Melanie Batenchuk Selected as new President of the Washington Automotive Press Association

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At its 24^th Annual Gala, the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) named Melanie Batenchuk as the new president and announced its 2013 Board of Directors.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130204/DC53910LOGO)

Replacing outgoing president Jessica Anderson, Batenchuk has extensive experience in the automotive sector having worked at the dealership, trade association, and manufacturer levels. In 2009, Melanie combined her passion for cars and writing to launch Be Car Chic, a blog dedicated to sharing industry news and automotive advice through the lens of her experience. Her work has been published by Autoweek magazine, Mashable.com, MSN Autos, Jalopnik and various other websites. She is also an outspoken safe-driving advocate.

"Journalism has evolved and we need to grow with it by continuing to embrace traditional print media and look at newer forms of reporting that covers this industry." said Batenchuk. "Jessica got us off to a great start last year by enhancing WAPA's visibility by broadening and enhancing the Association's communication efforts and I look to continue on this path in 2013."

The 2013 WAPA Board of Directors is:

• Melanie Batenchuk, President
  Be Car Chic
• Jessica Anderson, President Emeritus
  Kiplinger's Personal Finance
• Byron Hurd, First Vice President
  SpeedSportLife.com and PR Newswire
• Whitney Brown, Second Vice President
  National Auto Dealers Association (NADA)
• Annemarie Pender, Secretary
  Association of Global Automakers
• Pete Langlois, Treasurer
  Ernst & Young
• Joe Phillips, Chairman, Media Focus Group
  National Auto Dealers Association (NADA)
• Ted Orme, Chairman, Speakers Committee
  Freelance Auto Writer
• Cathy Nikkel-Orme, Newsletter Director
  Freelance Auto Writer

Each year, WAPA announces its new president and board of directors at its annual Gala held every spring. For more information on how to become a WAPA member, please visit http://www.washautopress.org/membership.asp

The goals of the Washington Automotive Press Association are to improve communication between automotive journalists in the Baltimore-Washington area and the automotive industry, regulators, and other related groups and further the accuracy and quality of automotive journalism. To learn more about WAPA and its networking and information-sharing opportunities for our members – go to www.washautopress.org.

CONTACT: Annemarie Pender, +1-202-650-5548, [email protected]

SOURCE Washington Automotive Press Association

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