ATLANTA – Manheim’s Automotive Woman of the Year Award has been renamed this year in honor of Barbara Cox Anthony, the late, longtime owner of Manheim’s parent company, Cox Enterprises, Inc.

“The memory of Barbara Cox Anthony is very dear to the Manheim organization,” said Dean Eisner, president and chief executive officer of Manheim. “She was committed to developing employees within Cox Enterprises and Manheim and ensuring there was a chance for them to enjoy their work, balance their personal and professional lives, and grow and learn. She reached out in unique ways to support diversity and to create opportunities for people both within and outside of the Cox organization.”

The annual award was created four years ago to honor women who have been leaders in their profession and have contributed to improving the automotive industry. Anthony supported Manheim’s growth to become the leading provider of remarketing services in the automotive industry.

In addition to the scholarship for a woman student at Northwood and in recognition of Jacobs, Manheim will also earmark $10,000 to Northwood for future curriculum development there as a tribute to the women who have led Manheim, such as Barbara Cox Anthony, Berta Phelps, and Ruth Hart-Stephens.

Jacobs is the longtime owner of Columbus Fair Auto Auction, which was created by her father, William Jacobs, in 1959. Under her leadership, the auction has become a full-service facility with a complete mechanical shop, on-site body shop, state-of-the-art reconditioning center, and on-site transportation services. The auction was ranked for two consecutive years as one of the top 500 Women Owned Businesses by Working Woman magazine.

A supporter of both new and used car dealer associations, Jacobs has been involved in the National Auto Auction Association for 40 years, serving five years as chairwoman of the organization’s legislative committee. She was elected NAAA president in 1996. She has been recognized several times as one of the top female business owners in Central Ohio. She is a steering committee member of the Ohio State University Women in Philanthropy and participates in the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. Jacobs holds the NIADA Ring of Honor Award and the Columbus Auto Dealers Association Automotive Achievement Award.

Jacobs is a strong believer in being involved and giving back to the community. She is a member of the board of both the Ohio State University Foundation and Children’s Hospital, and a former board member of the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. She supports the Dave Thomas Adoption Foundation’s Wendy’s 3 Tour Challenge and a variety of other fundraising efforts. She is an honorary Charity Newsie and a contributor to both the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus College of Art and Design.

Alexis Jacobs, owner of Columbus Fair Auto Auction in Columbus, Ohio, was recently presented with the Barbara Cox Anthony Automotive Woman of the Year Award at the Northwood University Dealer Education Awards breakfast during the National Auto Dealers Association Convention in San Francisco, Calif. with Manheim president and CEO Dean Eisner and Northwood University President Keith Pretty.