Heinz C. Prechter to Receive Posthumous 2002 Manufacturing Leadership Award At SAE/ESD Foundations Banquet

TROY, Mich., May 14 -- Heinz C. Prechter, chairman and founder of ASC Incorporated, has been named the 2002 Manufacturing Leadership Award recipient. The award will be presented posthumously at the 15th Annual SAE/ESD Foundations Benefit Banquet on Thursday, May 23, at The Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan. Keith Crain from Crain Communications will serve as the emcee for the evening. Reception and exhibits will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www.sae.org/foundation or call 248-273-2480.

"Heinz was a giant in the industry," says Don Ableson, Banquet Chairman and Executive Director, Special Vehicle Activity, General Motors Corporation. "He worked tirelessly to build his company from a garage enterprise to a worldwide operation. Heinz was a man of passion, persistence and persuasion. He used these qualities to not only grow his company; he also invested enormous energy in selfless initiatives such as improving the Downriver area, raising funds for numerous arts, health, and education organizations, and lending his name and support to issues and causes that affected positive change in communities, government and our industry."

The banquet will also feature Detroit area students from elementary school through college. Students will showcase their engineering projects that include those created through SAE's A World in Motion, ESD's Future Cities and SAE's Collegiate Design Program. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their projects with executives from throughout the mobility industry.

The following schools will be participating:

-- Amerman Elementary -- Lowrey Middle School -- Birney Middle School -- St. John Lutheran -- Derby Middle School -- Dearborn Center for Math, Science & Technology -- Kettering University -- Lawrence Tech -- University of Michigan, Dearborn

Proceeds from the benefit banquet will be applied toward SAE and ESD educational programs designed to promote students' interest in math and science.