The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council Announces New Officers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 16, 2006 -- The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) recently elected Richard M. Zygadlo as its third chairman. Zygadlo currently serves as director and executive vice president for automotive lighting and electronics supplier II Stanley Co., Inc., in Battle Creek, Mich. He succeeds Daniel R. Robusto, president and chief operating officer of North American Lighting, Inc. in Flora, Ill.

The MVLC also elected Thomas J. Kelly as the group's vice chairman and Philip L. Fioravante as the council's secretary. Kelly is vice president of sales and marketing for Valeo Sylvania in Dearborn, Mich., while Fioravante is executive vice president for Automotive Lighting North America, LLC and Managing Director, Magneti Marelli USA, the parent company of Automotive Lighting.

As chairman of the MVLC, Zygadlo directs and oversees the council's initiatives to study and assess automotive lighting issues, collaborate with industry and government organizations to support automotive lighting research and assist the group with its efforts to inform the motoring public of the benefits of advanced lighting technologies. In addition, he will provide continued support of MVLC's work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to update automotive lighting-related safety standards.

"Since it was formed in 2003, the MVLC has made great progress in educating the motoring public on advanced automotive lighting technologies and issues," said Zygadlo. "I pledge to continue and build upon these efforts and ensure that the MVLC plays a significant role in helping to enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety."

Zygadlo joined II Stanley in 1991 and has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in quality control, quality assurance and engineering. Prior to his current position, he served the company as the automotive lighting division manager.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science/economics and a Master of Arts degree in higher education administration/student personnel from Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Zygadlo is also a member of the board of directors for II Stanley and for Stanley Electric Co., U.S., in London, Ohio.

The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council is a coalition of the leading global automotive lighting and component manufacturers and related education and research institutions committed to bringing new lighting advancements to market in order to increase vehicle performance and vehicle and pedestrian safety.

MVLC's members represent a market segment valued at approximately $2.2 billion and produce nearly 100 percent of the headlamps used for vehicles manufactured and sold in North America.

The Council -- a product line group of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) -- supports ongoing research initiatives to improve the understanding of headlight glare and to inform the motoring public on lighting issues and emerging technologies. For more information, visit http://www.mvlc.info/ .

NOTE TO EDITORS: Zygadlo is a native of Paw Paw, Mich. and currently resides in Lawton, Mich. An electronic image of Zygadlo is available by contacting Cindy Carey at +1-248-269-1122 or ccarey@bianchipr.com .