Women in Auto: Marsha McCombs Shields
Marsha McCombs Shields claims she was born into the automotive sector as the daughter of San Antonio automobile magnate Crimson McCombs, and just by natural means gravitated toward a profession pursuing in her father’s footsteps.
She suggests she’s labored in pretty much every single position in an auto dealership apart from for support technician, a career she reported she’s satisfied to depart to the extremely-qualified tech industry experts.
Nowadays, she’s seller principal of her family’s San Antonio dealerships, a situation she’s held considering the fact that 2002.
All those dealerships consist of Pink McCombs Hyundai Northwest, McCombs Ford West, Purple McCombs Northwest Genesis, Purple McCombs Toyota, Purple McCombs Superior Hyundai, Universal Toyota, and Crimson McCombs Ford. “I lead our family’s investments in the automotive industry and am dependable for small business progress, operations, [manufacturer] relations, vehicle engineering investments, and all facets of the company,” she stated.
And she easily acknowledges that the car organization is in her blood.
“I actually grew up in the dealerships,” she said. “Family dinner dialogue subject areas normally centered on happenings in the dealership that day, plans for marketing campaigns, new types, shoppers, and entertaining tales about various car salesmen.
“I have several early, fond memories of likely to do the job with my father on Saturdays and investing the day there, at age 5 and older,” she reported.
And immediately after doing the job in autos considering that the late 1970s, she reported she does consider that the field delivers great professions for girls in a wide variety of positions.
Beneath are Shields’ solutions to some issues from the Express-News about her task in the automobile field.
Q.: You certainly had your option of occupations. Why did you select the vehicle field?
A.: Soon after college or university, I was a large university trainer for 2-½ many years. The vehicle small business was actually a man’s planet in the late ’70s, and I experienced not critically considered functioning there right until shelling out time and hard work doing the job in other work opportunities.
A person working day I understood I would somewhat be functioning at a dealership than teaching, and at the time all over again I knew just the man or woman who could assist make that transpire. The interview approach was small and sweet. My father was thrilled that I needed to provide autos.
Q.: How did you get your initially job in the market?
A.: I realized the manager (and obtained a great recommendation!), and he gave me the chance to do [on-the-job] teaching and to discover from everybody in the dealerships.
Q.: Is your recent work your first in the field, or have you had other roles?
A.: I have worked at a dealership switchboard, cleaned elements bins, swept floors, bought cars and trucks, briefly been a service advisor, ordered stock, contracted and finalized specials in finance, and performed most of the employment in a dealership.
I have not accomplished upkeep or technical work on vehicles, so our consumers can be self-assured that only remarkably trained techs will be operating on their cars. I have also worked on the buy/offer method for obtaining and promoting dealerships.
My most important career is to locate and hire the very best and the brightest men and women readily available, and to surround myself with persons of high integrity and character who share our spouse and children values and company eyesight, who have a willingness to learn and to mentor some others, and who contribute to the achievements of our organization.
Q.: What’s your in general watch so considerably of operating in the vehicle industry? Is it what you imagined it to be?
A.: The vehicle sector is a lot more exciting and much more enjoyable than most other perform options I have experienced. I highly advise it for anyone taking into consideration a new position place. There are several chances for teaching, mentoring, improvement, and occupation pleasure, as perfectly as for earning superb payment.
Q.: What other car sector positions would you be interested in?
At the minute, my arms are comprehensive. So rather of in search of other vehicle market employment, I want to concentrate on understanding new and improved techniques to attain my daily duties and on organizing for the future.
Q.: What is your typical day like at function?
A.: I’m an early riser. My day starts with time studying the Bible and praying, doing exercises, and acquiring ready to go away the residence. As soon as at function, in addition to the normal plan of meetings and daily jobs, the tyranny of the urgent frequently establishes my working day.
Every single day is new and unique. Just as we all encounter unanticipated and mundane every day jobs, the similar is real in the car organization.
Q.: Have you professional any unique troubles as a girl performing in a generally male-dominated marketplace?
A.: I entered the automotive business in the late ’70s. It was a male bastion, and a bit like the Wild West. Bodily fights from time to time identified which salesman acquired to support a buyer. Becoming the boss’ daughter added to the skepticism I encountered as a woman.
But doing work tough, learning swiftly, and proving I could do the career, regardless of what it was, generally transformed the minds of my critics, and I identified acceptance in the office.
More than the decades, dealership workplaces have come to be much more skilled, ladies are often our top performers, and all people will work as a staff.
Q.: What assistance to you have for other females who may well be contemplating professions in the automobile sector?
A.: The automobile industry is a wonderful place for women to get the job done. Women usually outperform and out-get paid their male co-staff. There is on-website education for practically every single job in the dealership. Customers often want to perform with feminine workers because they bring an interest to element, an superb skill to hear, and a tough-doing the job way of thinking to enable the clients.
We involve everyone to be skilled in demeanor and action, and to respect each our clients and all co-staff. There is some versatility in work hours. There is good possibility to earn dollars.
We choose to educate and mentor our co-workers so that we can promote from in our individual team. And we have exciting performing jointly.
Any one wanting for a likely job alter or even a spot to get started need to severely think about operating in the car business.
Q.: Would you recommend a placement like yours to other gals, or what positions may you advise?
A.: I really advise doing work in a dealership, in any position that retains interest for somebody trying to get a career placement.
