Women in Auto Care announces 2020 Automotive Communications Award winners

Auto Care Woman of the Year: Lauren Beaulieu, vice-president, professional marketing, Advance Auto Parts; Female Shop Owner of the Year: Kim Auernheimer, owner and business manager, Cool Springs Automotive, LLC (dba CS Automotive); Auto Care Woman of Excellence: Danielle Sonnefeld, vice-president, business development, N.A. Williams Company.

On Nov. 3, as part of the AAPEX Virtual Event, the 2020 Automotive Communications Award winners were announced as part of the Women in Auto Care Awards Ceremony.

The Automotive Communications Awards recognize companies and agencies that provide automotive information to consumers and trade professionals through a combination of outstanding marketing, advertising, merchandising, and effective PR strategy.

This year, there were 16 categories for business-to-business (B2B) and 19 categories for business-to-consumer (B2C).

New this year, volunteer members of the Auto Care Association Marketing and Communications Committee (ACC) were in charge of judging the award submissions, and selecting the winners.

“Effective marketing and communications is more important now than ever,” said Jacki Lutz, committee member, Women in Auto Care. “It is so vital that we recognize companies that are communicating effectively in order to show the impact that good marketing can have on the industry. Winning these awards means that these companies are doing something right and we can all learn from that.”

A portion of the proceeds from award submissions goes to towards providing scholarships to women entering the automotive aftermarket industry.

During the virtual awards show, Women in Auto Care also honoured its recent Women of the Year awards recipients. The winners of the 2020 Women of the Year Awards are:

Auto Care Woman of the Year: Lauren Beaulieu, vice-president, professional marketing, Advance Auto Parts;
Auto Care Woman of Excellence: Danielle Sonnefeld, vice-president, business development, N.A. Williams Company;
Female Shop Owner of the Year: Kim Auernheimer, owner and business manager, Cool Springs Automotive, LLC (dba CS Automotive)

“The Women of the Year Awards honour three female leaders who have made a significant contribution in the auto care community,” said Olivia Newton, chair, Women in Auto Care. “This year we are thrilled to recognize our outstanding winners in a new digital format as we continue to showcase the tremendous impact women are making in our industry.”

In 2020, Women in Auto Care awarded more than $100,000 in cash scholarships and tools to young women in the industry. Haley Kowalczsyk is this year’s recipient of the Women in Auto Care Grand Prize Scholarship.

Haley Kowalczsyk is this year’s recipient of the Women in Auto Care Grand Prize Scholarship.

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS CATEGORIES & WINNERS

Category	Company	Submission
Best Ad Campaign to Distribution/ Retail Audience	Continental	Continental Autodiagnos Ad Campaign
Best Ad Campaign to Technician/Repair Audience	DRiV, Inc.	Walker Way Campaign
Best ad (to either distribution/ retail or technician/ repair audience)	Raybestos	Ultimate Stopping Power Ad
Training Communications	DRiV, Inc.	Garage Gurus Mobile Automotive Training Center
Article/ Blog/ Content Piece – Technical	DRiV, Inc.	Monroe Conversion Kit Servicegram
Article/ Blog/ Content Piece – General Market/Special Interest	EasyCare	EasyCare Dealer Blog
Newsletter	DRiV, Inc.	Customer Specific Monthly Newsletters
Logo Design/ Usage	GWC	GWC Logo
Website	ADVICS/ MBE Group	ADVICS Website
Promotional goods, gear, marketing collateral	Snap-On Tools/ Traction Factory	Tiny Ratchet
Special Promotion and/or Promotional Event	NAPA AutoCare	NAPA AutoCare Virtual Conference
Trade Show Booth	Brake Parts Inc/ Raybestos	Brake Parts Inc AAPEX Booth
Best App for Mobile Device	KYB	3 Minute Mile Road Test App
Use of video – Technical	DRiV, Inc.	Fel-Pro PermaDryPlus Technology Animation
Use of Video – General Market/Special Interest	Snap-On Tools/ Traction Factory	Kick-Off Anthem
Best 360-degree marketing campaign	DRiV, Inc.	MOOG Problem Solver Technologies Campaign
BUSINESS-TO-CONSUMER CATEGORIES & WINNERS
Category	Company	Submission
Television Commercial(s)	AutoNetTV Media, Inc	TV Commercial Templates
Print ad	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Fleet Ad
Digital Display Ad	AutoNetTV Media, Inc.	Digital Display Ads
Direct Mail Piece, Brochure, Booklets, Handout	AutoNetTV Media, Inc.	Evergreen Car Care Brochure
Article/ Blog/ Content Piece	DRiV, Inc.	Wagner Brake Pad Buying Guide
Video	Topel’s Service Center	In This Together
Repair facility/ Store customer promotion	NAPA AutoCare	First Responders Oil Change Offer
Consumer/ Community event	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Keys to Progress
Best billboard	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Red Door
Website	DRiV, Inc.	All-New Garagegurus.tech Site and LMS System
Website (specifically for independent repair shops)	NAPA AutoCare	NAPA AutoCare Website for Consumers
Social Media Campaign	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Tech of the Year
Social media campaign (specifically for independent repair shops)	Robert Bosch LLC	Social Media Campaign for Independent Repair Shops
Media Outreach to Non-English Speaking Audiences	Bosch + Bailey Lauerman	No Rain Checks Wiper Campaign
Radio or podcast	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Reconnect Radio
Outreach to female audience	Ziebart International Corporation	Z-Moms Campaign
Co-op advertising (repair shop partnered with manufacturer/ distributor to market)	Pep Boys Marketing Team	Summer Road Trip Campaign
Merchandising (point of purchase, displays, on/off shelf merchandising)	NAPA AutoCare	NAPA Believes in ALL Heroes Shirts
Best 360 Degree Marketing Campaign	Bosch + Bailey Lauerman	No Rain Checks Wiper Campaign