SEMA Businesswomen’s Network to Return to SEMA with All-Female Designed, Built Ford Bronco

Ford Bronco

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Brings All-Female Ford Bronco Build Back to SEMA

ATLANTA — On Tuesday, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) announced the return of its all-female vehicle build, set to debut at the 2022 SEMA Auto Show. This year’s project centers around a fully customized Ford Bronco designed and built entirely by women from across the automotive industry.

The build marks the first time the program has returned since its original debut in 2012.

A Project Rooted in Industry Awareness

SBN launched the original all-female build more than a decade ago to spotlight women working in automotive design, engineering, and fabrication. That earlier project brought together over 30 women to build a 2013 Ford Mustang Coupe, which debuted at SEMA to widespread attention.

Now, ten years later, SBN aims to renew that mission with a modern platform and an even larger reach.

Ford Bronco Chosen as the New Platform

For the 2022 build, SBN partnered with the Ford Bronco brand. Ford a donated a 4-door Wildtrak Ford Bronco to serve as the foundation for the project.

Several SBN members submitted full Bronco build designs. The organization then opened voting to its membership, allowing participants to choose the final concept.

Monika Kalenski’s Design Wins Popular Vote

SBN members selected a design submitted by Monika Kalenski, president of MEK Management. Her concept stood out for blending rugged capability with thoughtful detail rather than leaning into traditional gender styling.

“I wanted to mix toughness with subtle refinement,” Kalenski said. “The feminine touches live in the details and engineering, not the overall look.”

Her goal focused on creating a Bronco that felt strong, functional, and unmistakably intentional.

Volunteers Take Center Stage

The build will begin later this summer and involve volunteers from across the country. SBN plans to assign participants to specific roles based on skill sets and experience. Each volunteer will contribute to a defined phase of the project.

“We wanted something bold and gender-neutral,” said Haley Keelin, social sales operative at The Retrofit Source and SBN volunteer co-chair. “When someone sees it, we want them to ask who built it — not assume anything about who was behind it.”

Build Locations and Timeline

Once SBN finalizes the schedule, volunteers will travel to designated build locations. Teams will handle body and paint work in California. Meanwhile, Michigan will host assembly for smaller, application-specific components.

SBN plans to reveal the completed Bronco at the 2022 SEMA Show, where it will serve as both a centerpiece build and a statement about women’s roles in the aftermarket industry.

Currently, there are well over 70 volunteers working for SBN, but they are still looking for volunteers. You can apply to SBN at this link here.
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John Tobias, Better Automotive Lighting

John Tobias, Headlight Junkie and Industry Veteran
Before managing pricing and product categories for the DLG brands, John worked directly with customers in customer service and tech support, then spent several years in marketing creating content like this and the videos published online. Today he takes more than ten years of aftermarket automotive lighting experience to events all over the USA, meeting customers and talking to real people about what they care about. He is focused on understanding the market, the trends, the big players, and what matters to lighting enthusiasts. John has tested thousands of lights, works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation, and is one of the foremost experts on everything happening in the world of aftermarket automotive lighting. LinkedIn