Beth Barron can clearly recall attending a tire industry event while in her 30s and being the only woman in the room. An older gentleman seated next to her asked if she was a secretary at Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service.
She’s never forgotten that.
“I think for a while I was a novelty. I got picked for every board. Everybody wanted my opinion. I was passionate about the business (and) I wasn’t just in charge of advertising at this point. I really knew the business.
“I think I was chosen to do different things or go different places because I was a woman (in the industry), but I think they quickly learned they got more than they bargained for with me, because I’m not afraid. I’m very strong and confident about what my opinions are, and they’re not necessarily the opinions that a manufacturer or whoever may want.”
She continues to serve on boards, including with National Tire Wholesale (NTW) and the Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG).
As time has passed, other women have joined the executive ranks, but they’re still outnumbered. Barron is the third woman honored as a Tire Dealer of the Year — but the other two were named alongside their husbands. Barron is the first sole female executive to win the award.
“It is an honor to be the first woman chosen," she says. "I don’t want to downplay the part that Charlie (Barron) or Martin (Michel) or Eric (Roundtree) or any other people play in this business, but I’m the CEO. It’s my job to steer the ship and I’m proud of that.”
She doesn’t think the tire industry naturally jumps out and attracts women. And she doesn’t believe that’s been an intentional act, but that “people make assumptions that women wouldn’t want to work in this industry.” And at first glance, she says women might pass on tires.
Her husband Carey Barron thinks one reason Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service has been successful in recruiting women is because “Women are more likely to go out and try something different.”
Barron also has heard her female employees talk about “they’re proud to say they work for a company that’s owned by a woman.”
A third of the 18 Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service stores are managed by women, and double that number of women are working at the front counter. The company’s store of the year award has been won by the same store and manager, Heather Guarisco, for three years in a row.
Four of the top eight performing stores in 2023 were led by women, Carey Barron says.
“Every time we look at the numbers and look at who’s accounting for the numbers — we’ve come a long way,” he says.
