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AWAF Hosts Training, Awards Scholarships and Continues to Inspire Despite COVID

Although in-person meetings are on hiatus due to the threat of COVID-19, sona (your brand) and be authentic. “With a wealth of experience Southeast News the Automotive Women’s Alliance gained working for numerous Forwith Chasidy Rae Sisk Foundation (AWAF) has not altune 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. From increasing the number of tion, Linda shared some of the wisdom she’s gained throughout her own Western Associations virtual professional development offerings to awarding scholarships and career journey—including some very personal early traumas that helped with Chasidy Rae Sisk more, AWAF refuses to let any globshape the trajectory of her career,” al pandemic stop these motivated lashared AWAF Professional Developdies from carrying out their mission. Educational content has been ment Committee Co-Chair Sherry Muir Irwin. Southwest Associations coordinated with the current situation in mind. Christina McKenna, founder and president of Bluestone Execuwith Chasidy Rae Sisk

“Faced with an invisible enemy tive Communications, shared advice and a temporarily diminished automorelated to “Power Presenting for the tive marketplace, working remotely or being furloughed can play havoc with V irtual Presenter” on July 23. According to Muir Irwin, “Chris Southeast Associations our daily lives, and each programmed tina brought her knowledge, wisdom with Chasidy 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 Professional Development Committee Co-Chair creased emphasis on virtual platforms for communication, we must be intenNortheast Associations Corinne Smer eka. with tional in projecting our professional Chasidy Rae Sisk

“Tapping into our talented memism and purpose.” bership expertise and experience, McKenna shared “Seven SeAWAF has provided and will contincrets to a Commanding Virtual Preue to provide a series of free, virtual, one-hour sessions via Zoom technolsentation”: Midwest Associations ogy. These sessions are designed to • Use the video option whenever pos with Chasidy Rae Sisk explore new perspectives, gain new sible. skills and promote networking op• Know that while style matters, conportunities during these challenging times,” Smereka continued. The first session in AWAF’s tent is king (or queen). • Assume your audience is distracted and adjust. National Associations series, held in May, was “Clarity in • Frame the flattering shot. with Chasidy Rae Sisk 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 Archangel and Associates, LLC, followed • If your event is recorded, scrap the laptop. Northwest Associations by “Difficult Conversations: Open Heart, Open Mind,” presented June During “Diversity, Equity & Inwith Chasidy Rae Sisk 4 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 direcOn June 25, Linda Taliaferro, founder and CEO of The TEE—The tor, of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement Shop Showcase Extra Effort, LLC, discussed “Turnwith Ed Attanasio (CADIA) shared important insights ing Career Trauma into Career Trito “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 on being, establish your unique perquired to value differences and be more inclusive in order to enhance Advertising Advantages 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 University.

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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