Panel of Auto Industry Visionaries to Address Dec. 5 IT Forum; The Ann Arbor IT Zone Presents 'Gearing Up: Technology Accelerates in the Auto Industry'
27 November 2000
Panel of Auto Industry Visionaries to Address Dec. 5 IT Forum; The Ann Arbor IT Zone Presents 'Gearing Up: Technology Accelerates in the Auto Industry'
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 27 The Ann Arbor IT Zone today
announced that a panel of auto industry visionaries and technology experts
will provide an overview of future collaborative initiatives at Ann Arbor's
next IT Forum, Tues., Dec. 5 at the Michigan League Ballroom. Commerce One is
sponsoring the panel that includes industry leaders from Covisint, Ford Motor
Company and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM).
From supply chain integration to the vehicle as rolling laptop, technology
is king in the auto industry. Where do technology entrepreneurs, IT
professionals, automotive OEM and supplier managers, and e-commerce and
thought leaders of Southeastern Michigan fit into the picture? Will
automakers be able to deliver a custom-built car in 10 days instead of 60
days? Will Ann Arbor serve as facilitator of the action? A panel of current
industry experts and visionaries will answer these and other questions. The
panel includes:
* Kenneth R Baker, president and chief executive officer, ERIM, who will
serve as moderator.
* Jeff Liedel, manager of Drive Technology Acceleration, Ford Motor
Company.
* Kevin Vasconi, chief technical officer, Covisint.
The panel will discuss key topics including collaborative engineering,
eSupply and eConsumer efforts among the Big Three and all the other companies
involved in getting the rubber to meet the road. The speakers will describe
current efforts to meld traditional business models with Internet models, to
create entirely new consumer marketing methods, to reduce time to market and
to trim component and assembly costs.
At ERIM, Baker is leading a major restructuring of the technology-rich
not-for-profit research institution and is identifying and employing advanced
technologies and business practices to boost customer and shareholder value
for mature companies and start-ups alike. Before joining ERIM, Baker served
as vice chairman and CEO of Energy Conversions Devices, Inc., where he
transformed the enterprise into clearly focused, customer/market-driven
business lines. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering degree from Clarkson University in 1969, Baker spent the next 30
years in various capacities for General Motors Corporation, culminating as
vice president and general manager of the then-forming GM Distributed Energy
Business Unit.
As Ford's manager of Drive Technology Acceleration, Process Leadership,
Liedel is responsible for managing the launch and company wide integration of
"Drive," the Ford/Trilogy joint venture, as well as maintaining the existing
momentum associated with Ford Motor Company's online offerings and global Web
sites. He has been with Ford for 11 years and has worked in a number of areas
including Ford Aerospace, Manufacturing-Electrical and Fuel Handling Division;
Electronics Division; Automotive Components Division, Process Leadership and
ConsumerConnect. Liedel holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and
Engineering from the University of Toledo and a Master of Business
Administration from the University of Michigan, Dearborn, Michigan.
Vasconi is chief Technical officer of Covisint, the Internet business-to-
business joint venture between Ford Motor Company, General Motors,
DaimlerChrysler, Renault and Nissan. He was also part of the senior
management team that formed Auto-xchange, an Internet B2B joint venture
between Ford and Oracle, where he served as chief technical officer. Before
joining Auto-xchange, Vasconi held several technical management positions at
Ford, including chief technical officer for Ford's ConsumerConnect Group.
Prior to joining Ford in 1988, Vasconi held several technical and engineering
positions at Allen-Bradley and General Motors.
IT Forum
Where: Michigan League Ballroom, 911 North University, Ann Arbor, Mich.
When: Tues., Dec. 5, 2000
Time: 5 p.m. registration and reception (with hors d'oeuvres and cash
bar);
program begins 6 p.m.
Cost: Members of the Ann Arbor IT Zone, free; Non-members, $15;
Students, $5
Payment: credit card at http://www.annarboritzone.org ; cash, check or credit
card at door
Registration: online at http://www.annarboritzone.org ; call 734-623-8286;
or email mail@annarboritzone.org
This event is open to the public, and seating is limited.
The Ann Arbor IT Zone's mission is to promote the growth of the technology
industry by bringing together entrepreneurs, emerging and established
companies, business service providers, and university and community resources.
The IT Zone has more than 200 members. For more information, including
membership and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.annarboritzone.org or call
734-623-8286.