African Americans On Wheels Announces Nominees For Awards
17 December 1999
African Americans On Wheels Announces Nominees For Fourth Annual Urban Wheel Awards
DETROIT, Dec. 17 -- African Americans On Wheels magazine will
present its Fourth Annual Urban Wheel Awards at an invitation-only reception
on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000, beginning at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. The award
ceremony precedes the opening of the North American International Auto Show
(NAIAS) at Detroit's Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center.
The Urban Wheel Awards ceremony has become a major attraction for
automotive industry executives. Traditionally, the awards honor professionals
and companies that are champions for diversity in the automotive industry.
Nominees for the 2000 Urban Wheel Awards are:
* Edward Davis Executive of the Year for excellence in leadership.
Nominees include:
* Frank Fountain, senior vice president of government affairs,
DaimlerChrysler Corp.
* Roderick D. Gillum, vice president of corporate relations and
diversity, General Motors Corp.
* Roy Roberts, group vice president, General Motors Corp.
* Anthony Snoddy, president, Exemplar Manufacturing Company
* Vehicle of the Year for exceptional value, utility and performance for
urban motorists.
* The winner will be based on a point system constructed by an
independent panel of automotive journalists.
* Minority Supplier of the Year for quality achievement in the auto
industry by a minority-owned company. Nominees include:
* Alpis, L.L.C.
* Exemplar Manufacturing Company
* Gilreath Manufacturing, Inc.
* MPS Group
* Paper Plas, Inc.
* Regal Plastics Company
* Trumark, Inc.
* Thomas Madison, Inc.
* Woman of the Year for a pioneering woman in the industry. Nominees
include:
* Barbara L. Whittaker, executive director of worldwide purchasing,
General Motors Corp.
* Diana Mercer-Pryor, executive director of special supplier relations,
DaimlerChrysler Corp.
* Juanita Bradley, owner, Saturn of Ann Arbor
* Geralda Dodd, president, Thomas Madison
* Dr. Gloria-Jeanne Davis, general manager for opportunity programs
department, Mitsubishi Motors
* Ellanae Henry-Fairhurst, president, Huntsville Dodge
* Company of the Year for achievements in diversity, employment,
marketing, community service, supplier and dealer relations. Nominees
include:
* General Motors Corporation
* Toyota Motor Sales USA
* Jaguar Cars of North America
Award winners will be selected by a panel of automotive journalists
including: Earle Eldrigdge, USA Today; Kathy Jackson, Automotive Marketer;
Warren Brown, The Washington Post; Rosville Embry, Dallas auto freelance
writer; Winfred Cross, North Carolina-based auto freelance writer; Blair
Walker, Baltimore-based auto writer; Ken Chester, president of Motor News
Media Corporation; Brian Armstead, Voice of America; and Ron Stodghill III,
Time magazine.
Corporate Sponsors include: AC Delco, Audi of America, BMW of North
America, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Detroit Edison, The Detroit Newspapers,
Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, GMAC Financial Services,
Hyundai Motor America, Jaguar Cars North America, Mercedes-Benz of North
America, Michigan Chronicle, Mitsubishi Motor Sales, Nissan North America,
Toyota Motor Sales, Volkswagen of America Inc., and Volvo Cars of North
America.
Immediately following the awards ceremony, Auto Industry Diversity
Efforts, the non-profit arm of On Wheels, Inc., will host a Millennium
Celebration for Diversity to benefit the Edward Davis Scholarship Fund.
Proceeds from the celebration will help encourage, assist and mentor students
seeking careers in the auto industry.
African Americans On Wheels is a quarterly supplement to black newspapers
and zoned editions of The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and The Washington
Post. To order tickets to the Millennium Celebration for Diversity, get more
information about Auto Industry Diversity Efforts, or to make a donation to
the Edward Davis Scholarship Fund, please call 877-847-9060 or 313-963-2209.