Automotive Women Honored by National Association of Women Business Owners

DETROIT, April 26 -- The National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter will be honoring the best and brightest women in the automotive sector on Friday, May 20, 2005, at the "Salute to Automotive Women" sponsored by DaimlerChrysler Corporation. The black tie optional awards and dinner honors women from the automotive industry for their leadership, innovation and excellence in the field. The event will take place at Rochester's Royal Park Hotel, 6:30 p.m. Courtney Caldwell, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Road & Travel Magazine, will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.

  Winners have been announced in the following categories:
  *  Presidential Diversity Award: Monica E. Emerson, Executive Director,
     Corporate Diversity Office, DaimlerChrysler Corporation (Auburn Hills,
     MI).
  *  Engineering/Design Award: Dr. Barbara Sanders, Director of Research &
     Development and Engineering Processes for Delphi Thermal & Interior
     (Troy, MI).
  *  Manufacturing Award: Sharon Cannarsa, President, Systrand Manufacturing
     Corporation (Brownstown Twp., MI).
  *  Advertising/Marketing Award: Barbara Hendrickson, President, Design
     Incentives, Inc. (Livonia, MI).
  *  Procurement Award: Diana Mercer-Pryor, Director, Global Marketing and
     Plant Procurement, Chrysler Group, DaimlerChrysler Corporation (Auburn
     Hills, MI).
  *  Woman-Owned Dealer Award: Gail Duncan, President, Jerome Duncan
     Ford/Sterling Collection (Sterling Heights, MI).

A panel of judges representing various automotive and industry-related companies and organizations selected the winners. The Diversity, Procurement and Manufacturing categories were judged by: John Taylor, Delphi Thermal & Interior; Michelle Merski, Piston Group; Charles White, Lear Corporation; Lorraine Schultz, Women's Automotive Association; Denethria Suber, Ford Dealers Association; and Pamela Mitchell, Federal Mogul. The Auto Dealer, Advertising/Marketing and Engineering/Design nominees were judged by: Jennifer Giering, Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Lorna Utley, General Motors Corporation; Christine Meyer, Corp! Magazine; Kate Kohn-Parrott, DaimlerChrysler Corporation; and Donald Alessi, Comerica.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person; tables of 10 are $1,500. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact NAWBO Greater Detroit at (313) 961-4748 for more information or to make a reservation.

NAWBO Greater Detroit Chapter's membership represents the finest women entrepreneurs in the area who share their experience and empower each other through NAWBO membership. Their businesses range from sole proprietorship operations to those with nearly 200 employees. Among those are lawyers, financial consultants, printers, physicians, media specialists, event planners, manufacturers and property managers.