Linda Theisen, 49
Vice President, Purchasing, Fisker Automotive
First automotive job: General Motors manufacturing operations trainee, 1983.
Proudest professional achievement: Successfully navigating Metaldyne through bankruptcy.
Current challenge at work: Launching an all-new electric vehicle for an all-new company.
On starting with Fisker Aug. 23: I hope I am about to embark on my dream job. Cool product [and an] energized team of highly skilled automotive professionals who are trying to do something new in the automotive space. The excitement at Fisker is contagious. To be part of such a game-changing endeavor in a gorgeous part of the country is as close to a dream job as I could have hoped for.
What you do to relax: Hanging out with my family. We have three children: girls, 22 and 19; and a son, 17. And golf and running. I've done some 5k and 10k runs, and I'm in training to do a half-marathon this year.
-- Jesse Snyder