Leading Ladies: Holley Performance Products PR Coordinator Liz Miles

While the automotive industry still sees the majority of its jobs filled by men, women are stepping up in force and following their hearts to careers that truly mean more than just any old job. It’s about passion, love, and enthusiasm for these leading ladies and this month we checked in with one of the industry’s finest- Holley Performance Products‘ Marketing and PR Coordinator Ms. Liz Miles.

The Right Start

Unlike some automotive industry professionals, Liz Miles can’t pinpoint an exact time or reason she got into the hot rod scene.

“It just happened,” Miles told us in a recent interview. “I have been asked this question hundreds of times and don’t have a good answer.” But what she does know is that her 1968 Camaro had a lot to do with where she’s ended up.

Having searched for a good daily driver prior to her 16th birthday, Miles ran across the first-generation Camaro body style and was instantly hooked. She told us that when she found the ’68 that she still owns to this day, that she bought it because it felt right and learned a ton about cars and the industry as time went on. From there, her passion for American muscle cars just snowballed. That was 12 years ago.

For her first job, Miles worked at a local speed shop, which helped her to start learning the ins and outs of the car world. First it was just maintenance, but eventually Miles started modifying and even racing her Camaro.

With a solidified passion for the automotive world, Miles went straight to Wyotech in Laramie, Wyoming for her college education. She knew that this would be the smartest move if she were ever going to get in with the kind of shop she wanted. Her hard work paid off as she took home a number of leadership awards and graduated with an Associates Degree, going on to work for Dominator Street Rods, now in Tracy, California, right out of school. Throughout it all, Miles’ Camaro came with her.

“I drove the car all through high school and even brought it with me to Laramie,” Miles explained. “It has been my constant experiment, portfolio, signature, and companion. I’ll never sell it.”

Holley Bound

Over the last 12 years, Miles has seen a lot of success in the automotive world, from her first job at a speed shop to writing for popular automotive magazines like Popular Hot Rodding, and most recently working as a marketing and PR coordinator for Holley Performance Products.

Having had experience at PHR and a true passion for cars, Miles was initially approached by Holley to join their sales team, but when the company needed help in marketing, that’s the job Miles stepped into. She hasn’t looked back since.

“Holley is one of those companies that is completely composed of gearheads,” Miles told us. “Everyone I work with actually loves cars and spends their free time around them. The team is unlike any I have had the pleasure of working with before.”

For her day-to-day job, Miles works with media outlets on their Holley-equipped project cars and tech stories. Having experience with magazines like PHR made Miles the perfect media liaison for Holley. Miles also works with Holley’s social media platform, as well as communications with the company’s end users when it comes to general and technical support.

All these responsibilities mean Miles gets to travel to trade shows, car shows, and conventions to support the Holley brand and the company’s client base.

So what’s Miles’ favorite part of working for Holley? Well, let’s just say it starts with the passion she has for the brand. “I love working the booth at events like SEMA where I get to talk to people who use our products,” Miles explained. “I am endlessly proud of the company and that makes it so easy to stand behind them.”

“Since I started working on my car when I was 16, I have used Holley products. I sold them at the speed shop, wrote about them in the magazines, and now work for them.”

As far as being a female working for Holley, Miles told us she knows no different and has always felt right at home at Holley. She went on to explain that the group of people she works with, which includes a number of other females in the office, are very supportive and all passionate about the automotive industry and Holley brand.

Being a female in the automotive industry doesn’t seem to phase her much either. “Again, I don’t know anything different,” Miles explained. “I have been in the industry my entire adult life and most of my teenage life. I felt like once I got through the first couple years I built a nice reputation and people didn’t question my knowledge too much. I still get the occasional doubter but they always come around.”

While working for Holley Performance Products is Miles’ main gig, she still writes and photographs for publications like Chevy High Performance and Modified Mustangs and Fords on a freelance basis.

This is mainly a weekend thing that she maintains only improves upon her work for Holley and in the industry rather than potentially getting in the way.

“All I can say is that when I’m writing a story about a car and I see a Holley product on it, I have an extra big smile on my face,” Miles explained.

Accomplishments and Future Plans

Though Miles has truly seen amazing things in her automotive career, telling us she’s accomplished a little bit of everything she’s wanted so far, she still has one thing on her automotive bucket list to complete and that’s building a couple more cars. Among the prospects are a Fox Body Mustang with an LS swap and a Datsun 510. She also told us that a C6 Z06 would make a nice addition to her current car collection.

When she’s not working on anything car related, Miles enjoys working on her house and in her garden. She’s also recently started learning about the Polynesian culture, including traditional dance, which gives her something to pursue in her free time.

As far as where Miles sees herself in five to 10 years, she doesn’t really know but loves it that way. Chances are, she’ll still be doing what she loves–racing and modifying her own cars, working in the industry with top companies and magazines, and supporting brands that she backs wholeheartedly.

But, no matter what she ends up doing, Miles will always be encouraging of women in the automotive industry. We’ll leave you with her advice to women looking to branch into the automotive world themselves.

“Act confident even if you aren’t yet,” Miles told us. “Sadly being timid usually comes across as weakness and you will have to prove yourself extra hard. Women aren’t that uncommon any more so seek out a female role model if you can!” Great advice from a very successful female in the automotive industry!

Photos: Liz Miles

About the author

Lindsey Fisher

Lindsey is a freelance writer and lover of anything with a rumble. Hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles - she's owned and driven it all. When she's not busy writing about them, she's out in her garage wrenching away. Who doesn't love a tech-savy gal that knows her way around a garage?
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading