Fixed Ops Journal - August 2022 - F11

AMANDA MITCHELL
A
manda Mitchell's fi rst exposure to
working at a dealership was as a
temporary receptionist for Mercedes-Benz
of Houston North
in 2012. Th rough that small
glimpse, Mitchell saw there was " success to be
made in this industry. I could see a ladder and
I wanted to climb it, " she says.
She began her climb that year at the Texas
dealership, getting hired as a full-time service
cashier. She parlayed that into a job as an express
service adviser in 2015, then as a warranty
booker and eventually a service adviser.
After a short stop at a Mercedes dealership in
San Antonio, she joined Mercedes-Benz of
Boerne in 2015. Two years later, she was
named service manager, a position she still
holds.
" I've always wanted to learn, " she says. " I always
try to be the most knowledgeable person
who can help our clients and continue growing
myself and continue moving up. "
Mitchell says she always felt comfortable in
the service department but admits there is " a
certain ... challenge to it. " Some male technicians
felt they knew more than she did and
weren't accepting her way of doing things.
When she got pushback, she let
the technicians know she was
on their side, yet there were limits.
Th at helped earn their respect.
from
infl uencers such as Laurie
Halter, who hosts a podcast
called Carearing. She also networks
on LinkedIn, discovering
" I would try to tell them, 'I've
been through this, too,' " she
says.
She said she tries to lead by
example and create a team atmosphere.
If the bays are full,
" I'm getting out there, writing
customer tickets, wiping cars
down, whatever I have to do to
help the team, " she says. Th at's how people
will follow you and " want to do what you do. "
To recruit more women into service, she
says it's a good idea to send female advisers
and technicians to schools, campuses and career
days. She also serves on fi xed ops conference
panels about women in service " to get
the word out there that there are jobs and it's a
good place to work. "
To better understand the issues facing women
in the service sector, she participates in the
Women Automotive Summit, an online platform
for women to discuss, learn and collaborate
with other women in the industry. She
looks to social media for support and to learn
" positive women " who have
overcome some of the same
hurdles.
" I look up to other women
who have been down the same
path as I have and will turn to
them when I need advice for
overcoming challenges, " she
says.
Mitchell advises women considering
a career in fi xed ops to research a
company that will be a good one to work at
" and just get out and do it. " She admits it was
somewhat intimidating entering such a
male-dominated industry but says there are
plenty of opportunities for women and many
have successfully climbed the ladder.
" We have female general managers now and
female service directors and technicians, " she
says.
Women on the service drive are needed
more than ever, Mitchell says.
" We just need to get the word out there, " she
says, " and just let people know it's not scary. "
- Julie Halpert
AUGUST 2022 PAGE 11
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Fixed Ops Journal - August 2022

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