Latin America. Milagros Méndez, CEO of Ramco Automotive, was the only Latin American recognized in the list of 31 Women at the Wheel of Aftermarket News magazine.
In conversation with Aftermarket International, Milagros expressed her excitement for this recognition, which generated multiple praises from high-level professionals in the industry during her recent participation in the Auto Care Connect fair, in Orlando.
"People congratulated me and laughed with me," says Milagros about the response received from the publication that highlights the career of this Venezuelan who more than 20 years ago moved to the United States where she has made a name for herself and has constituted a prominent brand in the North American auto parts market.
Although he arrived in the country with the initial goal of obtaining a law degree, his training plans changed quickly. A childhood friend, a mechanical engineer who owns an auto parts distribution company in Venezuela, approached him and told him that his main supplier was not fulfilling his orders.
He urgently needed your help to acquire his automotive sensors. While Milagros had no idea about spare parts, he promised to teach her. With that premise of learning and training is that he began to make a career until positioning himself with Ramco Automotive.
Thus, he understood how to test a sensor, change a gasoline filter, an injector, remanufacture one part or the other.
"Whoever is going to get involved in a business has to know; the pastry chef, for example, has to know how he puts the sugar, what are the ingredients so that the cake is well made and people love it, so there are rules and regulations to guarantee a good quality product, "says Milagros, who recognizes his dedication and attention to detail.
Likewise, it highlights the responsibility of each of its employees in charge, with whom it maintains a well-family relationship. He then highlights the impulse and unconditional support of his partner, compatriot and friend, Clarisa Giannelli, whom he considers a pillar for the expansion of the company in Latin America and the United States itself.
For the achievement of this goal, he deeply values the accompaniment of Tammy Tecklenburg and her company dott which, in the words of Milagros, has been "a reliable voice in the navigation of the industry and fundamental to our recent success".
Precisely, regarding this publication, Tammy congratulated Milagros by pointing out that "the obstacles you jump every day to work and win in the US aftermarket are truly incredible. They inspire us all with their resilience and dedication to bringing about change."
Finally, Milagros herself insists: "We as women have goals every day; Since we left our house, when we arrived at our company, and we are able to fulfill them and move forward with our career in this industry."
