Elli Roderburg-Schnierle is the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year in the automotive industry. This year, the highly esteemed "kfz-betrieb" Women's Award goes to the Managing Director of the Mercedes-Benz service company Wilhelm Jesinger KG in Esslingen. She received the award at the gala evening of the automotive industry's women entrepreneurs' congress at the Künstlerhaus on Lenbachplatz in Munich at the weekend.



"Elli Roderburg-Schnierle impressed the jury with her extraordinary career and the goals she has achieved. Ten years ago, she gave up her secure job as a senior teacher to run her parents' business. Since then, the 59-year-old has implemented impressive projects and developed Wilhelm Jesinger KG into a model company," said "kfz-betrieb" editor-in-chief Wolfgang Michel at the award ceremony.



The well-established prize was awarded by the trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" and Shell Deutschland Oil. The award, which is highly regarded in the industry, is presented annually across all brands and throughout Germany.



Winners and runners-up of the "kfz-betrieb" Women's Award:



1st place "Entrepreneur of the Year 2009":

Elli Roderburg-Schnierle, Wilhelm Jesinger KG, Esslingen

(Mercedes-Benz Service)

2nd place: Sylvia Noe-Stang, Autohaus Noe-Stang, Karlstein (Nissan)

3rd place: Silvia Kraft, Kraft Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, Kleinostheim (DAF)



The "kfz-betrieb" Women's Award has been honoring a convincing, impressive female entrepreneur and female manager in the German automotive industry since 1993.

automotive industry. The trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" reports in detail on the three award winners in a special issue that will be published on November 12, 2009.



"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 98 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 40,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German providers of specialist information with around 100 trade journals and 60 websites as well as numerous international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg.