I am so proud and excited to be one of 100 Automotive Female Journalists driving cross country to bring awareness to Breast Cancer.
The Founder,Christina Selter, has a great story and is a wonderful woman.
Join us along the way.... September 24th to October 2nd
Christina Selter Automotive Journalist, Spokesperson, Host>
Why did you create the “Drive Breast Cancer Awareness” event?I want to not only create awareness of this terrible disease I want to pay homage to those that have fought and lost. In our extended family we have experienced the pain that is brought on by breast cancer, Aunt Jean was the most difficult for me. My last day with her we spent time watching Joel Osteen. She was a Marine and was honored by President Clinton as one of the Top Female Business Owners. When Aunt Jean passed, I received a condolence letter from Hillary Clinton. I realized it wasn’t just our family who thought she was an amazing woman so did all the people she touched along the way including the Clintons. I want to be like her! (who do you want to be like?)
I found a way to combine my automotive expertise and with my concern for breast cancer awareness. I have found a new way to leverage my communications background and raise public awareness of breast cancer. I created “Drive Breast Cancer Awareness” event. Our first event in 2011 sponsored by (HerHighway) and Acura, Honda, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat were our vehicles partners. We were featured on morning TV news, we scheduled a police escort, firemen turned out in pink shirts and most of the big boys “automotive news publications” attended and covered the entire event.
What I was preaching hit home. The unspeakable happened my doctor said: “Christina you need emergency surgery you need a Capsulectomy”. The room emptied of oxygen, am I going to die, how was I going to tell my daughter, my husband, my mom? I drove home, prayed the entire way.
A week after our 2012 Drive Breast Cancer Awareness I am schedule for surgery.
What I expect from our event is that I want women to be empowered with knowledge that may help them through this experience:
- Get a second, even third opinion
- Do your self-exams
- Get mammograms
- Most importantly chose a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with
What is your current challenge at work? How is the event going this year?
Challenging to say the least. Four weeks before our event I learned all of our participant cars were not arriving as scheduled. This cascaded into loosing some of our sponsors. I wouldn’t go into the point about a phone call, don’t burn your bridges with sponsors.
So I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and started making calls.
We had to start over, well almost. I know there is a HERO or an ANGEL out there on their way to help they just got caught in traffic.
As a woman what features are your favorites in a car?
Performance, comfort, handling, even how a car sounds.
I grew up lusting for performance. My first car a 1973 Dodge Dart had 340 horsepower I got my first ticke and first accident in that car. It was built like a tank. It was a boy magnet especially when I would smoke the tires. My life lesson was that women with power win, in Drive Breast Cancer event, drive for knowledge.
Why does the auto industry seem like a difficult environment for females?
Automotive business started by men, men ran car companies. After WWII men needed work, economy was booming and service men were schooled in organizational structures that worked…for wars. This structure worked for many years, it also brought to market ‘cars for women’, without truly understanding that women have different concept of car features. Thankfully car companies have discovered one important fact: about 86% of buying decisions for all consumer goods are made by woman, they just let the men write the check (JK). Women are key to a successful automotive industry.
Why do you work in the auto industry?
I have always been fascinated by cars I wanted to be a race-car driver, I wasn’t the best, but what a thrill to be in a race. Today I do race and love every minute.
I was on a quest to learn everything about cars. I was licensed by Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) as a New USA Automotive Manufactures; meaning I could build cars affix VIN numbers and was the only women that held that license. I owned and operated a dealership and service facility, then decided to go back to driving. . Honestly can say writing about cars for women is my dream job.
What was your first automotive job?
My driveway with my dad when we rebuilt my ’73 Dodge Dart Sport’s motor, I cracked the engine block. I also learned what a low oil warning light means. Fairly certain my neighbors were not as happy about this learning experience as I was.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Creating the “Drive Breast Cancer Awareness” event, being honored as one of the “Most Influencial Women in Automotive” by Inforum Automotive Next and of course interviewing some of the most important women in automotive and social media along the way.
Dream job?
I have it cars, and meeting the most amazing women along the way. I find the experience being very rewarding to teach someone something about cars and see their eyes light.
What sports or activities did you enjoy in school or/and currently?
I spent spare time working with my church. I also love playing basketball. In high school was told I wasn’t pretty enough to be a cheerleader, but could be on the basketball team. I wasn’t very good at basketball so our team didn’t win much, but boy did I have fun, I didn’t care if I was good I loved being part of a team.
What you do to relax?
Put my feet up, relax and spend time at home with my husband, my dogs Betty and Princess and texting my daughter photos (who’s away getting her Masters Degree in advertising).
Who have you mentored, or/and did someone mentor you in this industry to help you get started?
My mission is to mentor as many women about automotive as I can.
I can list off the top of my head some amazing people that have helped me along the way in automotive; Anne Belec, Dan Johnston, Chris Barman and most recently Ann Tran best social media adviser to have she is amazing!
Personally I help everyone that will let me; recently received a nice thank you note from Jim Hamel who I have mentored for a few years.
I believe what I’m doing with “Drive Breast Cancer Awareness” is a mentoring job to anyone who will listen.
Learn more about Christina on Instagram: herhighway, Pinterest and follow Herhighway on twitter, facebook, G+, and YouTube
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