In honor of Women’s History Month, NJ CAR highlighted some of the diversity that can be found in New Jersey’s franchised auto retailing industry. Below are Q&As and videos highlighting several women in our industry.
Mindy Holman
Holman Auto Group
How long has your dealership been in business?
This year, Holman is celebrating its centennial anniversary. My grandfather, Steward Holman, opened his first dealership 100 years ago — Rice and Holman Ford in Merchantville, New Jersey.
How many employees currently work at your dealerships?
Holman currently employs nearly 9,500 individuals around the globe, including 800 across its family of dealerships in New Jersey.
How did you first become involved in the industry?
I joined the organization in 1986 as a management trainee and then served in various capacities in our dealerships, including General Manager, before becoming Vice President of Holman in 1994. I later served as President and then Chief Executive Officer of Holman before becoming the Board Chair in 2015.
Is there an event when your presence as a female entrepreneur in the auto retail industry influenced younger generations to shop at your dealership or join the industry?
Our entire organization is proud to be a WBE-certified business by WBENC. Being certified as a woman-owned business is a reflection of the significant role women throughout our organization have played — and continue to play — in Holman’s sustained growth and success.
What is your pioneering vision for the future of your dealership?
Our purpose as an organization is simple yet very important: provide a rewarding career for all; a better life for our employees and their families; and a great experience for our customers. Our commitment to this purpose shapes our culture and guides our business as we embark on our second century in business.
What would you say to other women who haven’t considered a career in automotive retailing?
The integral role women play across the automotive industry has certainly come to the forefront during the last several years. Today, many organizations (including Holman) have created robust programs that focus on empowering and inspiring women. As the industry continues to thrive and evolve, it is creating new opportunities for women, and I’m proud to see a growing number of women joining our traditionally male-dominated industry. My sincere hope is that business leaders across the automotive sector build upon this momentum and continue to create opportunities for women to flourish and make meaningful contributions to the future of our remarkable industry.
Judith Schumacher-Tilton
Schumacher Automotive Group
Click the link to learn more about Judy.
Marcy Maguire
Windsor Nissan
How long has your dealership been in business?
I bought Windsor Nissan in 2000, but my experience in the automotive retail industry goes back more than 40 years when I was involved in the family Chevrolet dealership.
How did you first become involved in the industry?
I started in the F&I department of the family Chevrolet dealership in the 80s, where I obtained my insurance license. In 1989, Saturn was a new brand in which I invested, building my first store in 1991 and a second in 1993.
The automotive retail industry has gone through enormous changes over the last forty years, including the introduction of new brands, the closing of some brands, bankruptcies, bailouts, COVID-19, supply chain issues, and more.
The industry is resilient and 100% focused on serving our customers.
Is there an event when your presence as a female entrepreneur in the auto retail industry influenced younger generations to shop at your dealership or join the industry?
The industry has been male-dominated since the first automobile was invented, but more and more women are assuming roles in all parts of the dealership, from sales to general managers and service technicians to dealership owners. Women make the majority of automotive purchase decisions. I think they truly appreciate seeing other women throughout the dealership.
What is your pioneering vision for the future of your dealership?
What I love about our industry is that it involves so many unique business operations under one roof: new cars, used cars, finance and insurance, service, parts, body shop, advertising, marketing, human resources, community relations, and political outreach. You are constantly learning something new, and you are never bored.
What would you say to other women who haven’t considered a career in automotive retailing?
Every woman, especially a woman with ambition, can find a place to shine in the automotive retail industry. Wherever your talents and interests lie, there is a rewarding career that awaits you.
Veronica Maoli
Celebrity Ford of Toms River
Click the link to learn more about Veronica.
Beth Beans Gilbert
Fred Beans Automotive Group
How long have your dealerships been in business?
The dealerships have been in the business since 1975.
How many employees currently work at your dealerships?
We have 1,910 employees across our 27 locations.
How did you first become involved in the industry?
When I was 12 years old, I spent the summer helping my father in his dealerships. I enjoyed watching him work and was inspired by the passion he had for this business. When that summer ended, I wrote him a letter saying I wanted to be a top dealer just like him. My father saved that letter, and he still has it displayed in our management office.
After graduating college, I worked in Florida and Virginia dealerships and then attended the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Academy. When I returned to the Northeast, I joined the family business, starting at our paint and body shop in Doylestown, which is still part of the Fred Beans Automotive Group. I moved around to learn as much as I could, working in different operations and in just about every department. I eventually took on general manager roles at a Mitsubishi and two Saturn dealerships.
These experiences gave me confidence as I moved into my current position in 1997 as Vice President of the Fred Beans Automotive Group. In this role, I work to create programs and processes that guide our commitment to treat employees, customers, and community members as extensions of the Beans family.
Is there an event when your presence as a female entrepreneur in the auto dealership industry influenced younger generations to shop at your dealership or join the industry?
I was honored last year to receive the “Barbara Cox Anderson Woman of the Year Award.” That afforded me the opportunity to speak at the NADA Show about my experiences in automotive and to publicly encourage more females to join me in this industry. Among the attendees was a Northwood University student studying automotive aftermarket management, who I had the honor of presenting with the Barbara Cox Memorial Scholarship.
For every young person who sees a future in automotive, I know there are many more who do not even consider automotive as an option. At Fred Beans, we have worked to highlight the important roles women can — and do — play in our industry. One way we do this is by celebrating the “Women of Beans” on our social media channels each day during March’s Women’s History Month. We feature their roles and how their vast contributions make it “Better at Beans.”
What is your pioneering vision for the future of your dealership?
This industry is not known for being flexible and family-friendly, but it doesn’t mean we can’t change. I am determined to have the Fred Beans Automotive Group lead the way in creating that change. Just last year, we introduced new and enhanced employee benefits that support a better work and personal life balance. We now have paid parental leave, which benefits both mothers and fathers. It’s something I have personally advocated for based on my own experiences.
We’ve also increased PTO and bereavement days and offered paid time off for volunteering.
I’d like Fred Beans Automotive Group to be the type of organization kids in our community dream of joining. I want my general managers’ daughters to want to work in automotive. I want to see their moms and dads succeed here, be happy here, and want to follow in their footsteps.
What would you say to other women who haven’t considered a career in automotive retailing?
We need more women in automotive! You can have a meaningful influence and grow a career with us. Automobiles are designed for and sold to a diverse population. So, we need people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences designing, selling, and servicing cars for ALL buyers. There are also many roles for women outside of sales and service, including marketing, human resources, accounting, and even wellness. In fact, Fred Beans Automotive Group has a dedicated wellness coordinator to support employees’ mental and physical health.
Emily Campbell
Campbell Supply Company
How long has your dealership been in business?
Campbell Supply Company was founded in 1967 by my grandfather Whitman (Woody) and started in a small family home in Edison, New Jersey, selling fire apparatus. Since then, we have grown into a third-generation company with seven locations representing multiple product lines, including Freightliner, Western Star, Isuzu, and Spartan ERV.
How did you first become involved in the industry?
I grew up in the industry, starting from a very young age sweeping floors, landscaping, assisting with office tasks, and eventually working in the parts warehouse during the summers off from school. During high school and college, I continued to work in the business on a more regular basis, eventually moving to the Accounting Department after graduating from Rutgers.
Is there an event when your presence as a female entrepreneur in the auto dealership industry influenced younger generations to shop at your dealership or join the industry?
As a young female in a commercial truck dealership, I am always looking for opportunities to engage with our industry to drive increased awareness and engagement from younger generations, including females who may not know how great the trucking industry can be.
What is your pioneering vision for the future of your dealership?
I want to continually elevate our customer and employee experience through innovation and engagement. With more aggressive emission laws and regulations being enacted, our customers are entering a time of financial uncertainty. My vision for Campbell is to ensure that we are always working towards a better future for our customers, as well as our employees.
What would you say to other women who haven’t considered a career in auto retailing?
I would start by mentioning that women who have ventured into this industry often find themselves embracing and thriving in its challenges and opportunities. With significant growth and potential, it offers a dynamic and rewarding career path. I encourage all women to explore the possibilities within the trucking industry, where they can contribute their skills, drive, and passion to make a meaningful impact since trucking is such a critical part of the U.S. economy.
How did you get to be the Controller, and what does that mean exactly?
Campbell Supply is proud to be a family-owned dealership that will soon be a third-generation business with myself and my two brothers. We have expanded over the years, increasing our footprint across New Jersey and the surrounding areas to better service our customers.
“Female” and “trucking industry” are words that don’t immediately come to mind as a combination. I have been working at Campbell Supply for as long as I can remember and have worked in multiple departments and positions throughout the years. I currently hold the position of Controller of our Raritan Center location, which includes overseeing accounting and financial reporting as well as ensuring compliance with financial regulations, monitoring cash flow, and analyzing financial data to guide strategic decisions. I collaborate with our teams to optimize the company’s profitability and operational efficiency by maintaining accurate financial records and implementing effective financial controls.
Have you been able to implement any changes/programs/etc. to support your vision of the future of trucking or your company?
Within Campbell, I work closely with our executive team to implement new strategies and processes that will drive growth in our organization. I initiated Campbell Supply’s commitment to the Woman in Trucking Association allowing for more engagement with women within our industry as well as ensuring Campbell Supply remains a foundational piece of the New Jersey trucking industry. In 2023, I graduated from the intensive, six-week American Truck Dealers academy course offered through NADA, which provided me with valuable information and material to further the success of Campbell Supply.
I am looking forward to leading Campbell Supply with my two brothers, Spencer and Mason, and continuing the success for both our organization and our customers.
