CONTACT: Nicole Kampe, Automation Alley, kampen@automationalley.com, 248.457.3301; Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, barbara@eafocus.com, 248.260.8466
TROY, Mich.— August 8, 2018 — Automation Alley, Michigan’s leading technology and manufacturing business association, announces the appointment of several new members to its board of directors. Board members serve as the nonprofit association’s governing body and provide oversight vital to the development of programs, services, events and committees. The new members are:
- Charles Conlen, DTE Energy – General Board Member
- Tim Finerty, CPA, Clayton & McKervey – General Board Member
- Kevin Kerrigan, MEDC – Executive Committee and General Board Member
- Gary Krus, Hirotec America – General Board Member
- Michael Lee, Ford Motor Company – General Board Member
- Tim Meyer, Oakland County Government – General Board Member
- Bob Zhang, Strategic Staffing Solutions – General Board Member
“The staff and I welcome all of our new members to the Automation Alley board of directors. Their collective experience and ongoing engagement with Automation Alley is critical to supporting our mission as the organization continues to evolve and grow into Michigan’s knowledge center for Industry 4.0 and smart factory automation,” said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley’s executive director and CEO.
Industry 4.0, also known as the fourth industrial revolution, represents the convergence of the digital and physical technologies currently disrupting the manufacturing industry, including additive manufacturing and advanced materials, robotics, AI, big data, the cloud, cybersecurity, the Industrial Internet of Things, and modeling, simulation, visualization and immersion. Automation Alley is now focusing its programming around Industry 4.0 in order to be a critical resource for Michigan companies as they chart a course toward these advancements in manufacturing.
Earlier this summer, Automation Alley announced the return of Integr8, its cross-discipline global conference focused on Industry 4.0. The day-long conference will be held Nov. 14 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Early bird tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available atintegr8conference.com. The conference, which sold out its inaugural year in 2017, is expected to draw 750 technology and manufacturing professionals from across the globe.
Following is the full list of Automation Alley’s board of directors:
President
Kurt Saldana, Diversified Technologies International
Vice President
Donald Ishmael, Jr., General Dynamics Land Systems
Secretary
Rochelle Black, Oakland University
Treasurer
John Paul Rea, Macomb County Government
Past President
David Hay
Executive Committee
John Blanchard, General Motors
Tom Kelly (Executive Director and CEO), Automation Alley
Kristopher Powell, HRPro/BenePro
Kevin Kerrigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Board Members
Mark Bohen, Beaumont
Charles Conlen, DTE Energy
Gary Conrad, Autodesk
Rick Darter, Rave Computer
Christine Estereicher, FCA US LLC
Tim Finerty, Clayton & McKervey
Gary Krus, Hirotec America
Michael Lee, Ford Motor Company
Kathryn Levine, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Tim Meyer, Oakland County Government
Peter Provenzano, Oakland Community College
Jack Van Tiem, Kelly Services
Bob Zhang, Strategic Staffing Solutions
About Automation Alley
Automation Alley is a nonprofit technology and manufacturing business association and Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, with a global outlook and a regional focus. We connect industry, academia and government to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation. We offer programs and services in business growth, entrepreneurship, talent development, defense and international business, providing resources and knowledge to help our members grow and prosper in the digital age.
Our Mission
The mission of Automation Alley is to position Michigan as a global leader in Industry 4.0 by helping our members increase revenue, reduce costs and think strategically during a time of rapid technological change.
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