SEMA News—July 2018
By Denise Waddingham
SBN Brings Women to the Forefront of the Automotive Industry
#SheIsSEMA Spotlight: Jennifer LaFever
 SBN select-committee member Jennifer LaFever was recognized with the #SheIsSEMA Spotlight for being an inspiring woman in the automotive industry. | |
Members of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) are committed to providing networking, education, and recognition opportunities for professional women in the automotive specialty-equipment industry. Within the past two years, the SBN has developed new programs and events to bring more attention and awareness to women in the industry. Just this year, the network created a Facebook group dedicated to its Gear-Up Girl campaign, along with establishing a presence on Instagram.
The SBN’s She Is campaign was launched at the 2016 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet. That campaign features successful women in all facets of the automotive industry, showcasing what they do, how they landed their jobs, and how they continue to thrive in the predominately male industry. The campaign aims to bridge a gender gap and inspire the next generation of women.
Jennifer LaFever
One woman who inspires others is SBN select-committee member Jennifer LaFever. LaFever has been in the automotive industry for eight years. She received her B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis (UCD), along with a minor in managerial economics. She chose UCD after touring six different universities.
“UCD had it all: the major I wanted, a well-organized engineering department, a beautiful, easily accessible campus and, most of all, I felt something when I was on campus,” LaFever said.
Since graduating from UCD, LaFever has broken a glass ceiling in the automotive industry. She worked her way from an intern at Roush Yates Engines to the company’s quality manager, and now she serves as director of quality for NASCAR production at Roush Yates Engines. She stated that her passion for the industry grows each day.
“People are driven by more than money or success, but by their enthusiasm and being a part of a team,” she said.
Being a team player is an enormous strength of LaFever’s. Her accolades and involvement in bringing women to the forefront of the industry are beyond impressive. She has been a coach, volunteer and board member for many SEMA activities, including the SBN’s Women’s Mustang Build, the Gear-Up Girl program, and the SEMA Show student education program. In 2016, she created the SBN Membership Ambassador Program.
LaFever has also shared her expertise before dozens of audiences. She spoke at the SBN’s Café SEMA, South Carolina Auto Week, and New York International Auto Show. She served as a panelist at the PRI Trade Show seminar “Women in Motorsports,” and she presented at SEMA Central during the 2017 SEMA Show and at UTI Long Beach for the Female Mentorship Program.
LaFever said that she would advise other women in the industry to not fall to the temptation of tearing people down or being malicious.
“Too often, we fall victim to the desire to fit in, so we are cruel to others who need us,” she said. “Be a person that you look up to and admire.”
LaFever is definitely a woman to admire and respect in the automotive industry. SEMA, SBN, Roush Yates and every other organization in which she plays a part are lucky to have such a dedicated and inspiring woman on their team.
LaFever, along with the entire SBN select committee, has encouraged more involvement with members and is working to establish a foothold in social-media platforms to support women. With the SBN Instagram account up and running, the select committee would like all SEMA members to follow SBN @SBN_SEMA. Share the story of an inspiring SEMA-member woman, tag the SBN and include #SheIsSEMA on all relevant social-media posts.
SEMA-member women are welcome to join the new SBN Gear-Up Girl Facebook group and the conversation. It’s a private group that provides a safe place for women to ask career-oriented questions of other women in the industry. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.sema.org/sbn.