Detroit Leaders Recognize and Support The Partners-In-Education '98 Gala
30 September 1998
Detroit Corporate and Business Leaders Recognize and Support The Partners-In-Education '98 Gala, Sponsored by SME
More Than $54,000 Donated to Four Local Technical Educational Programs
DETROIT, Sept. 29 -- The Partners-in-Education '98 Gala,
sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), brought together
more than 450 presidents, vice presidents, CEOs, directors, executives and
leaders from world-wide companies to recognize and support four local non-
profit organizations at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Sept. 28. The Gala
raised $54,000 for four technical education programs.
The executive networking reception officially opened Computer Technology
Solutions '98 Conference and Exposition (formerly AUTOFACT). The Gala
benefits the four Partners-in-Education which include the Center for Creative
Studies (CCS); Focus: HOPE Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT); Henry Ford
Academy of Manufacturing Arts & Sciences; and the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers Education Foundation (SME-EF). The evening co-hosts spoke about the
importance of developing a highly skilled, talented and educated workforce.
"Manufacturing is a key economic driver for our region, state and
country," said SME President-Elect Cecil Schneider, who spoke on behalf of
SME's President Alan T. Male. Schneider is manager of Advanced Structure and
Materials Division at Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga.
"Success in manufacturing and business for that matter, will be determined by
an organization's ability to implement new processes and technologies and to
attract and retain a skilled and educated workforce."
Schneider also announced the new partnership with the National Science
Foundation (NSF) to co-fund a limited number of agreement proposals to be
submitted to both NSF's course, curriculum and laboratory improvement program
and the Manufacturing Education Plan (MEP) grants program.
Following Schneider, Frank Ewasyshyn, vice president - Advanced
Manufacturing Engineering at Chrysler Corporation, spoke on behalf of co-host
Dennis K. Pawley, executive vice president for Manufacturing, Chrysler
Corporation about the importance of an educated workforce at Chrysler. "Even
more important than technology is the human aspect. Our people have been the
key to our success -- technology is a tool in their toolbox. At Chrysler, we
call it the power of the platform team approach to vehicle development. SME
provides an excellent forum for helping achieve this excellence in
manufacturing," said Ewasyshyn.
The '98 Gala was supported by several leading corporations. The Platinum
sponsors were Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors
Corporation, Hewlett Packard, IBM, RWD Technologies, Inc., and The Thomas
Group. Gold sponsors included the Metro Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau,
Progressive Tool & Industries and SDRC. Silver sponsors were American Axle,
Compass Group Ltd., Deneb Robotics, Inc., Gencorp, Idetix, Lear Corporation,
Nihon Unisys, Pilgrim Software and SolidWorks.
SME sponsored the Gala with 100 percent of the event's expenses
underwritten by SME. Each Partner received $13,500 for their educational
programs.
Each Partner honored at the Gala represents a broad spectrum of technical
disciplines found in the manufacturing enterprise, targeting various workforce
education levels, be it students, designers, machinists, technicians and
engineers, managers and executives.
CCS, an internationally prominent college of art and design, is best known
for its transportation design program, regarded by many in the automotive
industry as the best in the world.
Focus: HOPE, the actualization of a dream of the late Father Cunningham,
continues to provide technical training and education to young minority men
and women to become competitive members of the global workforce.
Henry Ford Academy for Manufacturing Arts & Sciences is an innovative
public high school that features advanced information and manufacturing
technologies. It is chartered by Wayne County Regional Educational Services
Agency and sponsored by Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield
Village.
SME-EF provides a means of reintroducing applied manufacturing engineering
and technology to curricula in North American colleges and universities. This
is accomplished through Foundation grants for capital equipment, student,
faculty and curriculum development, as well as research initiation support,
in-kind equipment and software gifts, and special awards.
Marking its 21st year, Computer Technology Solutions Conference and
Exposition continues to reflect the changing role of computer-based
technologies in the manufacturing enterprise. With nearly 300 exhibitors and
250 sessions, the Conference and Exposition is the premier forum for
information technology for the manufacturing enterprise.
SME, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., U.S.A., is an international
professional society dedicated to serving its members and the manufacturing
community through the advancement of professionalism, knowledge and learning.
Founded in 1932, SME has nearly 65,000 members in 70 countries. The Society
also sponsors some 275 chapters, districts, and regions, as well as 240
student chapters worldwide.