Reflections from the WIND Anniversary in Denver
“I feel like I’m in a TV show.”
Women in Dealerships Celebrates a Milestone
The first anniversary of Women in Dealerships (WIND) was a highlight of the NIADA Annual Convention in Denver. The event became even more special when Darla Booher was named President of NIADA. She is only the third woman to hold the position in the organization’s 80-year history.
The moment felt historic. It also showed how far women in the automotive industry have come and how much opportunity lies ahead.
Women in Dealerships Brings Leaders Together
Women from across the industry gathered to share experiences and support one another. Dealers, executives, managers, and emerging leaders spent time learning from each other and celebrating success.
Some attendees had worked in dealerships for decades. Others were new to the industry. However, the conversations were remarkably similar. Everyone wanted to know how to lead through change, develop talent, and create lasting impact.
As a result, the event highlighted the value of mentorship, community, and collaboration.
Darla Booher’s Leadership Inspires the Future of Women in Dealerships
One of the most memorable moments of the event was the fireside chat between Jing and Darla Booher. The discussion focused on leadership, perseverance, and opportunity.
Darla shared stories from her own career and spoke about her vision for NIADA. In addition, she encouraged attendees to support future leaders and create more opportunities for women in the industry.
Her message was clear: leadership is not only about achieving success. It is also about helping others succeed.
“I want to focus on celebrating women in the industry. This is a great opportunity to acknowledge them and the contributions they make.”; Darla Booher, President, NIADA
Technology accelerates. People decide.
As we navigate an era shaped by AI and rapid change, one message stood out clearly: technology may accelerate progress, but people remain at the center of it. AI is transforming how businesses operate, creating new opportunities to work smarter, serve customers better, and unlock growth in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Yet the greatest opportunity is not the technology itself; it is empowering people to use it to create value, solve problems, and expand what is possible.
The dealerships that will win the next decade will not be the ones with the most tools. They will be the ones whose leaders know which tools to trust, which problems to solve first, and which parts of their business must remain unmistakably human. That judgment is a leadership discipline, not a technology feature. It is developed in rooms like the one we shared in Denver.
An industry that has already made room and can make more
The independent dealer community has created remarkable opportunities for women leaders, and it is our responsibility to continue building on that momentum by embracing diverse perspectives, challenging bias, and ensuring talent has every opportunity to thrive. As new technologies reshape our industry, women will play a critical role in helping organizations adapt, innovate, and lead through change.
Darla’s election is a signal, not an exception. It is the visible marker of a community that has been quietly promoting, mentoring, and elevating women for years. The work now is to make what has been quiet, loud; to make what has been individual, collective; and to make certain that the next woman who walks into an NIADA meeting can see the seat she is walking toward.
A network that reaches beyond a single event
Thank you to everyone who made this celebration so meaningful. The conversations, connections, and inspiration from that afternoon will stay with us for years to come. This was not only a celebration of how far we have come; it was a celebration of what is possible and a glimpse into the future we are building together.
As the first and only global network of its kind within the dealer community, WIND is creating connections that reach far beyond a single event or geography. By bringing together exceptional women from across the industry and around the world, it strengthens the collective voice, influence, and impact of the NIADA community. Through Darla’s leadership and the power of this growing network, new opportunities are emerging to share knowledge, accelerate innovation, support one another, and inspire the next generation of women leaders.
The women who stood on those steps in Denver did not just celebrate an anniversary. They marked the beginning of a second year in which WIND will grow deeper roots in North America, extend further across Europe and beyond, and continue to prove that a global community of women in dealerships is not only possible; it is already here.
Congratulations, Darla. Congratulations, WIND.