Susan Gubasta, incoming President of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) joined hundreds of business leaders and elected officials at the Equal Voice National EVE Awards on International Women’s Day.

As an event dedicated to empowering and recognizing women in leadership roles, Gubasta was able fit right in, since she will be taking the reins as the first female President of the TADA in its 110-year history on April 10, 2018. Gubasta met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among many other influential politicians and community leaders at the event.

“It was a privilege to attend and to recognize the outstanding people who are making contributions to advance women in public life” said Gubasta.

The event was held to honour both Prime Minister Trudeau and MPP Lisa MacLeod respectively, for their leadership over the year in advancing women in politics.

Gubasta comes to TADA with over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently as the President and CEO of Mississauga Toyota. She brings with her a depth of knowledge, having worked her way through the automotive sector in many positions and different facets. Her goal: to educate and persuade youth and millennials that they can have a fulfilling career in the automotive industry.

“The dealership of today requires more specialized education and advanced skills than ever before,” said Gubasta. “People think we sell cars and change tires, but we’re so much more than that. We need marketers, social media experts, engineers, innovators, and more. My goal will be to educate the broader public and show people that there are rewarding careers in the automotive industry.”

As incoming President, Gubasta will lead an umbrella organization of nearly 1,000 new-car dealers in Ontario who employ more than 45,000 people and produce $12.5 billion in GDP each year.