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WASHINGTON AUTOMOTIVE PRESS ASSOCIATION SELECTS AUTOMOTIVE RHYTHMS’ KIMATNI RAWLINS AS 19TH PRESIDENT
Washington, D.C. – Kimatni D. Rawlins, founder and president of Automotive Rhythms Communications, LLC, was recently inaugurated as president of the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) during its 20th Annual Gala held Friday, January 26, 2007 at the National Press Club. Rawlins is the youngest and the third African American to hold the post.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected president and to work with such a distinguished group of automotive professionals and journalists,” said Rawlins. “I look forward to propelling the Washington Automotive Press Association to higher levels of service to our members and the automotive community at large.”
Rawlins, 33, established Automotive Rhythms in 2001 to serve as a communications liaison between automotive companies and the urban car-buying market. His forte is divided amongst journalism, media outreach and automotive marketing within urban, sports, youth and entertainment sectors. Prior to spearheading Automotive Rhythms, Rawlins directed the Communications and Special Projects departments for On Wheels, Inc. (OWI), which publishes African Americans On Wheels, Latinos On Wheels and Asians On Wheels magazines. His seven-year tenure with OWI and preceding term with Jaguar Cars of North America has given him vast knowledge of the mechanics of the automotive industry, both internally (corporate) and externally (markets).
Rawlins received a Bachelor of Science degree in business and a minor in marketing and economics at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He is a recipient of the 40-Under-Forty Achievement Award for 2004. Rawlins is also a member of a variety of professional associations. He is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a former First Vice President of the Washington Automotive Press Association. Most recently, Rawlins was selected to become a spokesperson for Shell Oil Products US as they reach out to the African American consumer about the importance of using quality gasoline in their vehicles.
As the third African American to hold the post, Rawlins succeeds former president Ed Henry (1991-1995), who was an editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, and Brian Armstead (2005-2006), XM Satellite Radio talk show host.
The Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) 20th Annual Gala also recognized outstanding persons or achievement in the automotive industry. This year, the prestigious Golden Gear Award was presented posthumously to the late Robert P. McCurry, former executive vice president and chairman of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., for his long and distinguished service to the North American auto industry in leadership roles with both domestic and import automakers.
The Golden Quill Award is WAPA’s Journalism Award of Excellence. This year’s recipient was Dan Carney, a former WAPA president, for his story on alternative fuels for SAE International Magazine. His article exposed the advantages and limitations of relying on biofuels as a partial substitute for oil in fueling America's transportation needs.
Since 1985, the Washington Automotive Press Association has worked to promote education and professional awareness in the field of motor vehicles - their manufacture and regulation. WAPA’s mission is to enhance and encourage professionalism of journalists and information specialists in automotive and related fields, and to endorse only those causes which further freedom of the press and access to the truth. For more information on WAPA, please visit www.washautopress.org.
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