By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Shawna Bacon, senior executive support at Oracle Lighting, as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.
Bacon was nominated by Oracle Lighting CEO Tiffanie Hartenstein. Get to know Bacon through Hartenstein's interview with SEMA News below.
SEMA News: How has Shawna contributed to her company?
Tiffanie Hartenstein: Shawna has been a cornerstone of operational excellence in our organization. As a senior executive support professional, she works closely with multiple high-level executives, ensuring they operate at peak efficiency. From coordinating complex travel schedules to managing sensitive communications and streamlining executive workflows, Shawna's contributions go far beyond administrative tasks--she is a strategic partner who keeps the leadership team functioning smoothly. Her ability to anticipate needs and solve problems before they arise makes her indispensable to the company's daily success.
SN: How has Shawna shown leadership in the industry or business?
TH: Shawna's leadership is defined not by a title, but by her proactive involvement, influence and commitment to the growth of others. In addition to mentoring junior support staff and sharing best practices internally, she actively contributes to the broader automotive aftermarket community through volunteer work on multiple SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) committees. Her participation helps shape initiatives that support and elevate women in the industry. She also attends the Women's Leadership Forum (WLF), where she engages in professional development, brings back valuable insights and shares them with her colleagues to help foster growth across the team. Whether she's improving internal workflows or championing industry-wide collaboration, Shawna leads with purpose and impact.
SN: Tell us a success story that you can share about Shawna.
TH: During one of the busiest times of the year, multiple team members unexpectedly left the company, creating significant operational gaps across executive support. Without hesitation, Shawna stepped in to take on additional responsibilities, supporting not only her own executives but also covering for others to ensure continuity and minimize disruption. She quickly familiarized herself with new systems, re-prioritized workloads and maintained clear communication with all stakeholders. Her ability to adapt, stay composed under pressure and keep everything running smoothly was a major reason the team remained effective during a challenging period. Shawna's initiative and resilience turned a potential setback into a testament of her reliability and leadership.
SN: How many years has Shawna been in the industry?
TH: More than three years.
SN: What quality do you admire most about Shawna and why?
TH: Shawna's most admirable quality is her reliability. In an industry that moves fast and demands precision, she is the person everyone trusts to follow through, no matter the circumstances. Whether she's juggling multiple executive priorities or stepping in to assist during a staffing gap, Shawna shows up fully and consistently.
SN: Why do you think Shawna is a role model in the industry?
TH: Shawna is a role model because she exemplifies what it means to lead from any seat. In an industry often focused on technical or executive roles, she demonstrates that operational excellence, empathy and behind-the-scenes leadership are just as critical to success. She elevates those around her, drives standards higher and does so with humility and grace. Her work may not always be in the spotlight, but her impact is undeniable, and it's leaders like Shawna who quietly build the foundation of industry success.
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.
