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Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@gmail.com.
AWAF Hosts Training, Awards Scholarships and Continues to Inspire Despite COVID
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Although in-person meetings are on sona (your brand) and be authentic. hiatus due to the threat of COVID-19, “With a wealth of experience the Automotivewith Women’s Alliance gained working for numerous ForChasidy Rae Sisk Foundation (AWAF) has not al- tune 500 companies—including her lowed the chaos of 2020 to prevent current role as a senior-level global them from inspiring and enlightening executive for a $4 billion corporamembers. tion, Linda shared some of the wis From increasing the number of dom she’s gained throughout her own virtual professional development of- career journey—including some very with Chasidyand Rae Sisk ferings to awarding scholarships personal early traumas that helped more, AWAF refuses to let any glob- shape the trajectory of her career,” al pandemic stop these motivated la- shared AWAF Professional Developdies from carrying out their mission. ment Committee Co-Chair Sherry Educational content has been Muir Irwin. coordinated with the current situa- Christina McKenna, founder tion in mind. with Chasidy Rae Sisk and president of Bluestone Execu “Faced with an invisible enemy tive Communications, shared advice and a temporarily diminished automo- related to “Power Presenting for the tive marketplace, working remotely or Virtual Presenter” on July 23. being furloughed can play havoc with According to Muir Irwin, “Chrisour daily lives, and eachChasidy programmed tina brought her knowledge, wisdom with Rae Sisk session has been specially selected to and wit to our members, emphasizing address stressors and ease transition that communication is more importto the ‘new normal’ brought on by ant now than ever—and with the inCOVID-19,” said AWAF Profession- creased emphasis on virtual platforms al Development Committee Co-Chair for communication, we must be intenCorinne Smereka. tional in projecting our professionalwith Chasidy Rae Sisk “Tapping into our talented mem- ism and purpose.” bership expertise and experience, McKenna shared “Seven SeAWAF has provided and will contin- crets to a Commanding Virtual Preue to provide a series of free, virtual, sentation”: one-hour sessions via Zoom technology. These sessions designed Rae to Sisk • Use the video option whenever poswithare Chasidy explore new perspectives, gain new sible. skills and promote networking op- • Know that while style matters, conportunities during these challenging tent is king (or queen). • Assume your audience is distracted times,” Smereka continued. The first session in AWAF’s and adjust. withwas Chasidy series, held in May, “Clarity Rae in Sisk • Frame the flattering shot. the Midst of a Crisis: How to Find • Leverage good lighting. Your New Normal” with Dr. Priscil- • Pay attention to audio. la Archangel, president of Archan- • If your event is recorded, scrap the gel and Associates, LLC, followed laptop. by “Difficult Conversations: Open with Chasidy Rae Sisk Heart, Open Mind,” presented June During “Diversity, Equity & In4 by Diane Morrison and Marian clusion 101” on Aug. 13, Cheryl Morlock, co-creators of Expanding Thompson, CEO and founder, and Leadership Capabilities. Margaret Baxter, executive direc On June 25, Linda Taliaferro, tor, of the Center for Automotive founder and CEO of The TEE—The Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement Extra Effort, LLC, discussed “Turn- (CADIA) shared important insights with Ed Attanasio ing Career Trauma into Career Tri- to “help attendees gain an underumph,” sharing six tips: find your standing of the diversity, inclusion voice and use it, know your worth, and equity (DEI) fundamentals rerelationships are everything, focus quired to value differences and be on being, establish your unique per- more inclusive in order to enhance
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personal and organizational contribution,” Muir Irwin said. AWAF is coordinating additional seminars for the remainder of the year and has scheduled a Virtual Annual Holiday Party for Dec. 2, when the association will be joined by Lisa Drake, Ford COO of North America and vice president of global purchasing, as they celebrate the second annual AWAF Awards. During the pandemic, AWAF also awarded seven scholarships. Danielle Didia, a junior at Kettering University in Flint, MI, received a $2,500 scholarship, provided by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, while Kettering senior Kathryn Cesiel received $2,500 provided by Magna International. Christian Brothers Automotive provided two $2,500 scholarships, received by Eva Muller of Michigan Technological University and Kathryn Mueller from Wayne State Uni-
versity. AWAF awarded a $2,500 scholarship, in honor of the Automotive Heritage Foundation, to Twanda Dixon, a freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. The association also sponsored a $2,500 scholarship to Jacqui van Zyl, a freshman at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, as well as a $2,500 scholarship to Jennifer Mazzola from Vanderbilt University. Additionally, AWAF has gotten creative with ideas to virtually advance and empower young women in STEM by introducing a contest for high school and college students to submit ideas for a STEM Kit to be offered to young women in middle school. For more information about AWAF, visit awafoundation.org.
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with Ed Attanasio
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