Laura Bertolli

I was on a retreat to dig deeper into my purpose and the biggest revelation was the word PIONEER.  I really resonated with that word. Perhaps it is because my father came over from Italy when he was 15 years old.  His can-do, hard working experience must have rubbed off on me.  He courageously learned English, got a job, a wife, started a business and created a beautiful family. As a first born, and immigrant's kid, I pretty much raised myself.  When it came time for college, I applied, got accepted and was the first on both sides of my family to graduate from college.  I packed up my Chevy Chevette and drove off to college, waving to my Mom, who was standing on the doorstep. Although there were offers, I chose to work at the family business.  I took over the auto body shop at age 26 without really thinking about what I was getting into.  As it turns out, very few women manage, much less, own an auto body shop! After having been married for 13 years, and with 3 kids, I did an

I’m optimistic and believe that things will work out.  I never believed the myth that women can’t run auto shops.  I do believe that with hard work, and dedication, women can do anything! In fact, any person can do anything if they set their mind to it and put in the work.  The discrimination sometimes comes in big ways, like when I’m working at the shop, and a WOMAN looks over my shoulder, looking for the ‘man’ in charge. That really hurts. Or when at an industry trade show, and the vendors ask me where my husband is. Oh, you only sell to men? Fine, I’ll take my business (and money) elsewhere.  The small ways hurt just as much. This is trivial, but when a salesperson calls the shop (to this day!), and asks for the manager and I say, “I can help you”, they hang up, still hanging on to the belief that a woman only answers the phone.  I hear from my friends that behind my back, I’m called a bitch, for being a strong, confident business woman and sometimes the people who a