The Maryann Keller Memorial Award

Established through a permanent endowment, the Maryann Keller Memorial Award is dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in the automotive industry. Among the first women to cover the auto industry for Wall Street, Maryann Keller was known for her engaging manner that saw her get out of New York to visit dealerships, suppliers and factories to ensure she had a first-hand perspective of key operations.

Maryann’s approach to her research made her the first analyst to be recognized for predicting the rise of the Japanese automakers at a time when they had a mere four per cent market share (in 2022, that market share is over 38 per cent). Her legacy is a significant one that will provide enduring inspiration to females entering the auto industry. She was a pioneer in financial services and a role model to professional women. She accomplished so much due to her perseverance, curiosity, intelligence and charm. By the end of the 1970s, Maryann was lauded with the most prestigious recognition in her trade as a recipient, and first woman to win the Institutional Investor’s Top Analyst award. She held this recognition for 12 years. Maryann’s life, career and legend can best be summed up by words from her former boss and well-known Broadway producer, Roy Furman: she remains ever a star.

About the Maryann Keller Memorial Award

The award will be presented annually to a female student entering first year of Georgian ’s Automotive Business School of Canada’s Automotive Business advanced diploma program or the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Automotive Management) degree program.

Through the generosity of donors, one annual award will be available to students and funded by the endowment. As the permanent endowment grows in value over the years, we look forward to funding additional awards for students.

To ensure Maryann’s family is aware of your generosity, the names of all contributors will be shared with her family. However, gift amounts will remain confidential and will not be shared. If you do not wish to have your name disclosed, please email donate@georgiancollege.ca.

By making a gift, you are consenting to direct your funds to the Maryann Keller Memorial Award.

If you would like to make a gift from the United States to a 501(c)(3), please email Miranda McSorley.