May 24, 2013 - UTI-Rancho Cucamonga Celebrates Women’s Month in Automotive Fashion

Alumni, campus administrators and current students came together to participate in the 2nd Annual Women in the Industry Celebration.

March does not only indicated the start of spring, it also signified Women’s Month across the country. Universal Technical Institute’s (UTI) – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., campus did their part by recognizing distinct women in the automotive workforce and female campus employees for their significant contributions and accomplishments.

On March 21, UTI-Rancho Cucamonga facilitated and hosted the 2^nd annual Women in the Industry Celebration, which acknowledges women serving in non-traditional roles within the automotive sector. This year’s festivities included a one-hour luncheon in which a combination of nine women (full list included below) working in the automotive field, as well as on campus, were honored in front of the female student population.

The event is organized by campus leadership to empower the current female student body and recognize community members.

“This annual event allows us to honor these amazing women for their contributions and success,” said Raquishela Stewart, student services director at UTI-Rancho Cucamonga. “It’s great for our current female students to hear from members of the community that have achieved so much in an industry that is traditionally male dominated.”

Attendees had the privilege of listening to key note speaker, Nina Hormoz, a UTI graduate and trainer who recently started her own coaching venture called Rankforce. - a service advisor consulting firm that specializes in combining accountability, fun and effective strategies to create a high performance culture within service departments.

Hormoz spoke about her career experiences and the steps she took to get where she is today. The event also served as the prefect setting to newly promoted campus Education Director, Migdalia Vazquez-Valle. Vazquez-Valle’s elevation within the company marks the first time a woman has held that distinct title at the UTI-Rancho Cucamonga campus.

While UTI as a whole sees great futures for the current female student population, they hope events such as these will continue to resonate with women across the country and show them that anything is possible.

Below, please find a full list of this year’s honorees.

Carolyn Adams, assistant service manager, Sunrise Ford
Luz Boyer, automotive technology/smog instructor and first female instructor at UTI-Rancho Cucamonga
Gloria Macias Harrison, Governor’s appointee to the California Commission on the Status of Women
Teresa Palmer, business development manager, Arrowhead Credit Union
Dione Pinckert, UTI graduate - technician, Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz
Timel Sebastian, sales and special projects, Adams Motorsports Park
Denise Thienes, auto instructor at Irvine High School
Migdalia Vazquez-Valle, UTI-Rancho Cucamonga education director

For more information about UTI’s – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. campus and associated events, please visit: http://www.uti.edu/campus-locations/los-angeles, and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.