AAA-The Auto Club Group Hosts Young Women Multicultural Forum

DEARBORN, Mich., (May 9, 2024) — AAA-The Auto Club Group (ACG) recently hosted the inaugural Young Women Multicultural Student Enrichment Forum at their Dearborn headquarters. Several female leaders from AAA and other local organizations were on hand to connect with local high school students to inspire and prepare them for life beyond high school.

“Programs like this are imperative so that young female students can see leaders that look like them,” said Gabrial Saddler, Corporate Social Responsibility Program Manager, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Our forum was designed so that not only can these young ladies see women who are succeeding and thriving in the workforce, but they can interact with and learn from them.”

The event was designed by ACG’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with the mission to connect students with local professionals and leaders to inspire career confidence and increase readiness for life beyond high school graduation. This year, 60 female students from Cody High School, Fordson High School and River Rouge High School participated in a half day of activities, including panel discussions and a ‘Career Fair’ style session.

“We had such an amazing day at the Young Women Enrichment Forum. There were so many smart, enthusiastic, and inquisitive young women who were eager for encouragement and sound advice,” said Nicole Whitlow, Vice President Casualty Claims, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “As a panelist for the Money Management Matters session, I advised them that making wise decisions about money will provide them with options and freedoms that historically have been out of reach for many young women.”

Career and panel discussions included:

·       Money Management Matters – Recognizing the importance of financial knowledge in navigating the complexities of adulthood, this session served as a crash course in budgeting, saving, and understanding basic financial concepts.

·       Pathways to Career Success – This session plunged into strategies for building self-assurance, setting career goals, and overcoming potential challenges that may hinder professional growth.

·       The Career Connections Hub – Taking the similar feel of a career fair, this session allowed students to freely walk from table to table to chat with AAA employees and learn more about different career paths that they can consider for themselves.

Featured panelists included:

·       Shohreh Abedi – EVP Chief Operations Officer | Chief Technology Officer | Chief Information Officer at AAA-The Auto Club Group

·       Megan Williams – Chief Human Resources Officer at AAA -The Auto Club Group

·       Nicole Whitlow – Vice President, Casualty Claims at AAA - The Auto Club Group

·       Peggy Scheske – Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis at AAA - The Auto Club Group