As we prepare to celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8, we spoke with Brenda Lee, a Process Development Technician for global fastener supplier ARaymond at their North American headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Brenda, who grew up and lives in Flint, Michigan, shared insights into her role at ARaymond, her journey in the manufacturing industry, and her perspective on what the future can hold for women entering the manufacturing and STEM industries.

Q&A with Brenda Lee, Process Development Technician at ARaymond  

Q: What do you do at ARaymond? And what’s a typical day like in your job?

Brenda Lee: In my role as a Process Development Technician, I focus on optimizing and improving manufacturing processes. A typical day involves analyzing current production methods, identifying areas for enhancement, and implementing solutions to ensure efficiency and quality. This includes collaborating with die setters who set up the tools, after which our team processes the jobs, making necessary adjustments to achieve the desired outcomes.

Q: Can you tell us about your career path and how you arrived at your current position?

Brenda Lee: I joined ARaymond in 1998 after working at another automotive supplier, where I was involved in bumper assembly. When I first arrived, there were distinct roles for men and women, but I was determined to break those barriers. Despite being told I couldn't handle certain tasks, like lifting materials or die setting, I took the initiative to learn them and prove myself. Over time, I progressed from a production technician to materials handler, then to die setter, and now to Process Development Technician.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in manufacturing?

Brenda Lee: Originally, I studied criminal justice in college, aiming to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, a police officer, and my uncle, a paramedic and firefighter. However, after witnessing some of the harsher realities of that field and heeding my grandfather's concerns, I decided to pivot. A cousin introduced me to opportunities in manufacturing and I found a new path that has been both challenging and rewarding.

Q: How has being a woman in a traditionally male-centered field impacted your career?

Brenda Lee: Navigating a male-dominated industry has certainly shaped my career and personal growth. Facing skepticism and resistance, I became more determined and focused. There were instances where my capabilities were doubted, and I had to continually prove myself. This journey has made me stronger and more resilient, but it's also highlighted the need for equal recognition and opportunities for women in the field.

Now with all the changes in recent years, there’s much more diversity in this field, but it was a struggle along the way. There were people who felt I didn’t belong. But as a self-taught and determined learner, I’ve managed to continue my growth in the industry.  To me, it was the first time I was told “No, you can’t do that” that got me motivated. I was determined to make it work.”

Q: What advice would you give to young women considering careers in engineering or manufacturing?

Brenda Lee: It's essential to cultivate determination and resilience. Challenges and naysayers are inevitable, but using those obstacles as motivation can drive you forward.

Also, don't be discouraged by physical demands; there are always tools and methods that can make you work smarter and overcome those obstacles. Most importantly, believe in your capabilities and don't let others define your potential.

The biggest thing for me for women in the industry is a “mind over matter” mentality. You have to set your mind straight, and whatever is thrown at you, whatever people say, let it go, and use that as motivation to get to where you’re going.

Q: What are your career goals going forward?

Brenda Lee: I enjoy my current role as a Process Development Technician, but my next step to advance my career would be a supervisor role, and that’s an eventual goal. I’ve filled in for those roles in the past.

Q: How can the industry support and retain more women in STEM roles?

Brenda Lee: Encouragement and support from management are crucial. Providing women with the necessary tools, training, and opportunities to advance is essential. Early exposure to STEM programs can spark interest, but continuous support and mentorship are key to retention. Creating an environment where women's voices are heard and valued will foster innovation and diversity in the industry. I also encourage men in the workplace to speak up if women are being undervalued, as that can have a major impact.

I would also say to parents who have daughters to teach them at a young age that it’s OK for girls to be in sports and other activities that tend to be more male-dominated. Teach them to be a confident and strong-willed young woman, to be determined, not give up so quickly, and have an inner drive to get ahead.

Q: What efforts is ARaymond making to inspire and support women in STEM professions?

Brenda Lee: ARaymond has been moving in a positive direction with an approach that emphasizes fairness and diversity. There's a conscious effort to encourage women to pursue various roles within the company and to provide the support needed for their growth and development. There’s a recognition that women’s voices need to be heard, and their input taken seriously.

The middle ground of plug-in hybrids remains an attractive proposition for people who want some electric juice in their vehicle, but don’t want a full EV so they aren’t completely reliant on charging.

Plug-in hybrids, like the entire EV industry, are doing their best to keep costs down, but it’s a constant battle.

Thankfully, a few vehicles that come in plug-in form are managing to stay somewhat affordable. One of these is the Kia Niro PHEV, a plug-in hybrid compact SUV which I recently had the chance to test, and starts around $35K.

The Niro is a rarity in today’s automotive market — as it’s offered a huge number of vehicle options, including:
— Gas-only
— Traditional Hybrid
— Plug-in Hybrid
— Electric Vehicle

This small, agile vehicle is a solid offering — especially for buyers who don’t transport lots of people or cargo, and may need a smaller vehicle for city maneuvering.

Read on for a full report on how the Niro PHEV fits into the current state of EVs and hybrids — including competition from the Hyundai Tucson plug-in, Ford Escape plug-in, Toyota RAV4 plug-in and Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in.

Despite the chaos at the end of the Daytona 500, there were a few positive stories to come out of the race. 

Perhaps the best one was a top-10 run from JR Motorsports Xfinity Series driver Justin Allgaier, who made the team’s first ever start in the Cup series after racing his way into the 500 via Thursday’s Duels.

An owner in the Xfinity series for two decades, Dale Earnhardt Jr. — who is arguably the most famous NASCAR driver today despite being retired — would shake up the sport in a truly positive way if he does make the move up to Cup in the coming years.

And it’s something he is finally admitting some interest in doing.

"I think this helped me understand that I do want to be in the Cup Series, personally," Earnhardt said after the 500. "I do feel like that it's what I should be striving for. JR Motorsports loves being in the Xfinity Series, and we got a great business model, and we think we do a great job there. It would be a big challenge, but something Kelley and I could put a lot of effort into for the next several years."

That should be news to fans’ ears, who would love the see the Earnhardt name back in the Cup series on a full-time basis for years to come. Dale Jr.’s fans of course remember him driving for his dad’s Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the first half of his career, and this would be a truly welcomed addition to the Cup lineup across the board — especially now that Dale Jr. has emerged in retirement as one of the sport’s biggest mouthpieces and commentators.

Having that Earnhardt presence at the track every Sunday could be huge as the sport tries to draw the next generation of fans into the sport in the years to come.

Shorter-term, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dale and Kelley run Allgaier in a few more Cup events this season, assuming sponsorship is there to cover the costs. Regarding the purchase of a charter, I would anticipate they'll wait to see what happens in the antitrust lawsuit currently being litigated before committing to purchase any charters that may come up for sale, but it’s good to get their name out there even now as a potential buyer down the road.

While other Kia SUVs are more likely to end up in the headlines, there are some lurking in the lineup that are also solid options for SUV shoppers to consider.

One such vehicle is the Kia Sorento, a three-row SUV that slots into the Kia SUV lineup just below the larger Kia Telluride and the smaller Kia Sportage, and comes in a variety of versions (two gas-only engines, a hybrid offering, and a plug-in hybrid).

Buyers seeking a high-quality three-row SUV, but whose budgets are too tight for a Telluride, are a key target of the Sorento.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Kia Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige model, and I’m back with a full report. (Note: I tested a 2024 model, but it carries over for 2025)

Cup Series cars are back on track and racing for points, so all is right with the world if you are a NASCAR fan. Kicking off the action at Daytona on Thursday evening were the Duels, which helped set the lineup for the Great American Race on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace claims glory

Let’s start by talking about the first Duel, which ended with 23XI driver Bubba Wallace being the one to claim the checkered flag and take home his first victory at Daytona. A consistently strong superspeedway racer throughout his career, it was great to see Bubba finally deliver with a Daytona win, and it provides him with good momentum as he heads into Sunday and the big race. A win in the Daytona 500 would be a massive jolt for Bubba’s career, and the best possible start to the season. And after Thursday’s impressive run, he has put the competition on notice that he’s not here to run in the back of the pack on Sunday.

Wallace spoke after the race about his emotional evening at the Duel and the victory.

“What a good night. I didn’t know how it was going to play out, and we got the lead there and my McDonald’s Camry just switched like a light switch to a totally different balance from being in the pack. It was a little bit edgy out front, but luckily, I’ve got some years under my belt that people still trust me. I was lucky to have Tyler (Reddick) behind me – he did a great job pushing me. I appreciate that massive 23XI effort to get us this win,” Wallace said. “It sets us up really good for Sunday. We will enjoy this little moment right now. I told myself I would do more of – enjoy the little stuff. But hats off to these guys here. The best thing is – I cried when I walked out with (my son) Becks on pit road for driver intros, and it is really special to have him here. It is awesome.”

Team owner Denny Hamliln said he was impressed by the performance of both Bubba and teammate Tyler Reddick in the Duel.

“It’s awesome. Tyler (Reddick) was able to get a Duel last year and then Bubba (Wallace) this year. The 23 and 45 really controlled that race quite a bit so it was great to see. Even though they didn’t qualify (last night) where we expected, I think obviously the true speed of their Camrys really showed up tonight,” Hamlin said.

The 2025 season has begun in NASCAR, with the Clash at Bowman Gray behind us, and the Daytona 500 just one week away.

With a new season comes new expectations for the drivers returning the grid. 

And while all drivers head into the season hoping to win races, make the playoffs and compete for a championship, there are several drivers facing an additional amount of pressure for a variety of reasons.

Here’s my list of drivers who I see facing a bigger spotlight than the others in 2025:

1. Denny Hamlin (No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing)
The choice for the driver under the most pressure was an easy one, and that is of course Denny Hamlin, who has several factors coming together at the same time to provide an intense spotlight on his 2025 campaign.

First off, there’s the usual pressure surrounding Denny’s quest to win his first Cup series championship. Despite 54 Cup wins (12th most wins all time), he has yet to seal the deal, and age would dictate his time left in the series is nearing its end. Even if he says he’s not worried about the Cup title, you know it’s looming in the back of his mind that his time to win one is running out.

Mt. PLEASANT, Mich. – Beard Motorsports will qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500 at Daytona with driver Anthony Alfredo returning behind the wheel of the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet. The sponsor will be Fortify Building Solutions. Alfredo ran three races for Beard Motorsports in 2024 (one at Daytona, two at Talladega), with a best finish of 6th place at the spring Talladega race. 

More information regarding Beard Motorsports’ plans for the 2025 NASCAR season will be announced at a later date.

Started by the late Mark Beard Sr., Beard Motorsports is owned and operated by the Beard family with Linda Beard at the helm, and her children, Amie Beard-Deja and Mark Beard Jr., overseeing the daily operations. The 2025 season is Beard Motorsports’ ninth participating in select events that make up the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, and the season-opening Daytona 500 will mark the team’s seventh start in the “Great American Race” since making its debut in that event in 2017. 

“It’s an honor to be talking about our ninth season competing in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Beard-Deja, executive vice president of Beard Motorsports. “This obviously started as a passion project for my dad and has become a labor of love for our family. We put in a lot of hard work and that is evident by the product we bring to the track every time we show up. It’s a credit to the team of people that we have assembled to prepare our racecars, and it all starts with our crew chief Darren Shaw, who has been busy preparing the car for the 2025 Daytona 500.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony Alfredo back behind the wheel of the No. 62 Chevrolet and are very honored to continue the relationship we have started with Fortify Building Solutions. To have that brand continue its support of Beard Motorsports means a lot.”

RTR Vehicles continues to push the boundaries of Mustang performance with its latest collaboration with Ford Motor Company: an EcoBoost performance Mustang aimed at enthusiasts that offers a fresh take on turbocharged muscle for a new generation. This marks only the second time in Ford’s history that a performance Mustang has been co-created with an outside partner.

“I'm pumped to have the opportunity to create what we believe is the most exciting turbocharged Mustang ever,” said RTR President and Founder Vaughn Gittin, Jr. "This Mustang RTR is pure accessible fun, with many enhancements, including Mustang Dark Horse components, Mustang EcoBoost’s near-perfect weight distribution, and RTR’s signature styling, it’s ready for drifting, drag racing, back-road cruising, or ripping around an autocross track. The new Mustang RTR is truly Ready to Rock.”

DETROIT — As the Detroit Auto Show kicked off this week, we also learned the identity of the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards.

Taking home top honors were:
— North American Car of the Year: Honda Civic Hybrid
— North American Truck of the Year: Ford Ranger
— North American Utility Vehicle of the Year: Volkswagen ID.Buzz

The honors were handed out after a year of evaluation by NACTOY jurors who judged vehicles in areas including automotive innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value. After the “Best of 2025” semifinalists were announced in September at Michigan Central Station, the list was narrowed further to 9 finalists, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

“With such a tremendous crop of vehicles to review, our jurors worked overtime to decide the ‘best of the best,’” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert. “This year’s winners are on the cutting edge when it comes to technology, styling and value.”

Founded in 1994, the NACTOY awards are judged by 50 professional automotive journalists from a wide variety of print, online, radio and television media outlets in the United States and Canada. The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists instead of by a single publication, website, radio or television station.

Juror comments on the Honda Civic Hybrid:
“The Honda Civic has won awards for half a century now, and the Civic Hybrid brings Honda’s superb and fuel-efficient hybrid system into one of the market’s best compact sedans. Fun, fuel-efficient, and more elegant than its predecessors, it’s a hands-down winner.” – John Voelcker, Contributing Editor: Car and Driver, Green Car Reports, Inside EVs

“The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is a much needed affordable high-mileage family car. In addition to sharp styling, a nicely crafted interior and a comfortable ride, the Civic Hybrid delivers exceptional fuel economy.” – Matt DeLorenzo, Editor-in-Chief, Tightwad Garage

Juror comments on the Ford Ranger:
“The Ford Ranger starts at $34,575 and the well-equipped SuperCrew 4×4 XLT has a base price of $39,646. It’s a midsize truck that looks like a full-size F-150, has combined fuel economy of 20 mpg and can tow 7,500 lbs. It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.” – Drew Winter, Contributing Editor, WardsAuto

“Ford’s expertise in building trucks is evident in the 2025 Ranger that offers plenty of utility plus an added dose of comfort and convenience.” – Jack Nerad, America on the Road Radio, Sports Byline Radio Network

Juror comments on the Volkswagen ID.Buzz:
“If you have to drive a minivan, why not drive the one everybody waves to and just wants to hug? Seriously, the ID. Buzz has a decent 230+-mile range, beaucoup space inside, lots of useful features and it’s fun to drive.” – Ken Gross, freelance

“No vehicle in the last ten years has captured the imagination, while also bringing the past into the future, better than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It is an inspired Volkswagen design for the ages… again.” – John Davis, Host/Creator, MotorWeek