Class of 2022

Susan Jaye-Kaplan

Susan Jaye-Kaplan has passionately integrated principles of social responsibility into her work and volunteerism throughout her career. In 2008, she co-founded Link to Libraries, an organization whose mission is to collect and distribute new books to public elementary schools and non-profit organizations in western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Link to Libraries has donated over 750,000 new books since its inception. Before that, she founded the Pioneer Valley Women’s Running Club (2000) and the youth fitness mentoring organization, Go FIT (2005).

WWLP TV-22 recently chose Susan as one of its Remarkable Women for 2022. She has been recognized locally and nationally for her ongoing contributions with awards including the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service (2018), the Daily Point of 
Light Award, Western New England University’s President’s Citation Award, Elms College’s Step Forward/Step Ahead Women of Vision Award, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Unsung Heroines Award (2008), the New England Patriots’ International Charitable Foundation Community MVP Award (2008 and 2010, the only person to receive this award two times), the Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley’s Women of Distinction Award (2004) and BusinessWest's Difference Makers (2009). 

She has received the National Conference on Community Justice’s Human Relations Award  (2009), the City of Springfield Pynchon Award (2009), the City of Holyoke Paul Harris Award (2013), the Basketball Hall of Fame;  Springfield Rotary Club’s Service Above Self Award  (2016), and has been a recipient of the American Heart Association’s Western Massachusetts Region Woman in Red Award. Susan has also received the Massachusetts State Literacy Award and has been named a Jewish Woman of Distinction.

In addition, Susan has been featured in numerous publications such as 
Running for the Woman’s Soul, Run For Your Life by Deborah Reber, The Strong Woman’s Journal by Dr. Miriam Nelson, Healthcare News of Western Massachusetts and Runner’s World Magazine.

Susan previously worked as a consultant for the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation and has been a grant reviewer/judge for this organization. She is a heavily requested speaker at conferences and universities throughout the area.

Patrice Banks

Patrice Banks, the founder of Girls Auto Clinic (GAC), is opening up the male-dominated automotive industry, bringing a fresh perspective to the status quo with her inspiring and energetic movement. She is dedicated to inspiring women to be confident drivers, smart consumers and knowledgeable #sheCANics.

Banks, a self-described auto airhead hated all of her automotive buying and repair experiences. Frustrated with the lack of resources educating women on car care and her inability to find a female mechanic in the Philadelphia area, Patrice enrolled in automotive technology school to learn how to work on cars. 

She has since made it her mission to educate and empower women through their cars!
Prior to establishing GAC, Patrice worked for more than 12 years as an engineer, manager, and leader at DuPont, a science and technology company.  

Patrice holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering from Lehigh University and an Automotive Technology Diploma from Delaware Technical Community College. She is the author of the book, The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide.