Colleyville, Texas – Mary Benaknin, director of special finance for the Tischer/Herb Gordon division of MileOne Automotive, won an iPad mini in the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals' (AFIP) “I’ve been AFIPed” drawing at the Industry Summit in Las Vegas in September.

All conference attendees who had earned AFIP certification at any time in the past were eligible for the drawing. Participants placed “I’ve been AFIPed” ribbons on their conference name tags.

Benaknin was certified in 2004 and was among the first to achieve the Senior Certified F&I Professional designation in 2005. “When I stopped by the AFIP booth at the special finance convention,” she said, “I wasn’t looking to win anything, but to just say hello and chat with everyone at the table. It was a surprise when I learned via e-mail that I was the winner of an iPad. At least I can say I came home a winner from Las Vegas!

“In the world of special finance, you have to be on top of the ever-changing lender guidelines, laws and regulations. AFIP certification has given me the knowledge and confidence needed to properly disclose and relate terms to customers. I am proud of my senior certification, but look forward to obtaining a masters certification in 2014,” she continued.

Benaknin began her automotive career in 1993, advancing through sales and finance management before starting her first special finance department at MileOne Automotive in 2004. With the creation of a business plan and its successful implementation, the department was delivering 50 vehicles a month within 45 days. Her responsibilities quickly spread to encompass multiple dealerships.

In addition to her duties at MileOne, Benaknin is working on her first book, “Roadmap to Subprime Success in the Automotive Industry,” slated for publication in 2014. She holds a diploma from the College of Automotive Management.