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You Made This Happen–Did You Know You’re So Powerful In the Auto World?

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Thank you, dear reader. You inspired me, and something really amazing happened.

Let me explain.

2015 Chevrolet Trax

What our cars mean to us: They facilitate the life we live

Last week I was elected president of the International Motor Press Association, a professional automotive writers group. IMPA’s goal is to ensure that its members have lots of opportunities to drive cars, talk to car makers and gather information to share with their audiences. Members include major media companies, freelance writers, traditional automotive jounralists and most auto manufacturers including General Motors, Chrysler and Ford.

IMPA Test Days 2014

Tamara Mlynarczyk of Mazda (right) showing off the Miata to Subaru’s Andrew Ganz (left) at IMPA’s Test Days event

When we started AGirlsGuidetoCars two years ago I became an IMPA member so I could learn about cars, about the business and get to know the people in it. What I didn’t expect to find was an industry that was so eager to talk to women— their largest group of customers. Did you know that women buy or influence the purchase of 85% of all cars?

As AGirlsGuidetoCars grew, adding life stories, style stories, stories of empowerment and of keeping our families safe, we began creating a conversation with you about the role our cars have in our lives. The industry began to listen more deeply and to join the conversation.

Scotty Reiss and David Kiley

Presidential succession: incoming IMPA president Scotty Reiss with outgoing president David Kiley

And as it turns out, there’s a lot to talk about: More and more women are not only impacting the number of cars sold, but are working to design better cars, build them more efficiently and are leaders in the companies that manufacture them. The car world is evolving and I’m honored to help lead the charge.

So what does my role in IMPA mean for you? A lot. It means we can continue to focus the conversation on what is meaningful to you, that your view is valued, and that the entire industry is welcoming YOU as an important member. And personally, I am honored to work for and be inspired by you, to bring your voice to the automotive industry, and to continue to empower you to love the life you live in and around your cars.

Scotty Reiss

Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, she didn't pursue it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.

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