Speakers

Robin J. Adams Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer BorgWarner Inc.

Robin J. Adams is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of BorgWarner Inc. He also serves as a member of BorgWarner’s Board of Directors and on the Supervisory Board of Beru AG.

Prior to joining BorgWarner in April 2004, Mr. Adams was Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer at American Axle and Manufacturing, Inc. He was previously with BorgWarner for 13 years where he served as Vice President & Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer.

Adams holds a BA in Business Administration from North Park University in Chicago and an MBA from DePaul University and he is a certified Public Accountant.

José Maria Alapont Chairman, President and CEO Federal-Mogul

José Maria Alapont is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Federal-Mogul Corporation. He brings to Federal-Mogul more than 30 years of global leadership experience in both the automotive manufacturer and supplier industries.

Prior to joining Federal-Mogul on March 1, 2005, Mr. Alapont was chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at IVECO – the commercial vehicle company of the Fiat Group with 2004 sales in excess of 9 billion (Euro). Under his leadership, IVECO, one of the world’s largest manufacturers in the transport sector, consistently achieved profitable sales growth and realized significant efficiency gains.

Between 1997 and 2003, Mr. Alapont held several leadership roles at Delphi Automotive Systems, one of the world’s largest and most diversified suppliers of automotive systems and components. He began his career at Delphi as executive director, energy and chassis systems. Soon after he was promoted to president, Europe, Asia and Middle East, at which time he became a member of the Delphi Strategy Board, the company’s top policy-making group. In 2003, Mr. Alapont was president of international operations and vice president of sales and marketing.

From 1990 to 1997, Mr. Alapont served in a variety of key positions at Valeo Group – a leading global automotive supplier. He started at Valeo as operations director of engine cooling systems, Spain, and thereafter became operations director for worldwide heavy-duty engine cooling systems. He was subsequently promoted to group vice president of worldwide clutch operations, and group vice president of worldwide lighting systems.

A native of Spain, Mr. Alapont began his career at Ford Motor Company in 1974 and over the course of 15 years held a number of management positions, from quality and manufacturing at Ford of Spain to powertrain and purchasing at Ford of Europe.

Mr. Alapont earned degrees in industrial engineering from the Technical School of Valencia and in philology from the University of Valencia, in Spain.

John A. Casesa Managing Director & Global Coordinator, Automotive Research Merrill Lynch

John Casesa is Global Coordinator for Automotive Research and a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch. He joined Merrill in 1999 and has been an analyst since 1989. He advises clients on investments in automobile manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and related businesses. Before Wall Street, Mr. Casesa was a member of GM’s Marketing and Product Planning staff at the company’s Detroit headquarters.

Mr. Casesa has earned high rankings in industry surveys, including Greenwich, Reuters, Institutional Investor and Buyside magazines. He leads Merrill Lynch’s innovative series of Automotive Idea Summits, which have focused on a range of topics from public policy issues affecting the auto industry, productivity trends at world automakers, the evolving OEM/supplier relationship, and the transformation of vehicle retailing. Mr. Casesa also hosts Merrill’s annual global conference in conjunction with the Geneva Auto Show.

Mr. Casesa has addressed numerous automotive industry conferences including: the University of Michigan’s Management Briefing Seminar in Traverse City, the SAE Global Product Development Conference, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association Annual Conference. He has also addressed the top management of several automakers.

He is a past member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) User Advisor Council, the New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) Research Analyst Qualification Exam Committee, and is a past president of the Automotive Analysts of New York.

He holds a B.S. from St. Mr. Casesa’s University and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

Craig Cather President & CEO CSM Worldwide, Inc.

Craig Cather is President and Chief Executive Officer of CSM Worldwide, Inc. CSM specializes in automotive industry forecasting and market intelligence and has offices and affiliates in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Shanghai and São Paulo. CSM works with more than 420 vehicle manufacturers and suppliers around the world.

Prior to founding CSM in 1991, Mr. Cather was Vice President of Engineering Management Associates, a project management firm which works closely with General Motors’ Lansing Automotive Division. He also played a key role in establishing ELM International, an automotive research firm, where he held the position of Director of Marketing.

Mr. Cather has a BA degree from Michigan State University and a Masters of International Management degree from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). He has been a guest speaker at a variety of automotive events for organizations such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Automotive & Transportation Interiors, the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Lawrence Technological University. He is also regularly quoted in a wide variety of business and trade journals including the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg Business News, the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, Ward's Automotive Reports, Automotive News, and others.

Mr. Cather is Past President and Board Member of the Society of Automotive Analysts and an affiliate member of the Original Equipment Supplier Association (OESA) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Susan M. Cischke Vice President, Environmental and Safety Engineering Ford Motor Company

Susan M. Cischke (pron. SIS-key) is Vice President, Environmental and Safety Engineering for Ford Motor Company, a position she has held since January 2001.

As Ford's top environmental and safety officer, Cischke is responsible for assuring that Ford Motor Company products meet or exceed all safety and environmental regulations worldwide. She helps shape corporate policy and works with global regulators on issues ranging from carbon dioxide emissions to pedestrian safety. Cischke also leads the Driving Skills for Life program, a partnership between Ford Motor Company and the Governor's State Highway Safety Association that teaches safe driving techniques to teens.

Prior to joining Ford, Cischke was senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs and Passenger Car Operations at DaimlerChrysler. She began her career at Chrysler Corp. 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.

Cischke serves on the board of the Chicago Climate Exchange and the board of trustees for Oakland University's Alumni Association. She is also serves on the board of the Traffic Improvement Association of Oakland County and is a member of the University of Michigan College of Engineering National Advisory Committee. 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 named one of Automotive News 100 Leading Women and named one of Crain's Detroit Business Most Influential Women. She also was awarded the Detroit News Business Women of the Year award.

Cischke is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Engineering Society of Detroit and the Women's Economic Club. She also serves on the Women's Economic Club Leadership board and is chair of the Women's Initiative for the United Way of Southeast Michigan.

Born in Detroit, Cischke earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. She also holds master's degrees in mechanical engineering and management from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

William G. Diehl Principal, COO & Automotive Group Lead BBK Ltd.

As BBK’s Automotive Group Lead, Bill Diehl has helped them become a leading provider of supply base management services. He manages strategic partnerships with automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers, including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Visteon, Delphi and Johnson Controls, encouraging them to be both creative and proactive.

Mr. Diehl forges productive relationships in business turnaround or revitalization situations, resulting in maximal outcomes for OEMs, suppliers, investors, lenders and other involved parties. He has expanded BBK’s global presence by securing and supervising engagements across Europe and is frequently asked to speak before professional associations and global institutional investor groups.

Mr. Diehl has nearly three decades of experience in direct management of manufacturing firms, including acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, labor negotiations, crisis management and turnarounds. As VP/Finance, CFO/COO of Mica Resources, Ltd., he implemented a corporate restructuring plan, reduced property taxes by more than 75% and saved $250,000 in the liquidation of a subsidiary. As VP/Finance, CFO of Edwards Industries, Inc., he negotiated the liquidation and sale of two entities resulting in over $1,000,000 savings and succeeded in reducing employee benefits costs by $500,000 annually. As VP/Finance, CFO of The Dollar Corporation, he restructured the organization at both entity and departmental levels, developed and implemented acquisition strategies, negotiated contracts with the UAW, and reduced benefit plan costs (while improving benefit levels).

Mr. Diehl has an accounting degree from Wayne State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University. He is a certified turnaround professional and a certified public accountant in the State of Michigan.

Joe W. Eberhardt Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing Chrysler Group

Joe Eberhardt was named Executive Vice President - Global Sales and Marketing, Chrysler Group, effective June 1, 2003. In this capacity, he is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and service of Chrysler Group vehicles.

Eberhardt moved to Auburn Hills following a successful term as President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler UK Ltd. Beginning in November 1999, he led the organization responsible for the marketing, distribution and servicing of Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep® and smart cars, as well as Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi Canter commercial vehicles.

Under his leadership, DaimlerChrysler passenger vehicle unit sales in the United Kingdom more than doubled in a stable market. Through industry-leading retail network initiatives across all brands, dealer profitability improved at the same time.

Eberhardt originally joined Mercedes-Benz in Germany in 1982 as part of a work study program while a student at the Academy for Administration and Economics in Stuttgart. Following his studies, he joined the company in a full-time capacity in 1985 as a Business Analyst and subsequently as Assistant to the Director of Export.

Dean H. Eisner President and Chief Executive Officer Manheim

Dean H. Eisner is president and chief executive officer of Manheim. Prior to his role at Manheim, he served as vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises, Inc for five years, responsible for strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, new media, and corporate marketing.

Eisner joined Cox Enterprises in February 1992 as managing director of Cox International, where he was responsible for evaluating, developing, and directing Cox investments in foreign markets for the company’s cable, broadcasting, newspaper, and auto auction businesses. He also managed the company’s strategic approach to investments abroad, their integration with domestic operations and the various international relationships required to effectively conduct business in overseas markets.

In 1993, Eisner was named treasurer of Cox Enterprises, where he was responsible for management of the company’s investment assets, pension funds, and debt. In addition, he directed all aspects of the treasury function, including fundraising, cash management, foreign exchange, pension plan investment, and banking relationships, as well as the travel and fleet departments.

Prior to Cox, Eisner served as managing director of AGB Market Information in London; general manager of the personal information products division at Sony; director of international marketing and finance at CBS; and product manager at General Electric.

Eisner has served on the boards of American Tower (NYSE: AMT), Agora (London and Warsaw stock exchanges), and several privately held companies. He is a former chairman of EXODUS/Atlanta Cities in Schools and currently serves on the advisory boards of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Hands on Atlanta, and Atlanta Cities in Schools. He is a former board member of the Alliance Theatre Company, Rotary Club of Atlanta, United Way, Jerusalem House, and the Marketing Society (UK), as well as a founding member and chairman of Family Matters, a volunteer initiative for families. Eisner has been an economic development advisor for the Atlanta Regional Commission and has participated in Leadership Atlanta.

Eisner holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in accounting – computer sciences from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.

Karen C. Francis Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Publicis & Hal Riney

Karen C. Francis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at full-service advertising and marketing agency Publicis & Hal Riney, based in San Francisco. Ms. Francis was previously Vice President of Ford Motor Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of ConsumerConnect, responsible for global e-business strategies, customer relationship management, and export operations.

Prior to Ford, Ms. Francis was Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer at publicly-traded Internet holding company Internet Capital Group. Before Internet Capital Group, Ms. Francis held several positions at General Motors, most recently as the General Manager of the Oldsmobile division. Her accomplishments at General Motors led her to being named the “Top Newsmaker of 1999” by the publication Automotive News and a 1998 “Woman to Watch” by Advertising Age. Prior to joining General Motors, Ms. Francis served as Vice President of Marketing at Berol Corporation and was a consultant at Bain & Company. She began her career at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ms. Francis’ civic involvement includes service work with several charities, as well as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Ms. Francis is also an active partner in Limerick Lane Cellars, a winery in Healdsburg, California, which produces award-winning estate bottled Zinfandel and Syrah. She earned an A.B. degree from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

Mark P. Frissora Chairman and CEO Tenneco

Mark P. Frissora, 49, is Chairman and CEO of Tenneco, the $4.2 billion global manufacturer of Monroe® brand ride control and Walker® brand emission control products and systems. With approximately 19,000 employees and more than 90 facilities in 23 countries, the company serves all major vehicle manufacturers, as well as replacement markets around the world.

Mr. Frissora has more than 27 years of automotive related experience in the aftermarket and original equipment businesses.

He was elected to his present position in March 2000 after serving as president and CEO. During his tenure, the company has significantly improved its operating efficiency and financial performance. In 2004,the stock price increased 158% year-over-year, outpacing the performance of the major stock indices and peer companies. Under his leadership, Tenneco earned two 2004 Automotive Industry Shareholder Awards, the industry's top award for auto supply companies. The awards recognize the company for delivering the highest shareholder returns–158% in one year; 745% in three years–of any global automotive supplier.

Earlier as senior vice president and general manager of Tenneco's worldwide Original Equipment business, he significantly increased sales and profitability, as well as developed a new standard for customer relationships. Prior to joining Tenneco in 1996 as vice president of North American emission control operations for Walker Manufacturing, Mr. Frissora served for five years as a vice president at Aeroquip-Vickers Corporation. While at Aeroquip-Vickers, Mr. Frissora was responsible for both Canadian operations and 13 U.S.-based distribution and assembly facilities. From 1987 to 1991,Mr.Frissora held various management positions at Philips Lighting Co., a subsidiary of North American Philips Corp., including director of marketing & product development and director of sales. Prior to Philips, he worked for 10 years in the Lighting Business Group of General Electric Co. Mr. Frissora holds a B. A. degree from Ohio State University and has completed advanced studies at both the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the Thunderbird International School of Management. He is on the board of directors of NCR Corporation and FMC Corporation. He is also a member of The Business Roundtable and, for the last four years, has served on the Automotive Board of Governors for the World Economic Forum. Mr. Frissora also serves on the board of directors of MEMA (Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association) and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the G100,and the Nissan Motor Company’s Suppliers Advisory Council (SAC).

Ron Gettelfinger President UAW

Ron Gettelfinger was elected President of the UAW on June 5, 2002 at the UAW's 33rd Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For six years her served as Director of UAW Region 3, which represents UAW members in Indiana and Kentucky before being elected a UAW Vice President in 1998. As Vice President, Gettelfinger was director of the UAW Aerospace Department and the UAW Ford Department, where he led negotiations in 1999 that focused on "Bargaining for Families."

A member of UAW Local 862 since 1964, Gettelfinger is proud to be called a chassis line repairman. The workers at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant elected Gettelfinger to represent them as a committee person, bargaining chairperson and president, as well as a delegate to the National Ford Council and Sub-Council #2. He was also a member of the UAW national negotiating team during the 1987 Ford negotiations.

Ron Harbour President Harbour Consulting

Ron Harbour, president of Harbour Consulting, has been a key member of the Harbour team since 1983. In addition to directing the company's day-to-day activities, Ron also leverages strategic alliances with outside consulting firms and other business partners in order to better meet customer requirements.

Over the years, Mr. Harbour has successfully led a wide variety of assignments in both automotive and non-automotive industries. He has directed projects for nearly every major automotive manufacturer worldwide, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, KIA, Samsung, Isuzu, BMW, Land Rover and Saab.

Mr. Harbour’s work with both automotive and non-automotive clients has included factory operation improvements, new product development, investment and product cost reductions, product teardowns, strategic planning, competitive analysis, and plant assessments. He also has provided key input in the development of new vehicle programs, common processes, plant layout, long-term manufacturing strategy, supplier improvement and labor strategy.

Mr. Harbour, who personally tours more than 50 automotive manufacturing operations each year, also is one of the principal authors of The Harbour Report, an annual study of automotive manufacturing performance. In addition, he is a regular contributor to a number of industry publications.

Mr. Harbour is a member of the board of directors for the Society of Automotive Analysts and two Tier One automotive suppliers.

Earl J. Hesterberg President and CEO Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Earl Hesterberg currently serves as President and CEO of Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Houston-based Fortune 500 specialty retailer.

Mr. Hesterberg is a 35 year veteran of the automotive industry with extensive experience in both North America and Europe. He is unique in that he has worked with three of the world’s great automobile companies – Ford, Toyota, and Nissan – and has manufacturer, independent distributor, and retailing experience.

In 2004, Mr. Hesterberg served as Group Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford of the Americas where he was responsible for Ford Division, Lincoln-Mercury Division, Ford Customer Service Division, and Ford’s direct overseas markets.

In mid-1999, Mr. Hesterberg was a Corporate Officer for Ford Motor Company serving under Ford of Europe CEO Sir Nick Scheele as Vice President, Marketing, Sales, and Service. He served as part of a management “turnaround” team which took Ford of Europe from losses of more that $1 billion per year profitability. During his 5 and a half year tenure at Ford of Europe, Ford gained significant market share. Mr. Hesterberg also served as a Supervisory Board member for Ford Werke, Ford’s German subsidiary which includes 3 of its major vehicle assembly plants. England based Automotive Management magazine named Mr. Hesterberg the second most powerful person in the United Kingdom’s automotive industry due to his creation of a successful Ford-owned retail network with more than 80 outlets.

In 1998, Mr. Hesterberg was President and CEO of Gulf States Toyota, the independent distributor responsible for Toyota’s operations through 150 dealers in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

In 1996, Mr. Hesterberg was Vice President, Sales at Nissan’s European headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In Europe, he was part of a management team that turned around Nissan Europe from annual losses of more than $500 million to profitability. He served as Chairman of Nissan France, Chairman of Nissan Italy, and Chairman of Nissan Spain and was responsible for Nissan’s wholly-owned retail operations in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hesterberg is probably best known for his 4 year tenure as Vice President, General Manager of Nissan Division from 1991 – 1995. He was named Advertising Age Marketer of the Year in 1993 for leading the launch of the all-new Nissan Altima; a launch described by The Wall Street Journal as the “best new model launch in automotive history”. During his time as the leader of Nissan Division, Nissan sales in the U.S. increased more than 30%. He was also responsible for the creation of the Nissan Xterra product concept which would eventually achieve North American Truck of the Year honors and would mark Nissan’s move into a new range of sport utility vehicles.

In late 1982, Mr. Hesterberg began a 16 year stint with Nissan Motor Company, Limited. He held a variety of parts and service positions including Vice President of Parts and Service for Nissan North America and also served as the first General Sales Manager of Infiniti Division. In this role, he was responsible for establishing Infiniti’s original U.S. dealer body.

Mr. Hesterberg received a B.A. degree in Psychology from Davidson College and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Xavier University.

John Holt President and CEO The Cobalt Group

Predicting the Internet would bring significant change to the way people advertised, bought and sold goods and services, John Holt co-founded The Cobalt Group in 1995. He was co-CEO until January 2000; since then he has served as the company’s sole president and CEO.

Under Mr. Holt’s guidance Cobalt has become a significant partner to the North American automotive industry. Cobalt provides automotive retailing applications and services to more than half the auto dealers in North America and nearly thirty automobile manufacturers. Cobalt’s industry-leading automotive retailing solutions span the customer lifecycle, helping dealers spend their marketing dollars more efficiently while maximizing the value of their prospects and customers.

Mr. Holt has helped Cobalt raise more than $100 million from some of the world’s leading private equity firms, including Warburg Pincus, ABS Capital Partners, and Oak Investment Capital. Cobalt went public in August 1999 and became a private company again in November 2001. Since its inception more than a decade ago, the company has completed seven acquisitions and built its innovative Nitra enterprise software platform to power its automotive retailing applications and services.

Prior to founding Cobalt, Mr. Holt developed an affiliate label-publishing program for IVI Publishing, a multimedia CD-ROM publishing company. He also served as vice president for growth and development at Oceantrawl Inc., an Alaskan fishing company, where he helped grow annual revenues from $1 million to $80 million in less than five years. Mr. Holt spent the early part of his career working in both the public and non-profit sectors.

Mr. Holt received a master's degree from The Yale School of Organization and Management and a bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College.

Len Hunt Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kia Motors America

Len Hunt is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors America (KMA). He joined KMA in October 2005.

Mr. Hunt, a self-proclaimed “car guy,” is a 25-year automotive veteran having spent his career at a number of European manufacturers including Volkswagen, Audi and Jaguar. At KMA, Mr. Hunt is responsible for overseeing all KMA business operations, including sales and marketing, fixed operations and corporate planning.

Mr. Hunt, who is 50 years old, joined Kia from Volkswagen, where he served as Executive Vice President in charge of the VW brand in North America. Prior to his time at Volkswagen, Mr. Hunt was Vice President of Audi of America. As such, he oversaw the sales, marketing and product planning divisions and led Audi through five years of consecutive growth in the U.S. market, establishing the brand as a tier one automotive manufacturer. Mr. Hunt had similar success as Managing Director of Audi UK. During his time at the helm, Audi UK also achieved five consecutive record sales years.

In the United Kingdom, Mr. Hunt also served in various management positions for Jaguar, including worldwide Service Director and UK Operations Director. He started his automotive career at the Rover Group as a university graduate.

Jill Lajdziak General Manager Saturn Division General Motors

Jill A. Lajdziak was appointed Saturn Corporation’s vice president of sales, service and marketing on March 1, 1999, and took on the title of Saturn division general manager in 2004. She is responsible for the brand’s sales, service and marketing operations. Previously, Lajdziak was executive director for Saturn’s Marketing and Retail Network Development, a position she held since July 1997.

Lajdziak joined Saturn in 1986 as manager of retailer selection. In March 1987, Lajdziak became manager of Retailer Network Development, and in 1989 she became regional manager for the central United States. Lajdziak was promoted to executive director of Saturn’s Customer/Retail Operations & Strategies Team in March of 1995.

Lajdziak began her General Motors career at Chevrolet Motor Division in 1980 as district sales manager. She was named Metro District Sales Manager for Chevrolet in 1983 and an Assistant Manager for Merchandising for General Motors in 1984.

Lajdziak also served as staff assistant for Chevrolet Motor Division. Her key assignments involved strategic merchandising activities for passenger cars.

Lajdziak has valuable automotive retail experience, serving as a sales and service representative at a GM dealership. Prior to entering the automotive industry, Lajdziak worked for Elf Aquatatine Norge A/S, an oil company located in Norway.

Lajdziak is a native of Brillion, Wisconsin. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business marketing and management from the University of Wisconsin in 1979.

Keith Lomason Executive Director Magna International, China

In February 2004, Keith Lomason was appointed Executive Director, Magna International, China. His direct experience with China dates back to the early 1980’s, when he was trained as a Chinese Linguist by the US Marine Corps, and had an opportunity to visit the Mainland during a 2 year tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan. After an honorable discharge from the Marines in 1985, Mr. Lomason joined his family run automotive business, Douglas and Lomason Company, where he held positions in Employee Involvement, Production, Material Control, and Factory Management.

In 1993, he visited China on a fact-finding mission, and subsequently was assigned to perform the partner selection and contract negotiations for the formation of a 50/50 Sino-US joint venture founded in February 1996. Mr. Lomason was appointed President of, and managed for 8 years, Shanghai Lomason Automotive, specializing in manufacturing seat frames for the domestic market.

Magna International acquired all of Douglas and Lomason Company in late 1996, including the 50% ownership of Shanghai Lomason Automotive, and the JV subsequently became one of Intier Automotive’s operations. During his 9+ years in China, Mr. Lomason has been active with many different business and trade organizations, including various Chambers of Commerce, and is currently serving a term as a Chairman of the Board for the Shanghai American School.

Elizabeth A. Lowery GM Vice President, Environment and Energy General Motors

Beth Lowery was appointed vice president, Environment and Energy, in October 2001. As GM's chief environmental officer, Ms. Lowery is responsible for GM's environmental and energy policies worldwide. She is also secretary to the Public Policy Committee of the GM Board of Directors and a member of the Public Policy Center global coordination team.

Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Lowery was GM North America vice president - general counsel and a member of the North America Strategy Board (NASB). In that position, she was responsible for managing the delivery of legal services that impact North America and providing legal advice to the NASB. From 1994 to 1997, Ms. Lowery was the practice area manager for the Environmental and Energy practice area of the GM Legal Staff, where she had responsibility for facility environmental matters, mobile emissions and energy initiatives on a global basis.

Ms. Lowery joined GM in 1989 as an attorney and was involved in the development and adoption of the GM Environmental Principles and the mutual endorsement of the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Principles. She has been instrumental in shaping GM's environmental direction since she joined the company.

Ms. Lowery was born on October 24, 1955, in New Britain, Connecticut. She earned a juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from Wayne State University in 1981, where she was an editor of The Wayne Law Review. She earned a bachelor of business administration, cum laude, from Eastern Michigan University in 1978. Before joining GM, Ms. Lowery was a partner in the Detroit law firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, specializing in environmental law. She was a law clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Mennen Williams from 1981 to 1983. In 2002, she completed GM's Senior Executive Program (in partnership with Harvard Business School) and was chosen one of the 100 Most Influential Women by Crain's Detroit Business.

Ms. Lowery is chair of the board of directors for the World Environment Center, an independent, not-for-profit, non-advocacy organization. She also is a member of the board of directors for The Keystone Center, a public mediation and educational organization; and Haven, a nonprofit organization that works to create violence-free homes and communities. In addition, she chairs Inforum, A Professional Women’s Alliance, which focuses on areas critical to leadership effectiveness, personal growth and advancement of women in the workplace. In 2004, Ms. Lowery was elected one of Detroit’s most enterprising women by the Detroit Historical Society and received the same distinction from Corp! magazine. In September 2005, she was named one of 100 leading women of the automotive industry by Automotive News.

Gary Marcotte Senior Vice President of Marketing & eCommerce AutoNation, Inc.

Gary Marcotte is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for AutoNation, Inc. His responsibilities include the company's marketing and eCommerce activities, including the AutoUSA lead distribution subsidiary.

A 25-year veteran of the automotive industry with experience on the OEM side, Mr. Marcotte has been with AutoNation for seven years. During this time he helped to lead several strategic projects, including the Mile High project in Denver which pioneered the consolidation of an entire market to a common brand and common store processes. He was involved in creating the market branding strategy and the move to common process in other markets. During his tenure, he led AutoNation’s eCommerce department and AutoUSA lead distribution network from unprofitability to three consecutive years of profitability and consistent growth.

Mr. Marcotte has a bachelor's degree from General Motors Institute (now called Kettering University) and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

Charles G. “Chip” McClure Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President ArvinMeritor, Inc.

Charles G. “Chip” McClure is chairman of the Board, chief executive officer and president of ArvinMeritor, Inc. Mr. McClure, who has more than 25 years of diverse leadership experience in the motor vehicle industry, most recently served as chief executive officer, president and a member of the Board of Federal-Mogul Corporation, a global supplier of automotive components.

Mr. McClure joined Federal-Mogul in 2001 as president, chief operating officer and a member of the Board. He was promoted to CEO in July 2003. As the leader of Federal-Mogul’s $5.5 billion global business, Mr. McClure helped drive significant improvements in business results, strengthened customer relationships and developed strategic plans to enhance the company’s competitiveness. He was also instrumental in creating an aggressive plan to resolve challenging issues related to the company’s reorganization and planned emergence from Chapter 11.

Prior to joining Federal-Mogul, Mr. McClure served as president, chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Detroit Diesel, a major designer and manufacturer of diesel engines and related products. He joined Detroit Diesel in 1997, after 14 years in a variety of management positions with Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee-based global automotive supplier. In his last role with Johnson Controls, Mr. McClure served as president of the company’s Americas region, with management responsibility for a $3 billion group of 50 manufacturing plants. Before that, he was vice president and managing director of the Johnson Control’s $1 billion European operations. Mr. McClure also served as vice president and general manager of the company’s joint venture activities, as well as its business with Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation.

From 1983 to 1985, Mr. McClure worked at Hoover Universal, which was acquired by Johnson Controls in 1985. He was operations director of material handling products for the newly formed business. Before that, Mr. McClure spent four years at Ford as a heavy-duty truck sales engineer and field service engineer. From 1975 until 1979, he served as a lieutenant (jg) on a U.S. Navy destroyer.

With a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan, Mr. McClure also holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. He is a member of the Business Roundtable and active on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, R.L. Polk and Company, Internet Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and Horizons Upward Bound. Mr. McClure was recently named to the executive committee of A World in Motion, an SAE Foundation that focuses on science education.

James S. McElya Chief Executive Officer Cooper-Standard Automotive

James S. McElya is president and chief executive officer, Cooper-Standard Automotive. Prior to this, he had been a corporate vice president of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and president, Cooper-Standard Automotive.

McElya has over 30 years of automotive experience and was previously president of Siebe Automotive Worldwide, a division of Invensys, PLC. He spent 22 years with Handy & Harman in various executive management positions, including president, Handy & Harman Automotive, and corporate vice president and officer of the parent company.

McElya is a board member of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), a board member of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), and an advisor to the National Alliance for Accessible Golf (NAAG).

He attended West Chester University in West Chester, Pa.

Steve Miller Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer Delphi Corporation

Robert Stevens “Steve” Miller, 63, became Chairman and Chief Executive officer of Delphi Corporation on July 1, 2005. He also serves as chair of the Delphi Strategy Board, the company’s top policy-making group.

Prior to joining Delphi, Miller was the non-executive chairman of Federal-Mogul, and also serves as a director of two other diverse public companies: Symantec and United Airlines. He previously served on the board of Reynolds American and Waste Management, Inc.

Miller began his career in 1968 at Ford Motor Company, and worked for 11 years in a variety of assignments in the United States, Mexico, Australia and Venezuela. In 1979, he joined Chrysler Corporation at the request of then-chairman Lee Iacocca and was the architect of the Loan Guarantee Act that included negotiations with 400 lenders and the U.S. government to secure the bailout of the troubled automaker. He remained at Chrysler for more than a decade, eventually serving as chief financial officer and vice chairman responsible for all staff activities, international automotive operations, and non-automotive operations such as Gulfstream Aerospace.

Miller left Chrysler in 1992 and became a partner in an investment banking firm, advising Olympia & York, a privately held real estate firm, as it restructured more than $20 billion in debt. In 1993, he embarked on a career as a professional corporate director. In the past decade, he has returned to the private sector nine times to serve as a full-time executive in order to guide the recovery of several companies. These included:

1995: Chairman, Morrison Knudsen, an engineering and construction firm.
1996: Acting CEO, Federal-Mogul, an automotive parts maker.
1997: Chairman and CEO, Waste Management, an environmental services firm.
1999: CEO, Waste Management.
1999: President, Reliance Group Holdings, a property and casualty company.
2000: Office of the CEO, Aetna, an insurance services firm.
2000: Interim CEO, Federal-Mogul.
2001: Chairman and CEO, Bethlehem Steel.
2003: Non-executive Chairman, Federal-Mogul.

Miller is a native of Portland, Ore., where his family owned a timber and lumber business. He earned a degree in economics from Stanford University in 1963, and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1966. In 1968, he received an MBA degree in finance from Stanford Business School.

Ralph Nader Consumer Advocate Author of Unsafe at Any Speed

Ralph Nader first made headlines in 1965 with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, a scathing indictment that lambasted the auto industry for producing unsafe vehicles. The book led to congressional hearings and a series of automobile safety laws passed in 1966.

Since 1966, Mr. Nader has been responsible for: at least eight major federal consumer protection laws such as the motor vehicle safety laws, Safe Drinking Water Act; the launching of federal regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Administration; the recall of millions of defective motor vehicles; access to government through the Freedom of Information Act of 1974; and for many lives saved.

Mr. Nader has built an effective national network of citizen groups that have had a major impact in areas ranging from tax reform to nuclear energy to health and safety programs.

Mr. Nader's original research organization is the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Study of Responsive Law. Since 1969, the Center has produced innumerable reports on wide-ranging subjects such as the Interstate Commerce Commission, food safety, pensions, corporate welfare, and government procurement.

Other Nader inspired groups include the Aviation Consumer Action Project, Center for Auto Safety, Clean Water Action Project, Disability Rights Center, Pension Rights Center, Freedom of Information Clearinghouse, and the Congressional Accountability Project.

Mr. Nader also helped establish the PIRGs –Public Interest Research Groups– the student-funded and controlled organizations which function on college campuses in 23 states.

The largest of the Nader organizations is Public Citizen, founded in 1971. The groups under the Public Citizen umbrella include Congress Watch, Health Research Group, Critical Mass Energy Project, Global Trade Watch, and the Litigation Group.

Finbarr J. O’Neill President and Chief Executive Officer The Reynolds and Reynolds Company

Finbarr J. O’Neill was named President and Chief Executive Officer of The Reynolds and Reynolds Company in January of 2005. He also serves on the company’s board of directors.

O’Neill joined Reynolds from Mitsubishi Motors North America, where he had served as president and CEO since 2003. From 1985 until 2003, O’Neill served in a variety of executive positions with Hyundai Motor America. From 1998 until 2003, while serving as CEO of Hyundai Motor America, O’Neill led a significant turnaround that resulted in a 400 percent increase in profitable sales and measurable improvements in marketing and brand image, as well as consumer and dealer satisfaction. During that same time period, sales of Hyundai vehicles soared nearly 300 percent from just over 90,000 units to more than 350,000 units. Earlier in his career, O’Neill was an executive with Toyota Motor Sales USA.

He holds a juris doctor degree from Fordham University, an MBA from California State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University.

O’Neill is the board chairman of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. He is a two-time Automotive News All Star winner and was honored as the BrandWeek 2001 Marketer of the Year.

Jim Press President and COO Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Jim Press is president and COO of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc, and a member of the company’s board of directors. He is also an officer of Toyota Motor North America. In June 2003, Mr. Press was also appointed to serve in a global advisory capacity as managing officer for the parent company Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.

Mr. Press has overall responsibility for sales, marketing and distribution for Toyota and Lexus in the United Sates. He is the first American president of TMS.

Having joined Toyota in 1970, Mr. Press has worked in a wide variety of positions at TMS headquarters, most recently as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He has also worked in the service, marketing, product planning, market representation, advertising and distribution departments. His field experience includes an assignment with Southeast Toyota Distributors, Inc., and he has been a general manager for Toyota’s San Francisco and Cincinnati regions.

Mr. Press was responsible for Toyota's Aviation Business Development Office, which includes AirFlite – a fixed-base operation in Long Beach, Calif. – where he served as president of the company. Mr. Press has also served as senior vice president of corporate planning, and he held the position of senior vice president and general manager of the Lexus Division. In his last position before being appointed executive vice president, Mr. Press was senior vice president and general manager of the automotive operations group. In that position, he was responsible for operations of the Toyota Division, Lexus Division, Toyota Logistics Services and Sales Administration Department.

Mr. Press was the first international automotive executive to chair the industry’s top trade group and he has received the “Distinguished Service Citation Award” from the Automotive Hall of Fame. He also has been named an industry “All-Star” leader by both Automotive News and Automobile Magazine. In 2004, Fortune magazine called him Toyota’s “secret weapon,” saying he “arguably has as much influence over the course of the American auto industry as anyone else alive.”

Along with his work for Toyota, he serves on the Board of Directors for Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM), the Detroit Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago. In addition, Press is a member of the Advisory Board for his alma mater Pittsburg State University and the Switzer Center School in Torrance, Calif. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for both the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and the Chadwick School in Rolling Hills, Calif.

Mr. Press received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Kansas State College (now Pittsburg State University) in Pittsburg, Kan.

David C. Schembri Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

David C. Schembri is the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Mr. Schembri is responsible for all sales and marketing functions. This includes national distribution, regional operations, fleet sales, national and dealer advertising, product development and all marketing operations.

Prior to joining MMNA, Schembri served as vice president of marketing; vice president of smart USA; vice president of sales for Mercedes-Benz USA and vice president/general manager for the New York and L.A. regions. During his 11-year tenure, he was responsible for the successful launches of the Mercedes SL, E-Class, CLK and Maybach. During this time, Mercedes-Benz recorded 11 consecutive record years in new vehicle sales.

Mr. Schembri served in a number of positions at Volkswagen of America for 16 years, including director of dealer financial services, marketing director, manager of national sales operations, manager of field sales and manager of western zone sales. While there, Schembri helped develop and implement a launch plan and advertising campaign for five new products.

Before his tenure at Volkswagen of America, Schembri worked at American Motors Corporation in various functions in their college graduate trainee program.

Mr. Schembri was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Detroit, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s of business administration degree in marketing and finance.

Joseph O. Serra President Serra Automotive

Joseph O. Serra has been president and owner of Serra Automotive since January 2000. He also serves as a board member for the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.

Prior to purchasing Serra Automotive, Mr. Serra served as General Manager and then Dealer Operator of Al Serra Buick-GMC in Grand Blanc, Michigan. In 1992 he became president of Serra Automotive. Today, Serra automotive owns 22 facilities and 28 franchises throughout the United States

Mr. Serra has received numerous awards and recognition including the “Chevrolet National Top 10” award from Chevrolet Motor Division from 1988 thru 2004 and dealer of the Year Award from 2002 thru 2004. In 2005 he became a General Motors National Dealer Council member.

Mr. Serra holds a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College in Albion, Michigan

Art Spinella President CNW Marketing Research, Inc.

Art Spinella was vice president and general manager of CNW Marketing Research, Inc. from 1992 until 2003 when he was named President of the company's automotive division. Mr. Spinella is responsible for new areas of automotive research including the industry's most comprehensive minority market research, the company's monthly Retail Automotive Summary periodical, Month End Summary newsletter, Purchase Path studies, sales forecasting and industry analysis.

Mr. Spinella spent 20-plus years as a newspaper and magazine editor and served a stint at J.D. Power and Associates in the early 1980’s. His automotive-related career began as a reporter for Ward's Automotive Reports and later he was named an editor at various Ward's publications in Detroit, Michigan. He also was the first national editor of California-based Auto Age magazine.

Mr. Spinella served as director of the Nissan USA account for Bob Thomas and Associates Public Relations in Redondo Beach, CA where he wrote speeches for the company's Japanese president and was responsible for new-product introductions and business-story placements.

Thomas T. Stallkamp Industrial Partner Ripplewood Holdings, LLC

Tom Stallkamp is an Industrial Partner with Ripplewood Holdings, LLC, a private equity firm in New York and the founder and Principal of Collaborative Management, LLC, a private business consulting firm. From 2000 to 2004, he was Chief Executive Officer of MSX International, a business outsourcing firm. Prior to becoming vice chairman of DaimlerChrysler Corporation in 1999, Mr. Stallkamp was its president and a member of its board of management. During close to 20 years at Chrysler Corporation, he helped lead the company to new stability and growth in the uncommonly competitive automotive industry.

Mr. Stallkamp became known for developing new business processes and enhanced partnerships with the automotive supply community, thereby improving product quality and cost efficiencies. Under his leadership, Chrysler developed its Extended Enterprise™ concept and introduced SCORE (Supplier Cost Reduction Effort) as a structured approach to work jointly with suppliers in cost, product and process improvements. He is the author of “SCORE – A Better Way To Do Business,” (Wharton School Publishing, 2005) which details how firms can implement collaborative relationships.

Mr. Stallkamp holds a BS in industrial management and economics and a MBA from Miami University (Ohio). He currently serves on the boards of Baxter International, Inc., MSX International, and Honsel International Technologies. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Babson College in Boston and of the Board of Advisors to Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, D.C.

Prakash Telang President TATA Motors

Prakash Telang is president of TATA Motors, a company he has been with for thirty three years. He also serves as a Director on the Boards of M/s Tata Cummins Ltd., Tata Holset Ltd., Automobile Corporation of Goa Ltd. and TAL Manufacturing and Solutions Ltd.

Mr. Telang is responsible for the product development, manufacturing and sales and service functions of light and small commercial vehicles.

In addition he is responsible for the commercial vehicle manufacturing activities of the Pune and Dharwad Plants including; all versions of commercial vehicles, power train aggregates, stamping tools and welding fixtures, and aluminum and iron foundries.

Mr. Telang holds a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from I.I.M Ahmedabad University.

Jan Thompson Vice President of Marketing Nissan North America, Inc.

Jan Thompson is Vice President of Marketing at Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). In that role, she oversees the development and execution of product marketing campaigns and promotions for Nissan and Infiniti.

Thompson joined Nissan in June 2004 from The Designory, where she served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Before heading The Designory for five years, Thompson held senior management positions at the Callaway Golf Co. and Wilson Sporting Goods.

She began her career at Chrysler Corp., where she held a series of field sales positions. Later, she was national marketing manager for Lexus Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., and vice president of marketing and vice president of sales operations at Mazda Motor of America.

Thompson received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing in 1971 from Western Michigan University, and a master’s degree in business administration, marketing / business management, three years later from the University of Detroit.

David L. Treadwell Partner Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy

David Treadwell is a Partner at Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy in Birmingham, Michigan and is currently serving as the President of Eagle-Picher Automotive’s Hillsdale Division.  He has over thirty years of experience providing leadership services to both performing and under-performing companies. His experience ranges from leading numerous acquisitions and dispositions of portfolio companies, to lead responsibility for performance improvement, strategic planning and implementation within the companies.

Before joining Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy, Mr. Treadwell was the Chief Executive Officer of a $1 billion Tier 1 automotive supplier, where he developed and implemented a successful restructuring of the company.  He currently functions as a Director of the restructured company, a European automotive supplier.  Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Prechter Holdings, a management company responsible for a portfolio of businesses with concentrations in the following industries: automotive, print media, ranching and real estate.

Mr. Treadwell received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.  He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute. Additionally, he serves on several corporate Boards of Directors.

Jason Vines Vice President - Communications Chrysler Group

Jason Vines was appointed Vice President - Communications for the Chrysler Group on Dec. 18, 2003.

In this position, he is responsible for Chrysler Group Corporate and Product Communication worldwide, as well as Internal Communication.

Previously, he served as partner and managing director of the Detroit-area office of Strat@comm, a leading Washington-based public affairs firm. Prior to that, Mr. Vines worked with Ford Motor Company as Vice President - Communications. In that role, he led the external and internal communications for Ford and its Premier Automotive Group brands worldwide. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Public Relations, and later, Vice President of External Affairs in charge of public relations and government affairs, for Nissan North America.

Mr. Vines first joined Chrysler in 1983, specializing in labor economics and collective bargaining. In 1989, he joined the Chrysler public relations staff and held a series of product, marketing, safety, environmental, advanced technology and international public relations positions.

While at Chrysler, Mr. Vines served as "executive on loan" for three years to the American Automobile Manufacturers' Association, based in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Vines received a Masters of Arts in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University in 1984 and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Economics and Communications/Theatre from Central University of Iowa in 1982.

Edward T. Welburn GM Vice President Global Design General Motors

Edward T. Welburn was appointed GM vice president, global design, on March 1, 2005. He had been vice president of design, GM North America, since October 1, 2003, when he became only the sixth design leader in GM history.

Welburn began his General Motors career in 1972 as an associate designer in the Advanced Design Studios. In 1973, Welburn joined the Buick Exterior Studio, and in 1975, he joined the Oldsmobile Exterior Studio. There, he led the development of a number of successful designs, including the Oldsmobile Aerotech speed record vehicle, which set two world records of more than 257 miles per hour in 1987.

He was named chief designer of the Oldsmobile Exterior II Studio in 1989. Projects there included the Oldsmobile Antares concept car and the Oldsmobile Intrigue, both of which received AutoWeek magazine awards at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

In 1996, Welburn began a two-year assignment at Saturn, which led to an overseas assignment in Rüsselsheim, Germany, where he worked on future global design programs.

Welburn was named director of GM's Corporate Brand Center in Warren, Michigan, in 1998. His team was responsible for the development of new and innovative vehicles for all GM brands and GM's global partners. Additionally, Welburn's team led development of auto show concept cars, including the Chevy SSR concept and Chevy Bel Air concept. Welburn's team also led design of a new generation of hydrogen fuel cell concepts, the GM AUTOnomy and Hy-Wire.

Welburn was appointed executive director of design, body-on-frame architectures, in January of 2002. In this position, he was responsible for the three truck studios at the GM Design Center in Warren, Michigan.

A native of Philadelphia, Welburn was born on December 14, 1950. He received a bachelor's degree in 1972 from the College of Fine Arts at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied sculpture and product design.