Nissan Celebrates Success Stories of Women in Automotive Industry
In honor of International Women’s Day, Nissan is shining a spotlight on two inspiring success stories from one of its franchised stores in the Southeast.
One of the stories features Jane Vaden Thacher, who joined her family’s business in 1994 with a bold ambition. Vaden Thacher aimed to open and own a new dealership at a younger age than her father, who started his first dealership at 41. And in 2001, at the age of 34 and as a mother of three young children, she achieved her goal by opening her own dealership, according to a statement from Nissan.
Thacher, now the president of Vaden Automotive, operates nine dealerships, including four Nissan locations, in southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry. In addition to selling vehicles, she has developed a strong community partnership program that focuses on meaningful sponsorships and volunteer events.
The dealership’s partnership with Bluffton Self Help in Bluffton, S.C., is just one example of their commitment to making a difference in the community. Around 40% of sales at the Vaden Nissan Hilton Head store are to customers whose first language is not English, showcasing the dealership’s efforts to reach diverse populations.
Another success story from the dealership is Valentina Ramirez, a salesperson originally from Venezuela who joined Vaden Nissan Hilton Head in 2019. Despite initially struggling with English, Ramirez worked hard to improve her language skills and connect with the Spanish-speaking community through community events like those at Bluffton Self Help.
Ramirez’s dedication and friendly approach quickly earned her a reputation for excellent customer service, leading to a record-breaking month in December where she sold 31 cars, the most out of any salesperson at the dealership. Her success has even led to her parents joining the Vaden team, with her mother working as a custodian and her father assisting Spanish-speaking customers in the service department.
Both Thacher and Ramirez attribute their success to their openness to learning and their commitment to making a difference in their community. These stories serve as powerful examples of the impact women can have in the automotive industry and beyond.
