, she accepted a position at Federal-Mogul, completely unaware of the aftermarket, what it meant and what opportunities it offered. Tina quickly realized her passion for the Commercial Vehicle industry. She became the first female Heavy Duty Fleet Specialist and has never looked back! 

At the helm of HDA Truck Pride, a significant amount of Hubbard’s focus is on the industry as a whole, industry awareness and government affairs. While the Commercial Vehicle industry may not be glamorous, it is absolutely essential to the economy of our country. Her favorite saying, “if you bought it, a truck brought it!”.  

Hubbard’s dedication to the industry begins with her passion, which has evolved into a lifelong commitment to making a difference, both personally and professionally. She is a firm believer in the three phases of life: learn it, earn it and return it. Now in that third phase, Hubbard inspires others, particularly women, to find their passion, define their dreams and share their experiences with others. Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Hubbard. “For 35 years, I have watched this industry slowly evolve. We should be proud of how far we’ve come, but there’s still a long way to go. Women in Auto Care has done an amazing job of engaging, educating and empowering women. It provides a network for women to share ideas, learn and grow as individuals. I also want to thank my talented and incredibly dedicated team at HDA Truck Pride. The HDA Truck Pride Network is what keeps me going!”

Outstanding Achievement: Sheila Sarkozi

Sheila Sarkozi (formerly Stevens) is the senior industry and growth marketing manager at RepairPal, bringing over a decade of experience in automotive aftermarket marketing. She volunteers her time as social media champion for Women in Auto Care and serves as a board member and head of the marketing committee at the Automotive Communications Council (ACC). Before joining RepairPal, Sarkozi held roles in marketing, sales, and quality management at ATEQ TPMS Tools, where she developed a strong interest in diagnostic technology for tires and TPMS—a passion she continues to support as an advocate for tire safety.

Often one of the only women in the room, she committed herself to learning, growing, and making a meaningful impact through her dedication and passion for the field.  

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition, but I owe it to the many people who supported and guided me along the way,” said Sarkozi. “I’ve been fortunate to learn from some of the most incredible people, many of whom may not realize the profound impact they’ve had on me. I continue to give back in every way I can, hoping to offer others the same encouragement and support that was given to me.”

Sarkozi attributes her dedication to her family’s legacy in the automotive world. “I didn’t come in knowing everything about cars, but the love for this industry must run in my blood—like so many here, I’ve grown to love it all: the tech, the challenges and especially the people. Being honored with this award alongside some of the most impactful women in the industry is truly surreal. I’m beyond humbled, deeply grateful, and honestly still in awe.”

Female Shop Owner of the Year: Julie Holmes

Julie Holmes serves as co-CEO of Virginia Tire & Auto, where her passion and leadership impact all aspects of this 15-location leading provider of automotive repair services. 

After a successful legal career, Holmes officially joined Virginia Tire & Auto a decade and a half ago and is steadfastly committed to carrying on the legacy that her father and mother created more than 45 years ago when they founded the company. 

Virginia Tire & Auto’s mission is to take the stress out of car care and Julie, together with her husband and Co-CEO, Mike, is focused on creating an experience that exceeds expectations for the more than 200,000 customers that Virginia Tire & Auto serves annually. Holmes is equally committed to building a truly supportive environment for her team, assuring that everyone in the Virginia Tire & Auto family has growth opportunities. 

Believing strongly in creating opportunities for women, Holmes is a vocal champion of bringing women into the auto repair industry. With five children, four of them girls, she strongly advocates for women to choose a career in the auto repair industry and works with her team to ensure Virginia Tire & Auto is a welcoming home to all.

Holmes is extremely proud and honored to be recognized as a leading woman in the auto care industry.  She truly believes in the impact that our industry has on mobility and how our industry solves problems that impact people’s everyday lives. The work the auto care industry produces is essential and meaningful, and she hopes this honor and the work of Women in Auto Care inspires more women to get involved and make the auto care industry their professional home.

Woman of Excellence: Lauren McCullough

Lauren McCullough is the founder and CEO of Tromml, a startup transforming how auto parts businesses leverage data by making insights accessible and actionable in real time. With a passion for simplifying technology, McCullough has dedicated her career to helping industries turn complex data into clear, impactful decisions. Over the past two years, she’s become a trusted voice in groups like Women in Auto Care, YANG, SEMA, and MEMA, where she’s helping shape the future of data-driven strategies across the supply chain.

Winning the Women of Excellence Award is a meaningful milestone for McCullough.

“I’m beyond honored to be recognized with so many incredible women,” said McCullough. “For me, this award is all about celebrating the people who push each other forward, share ideas, and work together to make this industry better every day.”

Woman of Excellence: Christine Mobley

Christine Mobley is vice president of talent management and belonging for Dorman Products, a global organization offering an evolving catalog of products, covering cars, trucks, and specialty vehicles. In her role, Christine leads the global talent strategy to attract, engage, align, and retain high-performing talent.

Mobley is currently one of the founding members of the Women in Auto Care HR Business Exchange Connection Circle. She previously supported Women in Auto Care by serving as a champion for social media, scholarships and industry events and was also spotlighted in an “Empower Half-Hour” segment for members. In 2024, she partnered with peers and partners in the industry to lead and support panel discussions regarding allyship in the aftermarket for the Annual Women in Auto Care Conference and Auto Care Connect.

In her free time, Mobley enjoys volunteering and giving back to her local community. Most recently she served on the board for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Sports.

“I fell in love with our industry on day one because it is such a ripe environment for everyone to thrive,” said Mobley. “This industry is remarkable for talent to leverage their skills, experience, and perspectives to drive innovation and transform the dynamic landscape of this modern market. I am completely humbled and honored to win this award and for others to see that the aftermarket is filled with possibilities. Joining organizations such as Women in Auto Care means being a part of a strong community of support, encouragement, and empowerment that has truly redefined success in this industry. My hope is that I will be able to establish a legacy of change that will inspire future generations to pursue careers in this extremely rewarding and fulfilling field.” 

Woman of Excellence: Sarah Sacks

With a background in logistics, Sarah Sacks entered the industry with deep-rooted passion and determination, inspired by her father’s love for cars and a childhood surrounded by automotive enthusiasts. Her career trajectory began in logistics staffing and rapidly progressed to a supervisory role, leading her to join Highline Warren. There, she transformed her team into one of the most efficient and recognized groups in the organization, earning Highline Warren's prestigious Shooting Star award within her first year.

Sacks’s achievements continued as she became the first woman to lead Highline Warren’s distribution center in Texas, successfully launching a high-performance facility that exceeded $20 million in volume in its first year. She further demonstrated her leadership by driving innovation in automation through robotics, capturing essential data across locations to implement the company’s first automation bots.

As she reflects on this award, Sacks acknowledges the support from mentors and colleagues that has fueled her journey and looks forward to making an even greater impact in the automotive industry. This recognition represents the dedication, resilience, and commitment that she and many women bring to the auto care field, paving the way for future leaders.

Woman of Excellence: Jillian Weishaar

Jillian Weishaar is a career-long, award-winning education manager and diversity and inclusion advocate. During her career on the corporate side of retail, Weishaar has worked for major brands such as Bath & Body Works and Sephora. While at Sephora, Weishaar was featured in a viral social media campaign to celebrate diversity, speaking to her own journey with mental health and mental health awareness.

In 2020, after more than 20 years in fashion and beauty, Weishaar transitioned into the automotive aftermarket, taking on a newly established leadership position within Parts Authority as the manager of education and diversity and inclusion. Weishaar was welcomed as their first professional in this role and is currently in this position.

Weishaar’s unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and driving positive change within the industry is evident in her numerous accomplishments, including the development of a customized Learning Management System (LMS) at Parts Authority, the establishment of DEI programs and her active involvement in various industry events and committees.

Weishaar is a Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award winner, a member of the Auto Care Association Education Committee, holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the ESSEC Business School, holds numerous certifications in specific areas including cultural competence, confronting bias and inclusive leadership, as well as DEI certification through CADIA.

“Women in Auto Care has given me a sense of community in a way that I did not expect when entering the industry,” said Weishaar. “Being recognized by this community is both profound and humbling. I am immensely grateful to Women in Auto Care for the role it plays in supporting and creating space for women in the automotive aftermarket.”

Company Ally of the Year: Parts Authority

Parts Authority is honored to be recognized as the “Company Ally of the Year” by Women in Auto Care. This award is a testament to Parts Authority’s unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and empowered. We are deeply invested in empowering women in the auto care industry through comprehensive initiatives, leadership development programs, and mentorship opportunities. Our dedication to supporting women's careers and leadership aspirations is not just a matter of principle, but a fundamental part of who we are as a company. We believe that by creating an inclusive and supportive workplace, we can drive meaningful change within our organization and the industry as a whole. This recognition from Women in Auto Care underscores the progress we've made and inspires us to continue championing the advancement of women in auto care professions.

Women in Auto Care Champion of the Year: Anna Gluck

Anna Gluck, a dedicated HR executive with 23 years of experience in the function, is passionate about creating a positive, modern, engaging work culture. Known for her strategic mindset and leadership expertise, Gluck has led strategic initiatives that drive employee satisfaction and engagement, including career advancement and workplace recognition programs.

A recognized leader, Gluck was a finalist for Crain’s Cleveland HR Innovation Archer Award (2017) and was honored as a member of the 2022 Class of Women at the Wheel by Babcox Media’s Aftermarket News. She actively contributes to the industry as a member of Women in Auto Care, participating in the champions committee and is a moderator for the HR Connections Circle.

“It’s an honor that means a lot to me. Showing up and being committed to the industry is important to me, and empowering women to be involved and participate supports all our futures.” 
 
Learn more about the Women in Auto Care community and its awards at autocare.org/wiac.