“All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how He freed you from oppression,” Psalm 107:2.

Kacia is not new to the automotive industry. Before joining the Women’s Recovery Program at Anna Ogden Hall, she spent nine and a half years selling cars. She loves the business, but the pressure to perform in a commission-based, male-dominated field also helped fuel her addiction to alcohol. So as she neared the completion of her program, Kacia decided to test the waters by doing her internship in sales with UGM Motors. The part-time job gives her an opportunity to transition back into the work force slowly while still being surrounded by a safe, supportive community.

“I love this industry. I love meeting people, and here at the Motors, I can tell my testimony. When someone is purchasing a car, I can tell them, ‘What you’re doing right now is helping people exactly like me, people who have been in my same position.’”

Kacia admits the Motors’ sales philosophy took her by surprise at first. “The very first day I came here to do my internship, I was shadowing Jim, the manager. We walked out onto the lot, and there was a gentleman asking about a truck. Jim said, ‘Well, I need to tell you right up front that truck’s a smoker, and if you pull out on the highway, it’s gonna smoke, and you might get pulled over.’” Kacia said she stood back amazed. “When the customer left, I said, ‘Jim, what are you doing?  You’re never gonna sell that truck like that. You might as well just part it out.’ Jim started laughing, and he said, ‘But that’s how we do it.’ It’s just a totally different mentality.”

Working at UGM Motors has helped Kacia to evaluate her future and practice living an integrated life – recovery, Christian walk, and work all rolled together. “I’m learning how to deal with stress differently . . . Sales is something I can go back into, but I have to go back into it thinking a little differently.”