Pam Nicholson

Enterprise Holdings

President and CEO, Enterprise Holdings

Clayton, Mo.
Age: 56
Education: B.A., consumer economics, University of Missouri

What attracted you to the auto industry? The management training program that Enterprise offered.

First automotive job: Management trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 1981

Big break: Being introduced to Enterprise Rent-A-Car back in 1981. It was just a small regional company at the time. Here we are, 34 years later. Enterprise Holdings owns Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car.

What is the major challenge you've faced in your career? Moving. It can be fun, and once you're settled, it's exciting. It broadens your horizons and experiences in life, but the move itself is tough on the family sometimes. I moved once to Southern California for [her husband's] job, back to St. Louis, and then to New York and back to St. Louis.

Tell us about your family. I am married, and I am an animal lover. I usually have multiple dogs — I have three now. They're all rescue. I have a shepherd mix, a Maltese and a papillon. I've had cats, but I don't have any at the moment. Animals are a big part of our family; they are our kids. I do a lot of work with the Humane Society here. That's my passion.

Name one thing about yourself that most people don't know. I'm a power walker.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? My mom

What's your guilty pleasure? I love my dark chocolate. I have to have it every day.

By Arlena Sawyers

Pam Nicholson

Enterprise Holdings

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