WIN Names Haylie Colby as Inaugural ‘Founding Mothers’ Award’ Recipient
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) has named Haylie Colby, painter at Nuss Collision Center in East Bethel, MN, as the first-ever recipient of its Founding Mothers Award.
Created to recognize women actively working on the shop floor, the award celebrates technicians and painters who demonstrate passion, perseverance, and purpose while helping shape the future of collision repair. It also honors WIN’s six founding leaders – Frederica Carter, Geri Kottschade, Gigi Walker, Patricia Serratore, Kathy Mello and Marcy Tieger – and their lasting impact on the industry.
Haylie has quickly risen as a standout talent, transitioning from a part-time role into a full-time painting career in just three years. Mentored by a retiring painter, she has developed strong technical skills, taken on responsibilities like paint inventory management, and begun supporting the training of others. Her collaborative approach and positive attitude have helped foster a more inclusive shop environment – especially meaningful as one of the few women on her team.
“Key considerations for this award were technicians and painters demonstrating excellence in their craft, as well as mentoring others to success,” said WIN Vice Chair Laura Kottschade, explaining that the Annual Founding Mothers Award is designed to “recognize an individual that is ‘intently involved with the true craft of collision repair, as their skills need to be still active on the shop floor – either as a hands-on refinish technician and/or painter.’”
As part of the award, Haylie receives a career-advancing prize package that includes:
- Up to $5,000 in tools and equipment
- An all-expenses-paid trip to the WIN Annual Conference
- A $1,000 apparel stipend for both workwear and conference attire
As WIN celebrates 20 years of empowering women in collision repair, the Founding Mothers Award reinforces its mission: elevating the next generation of skilled professionals while honoring the legacy that made it possible.
Haylie, along with the 2026 Most Influential Women (MIW) honorees, will be recognized at the WIN Annual Conference, taking place May 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit Women’s Industry Network
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