What was once considered a predominantly male industry now overflows with an abundance of talented and skilled female professionals. Featured in this article are those who stand out among the long list of women who have made a difference — those who have demonstrated success in their own specific organizations, as well as in industry associations, and serve as an example to the rest of their peers. 

On the fleet management side alone, these 25 women include Fleet Hall of Fame inductees, Professional Fleet Manager of the Year and Fleet Executive of the Year honorees, and a finalist for the International Fleet Manager of the Year.

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25 OF THE TOP WOMEN FLEET MANAGERS

Theresa Belding
Senior Manager of Fleet Services
Forest Pharmaceuticals

Career highlights:
● 2011 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Grew fleet from 250 units to 3,200 over 19-year period.
● Reduced accidents by 30 percent in three years.
● AFLA past president and conference chair; former chair of NAFA St. Louis
Gateway Chapter.

Donna Bibbo, CAFM
Manager, Fleet & Travel
Novo Nordisk

Career highlights:
● Three-time nominee for Professional Fleet Manager of Year.
● Grew fleet from 1,260 units to 4,000 in six-year period.
● NAFA New Jersey Chapter chair and treasurer, chair of National Audit
Committee, FleetEd Advisory Council, and Safety Advisory Council; AFLA director at large, secretary; co-chair of AFLA Education Committee, and AFLA Arrangements Committee member.

Shirley Collins, CAFM
Director, North America Fleet
GlaxoSmithKline

Career highlights:
● 2000 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year and 2011 Fleet Hall of Fame inductee.
● Saved company $44.4 million since 2001 through contract
negotiations, vehicle selections, and automation of processes.
● Served in various capacities within AFLA and NAFA, as well as industry
advisory boards.

Christy Coyte Meyer
Corporate Global Fleet Director
Johnson Controls Inc.

Career highlights:
● 2009 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Year-over-year GHG reductions and improvements in fuel efficiency.
● Improved fleet operations in Europe since standardizing documentation and processes.
● Vice chair, NAFA Great Lakes Chapter; member of LeasePlan Global and U.S. Advisory Boards.

Brenda Davis
Strategic Sourcing Fleet Commodity Mgr.
Baker Hughes

Career highlights:
● Two-time nominee for Professional Fleet Manager of the Year. 
● Consolidated 11 business units for a savings of more than $10 million.
● Serves on OEM and FMC advisory boards.
● Integrated 2,500 vehicles into fleet without increasing staff.
● Reduced costs and saved millions through ongoing process improvements and negotiations.

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Louise Davis-Lopez, CFM/CAFM
Fleet Manager
Johnson & Johnson

Career highlights:
● Two-time nominee for Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Significant cost savings through revised supplier negotiation methods and vehicle recondition program; created Fleet Excellence Program to recognize J&J operating companies that meet and exceed fleet performance goals.
● J&J recognized as Sustainability All-Star three years in a row, as well as a Top 50 Green Fleet.
● Past NJ NAFA Chapter Chair and current Treasurer, board member, and National Audit Chair; helped develop and launch first NAFA-sponsored pharma survey.

Lynda Dinwiddie
VP of Fleet & Travel
LabCorp

Career highlights:
● 2007 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Client Advisory Board member for: Fleet Response, AFLA, and General
Motors (co-chair).
● Improved driver compliance as it relates to preventive maintenance, which, in turn, has kept maintenance costs level where other fleets have seen an increase.
● Manages a 5,000-vehicle fleet that averages 100,000 miles in 30 months and drove down effective depreciation over the past five years.

Wendy Dymkowski
Fleet Administration Manager
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Career highlights:
● Implemented a comprehensive driver safety program, lending to year-over-year accident cost savings.
● Transitioned from six- to four-cylinder engine fleet to meet corporate
sustainability goals.
● Improved fleet fuel economy by 14 percent over five years.
● NAFA Audit chair and past Philadelphia NAFA treasurer; AFLA member; and Women in Fleet Management (WIFM) member.

Sheryl Grossman
Fleet Manager
GE Healthcare

Career highlights:
● Doubled fleet size with no additional head count, while developing programs to provide customer service to drivers reducing their administrative burdens.
● Acts as mentor for new fleet administrators/managers to help
develop their expertise.
● Introduced EVs into 1,800-plus fleet.
● NAFA secretary for 2010-2013, past Central Region trustee, Wisconsin Chapter chair, NAFA education chair, I&E Curriculum chair, Safety, Membership and Program Committees; advisory board member for Ford, WEX, and GE Capital Fleet Services.

Janet Horvath
Supply Chain Manager - Global Fleet & Travel
Eaton

Career highlights:
● Global fleet responsibility to meet corporate cost reduction goals and sustainability initiatives.
● Led cross-functional team (HR, Operations, Finance) on policy, supplier selection, and program management.
● Led sourcing process and transition from an unbundled fleet program to an outsourced service model.
● Board member, General Motors Commercial Sounding Board and LeasePlan Client Advisory Board.

Kimberly Jamme
Manager, Sales Operations Fleet & Safety
TEVA

Career highlights:
● Responsible for strategic development and implementation of fleet and safety program.
● Created a comprehensive environmental program, as well as managing a Category Management initiative.
● Responsible for $4 million in annual savings.
● 16-plus years in fleet management.

Rachel Johnson, CAFM
Fleet Specialist
Konecranes

Career highlights:
● Developed a unified multi-entity fleet program.
● Manage fleet of 1,300 vehicles for key strategic business areas.
● Key member of global fleet strategic team.
● Established fleet safety program with management and FMC.
● Acquired CAFM certification in 2008.
● Served as NAFA Tri-State Chapter Chair, 2009-2010.

Lisa Kneggs
Fleet Manager
Associa

Career highlights:
● Nominee for 2005 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Took over responsibility of 1,200 vehicles within first 18 months of
career.
● Centralized five different fleets.
● AFLA board member, Conference Planning Committee member, and
recipient of 2012 AFLA Presidents Award.

Ginny Liddle, CAFM
Corporate Fleet Administrator
Terracon

Career highlights:
● Founding member of Women in Fleet networking group.
● Former NAFA Chapter Chair and Board of Governors member.
● LeasePlan USA Advisory Board member.
● Twenty-four years in fleet.

Shelly Lofgren
Fleet Manager – North America
Honeywell

Career highlights:
● Member, GE Capital Fleet Services Client Advisory Board.
● Member, General Motors Global Sounding Board.
● Member, AFLA.
● Member, NAFA.

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Diane Lopez
Manager, Corporate Fleet 
Abbott

Career highlights:
● Nominee for 2008 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● 2010 Environmental Leadership Award recipient.
● Served as secretary, chair, and current vice chair of the NAFA Chicago Chapter.
● PHH Advisory Board Member.

Suzen Moye, CAFM Lifetime Status
Sr. Manager, N. A. Employee Transportation
sanofi

Career highlights:
● Two-time nominee for Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Harmonized eight U.S. affiliate fleet policies into single N.A. fleet policy.
● Implemented strategies to consolidate five FMCs for improved internal and external supplier operations.
● Served as NAFA nat’l board member & Eastern Region Trustee; NJ Chapter chair, secretary, membership & program chairs; member of PHH Arval & GE Client Advisory Boards.

Gayle Pratt
Director Global Fleet
Ecolab

Career highlights:
● Corporate and public sector fleet leader for 30-plus years.
● NAFA president 2007-2009, 13 years as a volunteer officer and trustee; and recipient of 2010 Distinguished Service Award.
● 2012 Sustainability All-Star and NAFA Sustainable Fleet.
● 2008 International Fleet Manager of the Year Award runner-up.

Elsie Lucia
Executive Director, Fleet and Purchasing Services
Estee Lauder

Career highlights:
● Heavily involved in AFLA, serving as past president (2007-2008), board of directors, and past chairperson for the AFLA Annual Meeting & Conference.
● Past chapter chair of NAFA New Jersey chapter and editorial chair of NAFA national.

Lee Miller
Senior Manager of Fleet Services
Boehringer Ingelheim

Career highlights:
● 2012 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Cost savings exceeds $10 million.
● Deployed thousands of additional vehicles for three sales force
expansions.
● NAFA Chapter chair, vice chair, and secretary; AFLA member and past secretary; Wheels and Fleet Response Client Advisory Boards; GM Commercial Sounding Board.

Susan Miller, CAFS
Manager, Fleet Program Services
McDonald’s

Career highlights:
● 2012 Fleet Hall of Fame inductee.
● 1998 Professional Fleet Manager of the Year.
● AFLA member, past VP & president, recipient of 2010 AFLA Presidents Award, and current chair of commercial fleet sounding board.
● Founding member of Women in Fleet networking group.

Debbie Mize
Corporate Services Manager, Fleet & Relocation
Hallmark

Career highlights:
● 2012 Fleet Hall of Fame inductee.
● 1995 Fleet Manager of the Year.
● Held all NAFA chapter offices; received Outstanding Chapter Service Award; national NAFA Educational chairperson; served as AFLA treasurer; and served on several OEM fleet advisory boards.

Theresa Ragozine
Worldwide Director, Travel & Fleet
Johnson & Johnson

Career highlights:
● 2006 Fleet Financials Fleet Executive of the Year.
● J&J recognized as Sustainability All-Star three years in a row, as well as a Top 50 Green Fleet.
● Instituted Deals on Wheels, a multinational employee sales Intranet
site contributing to more than $25 million in savings.
● Developed a flexible replacement policy resulting in lowered effective
depreciation rates.

Beth Stamer
Director, Global, Health, Safety & Environment – Affiliates
Eli Lilly and Company

Career highlights:
● Designed and implemented Lilly USA’s first comprehensive fleet safety program.
● Developed and implemented Global Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(requirements) for all Lilly sales affiliates around the world.
● Developed Global Collisions Per Million Mile (CPMM) metric (goal) and
expanded data submission process to all Lilly sales affiliates worldwide.

Jann Stapleton, CAFM
Manager, Corporate Fleet
Safeway

Career highlights:
● Corporate fleet manager for 11 years.
● Managed 1,300-1,800 vehicle fleets at two major retail companies.
● Completed CAFM certification in September 2012.
● Member of Ford Fleet Advisory Board and Wheels Steering Council.

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TOP WOMEN FLEET PROFESSIONALS

In addition to fleet managers, AF is also recognizing the top women working on the supplier side of the fleet industry. With a combined total of more than 430 years of experience, these women have been instrumental in helping fleets run successful and cost-effective operations. 

Marty Betagole
President
Mike Albert Fleet Solutions

Betagole has spent 35 years in the fleet industry. She assumed the role of president of Mike Albert in 2000. She is also an executive officer of the Superior Automotive Group. Betagole received a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan, an MBA from Xavier University, and a JD from the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law. In addition to her responsibilities with Mike Albert and Superior, she has served on several charitable boards, including the Board of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. Currently, Betagole sits on the Board of Greater Cincinnati Fifth Third Bank.

Amy Blair
CFO
Sutton Leasing

Blair has been with Sutton Leasing for more than 10 years. She graduated from Rutgers University in 1985, and began her career as an internal auditor for Manufacturers’ National Bank in Detroit. Subsequently, she began working as a CPA for Deloitte, where she gained more than 17 years of experience. Blair was primarily responsible for major financial institution and utility accounts and also became certified as a Chartered Bank Auditor. 

Caroline Costello
Regional Account Executive
Chrysler

Costello has been in the automotive industry for 14 years, working for both suppliers and OEMs, with five years spent in fleet. She started her career in Germany at Magneti MARELLI, worked for Volkswagen Group of America for 11 years, General Motors for one and a half years, and joined Chrysler Fleet in September 2012.

Katherine Croze
National Sales Manager
CEI

Croze’s fleet career includes roles on both the fleet management side and the fleet supplier side. Croze served as fleet administrator for Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, Calif., and Fleet & Travel manager for Computer Sciences Corporation in El Segundo, Calif. She later became sales manager for Executive Rent a Car before moving on to her current role as national sales manager for The CEI Group in 1991. Croze is an active member of NAFA, serving as NAFA Pacific Southwest Chapter chair from 1980-1982, NAFA National Affiliate chair, NAFA National Affiliate trustee (first female to hold this position), and co-chair on the NAFA National Membership and Education Committees. In 1997, she received the Outstanding Chapter Service Award in 1997. 

Carolyn Edwards
VP, Manufacturer Relations and Business Solutions
LeasePlan USA

Edwards has been in the automotive industry for 27 years, with the past 21 spent in fleet at LeasePlan USA. She has served in a variety of critical positions within the company, including director of operations, vehicle acquisition, and as a director in client services where she oversaw the account managers of all strategic accounts and served as a key contact for clients. Prior to joining LeasePlan USA, Edwards worked on the dealership side of the business, including positions as a customer service manager and service manager. Edwards is also a founding member of the industry organization Women in Fleet Management (WIFM), which is a group that brings together “like minded” people in the industry and serves as a resource for female leaders in fleet positions. She is also a member of NAFA Fleet Management Association, Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA), and the Women’s Leadership Council.

Deb Frodl
GE Global Alternative Fuels Leader & Chief Strategy Officer
GE Capital Fleet Services

Frodl has 10 years of experience in the fleet industry, and has spent the past seven years focusing on fleet sustainability products and services as part of GE’s ecomagination initiative. She’s been a pioneer in sustainable fleet transportation by driving adoption of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) across the industry. She’s been a speaker at numerous key industry events and an expert source quoted in numerous media articles to promote AFV adoption. Frodl leads GE’s global relationship with AFV OEMs and continues to play an important role in GE’s partnership with the Department of Energy’s National Clean Fleets and the Electrification Coalition. In 2012, she played a pivotal role in the launch of GE’s state-of-the-art Vehicle Innovation Center to showcase alternative-fuel products for the fleet industry. Frodl is a member of AFLA and NAFA, and is also vice chairman of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA).

Cindy Gippert
Business Development Manager
Adrian Steel Company

Gippert has 16 years of fleet and commercial experience. She currently serves as business development manager for Adrian Steel. Gippert is actively involved in industry associations, holding membership in NAFA since 1996 and participating in national and regional meetings and events. She has also been an AFLA member since 2009. 

Norma Havens
National Sales Manager
USA Fleet Solutions

Havens has worked with fleets since 1984. Over the course of her career, she has helped both public and private fleets save more than 8 million gallons of fuel through the implementation of GPS. Highlights of her career include 2011 Vendor of the Year (Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association [RMFMA]), Green Company of the Year (Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology), and creating a coalition of public agency fuel sites shared by 118 agencies. Havens is also an active member of MEMA, the Southern Nevada Fleet Association, NAFA, MSA, and the RMFMA (past president of the Nevada Chapter).

Mindy Holman
President and CEO
Holman Automotive Group Inc.

Holman joined Holman Automotive in 1986, marking the start of the third generation of the family-owned and operated business. After serving at several automotive dealerships as a finance and insurance manager and general manager, she transitioned to the parent company in 1994 to serve in a number of executive positions. In 2002, she was promoted to president and today serves as president and CEO of Holman Automotive. Holman is responsible for 22 automobile dealerships in southern New Jersey and southeast Florida, ARI (a fleet management company), Auto Truck Group (a truck upfitter), and RMP (an automotive parts distributor). In 2004, along with her father, Joseph S. Holman, she received Ford Motor Company’s Salute to Dealers award. In 2010, Holman was named one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News.

Sharon Jones
Manager, Fleet Business Relations
Chrysler

Jones has been with Chrysler for 17 years, starting in the company’s customer call center before moving to fleet. She started working on the fleet side as a key account representative, working with fleet management companies and major daily rental accounts. She also managed the Commercial Pool process. Currently, Jones supervises a team of 12 whose goal is to provide service that distinguishes Chrysler from the competition, while also looking for innovative ways to support and grow its sales.

Beth Kandrysawtz
CFO
The MotorLease Corp.

Kandrysawtz has been with Motorlease since 1985, working in a variety of roles including her present position as chief financial officer. Prior to that, she worked in the Controller’s Office at Ford Motor Company. She received a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College and an MBA from Wharton School. She is active in the community and has served for several years on the local Board of Education.

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Tina Kourakos
Manager, National Commercial Fleet Accounts
Subaru of America, Inc.

Kourakos has 23 years of experience in the fleet industry. She joined Subaru in 2006 and is responsible for expanding and servicing the company's national commercial fleet customer base. Prior to joining Subaru, Kourakos worked as senior manager of Fleet & Safety for sanofi-aventis, and assistant director of Fleet & Strategic Sourcing for CIGNA Corporation. While in those positions, she served on multiple client advisory boards. Kourakos is actively involved in industry associations, including NAFA and AFLA, and has served on multiple boards and committees at both organizations. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA in administrative management from St. Joseph’s University. Kourakos is also Six Sigma Green Belt Certified.

Allison Lanzilotta
VP of Business Development
Fleet Response

Lanzilotta has worked at Fleet Response since 1999. She has her Property and Casualty Insurance License, a Master's Degree in Organizational Management, and is a member of the NAFA. During her time at Fleet Response, she has worked in the subrogation department and as the Client Services coordinator before becoming the manager, director, and ultimately vice president of business development. As vice president, Lanzilotta is responsible for oversight, integration, and enhanced communication across all of Fleet Response’s Client Services. 

Susan Lombardo
VP of Vehicle Acquisition
Enterprise Holdings

Lombardo is vice president of vehicle acquisition at Enterprise worldwide headquarters. She oversees manufacturer relationships and works with Enterprise Holdings’ operating groups to supply the company’s vehicle fleet. Prior to her current position, Lombardo was in London heading up vehicle acquisition for the company’s European operations, and responsible for purchases of vehicles outside of the U.S. including Germany, Ireland, and the UK. 

Joyce Mattman
Director of Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles
General Motors

Mattman holds the role of director of Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles (SVM) at GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. Additionally, she serves as co-chair of the National Commercial Dealer Council Product Committee, and advisor on GM’s Law Enforcement Product Council. Prior to returning to the commercial side of the business, she served as GM’s director of Residual Management from 2006-2008. Before that, she worked in Fleet and Commercial Operations as both the Fleet Service director and the marketing director. Mattman also has a decade of divisional truck experience in the home office and field working with dealers.

Mary Ann Moeri
Regional VP
PHH Arval

Moeri has been with PHH Arval for 27 years. She holds a BSBM from Northeastern University and an MBA from UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics.  Her work with PHH clients in the Northeast includes fleet cost management, forecasting, industry benchmarking, best practices, and productivity enhancement. Moeri was the recipient of the PHH Account Executive of the Year award in 2010. In addition, she is a board member for the New England Chapter of NAFA and has been active in the NAFA organization since 1985.  

Pam Nicholson
President and COO
Enterprise Holdings

Nicholson is president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Holdings. In her position, Nicholson oversees Enterprise Holdings network of 7,800 neighborhood and airport locations worldwide. She also oversees Enterprise CarSharing, plus affiliated business lines that include Enterprise Fleet Management, Enterprise Car Sales, and Enterprise Commercial Trucks. 

Mary Ann O’Dwyer
SVP Finance & Operations, CFO
Wheels Inc.

O’Dwyer joined Wheels as controller in 1991 and was promoted to vice president of finance and chief financial officer in 1994. Since her promotion to senior vice president in 2000, O’Dwyer’s responsibilities have increased to include virtually every facet of Wheels’ business. Today, she is responsible for treasury, finance and accounting, vehicle acquisitions, remarketing, engineering and quality, title and registration, vendor management, client services, driver services, collision management and maintenance assistance. O’Dwyer has also been a member of Wheels’ Board of Directors since 2001. Prior to joining Wheels, she spent 11 years with CC Industries, a privately-held company of the Crown Family of Chicago. Her professional career started at Ernst & Young, where she was employed during college and joined the audit staff in 1978. O’Dwyer received her Bachelor of Science degree from DePaul University and a Master of Science from Benedictine University. She is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a director of the Board of Deluxe Corporation, where she serves on the Audit Committee and is chair of the Finance Committee.

Doreen Paris
Fleet Account Manager
Volkswagen of America

Paris has been in the automotive business for 30 years, 15 of which have been spent in fleet. In January 2012, she was named fleet account manager, Western Region, for Volkswagen of America, Inc. Previously, Paris was fleet sales manager for Volvo Cars of North America LLC based in Irvine, Calif. She joined Volvo Cars of North America in 2004 as a commercial fleet specialist and was named regional fleet manager, Northwest and Midwest in 2006. Earlier in her career, Paris held fleet positions at American Isuzu Motors and Kia Motors of America. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College in Framingham, Mass., and an MBA from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.

Lori Rasmussen
President
PARS Inc.

Rasmussen has been the president/CEO of Professional Automotive Relocation Services, Inc. (PARS), a full services driveway company, since 2006. In this role, she is responsible for all facets of the business, including operations, sales and marketing, finance, and strategic planning. Rasmussen started at PARS in 2004, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and developing direct sales and operations strategies. Prior to joining at PARS, she worked for a small government contractor in the Washington D.C. area providing IT products and services to the Military and Defense Agencies. Rasmussen maintains active involvement in several women-owned business organizations and associations within the automotive fleet industry. She served as the Director at Large for the Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA) from 2006-2008 and then served on the Executive Leadership Board from 2008-2012.

Jennifer Schade
Manager of Vehicle Remarketing
ARI

Schade has 25 years of industry experience. She moved to the ARI Vehicle Remarketing Department in 1991 and has been involved in the growth of the Virtual Marketing program, ARIAutoDirect.com, and in the development of the Vehicle Remarketing Inventory Management System.  

Linda Silverstein
Manager, Rental & Remarketing
Ford Motor Co.

Silverstein has been responsible for Ford Motor Company Vehicle Remarketing since October 2002. She joined Ford in 1982 as an analyst in the company's Detroit district sales office. Silverstein has served in a variety of positions at Ford, including truck merchandising manager, market representation manager, distribution manager, and field manager; marketing and sales positions at Ford Division and Lincoln Mercury Division in Atlanta, Detroit, and San Francisco; dealer communications, advertising, cross-vehicle line strategy; and working in the Sales Operations Controller’s office and in the Strategy and Advanced Planning office in Product Development. She was named auction department manager in October 2001. Prior to that, she was the head of Automotive Remarketing Services, which is now fully integrated into Vehicle Remarketing. Accolades include 2009 NAAA Hall of Fame recipient and Consignor of the Year in 2010. Silverstein earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts in 1980 and an MBA from Babson College in Massachusetts.

Mary Sticha
Senior VP and General Manager, Commercial Programs
GE Capital Fleet Services

Sticha has been in the fleet industry for 25 years. She has held leadership roles at GE Capital Fleet Services in product management, customer service, and sales. During her career, she has been instrumental in policy development, transaction processing, inventory management, and driver support, as well as in reporting and analysis solutions, to meet the needs of fleet managers and their businesses. She is an active member of both NAFA and AFLA and has held leadership positions with both organizations. Positions include: NAFA National Affiliates trustee since 2011 (committee member since 2006), secretary (2007-2008), vice chair (2008-2009); and chair (2009-2011); Membership Committee member (2007-2011); I&E Curriculum Committee Member (2009-present); and North Central Chapter Affiliate chair (2011-present). She has also been a member of the AFLA Membership Committee since 2008 and was director of Fleet Management Companies from 2008 to 2010.

About the author
Grace Suizo

Grace Suizo

Former Senior Editor

Grace Suizo is a former senior editor of Bobit Business Media. She was previously known as Grace Lauron.

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