" My parents used
PPG paint. I remember
going to the paint
store with them when
I was five and seeing a
DITZLER
®
sign on the
wall. That's when it
started."
—Theresa Contreras
Today, Theresa and her family—still
happily devoted to PPG paint—own
and manage LGE-CTS Motorsports
constructing custom cars and trucks.
She's also co-owner of Real Deal with
Jessi Combs—they were part of an
all-women's SEMA Mustang Build
team. Together they build cars, trucks
and cycles, but their real mission
is empowering women to overcome
challenges and enter the automotive
industry, helping them develop self-
confidence through hands-on training
and demonstrating what women can
accomplish. For that, Theresa leads by
example. Her well-respected résumé
also includes being the first female
team captain on the SPEED channel's
Car Warriors (beating the host team
in rebuilding a 1970 Chevy C10) and
painting an El Camino lowrider for ZZ
Top's Billy Gibbons. Not one to sit still,
she's also hooked on off-road racing
where Theresa and Jessi won their
class in the Ultra 4 Off Road racing
series in 2014.
For Theresa, a can-do attitude is the
norm. She's moving ahead, setting an
example for others to follow.
34
