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Follow on Google News | Female Mechanic and Repair Shop Owner Audra Fordin Nominated for New Yorker of the WeekCommunity workshops helped this auto shop owner quadruple her business. Now she wants to help other auto shops accomplish the same thing.
By: Women Auto Know Audra Fordin is the fourth generation owner of her family auto shop. She bought the business from her dad when he retired in 1998. The transition was smooth at first... but then came the Great Recession of 2008. "When I road-test cars, I drive past customers' houses," said Fordin. "I remember seeing a lot more cars parked in the driveway than usual. Later, I realized that's because they were out of work." Women Auto Know was born during this difficult time. Audra was searching for a way to drive more women to her shop. She hosted an auto awareness workshop and provided women with free repairs. A lot of people think women aren't interested in cars. "I don't believe that's true," said Fordin. "They just haven't been provided with an opportunity to learn – and I'm glad to fill that gap in New York City." More than 1,300 women have attended Audra's workshops so far. As a result of her efforts, Great Bear's revenue has quadrupled over the last seven years. Now Audra wants to help other auto shops accomplish the same thing. She is preparing a training & certification program called person-to-person advisor (PPA) that is perfect for mechanics, auto shops, and trade schools. The tentative launch date is August 20. Audra hopes PPA's will help drivers be more informed of what it takes to keep a car in good condition. She believes drivers need to be accountable and responsible. Their safety and well-being count on it. "A lot of drivers depend on their dad or an older relative for this stuff," Fordin said. "This doesn't work anymore. Technology has advanced so much that you need a trained professional for most repairs. That's where the PPA comes in." Audra's story will be published at www.ny1.com next week. On Friday 07/22, there will also be an interview at 9:30 p.m. on their Twitter page (@ny1thecall) End
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