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Prestigious Woman's Organization Honors Chrysler Group Executives


chrysler (select to view enlarged photo)

AUBURN HILLS, MI--April 25, 2012:

  • Inforum's AutomotiveNEXT Inner Circle event held at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum honors influential women business leaders in the automotive industry
  • Event series gives professionals in other industries the opportunity to network with influential women
  • Chrysler Group honorees included Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, and Barbara Pilarski, Vice President - Business Development

Several of the most successful and accomplished women executives in the automotive industry, including two Chrysler Group LLC executives, were honored last week by the women's leadership organization Inforum in an event held at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Inforum is one of the largest and most prestigious business forums for women in the nation, with more than 2,000 members from a broad cross-section of Michigan's business community. The mission of the organization is to strengthen the business environment by creating opportunities for women to lead and succeed.

The event was part of Inforum's Inner Circle series, which is a signature event series that honors women of excellence in their field and gives other professionals the opportunity to meet, network and discuss career experiences and insights with these influential women.

Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Chrysler Group LLC, and Barbara Pilarski, Vice President - Business Development, Chrysler Group LLC, were among the list of women automotive leaders recognized as role models for aspiring woman leaders and those considering careers in the dynamic and increasingly diverse automotive industry.

"Chrysler Group is actively seeking the talented, diverse people we need to compete today and in the future," Rae said. "Talented women need to hear and understand that there are viable paths to career achievement, and that the automotive industry is an outstanding career destination for them."

"We applaud Inforum for creating the platform for aspiring women business leaders to gain the knowledge and insight they'll need to succeed and grow." Pilarski said. "This was a unique opportunity to share my career experiences and to also learn from the talented women who participated in this event."

"Inner Circle is an awards program with a twist that honors women of achievement and helps future leaders build meaningful relationships that will enhance their professional growth through one-on-one networking with accomplished women leaders," said Inforum President and CEO Terry Barclay. "This unique networking opportunity is critically important in giving women in Michigan the career boost they need."

About Chrysler Group's Leadership Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Recognized as a leader in promoting diversity throughout its enterprise, Chrysler Group was named one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine 12 times, and has been recognized six times by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as one of the country's leading corporations supporting diversity and inclusion. Chrysler Group has been named to HispanicBusiness magazine's annual Diversity Elite 60 list for implementing strategies to reach more Hispanic customers and to pursue more business with minority- and Hispanic-owned suppliers.

In 2011 and 2012, the editors of DiversityInc magazine named Chrysler Group to the magazine's list of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity." This coveted annual benchmark is comprised of companies the magazine's editors believe are diversity-management leaders. This was the sixth year since the list was established in 2001 that Chrysler has been included. In 2011 and 2012, Chrysler Group was named among nation's "Top Supporters" of Engineering Programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, recognizing the Company's efforts to develop, recruit and hire talented students pursuing technical careers at the nation's minority-serving institutions.

Over the years, a long line of Chrysler Group employees have received important professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce.

About Inforum

Inforum seeks to strengthen Michigan's business environment by creating opportunities for women to lead and succeed. Inforum provides opportunities for businesswomen to forge alliances, discuss vital civic and business issues and make connections that help accelerate careers. Inforum offers a highly esteemed and successful leadership training program through its non-profit education and research arm, Inforum Center for Leadership.

Inforum was founded as the Women's Economic Club in 1962. The volunteer leadership of the organization voted to change its name in 2005 to better represent its current membership -- women who are IN the know, INfluential, working with an outstanding organization that's a FORUM for women who know that being INformed is a key to leadership success.