Automotive News released its list of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry Sept. 26. Kettering had nine alumnae and three trustees on the list (one trustee is also an alumna).

Image removed. Successful women executives are breaking through barriers and earning a place in the automotive industry's uppers echelons. While none has yet achieved the highest rank in the Big Three, increasingly women hold high level executive positions in them and many are CEO's of major automotive companies.

Bringing a different perspective to the job, dynamic women can, and are, changing the face of the automotive industry and disproving stereotypes of women in the workforce. Jane Warner, president of the Kettering Board of Trustees said in Automotive News that for women to succeed in the automotive industry they need to know "Networking is critical. Drive is critical." She also recommended that women recognize and understand the true needs of their organization.

"Needless to say, it is a great honor to have been chosen as one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. It is particularly heartening to see the number of names submitted and the significant positions women honorees hold. This list represents about 99 more examples of role models than I had as a student and I hope women at Kettering are encouraged to see they can provide leadership in many ways."

The dynamic female executives who are Kettering/GMI alumnae are:

  • Mary Barra '85, executive director of Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering for General Motors
  • Sandra Bouckley '82, plant manager of the Pilot Process Verification Center and Vehicle Test Center for Chrysler Group
  • Jacqui Dedo '84, president of Timken Automotive
  • Elizabeth Griffith '77, vice president of Program Management and Advanced Engineering for Intier Automotive Interiors Inc.
  • Grace Lieblein '83, vehicle chief engineer of Truck Products and Product Development for General Motors
  • Maureen Midgley '95, executive director of Global Paint and Polymers Manufacturing Engineering Group, General Motors
  • Lori Queen '79, vehicle line executive for Small Vehicles at General Motors - Queen was featured in the Detroit News on Oct. 5 in a story called, "Autos run in their blood."
  • Karenann Terrell '85, vice president and CIO for Chrysler Group and Mercedes Benz NAFTA
  • Carolyn Woznicki '85, vice president and general manager of Purchasing for North America at Johnson Controls Inc.

Image removed. Kettering trustees on the list included:
Jacqui Dedo '84
Kathleen Ligocki, CEO of Tower Automotive
Jane Warner, president of Plexus Systems LLC, president of the Kettering Board of Trustees

Written by Dawn Hibbard
810-762-9865
dhibbard@kettering.edu