User talk:Audra Fordin

Sometimes she mistakes a little motor oil for blush. Sometimes you’ll catch her hoisting a 600-pound engine out of a Chevy or changing the oil on a Honda. It's not every day that you hear about a woman who owns her own auto shop, finds time to be under the hood and makes it her mission to empower generations of women. No, it's not every day that you meet a woman like Audra Fordin.

Over the last few years, you could find Audra hosting her "Women Auto Know" segment on Verizon Fios1 television show “Push, Pause”. She's an expert panelist on New York radio’s The Auto Lab." Her voice can be heard around the world streaming on the internet, and she earned the New York City Small Business Of The Year award for 2011.  Audra’s been called The Rising Star of Queens, and for good reason.  She is the first recipient Female Auto Shop Owner of The Nation for 2011.  Somehow, Audra found the time to be a Girl Scout Troop Leader for the past 6 years, while earning award after award for her service to her community and women from the west coast, to the east coast of the United States.  We should probably mention that she's happily married to Ed for 14 years and mom to Samantha, Olivia and Andrew.

So, when was the last time you dropped off your car for service and found a woman ready to get the job done? It's very rare indeed. In fact, as of 2009, there were over 799,000 service technicians and mechanics in the United States. Only 9500 of those people were woman mechanics. How did Audra become one of the few? You have to go back about 79 years to understand where Audra came from.

Audra’s Great Grandfather founded Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop back in 1933 with his 4 sons. Over time, Great Bear became one of America’s leading auto repair franchise groups. Thousands of vehicles were serviced by the Fordin family and the growing chain of franchises, while Great Bear maintained a level of quality service that was second to none.

When 1980 rolled around, Audra was still in grammar school, but that didn’t stop her from working with her Grand Father and her father at Great Bear. She quickly learned the lingo, fell in love with the cars, and after thirteen years of hands on experience began her college education in 1993. By the year 2000, Audra’s father passed her the keys to the shop, and that’s when the wheels really began to turn. Very quickly Audra grew the size of her shop by three times! She honed in on a market that was tapped before, but for all the wrong reasons. Audra’s targeted women, and her motive was to empower them with the knowledge necessary to enter an auto shop with confidence. She offered them a level of confidence in their automotive knowhow that could protect them from being taken advantage of by a very rough industry.

Then, there was the game changer…2001. 2001 was a rough year for everyone, and the auto industry was not spared. In fact, the auto industry suffered for years to come. People were putting off servicing their vehicles, and Great Bear felt the hit. Audra knew that if people were educated about Great Bear’s foundation, which was built on honesty and integrity, they would come. She also had this little idea in her head that women could do anything a man could do under the hood of a vehicle. From the ashes of a dying automotive industry came “What Women AUTO Know.”

The Empowering Begins By 2008, Audra had an undying passion for teaching. She knew that the perspectives of women could be changed, because Audra was doing it. Her workshops were attracting thousands of attendees and the media praised her seminars. Emails from around the country were streaming in from women who were touched or enlightened in some way by Audra’s drive. By 2010, Audra hit the airwaves and web. The Women Auto Know mission was transformed into a digital revolution, and she was soon a hometown hero. Her YouTube videos have received many positive reviews, and have pulled in thousands of viewers. Her “Women Auto Know” Iphone Application has been downloaded and loved by parents sending their children off to college with a car… and Audra in their pocket. Hordes of drivers have downloaded the app, looking for a place to store all their important vehicle information. Not to mention, you can hear common sounds cars make, and access an endless amount of info that’ll help keep you on the road safe and financially sound!

The Product Line Have you ever been in a sticky situation with your vehicle, and wanted quick info that was easy to understand? In 2012, Audra met the challenge with the launch of her “Glove Box Guide.” It’s an easy read full of humor and basics that can save you thousands of dollars and hundreds of headaches. Her DVD turns your living room into a fun, and informative automotive classroom. Audra’s all new “A-Tire” accessory line utilizes recycled tires, to create belts and leashes that are already garnering praise in the fashion community. The line has also created jobs, by putting the manufacturing of “A-Tire” into the hands of mainstream people with disabilities, Girl Scouts and Veterans.

Anderson Cooper The only move left, would be national television. As of March 2012, this too became a reality. Anderson Cooper took notice of this model citizen and strong entrepreneur. Yes, that Anderson Cooper. Audra taped for two days with Cooper’s staff and production team at Great Bear Auto and on the set of “Anderson.” Anderson’s ratings have been growing fast, which made it an ample time for Audra to shine on air. The episode sent Audra’s website to new visitor heights.

Charity WHAT WOMEN AUTO KNOW INC. (WAK) is a not-for-profit organization conceptualized in 2007 and formally incorporated and founded in 2011. WWAK provides automotive education and resources that empower women of all ages, to be safe, confident and knowledgeable consumers, drivers and passengers! With the goal for women to be masters of their personal automotive universe, Audra has her work set out for her. WAK also seeks to make drivers aware and more environmentally focused and green conscious through education on emerging technologies and re-use of those products inherent to the industry that has a negative effect on our environment.

What Women Auto Know goes beyond the female market with her adaptation of all materials to What “Drivers Auto Know” to engage the male dominated industry, and to take in to account that all drivers need more knowledge about the use, maintenance and safety in driving.

Earlier this year, Audra began taking recycled tires and turning them into fashion accessories with her belt and leash program. She works with not for profits that employ people with disabilities to make her products and is currently setting up a similar program with Veterans.

Proceeds of Audra’s guide, as well as all of Audra’s products go to education and environmental programs, as well as support of people with disabilities.

Audra Fordin (talk) 18:50, 17 October 2012 (UTC)