Automotive Hall of Fame Recognizes Chrysler Group Executive, Mary Wetzel, as one of the Best and Brightest Young Automotive Leaders

Tenth Chrysler Group Young Leader & Excellence Honoree; and Third Wetzel to be Honored by the Automotive Hall of Fame

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 6 -- Mary Wetzel, Senior Manager, Business Management and Market Intelligence for the Chrysler Group, received the Automotive Hall of Fame's Young Leadership and Excellence Award, an award that recognizes men and women, age 35 and under, who represent the automotive industry's next generation of leadership. Wetzel, one of only four honorees in the 2004 Class of Young Leader & Excellence recipients, was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame at the formal induction ceremony yesterday, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel-Dearborn.

Wetzel, who began her career at Chrysler as a District Manager, becomes the ninth Chrysler Group employee to receive the honor over the past eight consecutive years; and 10th Chrysler Group employee to receive the award since its inception. The Automotive Hall of Fame has honored just 53 young leaders since 1980, all of whom are permanently exhibited at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan. In fact, her sister, Liz Wetzel, an Executive Vehicle Chief Designer for General Motors is a 1998 Young Leader & Excellence Award recipient. Additionally, Mary and Liz's father, Jay Wetzel, a retired GM Vice President and General Manager of GM Technical Centers is a 1998 Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation honoree. According to Wetzel, receiving the award is made more special by the fact all three have been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Throughout her 11 years at Chrysler -- nine of which were spent working directly with dealers -- Wetzel's levels of responsibilities have increased with each new assignment.

In 1998, she was promoted to Zone Process & Training Manager, with the added responsibility for the development of new District Managers. As Chrysler merged with Daimler, Wetzel was promoted to Dealer Development Manager. In this position she created QS9000 "work instructions" standards for working with dealers, and strengthened the dealer franchise network by facilitating "buy/sells" between dealers. Soon after, she took on other management positions, which included Customer Relations, Retail Marketing, Five Star, Dodge Marketing and Retail Incentives. In all of these positions, Wetzel assisted in improving dealership efficiencies which in turn, led to additional customer satisfaction, sales and profitability.

In her current role as Senior Manager, Business Management and Market Intelligence, Wetzel leads a national team that analyzes the U.S. dealerships' financial performance and profitability. The results are used to improve dealership sales performance and earnings in every department, and ultimately to grow and satisfy Chrysler Group's customer base.

"Mary understood that the way to truly create a winning team is through sharing, stewardship and personal interest in the lives of others," says David Slubowski, Manager Field Development, DaimlerChrysler Academy. His business experience with Wetzel spans eleven years and at least a half dozen different positions within DaimlerChrysler. "As a shining example for everyone trying to climb the corporate ladder, Mary's continuing desire to mentor others is indicative of her foresight, character and strategic vision."

"I have had many mentors in my career that have helped me to succeed in work and life," said Wetzel. "I am grateful to those individuals and will continue to reciprocate by mentoring and leading others, striving to make a difference in the automotive industry." This statement is not surprising for someone who began sharing her experience and insight with both peers and younger District Managers while she was in her early 20s.

Wetzel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwood University and holds a BBA, specializing in Automotive Marketing, Automotive Service Management and Business Administration.

Past Chrysler and DaimlerChrysler recipients of the Young Leader & Excellence recognition include:

  Carrie Gray 1980
  James Bonini 1997
  Robert Boniface 1998
  Diana Wagner 1999
  Christopher Borroni-Bird 2000 (now at General Motors)
  Bryan Nesbitt 2001 (now at General Motors)
  Mark Norman 2002
  Ralph Gilles 2003
  Michael Milad 2003