Shop-Ware Client Spotlight on Author, Educator and Leader

Spotlight on Amy Mattinat

Auto Craftsmen is an independent, award-winning auto repair service center in Montpelier, Vermont. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re shining the spotlight on this shop and its inspiring owner, Amy Mattinat!

Amy started out part-time as the bookkeeper more than 20 years ago. She moved up to running the front of the house full-time then continued her education by taking every class and workshop she could find on running an auto repair facility.

Auto Craftsmen is an ASE Blue Seal Repair Facility, an AAA-Approved Repair Center, BBB Accredited, and AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly!

It wasn’t long before Amy fell in love with the industry. She took a giant leap in 2009 and purchased the businessm then shop management software, and the rest is, shall we say, ‘herstory.’

Craftsmen Tire Technician, Scott Baker and Owner, Amy Mattinat rocking their Shop-Ware T-shirts!

Author of How to Buy A Great Used Car

Since then, Amy started teaching Women’s Car Care Clinics, penned the book, How to Buy A Great Used Car, and co-authored the book Whatever Happened to Outstanding Customer Service. She is heavily involved in the industry at large, having served as a past president of Women in Auto Care, and is a current member of SEMA, SBN, WiAC, and ASA. She strongly believes in giving back and has mentored many female shop owners.

We had the pleasure of talking with Amy and hearing about the woman who inspired her along with the barriers she had to break to become such an accomplished woman in the industry. Thank you for sharing your story, Amy!

SW: Who is your top, barrier-breaking female influencer?

AM: That would be my grandmother, Theresa Tucciarone Mattinat, one of 8 daughters of Italian immigrant parents. She grew up on a farm in Ohio. She had no formal education, but was a force to be reckoned with.

She owned her own women’s dress shop and later a dry cleaners with my grandfather, who was a tailor. She had a slight speech impediment, yet ran numerous boards and associations.

As a child she took me to many meetings and I was always amazed when she stood on the stage and everyone was quiet when she spoke. She told me, “Reach for the stars and never give up what you truly want.”

SW: What barriers did you overcome to leave your mark on the automotive industry?

AM: Structural barriers – lack of knowledge and access to important formal and informal industry-related networks, associations, and groups.

Being a woman shop owner can be a very isolating lifestyle. You can be so busy working “in” your shop, that you have no extra time to get involved with other shop owners and find other women who work in the aftermarket.

I feel that when I immersed myself in all the industry training, networks, associations, and informal groups, it opened up so many doors and taught me so much.

Once I tapped into the heart of our industry, I felt accepted, supported, and respected by my peers.

With all the experience and knowledge I accumulated on my journey, I was then able to help mentor the next-generation women wanting to work in our industry.

* All images courtesy of autocraftsmen.com & Shop-Ware

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