Ivy Hartman: Welcome to SBTV.com on our coverage of SEMA 2008 here in Las Vegas. I'm Ivy Hartman and with me is Kellie Colf who is the Marketing Director for Eaton Detroit Spring, Incorporated. Kellie welcome to SBTV.com.
Kellie Colf: Thank you for having me.
Ivy Hartman: Absolutely, let's talk about the company that you work for Eaton Detroit Spring.
Kellie Colf: Yes, Eaton Detroit Spring is a manufacturer of leaf and coil springs and attaching hardware. We've been in the business since 1937, we're family owned company, the family was -- the company was actually started by the current Presidents' grandfather and we also have the great granddaughter of the founder working for the company.
Ivy Hartman: That is so cool. We love that.
Kellie Colf: It's very exciting.
Ivy Hartman: As a woman how did you get involved in the automotive aftermarket industry?
Kellie Colf: Well, previous to this I didn't work in a different industry, I was in heavy industry and I've always been a car collector and car fanatic, and someone I knew from the local car show circuit worked in this industry and I ended up getting in and I've been here ever since.
Ivy Hartman: well, you've got a pretty important role with the SEMA organization, talk about your role with SEMA.
Kellie Colf: Currently I'm the Chairman of the SEMA Businesswomen's network and we exist to promote women and women's issues within the automotive aftermarket.
Ivy Hartman: What are the women's issues in the women and for the women in the automotive aftermarket?
Kellie Colf: Well, the things are really improving, we're really making great strives, there used to be a big stigma that this was such a all boys club and such a men's kind of a industry and really there's a lot of women coming in and the perception of the glass ceiling is really coming down and we're helping to change that.
Ivy Hartman: Absolutely, how many members do you have in the SEMA Businesswomen's network?
Kellie Colf: Currently, we have 289 members.
Ivy Hartman: And what are some of the things that you guys do for one another or with one another over the year?
Kellie Colf: We really promote a lot of networking, we actually have an event here where we have a speed networking breakfast and we open that up to the entire automotive aftermarket so that's not only for women, that's also for men. And we also have a mentoring program which is a structured program because in any industry everyone needs a mentoring, needs that helping hand but occasionally you may not have someone immediately close within your company or within your circle. We exist to be able to match up pairs and help people get together and create these relationships.
Ivy Hartman: You talked about that glass ceiling being lowered, are there any specific examples you can give me of changes that have happened since you've been involved? How long have you been involved with this?
Kellie Colf: I've been in the automotive aftermarket since 2001.
Ivy Hartman: Wow that's a good long time, we are talking of 7 years, seen any major changes?
Kellie Colf: I've really seen a lot of figure influx of women and I'm seeing a lot more women in positions of power.
Ivy Hartman: And your company that you work for is a prime example.
Kellie Colf: Yes.
Ivy Hartman: I mean you're talking about a family owned business but you're talking like the great granddaughter of the founder and owner coming onboard and working and so I guess you're kind of also glazing a trail out for this young one.
Kellie Colf: Yes, actually within our company our CFO is female, our Vice president is female, I'm also a female.
Ivy Hartman: Obviously.
Kellie Colf: And our President just year before last won an award in support of women.
Ivy Hartman: Fabulous! Anything else that you feel like the small business owner our viewers need to know about women in the automotive aftermarket or about your role with SEMA.
Kellie Colf: Well, I would definitely tell them to hire women. We're definitely very aggressive, we definitely understand a lot of these smaller business issues. We've been exposed to such things say within the house, within our lives, we're very detail oriented and really we do quite well in these smaller type businesses.
Ivy Hartman: I would say if there is a big market of small business owners who are women out there.
Kellie Colf: Yes and so much of the automotive aftermarket is your smaller business owners.
Ivy Hartman: It really is Kellie thanks for spending time on this year on SBTV.com.
Kellie Colf: Thank you.
Ivy Hartman: If you want more information about the women's business network with SEMA how do we do that?
Kellie Colf: You would go to www.SEMA.org/sbn.
Ivy Hartman: Perfect, if we want more information about Eaton Detroit Spring how do we do that?
Kellie Colf: Our website is www.eatonsprings.com.
Ivy Hartman: You heard in here first time on SBTV.com all about women involved with the SEMA show, you're the first women that I've had sit in that chair since we've been here.
Kellie Colf: Thank you.
Ivy Hartman: We'll warm it up, but we're going to keep things rolling here at the SEMA Show 2008 Las Vegas on SBTV.com where small business is our only business.
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