This discussion is in response to the men who just recently joined Women in the Auto Industry on dealerELITE.

Before opening this discussion, I first checked to see who originally initiated the group to find it was dealerELITE themselves.  Secondly, I pondered how I would have felt if there was a group titled "Men in the Auto Industry"....The Little Rascals' Women Haters Club came to mind...LOL.  However, I believe that dealerELITE's recognition of the fact that in the past women have been the minority in a male dominated industry and just for the past twenty years or so have taken giant strides in making a place for themselves is this rather esteemed and elite industry!  Something great that could come out of a group like this is mentorship.  I for one, as a 33 year veteran of the industry love to advocate young women engaging in a career as an automotive professional, and gladly offer them support in the way of knowledge drawn from years of experience, enthusiasm and counsel.

Honestly, this group was sort of idle prior to Sally's discussion regarding the post on the 10 Sexiest Women in Social Media.  It is my assumption that the men who jumped on board and joined the group, did so in support of our strong feelings that this was tasteless and brought us back 20 years or so before women were spotlighted for their actual merits and achievements.  Thank you gentlemen for supporting our stance...and I am certain I speak for many female automotive professionals in the industry.  We applaud you!