More women have emerged in the retail automotive industry in recent years and one woman in Nevada is truly making a name for herself as Findlay Automotive Group’s first female General Manager. We’re pleased to welcome Melisa Eichbauer, general manager at Findlay Volkswagen Henderson.
By her own admission, Melisa sort of fell into the industry after taking a gap year from her college studies in criminal justice. She began on the sales floor as so many managers do, and after going through various levels of management, she became the general sales manager of a large Chevy store. Then, Melisa’s career came full-circle when she landed the general manager position at Findlay Volkswagen Henderson, the same store where she started in sales. She took the helm about three years ago and has been enjoying the job ever since.
Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Melisa has been hard at work eliminating inefficiencies and redundancies in the dealership, which she calls ‘pandemic productivity.’ They ramped up their home delivery, digital retailing, and concierge services, and had stronger July sales year-over-year while still keeping every single staff member employed.
Melisa’s advice to women considering a career in automotive, “Don’t be afraid, don’t buy into the stereotype… find a mentor to help coach and guide you. Don’t let anyone treat you like you’re different, outwork everyone else, and keep seeking opportunities.”
Did you enjoy this interview with Findlay Automotive’s Melisa Eichbauer? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at jfitzpatrick@cbtnews.com.
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