Speakers
Carlos Tavares
Executive Vice President
Nissan Motor Company Ltd.
Carlos Tavares is the executive vice president for Nissan Motor Company Ltd. In this role he supervises corporate planning, product planning, market intelligence, brand management, design, program management, LCV business, Infiniti business and control.
Mr. Tavares graduated from the Ecole Centrale de Paris in 1981 and immediately joined Renault where he began his automotive career with a series of engineering positions. By 1996, he was the general manager of layout in advanced engineering as well as in charge of the Renault platform strategy. In 1998, he was named project director for the Megane and Scenic range and by 1999 was appointed the program director of all C-segment cars, a position he held for the next five years.
Mr. Tavares joined Nissan in April 2004 as program director of C platform projects and by December of that same year he was promoted to vice president of product strategy and the product planning division.
Starting in April 2005, Mr. Tavares was named to a series of executive vice president positions with increasing responsibilities. In June 2005 he became a member of the board of directors. Mr. Tavares was appointed to his current position in April 2007.
Michael F. Ableson
Executive Director,
Global Advanced Vehicle Development,
Global Engineering
General Motors Corporation
Michael F. Ableson began his career with General Motors in 1984 as an analysis engineer with GM's Engineering Staff. He quickly moved on to a series of diversified engineering assignments, including that of body structure release engineer with GM's Cadillac Division, and structure and safety integration engineer with the Flint Automotive Division.
A succession of roles with increasing responsibility followed, including an appointment to program engineering manager for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue, a promotion to director of vehicle integration for the Flint Automotive Division in 1994, and an assignment as director of vehicle planning for the Mid-Size Car Division in 1995.
In 1997, Mr. Ableson was again promoted, this time to vehicle chief engineer, Mid-Size Vehicles, and moved to Germany to work on initial development of the Epsilon architecture for GM's mid-size vehicles. After returning to North America in 1999, Mr. Ableson continued as vehicle chief engineer for Mid-Size Vehicles until early 2000, when he was appointed vehicle chief engineer for a hybrid vehicle program.
In 2001, Michael Ableson was named vehicle chief engineer, Small Trucks, with his responsibilities expanding the following year when he assumed the position of vehicle chief engineer, Small and Mid-Size Trucks.
Mr. Ableson was then called upon to combine his wide range of engineering expertise with his global experience to become vehicle chief engineer for Advanced Vehicle Development and Global Product Development in 2003, where he led the formulation and development of global vehicle architectures at the company. He currently is executive director for Global Advanced Vehicle Development, leading an international team on architecture strategy and advanced vehicle development.
Mr. Ableson earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1982 and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkley, in 1984.
Michael M. Brylawski
Vice President and Practice Leader
Mobility / Vehicle Efficiency Practice
Rocky Mountain Institute, Inc.
Michael Brylawski founded and leads the RMI MOVE practice, bringing established thought leadership, strategic advising, and new venture creation in the green mobility space. He was among the first to publish, in the 1990s, on the emergence of lightweighting and electrification (particularly hybrids) as dominant trends in the automotive sector, and heads MOVE's research on reducing oil consumption through technology and business innovation.
At RMI, Mr. Brylawski advises organizations -- big and small -- on technology, product, and organizational strategy.
As MOVE's Practice Leader, Mr. Brylawski oversees all of the team's research and consulting projects, and manages the team's strategic partnerships. He directs the strategy and direction of MOVE research in areas such as vehicle-to-grid, vehicle lightweighting, and aviation efficiency.
Mr. Brylawski has turned his insights in green mobility into two successful startup ventures, co-founding lightweight materials developer FiberForge and plug-in hybrid technology company Bright Automotive. In addition to his market focus on green transport, he brings functional expertise in whole-systems design, advanced market research, technology strategy, innovation management, competitive analysis, and financial modeling.
Michael Brylawski has a masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a masters in Business Administration from MIT Sloan and a bachelors in Earth Systems Science from Stanford University.
Karla Butler
Automotive Marketing Director - Americas
DuPont Automotive Performance Materials
As DuPont Automotive Performance Materials marketing director in the Americas, Karla Butler is responsible for leading the team of designers and engineers who work throughout the value chain to develop new components and systems using the company's extensive portfolio of engineering plastics. Based in Troy, Michigan, she also leads automotive market development activity with other DuPont businesses in electronics, advanced fibers, glass laminating products and OEM coatings.
Ms. Butler also leads initiatives to bring to the automotive market a growing number of Renewably Sourced material solutions and Advanced Metals Replacement technologies, which today includes SuperStructural thermoplastic solutions and MetaFuse(TM) nanometal/polymer hybrids - a new metal-over-plastics nano-coating technology used to manufacture extremely lightweight components that offer strength and stiffness of metal and design flexibility inherent with plastics.
Ms. Butler joined DuPont in 1990 as part of the field engineering program, an early-career engineering and leadership development program, where she held a variety of manufacturing and leadership assignments in the DuPont fibers business.
Two years later, Ms. Butler joined the Engineering Polymers business where she held several leadership and management positions that helped her earn extensive experience in strategic planning, product management and market development for the consumer, industrial and automotive industries. Ms. Butler was asked to lead the Americas automotive group in 2008.
Ms. Butler was certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt in 2004 and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1989.
Jaycie Chitwood
Senior Strategic Planner,
Advanced Technologies Department
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Jaycie Chitwood is the senior strategic planner, Advanced Technologies Department at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota's Advanced Technologies, or "Environmental Vehicles," group works on the long-term product and market development for advanced-technology and alternative-fuel vehicles.
In addition to developing demonstration and research programs for advanced technology vehicles, Ms. Chitwood is responsible for evaluating and communicating the environmental impact of various fuels and vehicle technologies, based on a life-cycle impact assessment; developing corporate partnerships that focus on environmental stewardship; and investigating non-vehicle-related CO2 mitigation strategies. She also develops sustainability education and outreach programs within several U.S. National Parks, and coordinates waste management and renewable energy projects in the Galapagos Islands with the World Wildlife Fund.
Jaycie Chitwood joined Toyota's Long Range Planning group in 2000, after completing her MBA at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining Toyota, she worked for many years in various capacities within the oil & gas industry, from supply/demand and retail marketing analysis, to pipeline logistics, to domestic crude oil trading.
Susan M. Cischke
Group Vice President, Sustainability,
Environment and Safety Engineering
Ford Motor Company
Susan M. Cischke is group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, effective April 1, 2008.
Ms. Cischke is responsible for establishing Ford Motor Company's long range sustainability strategy and environmental policy. She will help develop the products and processes necessary to satisfy both customers and society, and be Ford's chief liaison with global organizations seeking solutions to the challenges of sustainability, environmental stewardship and energy independence.
In addition, Ms. Cischke is responsible for influencing future environmental and safety regulations and assuring that Ford Motor Company meets or exceeds all safety and environmental regulations worldwide.
Sue Cischke was named senior vice president in April 2007. She has served as Ford's top environmental and safety officer since January 2001. In that role, she has been responsible for establishing Ford's long term safety strategy, promoting aggressive standardization of product technology features delivering real world safety benefits. As Ford's chief safety officer, she leads the Driving Skills for Life program, a partnership between Ford Motor Company and the Governor's State Highway Traffic Association that teaches safe driving technique to teens.
Prior to joining Ford, Ms. Cischke was senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs and Passenger Car Operations at DaimlerChrysler. She began her career at Chrysler Corporation in 1976 and held various engineering positions until 1994 when she was named general manager of Scientific Labs and Proving Grounds. In 1996, she was named vice president of Vehicle Certification, Compliance and Safety Affairs.
In 2008, the Automotive Hall Fame honored Cischke with its Distinguished Service Citation. In 1997, Cischke received the Horace H. Rackham Award for outstanding humanitarian achievements from the Engineering Society of Detroit, the first woman in the society's 102-year history to win the award. She has been twice named one of Automotive News 100 Leading Women and was chosen as one of Crain's Detroit Business Most Influential Women.
Ms. Cischke earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She also holds master's degrees in mechanical engineering and management from the University of Michigan - Dearborn.
Dr. Eladio Knipping
Senior Technical Manager, Environment
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Dr. Eladio M. Knipping is a Senior Technical Manager in the Environment Sector of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). His principal research activities focus on evaluating the origin and fate of environmental pollutants, with emphasis on gases, particulate matter and the atmospheric deposition of acids and nutrients. Dr. Knipping is also involved in several cross-discipline initiatives evaluating the impacts of emerging technologies, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and distributed energy resources, on the electric sector and the environment.
Dr. Knipping served as a principal researcher and author of the Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational Study in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Assessment of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Dr. Knipping received his BS degree in civil engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). He received both his MS degree in environmental engineering and his PhD degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Irvine.
Timothy M. Manganello
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BorgWarner Inc.
Timothy M. Manganello has been chairman and chief executive officer of BorgWarner Inc. since June 2003.
Mr. Manganello began his career in the automotive industry in 1973. He was named to his current position in February 2003, after having served for one year as president and chief operating officer. Prior to holding the position of COO, he was executive vice president of the company and served as president and general manager of BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems from January 1999 to 2002.
He joined the company in 1989 as vice president of marketing and sales for BorgWarner Morse TEC. In 1994, he assumed the position of vice president business development for BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems. In 1995, Mr. Manganello became vice president of operations of TorqTransfer Systems' Muncie facility.
Before joining BorgWarner, Mr. Manganello held product engineering management positions at Chrysler Corporation from 1973 to 1981, and sales management positions at PT Components-LinkBelt from 1981 to 1988.
Mr. Manganello holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and is a graduate of the Chrysler Institute program.
Dr. Patrick Oliva
Corporate Vice President,
Prospective and Sustainable Development
Michelin
Patrick Oliva is a chemical engineer with a doctorate in physical sciences, and a graduate from Institut d'Administration des Entreprises.
From 1975 to 1978, he lectured at Institut de Préparation aux Etudes Supérieures in Paris.
Beginning in 1979 and continuing until 1981, he was a research engineer at SAFT, Bordeaux.
In 1982, he joined Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand as an engineer at the Technology Center. By 1986 he moved to the United States to serve as personnel manager for the Greenville, S.C., Research Center, a position he held for two years.
Dr. Oliva returned to France in 1989 and worked in R&D for the next six years. In 1996, he was appointed corporate vice president, communications, for the Michelin Group and followed that in 2001 by being named corporate vice president, group projects, and secretary general of the Group Executive Council.
In January 2008, he assumed the position he holds today as corporate vice president, in charge of prospective and sustainable development.
Lou Rhodes
Vice President - Advance Vehicle Engineering and President - ENVI
Chrysler LLC
Lou Rhodes was appointed vice president - Advance Vehicle Engineering and president - ENVI in March 2008. In this position he leads the teams that are responsible for engineering Chrysler products in the early stages of design, including Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), Advanced Vehicle Concepts and Innovation and Government Collaboration. Mr. Rhodes also serves as president - ENVI, a company within Chrysler LLC, which is responsible for bringing electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies to market. Mr. Rhodes reports to Frank Klegon, executive vice president - Product Development.
Prior to this position, Lour Rhodes was director - Advance Vehicle Concepts & Innovation, leading Chrysler's strategic program verification process in the early stages of development. Mr. Rhode's responsibilities also included architecture and platform strategy, Chrysler's Pacifica Studio Engineering in California and Chrysler's concept vehicle engineering and fabrication groups (Chrysler ME Four-Twelve, Jeep Hurricane, and Dodge Tomahawk).
Lou Rhodes has ten U.S. Patents, including Stow-n-Go seating and storage concept. He received a bachelor of science and engineering from Western Michigan University in 1983.
Gregg Sherrill
Chairman and CEO
Tenneco
Gregg Sherrill is chairman and CEO of Tenneco Inc., a $6.2 billion manufacturer of emission control and ride control components and systems. With approximately 21,000 employees worldwide and 80 facilities in 23 countries, the company serves all major
vehicle manufacturers and replacement market customers around the world.
Prior to joining Tenneco in January 2007, Mr. Sherrill was with Johnson Controls, Inc., a leading automotive equipment and systems supplier. He joined Johnson Controls in 1998 and served most recently as president of the Power Solutions group, the company's global automotive battery business, which includes both OE and aftermarket businesses. He assumed leadership of the global battery business in 2003.
Previously, he was group vice president and managing director of Europe, South Africa and South America for Johnson Controls' Automotive Systems Group, which produces seating and interiors for original equipment manufacturers. While with Johnson Controls, Mr. Sherrill also served as vice president and general manager for the company's North American automotive operations. In this role, he was responsible for approximately 90 manufacturing plants supplying automotive seating and interior components.
In addition to extensive experience in the automotive supply industry, Mr. Sherrill's background includes 22 years with Ford Motor Company. During his career with Ford, he held a broad range of engineering and manufacturing positions including managing the company's Dearborn, Michigan engine plant and serving as Ford's director of Supplier Technical Assistance.
Gregg Sherrill holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Indiana University's Graduate School of Business.
David Vieau
President and CEO
A123Systems
David Vieau is the President and CEO of A123Systems, one of the world's leading suppliers of high-power lithium ion batteries with breakthrough patented Nanophosphate(TM) technology.
Mr. Vieau has served as A123Systems only President and CEO, joining the company in March of 2002, three months after the company's initial financing. He brings more than thirty years of experience and leadership in developing rapid-growth technology and component businesses. Applying his expertise to A123Systems, Mr. Vieau has led the expansion of A123 from its initial creation to currently more than 1,200 employees, and through more than $250 million in private financing.
Prior to A123Systems, Mr. Vieau held corporate officer positions at American Power Conversion [NASDAQ: APCC], serving as VP of Marketing and VP of Worldwide Business Development. During his nine years at APC, Mr. Vieau helped grow the company from $50MM to $1.5B, becoming the world leader in power protection for PC and IS markets and employing 6,000 globally.
Mr. Vieau serves as a Board Member for Avocent, a leading global provider of IT infrastructure management solutions for enterprise data centers. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1972.
Kyle Williams
Director, Automotive Systems Integration
Robert Bosch LLC
Kyle Williams is the director of automotive systems integration for Robert Bosch LLC. In this role, he is responsible for defining the strategic direction for cross-divisional Bosch technologies and systems for the North American automotive market.
Since joining Bosch in 1999, Mr. Williams has held various engineering and management positions with increasing responsibility in automotive safety electronics development and advanced technology product marketing at the Bosch site in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Prior to joining Bosch, Mr. Williams held positions in safety electronics engineering and program management at Siemens Automotive from 1996 to 1999, and research and development of military laser and radar technologies at Dynetics, Inc. from 1990 to 1996.
Mr. Williams earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Prior to receiving his engineering degrees, Mr. Williams served four years in the United States Marine Corps.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and Toastmasters International. He has also authored four patents since joining Bosch.
Dr. Eric F. M. (RIck) Winter
Operations Director, Developments
Alcoa Technical Center
Rick Winter is operations director, development at Alcoa Technical Center (ATC), a position he assumed in 2005. Mr. Winter has extensive experience in product development/engineering and its management, especially in aerospace and automotive. His leadership was instrumental in the design/engineering of the Audi A8 spaceframe, the Ferrari models and several other automotive applications in service worldwide.
Most recently Mr. Winter served as president of Alcoa Automotive Engineering, part of AlcoaÕs automotive business, responsible for providing engineering development services to both Alcoa businesses and the global automotive industry. He also was accountable for operations of AlcoaÕs automotive assembly and fabrication facilities. Alcoa Automotive Engineering has offices at ATC, Detroit, and Esslingen, Germany. Alcoa Automotive Assembly and Fabrication has plants in Modena, Italy; Kofem, Hungary; Northwood, Ohio; and Auburn, Indiana.
Mr. Winter has been based at ATC since he joined the company in 1980 as an engineer conducting research on aluminum applications for the aerospace and automotive industries. In 1987 he became senior technical supervisor and in 1992 was named manager, Automotive Product Development. In 1997, he became vice president, Design and Engineering for the Alcoa Automotive Structures business, where he led worldwide automotive structural product development activities and was responsible for three global design offices. He was named president of Alcoa Automotive Engineering in 1999 and vice president, Operations for Automotive Assembly and Fabrication in 2003.
Rick Winter attended the University of Pittsburgh where he received a BS, MS and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and was named Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Graduate of 1978 by the university.
Dr. Blake Zuidema
Director, Automotive Product Applications
ArcelorMittal
Dr. Blake K. Zuidema received his Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984. After working six years in research and development in the aerospace investment castings industry, Dr. Zuidema joined the former National Steel Corporation in 1990 where he held management positions in primary steelmaking and steel finishing research. In 2001, Dr. Zuidema was promoted to director, Center for Product and Applications Development, a position which expanded his responsibilities to include development of new products and new product applications for all of National Steel's major markets, including Automotive, Construction, Container, Appliance, and General Sheet.
Dr. Zuidema joined ArcelorMittal's Automotive Product Applications Division in 2003 as a staff consultant, was promoted to manager of the division in 2004, and then to director in 2005. In his present position, Dr. Zuidema and his team have global responsibilities for identifying new automotive product needs, piloting their development in the mill, breaking down the barriers to their application, and promoting applications of new and existing automotive products to the automotive OEM and supplier communities. He is also a member of ArcelorMittal North America's product development steering board.
Dr. Zuidema is an active participant in the American Iron and Steel Institute, Automotive Applications Committee and serves on several Auto/Steel Partnership advisory committees.
Speakers subject to change without notice.
