PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & HOSPITALITY
Representatives for Women in Motorsports North America include the following individuals:
Liz Allison
Big Machine Music City Grand Prix - Director of Partnerships, Client Services and Events
Hometown | Residence:
Brentwood, TN | Nashville, TN
First Year in Racing: 1988
Greatest Accomplishment:
The Inaugural Music City Grand Prix.
Advice:
Always be the calmest person in the room.
Tina Barnes-Budd
President, Social Budderfly LLC
Hometown | Residence:
El Dorado, AR | Port Orange, FL
First Year in Racing: 1994
Greatest Accomplishment:
Started the entire social media program for the LPGA.
Advice:
The person you throw under the bus today could be driving it tomorrow.
Dawn Bell
Co-Chief Executive Officer at Southern Performance Partners
Hometown | Residence:
Charlotte, MI | Mooresville, NC
First Year in Racing: 2010
Greatest Accomplishment:
I started in 2010 as a greeter for the America LeMans Series to being a business partner with a new agency in 2021.
Advice:
Never doubt yourself and what you can accomplish if you put in the hard work and believe you can! Don’t get in your way!
Katie Brannan
PR, Bryan Herta Autosport
Hometown | Residence:
Sandpoint, ID | Gardnerville, NV
First Year in Racing: 1999
Greatest Accomplishment:
My position is to promote the accomplishments of others, the drivers, teams, and partners I represent.
Advice:
Tough times don’t last, tough people do, NEVER give up!
Kelly Brouillet
KBru Communications, President
Hometown | Residence:
Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 1999
Greatest Accomplishment:
When clients have told me I’m on their team for as long as they’re racing.
Advice:
If you want to be valuable in this business, know what makes you unique. Look for a need the sport has, find innovative, unique ways to fill that need, and make sure you’re the best at it.
Barbara J Burns
CEO Burns Group Unlimited
Hometown | Residence:
Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA
First Year in Racing: 1979
Greatest Accomplishment:
Building a successful PR/consulting business in motorsports.
Advice:
Do your research, work hard, be professional and build your network. Be honest, communicate appropriately and step outside your comfort zone to grow in your career. Never say “no” for someone else, ask the question because the response might be “yes”.
- WIMNA Working Group
Danielle Cyr
Speedway Motorsports - Director of Marketing & Speedway Children's Charities NH
Hometown | Residence:
Beacon Falls, CT | Laconia, NH
First Year in Racing: 2017
Greatest Accomplishment:
Taking a leap of faith from a safe career, moving to a new state and sport I was unfamiliar with.
Advice:
When life’s road has pot holes and speed bumps it makes you a better driver.
Alexis Erickson
Performance Racing Network, Strategic Partnerships Manager
Hometown | Residence:
Newark, DE | Mooresville, NC
First Year in Racing: 2005
Greatest Accomplishment:
Coordinating and covering the Doug Double in 2015 where PRN’s Doug Rice became the first broadcaster to complete The Double, covering both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Advice:
Be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Growth only happens beyond that point.
Julie Esmer
GM, Cadillac Assistant Marketing Manager - Performance
Hometown | Residence:
Chesaning, MI | Chesaning, MI
First Year in Racing: 2015
Greatest Accomplishment:
Integration of General Motors into the IMSA app.
Advice:
Ask all the questions. Every single time you hear “We’ve always done it this way,” ask “Why?”
Tiffany Huezo
DALLARA LLC, MARKETING & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Hometown | Residence:
Milan, Italy | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 2020
Greatest Accomplishment:
In progress…
Advice:
Life is a learning process. You never stop learning!
Rae Kauder
rae-works, llc Owner & Founder
Hometown | Residence:
Palm Coast, FL | Cornelius, NC
First Year in Racing: 1995
Greatest Accomplishment:
Being a part of the team that transitioned the Winston Cup Series to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
Advice:
Grow your network! Take time each week to reach out to different people you’ve met through the years to keep relationships alive.
Katie Kiel
Former Motorsports Reporter
Hometown | Residence:
Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 1999
Greatest Accomplishment:
Covering the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500; and Helio Castroneves’ historic fourth Indianapolis 500 win
Advice:
I was always told to be willing to make sacrifices to build the CAREER I wanted, but I didn’t want to make sacrifices. You can have it all when you build the LIFE you want.
- WIMNA Working Group
Jennifer Kolpasky
Event Manager- Charlotte Motor Speedway
Hometown | Residence:
Oakland Twp, MI | Mt. Pleasant, NC
First Year in Racing: 2018
Greatest Accomplishment:
Distinguished Service Award from the Concord Police Department.
Advice:
Approach everything with kindness in your mind and heart. A little love and compassion towards friends, coworkers, and strangers can make all the difference in the world.
Judy Kouba Dominicik
Chevrolet Racing Trackside Communications Representative
Hometown | Residence:
Sedalia, CO | Winston Salem, NC
First Year in Racing: 1986
Greatest Accomplishment:
Receiving the Jim Chapman Award for Excellence in Motorsports Public Relations.
Advice:
Respect the history of the sport in your series of choice. Building a solid, sustainable future includes knowing the history of the foundation on which you stand. Being innovative and forward-looking is critical, but having that solid knowledge of those who came before can only make you better.
Kristin Labonte
Breaking Limits, President
Hometown | Residence:
Indianapolis, IN | High Point, NC
First Year in Racing: 2016
Greatest Accomplishment:
Landing the Ferrari contract.
Advice:
I have a love-hate relationship with the phrase “if you see it, you can be it” – instead, dream big and go for it, even if that means you haven’t “seen it” before! Somebody has to be “the first” and it might as well be you!
Chelsea Lazzari
Sonoma Raceway, Special Projects and Community Relations Manager
Hometown | Residence:
Sonoma, CA | Napa, CA
First Year in Racing: 2016
Greatest Accomplishment:
Executing a STEM Day at the Raceway during IndyCar race weekend for elementary students.
Advice:
Listening and hearing are two different things. One of the best skills you can acquire in the workforce is listening.
Katie Leszcynski
INDYCAR - Social Media Specialist
Hometown | Residence:
Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 2013
Greatest Accomplishment:
Getting to showcase the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion on all INDYCAR-owned social channels.
Advice:
The world of motorsports is small and supportive. Treat others how you’d want to be treated.
Luisa Macer
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Community Outreach and Fan Engagement Manager
Hometown | Residence:
Mexico City, MX | Carmel, Indiana
First Year in Racing: 2021
Greatest Accomplishment:
20 in their Twenties nominee by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
Advice:
Do what is right, not what is easy.
Linda Mansfield
Restart Communications, Owner
Hometown | Residence:
Shippensburg, PA | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 1970
Greatest Accomplishment:
First woman editorial staff member at National Speed Sport News; still currently writing for Speed Sport magazine.
Advice:
Don’t give up!
Kelsi Miller
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Senior Manager of Marketing and Public Relations
Hometown | Residence:
Snellville, GA | Hoschton, GA
First Year in Racing: 2007
Greatest Accomplishment:
Continual YOY ticket growth of a top motorsports destination event.
Advice:
A job worth doing is worth doing right. If you’re going to put your effort into something, go at it with full commitment and complete the job successfully.
Jes Morse
Team Penske Public Relations
Hometown | Residence:
Westchester, NY | Mooresville, NC
First Year in Racing: 2012
Greatest Accomplishment:
2017 Monster Energy Public Relations Rep of the Year
Advice:
Do not say no to free or unpaid experience.
Deb Pollack
Drive Toward a Cure/Founder; Singer Vehicle Design/Publicist; Luxury Automotive Strategic Communications
Hometown | Residence:
Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA
First Year in Racing: 1989
Greatest Accomplishment:
Harnessing the power within the automotive/enthusiast community to raise more than $1mm for Parkinson’s Disease.
Advice:
Imagine the possibilities – and take them on!
Linda Rosenberg
HALO Branded Solutions - AE; NBC Sports - IndyCar Production; Paretta Autosport - Marketing & Merchandising
Hometown | Residence:
Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis, IN
First Year in Racing: 1985
Greatest Accomplishment:
Having clients stay with/refer me over the past 20+ years no matter where I happen to be working.
Advice:
Relationship building will always be the most important tool for advancement in business, as long as you remain diligent, honest; and don’t ever take those relationships for granted.
Judith V Stropus
Owner, JVS Enterprises
Hometown | Residence:
Kaunas, Lithuania | Ridgefield, CT
First Year in Racing: 1960
Greatest Accomplishment:
Induction into 2021 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (Sports Car category)
Advice:
Always give more than expected. “You’ll get over it.”