Alba Colon Ashli Bobo
Hendrick Motor Sports Nissan USA
Atlanta, GA (January 10, 2023) – Alba Colon, Hendrick Motor Sports’ Director of Competition Systems, and Ashli Bobo, Nissan USA’s Director of Corporate Communications, have been named to the board of directors at STEAM Sports Foundation.
The Atlanta-based foundation provides scholarships for Women of Color in the automotive and motorsports industry and conducts STEAM-centric career workshops involving the science, technology, engineering, arts and math behind that industry.
Colon, who has worked for General Motors for 23 years, took on her current role at Hendrick in 2018 where she oversees several programs including the Team Operations Center and development/support of strategy tools. She is an engineering graduate of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez where she became quite involved in the school’s Formula SAE program (FSAE), which led to her opportunity at GM. She remains a strong advocate for FSAE and works closely with college students aspiring to enter the motorsports industry.
Bobo oversees all corporate communications for Nissan USA. Her focus includes advanced technology; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; sustainability communications; manufacturing; labor and policy communications; executive visibility; crisis and risk management; and financial services. A former TV news writer, she previously has worked for Weber Shandwick and was its lead consultant for General Motors in the Southeast. She also worked at Edelman where she worked with VF Corporation, the UPS Foundation, and GE’s Energy Management division. She holds degrees from Oakland University and Wayne State.
“When one thinks of pioneers in the automotive industry for Women of Color, both Alba and Ashli jump to the forefront,” said Executive Director Bob Dickinson, who started the foundation in 2016. “In order for women to believe there are career opportunities in what can be argued is the world’s most vital industry, the transportation industry, they must see successful people who look like themselves. We encourage our scholarship winners to become part of that pioneer group.”
Colon: “I have been fortunate to have spent my career in this exciting industry,” says Colon. “I see this as an opportunity to give back and provide encouragement to young women like me who aspire to be pioneers with automotive and motorsports careers.”
Bobo: “I’m honored to join the STEAM Sports Foundation board,” says Bobo. “With its concentration on a demographic that is all to rarely seen in this industry, I look forward to playing a role to encourage young women to look at this vital industry for a rewarding career.”
To date, STEAM Sports Foundation scholarship winners include Kimberly Betty of Kettering University, Ashley Jones from Wayne State, and Jinelee Gonzales from Universal Technical Institute. Applications for scholarships that begin fall semester 2023 can be found at www.steamsportsfoundation.org.
About STEAM Sports Foundation
Recognizing workforce and economic development as integral parts of corporate growth STEAM Sports Foundation works with companies, educators and sports groups to develop initiatives around science, technology, engineering, arts and math that impact the world of sports & entertainment.
The foundation’s focus is on scholarships and career summits in an effort to help create tomorrow’s vibrant workforce. Its “Women of Color” scholarship program in automotive/motorsports engineering provides diversity to a transportation industry that is ever-changing via innovation and technology with individuals who traditionally did not consider these career paths simply because they saw few who looked like them in the industry.
INFORMATION
Bob Dickinson
770-815-0125