Her Story
About Marisa
Marisa Reno serves as a service advisor at Village Ford in Dearborn, where she acts as the customer advocate and middleman between customers and technicians. With over 15 years in the automotive industry, she began her career as a technician after gaining early interest from family members in the field. She also worked as an instructor for automotive and welding for about four years and was previously a police officer for four years in Detroit and Dearborn. Reno is a top Ford-trained employee for commercial and residential vehicles. In high school around 2012, she won the Breaking Traditions Award for women in Trades, and a manual she wrote on drum brakes was sent to Roush for potential use. She is working to get involved in food drive initiatives with local pantries to help continue to give back to the community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and perseverance. I have always tried to work my hardest and put 110% into everything I do. I always try to learn new things and keep an open mind to learning different ways to be a problem solver!
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best Career Advice I have had is not to let anyone stop me from being me and doing what I love just because I am involved in Male dominated trades. I have always kept that with me as I am always trying to keep beating the odds even when it is hard.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let somebody else stop you just because they think you can't. It's one of those things, being in a male-dominated career, where you're always going to be doubted, somebody's going to always think that you have the upper hand because you're a woman, but in reality, the downfalls and the trenches you have to go through to be successful in a male-dominated career times can get overwhelming, but just keep pushing, and you know, you will put yourself where you need to be, and it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge as a woman in the Automotive industry is being heard. While it is getting easier, it still is something that is a constant struggle as this industry is not used to women having as much knowledge on the industry and operation of the industry like some of us do.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Keep an open mind, kind heart and stay humble. You never know what someone is going through and even though they may not be nice to you, your kindness may just change their whole day around.
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