Page 13 - Kettering Magazine - Spring 2014

AL IMP A C T COVER STORY “There are 18 million of you in the ‘Millenial General Motors’ vehicles around the world. She is Generation,’” Barra said. “You are the largest, a member of the Executive Operations Committee richest and most tech-savvy generation in history. and serves on the Adam Opel AG Supervisory But, you are also the most inclusive and the most Board. optimistic. Kettering students have an opportunity Prior to this, Barra was most recently Vice to impact the world. The practical, real-world President, Global Human Resources. She has also experience that a Kettering education provides is served as GM Vice President, Global Manufacturing as practical today as it was 30 years ago.” Engineering; Plant Manager, Detroit Hamtramck Barra’s path to global leadership started in some Assembly; and Executive Director of Competitive of the same classrooms in which current Kettering Operations Engineering. In addition, she has held students are preparing for future impactful careers. several engineering and staff positions. Currently, In fact, she even had some of the same faculty who she serves on the General Dynamics and Barbara are still instructing Kettering students, including Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute board of directors. chemistry professor Reg Bell and Mo Torfeh, professor of Electrical Engineering. Some of those same attributes she displayed as a student at Kettering, which were further developed during her career, are what made her standout at GM. “I’ve met and worked with many executives, both in the U.S. and abroad,” said Kettering President Robert McMahan. “She is among the standouts. I have not seen a weakness.” She’s had a distinguished career at GM, beginning with her co-op experience. Barra was named Senior Vice President, Global Product Development in February 2011. She was responsible for the design, engineering, program management and quality for “I’ve met and worked with many executives, both in the U.S. and abroad. She is among the standouts. I have not seen a weakness.” –Robert McMahan SPRING 2014 13