Finding success in an industry where women make up only about 2% of the workforce is definitely something worth celebrating, especially on International Women’s Day. And who better to shine a light on than three female auto repair shop owners in Seattle, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
These women are not only building successful auto repair shop businesses, but also educating their communities along the way. In honor of International Women’s Day, AutoLeap salutes these women as they pave the way for themselves and a future generation of female auto mechanics.
Mariajosé Barrera, owner of Mosé Auto, Seattle, Washington
Mariajosé Barrera, owner of Mosé Auto in Seattle, worked for an auto parts chain before opening her own auto repair shop in 2010. A native of Guatemala, Barrera says she grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and taught herself how to be an auto mechanic.
“I’ve been in love with cars my whole life,” says Barrera, who jokes how she even preferred playing with Hot Wheels over Barbie dolls as a child.
Barrera gained knowledge by working in auto parts for several years and later tried her hand in real estate. She eventually found her way back to working on cars, opening her first auto shop in 2010 and moving to her present location in 2019.
Her goal? To ensure her community of women and minorities are truly listened to when they seek auto repairs. In addition to treating all customers with respect, the 20-year auto service veteran also conducts classes to teach women about auto repair or to become mechanics themselves. Knowledge is power, Barrera says, and she simply wants to empower her community.
Barrera taught herself to run the business side of things as well and recently purchased AutoLeap’s auto shop estimating software to automate and simplify much of the process. The software helps her create estimates within minutes, she says, and customers love receiving the photos and video images as part of their vehicle inspection.
“AutoLeap is extremely intuitive. It cuts my time in half for sure, or maybe more,” Barrera says. “It’s extremely helpful to us. Customers love it. For me, it’s really easy to sell things that people need. I’ve never been able to do that because I’m not a salesperson—I’m a mechanic. I like to fix things. I like to talk to people. I want to earn your trust. I don’t want to sell you stuff.”
For other women considering a career in the automotive repair industry, Barrera advises digging deep and learning how to be patient with yourself and other people.
“We need to remember as business owners, as mechanics, we’re here to put out fires and we’re here to help people,” Barrera says. “Follow your heart, follow your passion. This is an amazing industry.”
Hilda Mera, owner of S&A Auto Repair, Newark, New Jersey
For Hilda Mera, who owns and operates S&A Auto Repair with her husband in Newark, New Jersey, her auto repair passion lies on the business side of things, but she’s also committed to empowering and educating women about auto repair.
She and her husband got into the automotive repair business because they simply wanted to run their own business. While her husband pursued certifications in auto repair and diagnostics, Mera focused on becoming an expert in business management and administration, earning several degrees and certifications along the way.
“I might not know how to fix the car, but I know how to run the business,” Mera says.
She also cares about her community. In 2016, S&A Auto Repair began hosting workshops in its shop to help educate women about their vehicles, as well as offer auto mechanic training to attract interest from a younger generation.
“My favorite part of the job is to empower business, empower women, and help my community in general. If we don’t care about our community, how can we expect them to care about us?” Mera asks. “We should not be afraid of doing the things we love to do.”
Her plans for S&A Auto Repair include expanding to a new location in the near future, and she says her recent investment in AutoLeap software will help take the shop to the next level.
“Challenges will always be there,” Mera says. “That’s why I made the decision now to invest in AutoLeap.”
Her advice for women interested in running an auto repair shop?
“Do not stop dreaming. Break those challenges and build your dreams,” Mera says. “Just go for it, be yourself, and try to get involved in your community. Because thanks to them, we are in business.”
Avalon Mathias, owner of Top Notch Automotive, Finleyville, Pennsylvania
Top Notch Automotive owner and mechanic Avalon Mathias also found she had a knack for working on cars at a young age. In the image below, she can be seen restoring her 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit convertible.
“I’ve always just liked working with my hands. I was always kind of tinkering with our cars and trying to figure out how they work,” says Mathias, who first took an auto shop class in high school, and now owns and operates the Top Notch Automotive shop with her husband in the small town of Finleyville, Pa.
She drives a 1998 Jeep Cherokee on a daily basis, describing it as her “old faithful”. Mathias’s garage gets even more interesting when you see her 1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD that runs on vegetable oil!
Specializing in European vehicles, particularly anything made by Volkswagen or Audi, Top Notch recently moved to a new location and plans to expand its customer base by taking over for another auto shop owner who’s retiring.
“So, with him gone, and another one who’s about two minutes up the street also just shut down, we’re kind of sitting on a gold mine here,” Mathias says.
To handle the influx of new customers, Top Notch deploys AutoLeap software to streamline its business and operate more efficiently. Mathias says AutoLeap helps her create estimates faster, schedule jobs better, and communicate with customers more easily.
“It’s essentially streamlined the paperwork side of things,” Mathias says.
