Cummins’ April Guest to Keynote WAM Summit

Tennessee State Engineering Grad to Inspire Women in Automotive & Motorsports

Nashville, TN (Sept. 2) – Tennessee State graduate April Guest, with more than 20 years of experience across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and enterprise transformation, will deliver the WAM Summit’s keynote address at its Friday, September 25 luncheon on the campus of her alma mater.

The Women in Automotive and Motorsports Summit (Sept. 24-26), developed in concert with Tennessee State and STEAM Sports Foundation, will bring together college students, industry leaders and innovators to explore career opportunities in the automotive and motorsports industries.

In addition to three keynote speakers, the summit will include panel discussions, breakout sessions, a career fair, and networking opportunities for students.  Students from engineering universities throughout the United States are invited with a special emphasis on regional engineering programs.

Guest, an engineer by training and a continuous improvement leader by profession, has built a career within the automotive industry solving complex problems, improving systems, and helping organizations translate data and innovation into meaningful results.

The TSU electrical engineering graduate is passionate about developing the next generation of technical leaders and expanding opportunities for women in engineering, automotive, motorsport, and other traditionally underrepresented spaces. She believes technical excellence, curiosity, and diverse perspectives are essential to shaping the future of mobility.

“Returning to Tennessee State University for this opportunity feels incredibly full circle, said Guest. “TSU gave me the technical foundation to begin my career, and engineering gave me a way of thinking that has taken me far beyond where I originally imagined. I want the next generation—especially young women—to understand that their degree does not define the boundaries of what they can become. There is a place for them in automotive, motorsports, leadership, and every room where the future is being shaped. Sometimes you find the door, sometimes you open it, and sometimes you create one for the people coming behind you.”

Other corporate sponsors include Honda, Nashville Superspeedway/Bristol Motor Speedway, and HBCUGo TV which is WAM’s official media partner. Speakers highlighted during the summit include Kreig Robinson (23XI Racing), John Doonan (IMSA), Brandon Thompson (NASCAR), Dorea Dewberry (IMSA), Alia Hall (Aumovio), Cheryl Thompson (CADIA/CTAdvisory), Harold Michael Martin (Martin Technologies), Andrea Turner (Nissan), Makaela Pine (EM Mobility, and Julia King (Purdue).  In addition, STEAM Sports Foundation will present a panel of several of its scholarship recipients who have targeted careers in the automotive or motorsports industry. 

Registration for students who wish to attend the summit or for corporations that wish to be part of the Sept. 25 “Career Day”, can register via: https://www.tsuwamsummit.com/register