Southeast Michigan Technology Leaders Recognized at Fifth Annual Automation Alley Awards Gala

/ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 7 A.M. EDT SATURDAY, SEPT. 24/

Dauch Takes Top Honor

/ADVANCE/ DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 24 -- Automation Alley, which drives the growth and image of Southeast Michigan's technology economy, announced the winners of its Fifth Annual Awards Gala at the Ford Conference and Event Center on Friday, Sept. 23. Award winners include Richard E. Dauch, American Axle & Manufacturing, (Detroit), as Legend CEO and John Sanderson of Siemens VDO Automotive Corp., (Auburn Hills, Mich.), as CEO of the Year.

According to Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley, Dauch was chosen as Legend CEO for his distinguished leadership in the automotive industry. Dauch holds more than 40 years of experience and has received many awards for his outstanding leadership skills. In 2003, Dauch received the Harvard Business School of Michigan Business Statesman Award. His automotive experience includes positions as executive vice president of worldwide manufacturing at Chrysler, and group vice president of Volkswagen of America, where he helped launch the first major automotive transplant in the United States. In 1999, The Detroit News named him Michiganian of the Year, and in 1996, the Automotive Hall of Fame named Dauch Worldwide Automotive Industry Leader of the Year.

John Sanderson, named CEO of the Year, is responsible for the North American business initiatives of Siemens VDO Automotive. In 2004, under Sanderson's leadership, the company made a $2 million investment to transform the supplier's former machining and tooling shop in Auburn Hills, into a 5,000 square-foot fuel validation test center. This investment reinforced the company's image as a technological leader in the automotive world.

"The awards are a way to honor our talented technology leaders who lead the path to technological growth in Southeast Michigan," said Rogers. "Their accomplishments are significant, and they are moving us forward as a region."

  Additional award recipients include:
  *  Emerging Leader of the Year (2005 New Category): Dr. K. Joel Berry,
     Kettering University, Flint, Mich.
  *  Technology Company of the Year: DELMIA, Auburn Hills, Mich.
  *  Emerging Technology Company of the Year: Infor, Northville, Mich.
  *  Educational Program of the Year: Haas Technical Education Centers
     (HTECs), Gerotech, Inc., Flat Rock, Mich.
  *  Non-Profit Organization of the Year (2005 New Category): Beaumont
     Hospitals, Royal Oak, Mich.
  *  Automation Alley Member of the Year: Dr. Patrick Callaghan,
     AlixPartners, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Winners are chosen based on a nomination package that is reviewed and evaluated by a pre-selected committee.

About Automation Alley

Automation Alley drives the growth and image of Southeast Michigan's technology economy through a collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development initiatives. More than 580 businesses, educational institutions and government entities belong to Automation Alley, covering an eight county area and the City of Detroit. Automation Alley promotes regional prosperity through the Automation Alley International Business Center, which provides business attraction services and exporting assistance; the Automation Alley Technology Center, which brings together businesses, educators and government to help entrepreneurs accelerate technology commercialization; and the GLIMA Network, a state-wide association for individuals engaged with and involved in technology-oriented industries.

For more information, visit http://www.automationalley.com/ .

NOTE TO EDITORS: For high-resolution photographs of the winners, please contact Kim Zitny at +1-248-641-1446 or kzitny@eisbrenner.com .