By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Malerie Pike, marketing manager at Skyjacker Suspensions, as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.
Pike was nominated by her peer, Ashtin Smart. Get to know Pike through Smart’s interview with SEMA News below.
SEMA News: How has Malerie contributed to Skyjacker Suspensions?
Ashtin Smart: Malerie has done a multitude of things in her six-and-a-half years at Skyjacker Suspensions. She has grown from accounts receivable all the way to marketing director because of her work ethic, new ideas and go-get-it personality. She has organized new product launches, numerous work events, marketing materials and several excellent SEMA booth displays, just to name a few. She not only excels in the office, but she thrives on the off-road trails. Whether it's making connections with industry partners or driving a Jeep on the trails, she does it all.
SN: How has Malerie shown leadership in the industry or business?
AS: Malerie shows leadership every single day at Skyjacker Suspensions. The most recent display of her leadership was Skyjacker's 50-year anniversary SEMA Show booth. This booth is larger than life and brought all 50 years of Skyjacker's history into a 30'-by-50' space. You can walk through and see from the very beginning to the current day, complete with photos, stories and actual products mounted onto the walls. This was a huge undertaking that took roughly two years to prepare. Malerie coordinated our team with excellence.
SN: Tell us a success story that you can share about Malerie.
AS: Malerie and I have planned multiple Skyjacker events, including Christmas parties, SEMA Show booth displays, hosting industry partners and off-road events. The most recent being a 50th anniversary dinner celebration in Moab, Utah, during Easter Jeep Safari. This dinner included roughly 100 of Skyjacker's closest friends and industry partners. At the dinner we had loads of food, fun and goody bags. This dinner was extremely successful and a memorable event for everyone.
SN: How many years has Malerie been in the industry?
AS: Five to 10 years.
SN: What quality do you admire most about Malerie and why?
AS: I admire Malerie's hard work ethic most of all. Being directly under Malerie as the marketing manager and sharing an office with her, I have been able to witness her drive and love for this industry daily. Since we are both third generation here at Skyjacker, it takes working hard to a whole new meaning. She takes every day with passion and endurance, truly taking advantage of every minute and opportunity. Because of Malerie's work ethic, Skyjacker has continued to grow and succeed.
SN: Why do you think Malerie is a role model in the industry?
AS: Malerie is a role model in this industry because she will fight to the very end for the best of Skyjacker. She is passionate, driven, determined and strives for excellence in every area. She wants to help the company grow and succeed and in this day and age that quality is very rare. It is also a challenge to be a woman in the off-road industry, and this has never been a disadvantage for her. She can roll with the men just as well as anyone.
Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the sema.org/she-is-sema website.