The Women's Automotive Association International has given Pat Moran its annual Spirit of Leadership award.
Moran, CEO of Southeast Toyota Distributors Inc. and its corporate parent company, JM Enterprises Inc., was cited for her management of the Deerfield Beach, Fla.- based automotive company.
Since becoming president in 1989, Moran has guided the corporation from sales of $2.4 billion to $6 billion last year.
Moran said she started at the company in 1983 on a part-time basis to help her father, company founder Jim Moran. Pat Moran said she warned her father that she knew little about the auto business. 'But after six months,' she said, 'I was in love with the business.'
