NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

ALBA COLÓN, PROGRAM MANAGER - SPRINT CUP, CHOSEN AS ONE OF HISPANIC BUSINESS MAGAZINE'S 20 ELITE WOMEN FOR 2007

It's been an interesting road for Alba Colón. This native of Spain received her mechanical engineer degree from the University of Puerto Rico and began working for GM shortly thereafter. In her own words, "I came directly from Puerto Rico and started my new job the day after leaving home. New country, new weather, new everything… Back then there were not too many engineers nor women involved in NASCAR, let alone women engineers. In fact during my college years there were not too many females studying mechanical engineers in those days."

Ms. Colón's first assignment when she joined GM in 1994 was as data acquisition engineer for GM's Oval Track Group. Today she is the Sprint Cup Program Manager. "In my current position we support the teams with technology, simulations, and parts design. Chevrolet supplies the parts and the teams build the motors themselves. Because we support 21 different teams at different levels, our support group is bigger than each individual team’s tech group. GM showcases its cars at the tracks during the NASCAR races. People get the opportunity to take a close look at the product and see their engines… We constantly track the leads generated by a race in each city. We are certain that people get excited about our products during the race and then go to the dealership in the next couple of days." Alba Colón notes: "I am honored that people think of me as a woman who can pave the way for others in our sport. A lot of people tell me how lucky I am to have such an exciting and action-filled job traveling the country working with NASCAR, the media, the race car drivers, crew chiefs, and owners. And they are right! I have a great job!"

Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation

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