Education: B.S., chemical engineering, University of Missouri, Rolla; M.S., engineering management, General Motors Institute

First automotive job: Paint process engineer at General Motors' Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant in 1983

Most fun automotive job: Ran the Lansing (Mich.) Craft Centre to build the first commercial electric car, the GM EV1

Proudest achievement: "Launching the (Chevrolet) Cobalt at Lordstown (GM's Ohio assembly plant) on a three-shift launch while we continued to produce the J-car at full volume."

Current challenge: "It's globalization. I have paint and polymers technology - both product and manufacturing - for every country. My challenge is to create a strategy that pulls all countries together to be an asset for us instead of a burden when it comes to technology and the environment."

What about the auto industry surprised you: "As much progress as we've made and as enlightened as we are today, there are still differences of style between men and women in manufacturing. There are games that boys play that women don't."

Job to which you aspire: "I would like to commercialize fuel cell technology. That's not just a technology development job - it's a job that will require a partnership approach with state and federal governments and communities."