Auto Repair Shop in Columbus run entirely by women

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When having do the job on your vehicle, additional situations than not, a guy is carrying out the perform.

What You Need To Know

• Chris Cozad developed an vehicle repair store in 1983 termed ‘Alternative Automobile Care’
• The store is created to provide a risk-free position ladies can work in the automotive sector
• As a Lesbian, Cozad also advocates for the LGBTQ community

According to the U.S. International Trade Fee, girls make up only 24{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303} of the workforce that manufactures vehicles, but when it arrives to those who mend your car or truck, it’s only 4{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303}. 

But one particular particular person altering the narrative is Chris Cozad. 

“It got to a place exactly where I thought, ‘Heck, I can do this’,” said Chris Cozad, owner of Different Car Treatment.

As a woman, Cozad is never afraid of working with her hands, regardless of whether it truly is fixing up cars and trucks or gardening. From a youngster to now, it is generally been a enthusiasm of hers. 

“I did a lot of woodworking and carpentry things when I was young,” claimed Cozad. “Then, I experienced an old vehicle when I was in higher education, and it was generally damaged. I did it as a interest for numerous decades. I appreciated it.” 

The passion was so sturdy that she finally opened her possess shop in Columbus called Alternate Automobile Care. 

“I have 4 technicians. It’s all girls,” mentioned Cozad. “I like becoming all women of all ages because it creates an atmosphere of safety and empowerment, and it is a superior-paying occupation. From an empowerment level of view, it is a way for girls to have accessibility to ladies equity without getting to consider huge amounts of scholar financial loan debt.” 

Although advocating for ladies is a large portion of Cozad’s emphasis, it is not the entire tale. 

Outdoors of her store, the rest of her electrical power is place into the LGBTQ community. As a lesbian herself, Cozad has sat on the board of many LGBTQ organizations and serves as LGBTQ community liaison to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther.

“It is really who I am,” mentioned Cozad. “I consider that if you might be gonna be your total reliable self, you need to have to be it anywhere you are.”

Though she’s come a very long way in her advocacy for the LGBTQ local community and women of all ages alike, Cozad says there’s more to be performed. 

“We have to have conversation,” reported Cozad. “We will need to speak to each other for the reason that it is really a great deal more challenging to loathe or discriminate versus a person since of their sex or gender identification if you don’t know them.” 

Back again at the store, Cozad hopes her story, not only alterations the narrative, but opens people’s minds a person way or a different. 

To keep on bringing fairness to women and the LGBTQ community, Cozad claims it starts off with being open to new views and hopes that, in time, that will impact the workplace positively.

She is one of six ladies currently being honored in April 2023 as a YWCA Women of Accomplishment in Columbus.