Carmen Carter

Carmen Carter is the founder of the National Motorsports Association, which she established in 1996 during the 100th year of the car. The Detroit-based organization focuses on youth workforce development, creating opportunities for young people ages 14 to 17 to enter automotive and motorsports careers through hands-on training such as the Engine Building Bootcamp. She studied film in New York, taking classes at NYU and connecting with filmmakers during her time there. Earlier in her career, Carter worked for five years at an engineering company that also operated as a motorsports company. She serves on the board of Breithaupt Career and Technical Center, where she has been involved since 2004, and on the Automotive Advisory Board at Oakland Community College, acting as a feeder into both institutions. Her work emphasizes building pipelines into the automotive industry, which she views as the backbone of Michigan and the country.