Despite Toyota's decision to move its U.S. headquarters from Southern California to Texas, automobile-related jobs and economic activity in California remains healthy. Tesla employs more than 6,000 in the state, several global car companies maintain design studios here, a network of small and large companies produce everything from high-performance engine parts to customized vehicles, and with 1,300 new-car dealershipswe have more than any other state.
But given the cost of doing business in California, and its reputation as less-than-business-friendly state, is thefuture of the auto industry here going the way of Toyota or of Tesla? Come hear the answers from a panel of industry experts at the September 3rd breakfast meeting of ACG 101, at the Westlake Village Inn.
Our moderator will be J.D. Jamey Power IV, Former Senior Vice President and Strategic Advisor at J.D. Power and Associates, and currently Managing Director of Power Family Enterprises.
Our panelists will include:
Jim Middlebrook, CEO of Vortech Engineering, Inc., in Oxnard.
Mark Sommer, President, Del West USA, Valencia.
J. Michael Issa, Principal, Glass Ratner Advisory & Capital Group LLC, Irvine.
Ron Weaver, Founder and CEO of Automotive Designs & Fabrication, San Fernando.
Mr. Power is the former Executive Vice President of International Operations at J.D. Power and Associates. He is the son of founder Dave Power, and is the co-author of "Satisfaction: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer." A graduate of the University of San Diego, he began his career in the advertising business and joined J.D. Power in 1990. He oversaw the company's international expansion, and facilitated its transition from a private business to becoming part of The McGraw Hill Companies.
Mr. Middlebrook is Founder and CEO of Vortech Engineering, built his first go-cart at age nine, went on to build race car engines for Honda, and launched Vortech in 1990. It began as a distributor of other firms' products, but soon began producing its own line of superchargers and performance-enhancing engine accessories.
Mr. Sommer is President of Del West USA and vice president of Del West Engineering, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-end precision products. Formed in 1973 as a small machine shop to make titanium aerospace parts, Del West soon expanded into high-performance parts for auto racing engines. The company's components are now used in race and street cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs. Mark has been with the company since 1997, and was named president in 2010. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has a Master's in mechanical engineering from CSU Northridge
Mr. Issa, Principal of Irvine-based Glass Ratner Advisory & Capital Group, is a nationally recognized turnaround expert who has led consulting and professional teams involved in over 100 corporate rehabilitations, including automobile and RV dealerships, auto parts distributors and other auto industry companies. He has personally supervised the acquisition and/or disposition of over 50 businesses, and has personally managed several billion dollars of debt restructuring and financing. A certified public accountant and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee, Mr. Issa has taught at the business schools of two universities.
Mr. Weaver is Founder and CEO of Automotive Designs & Fabrication. Its San Fernando shop turns utilitarian Mercedes Sprinter delivery vans into luxurious limousines or mobile offices that can feature leather seats, high-end audio and video systems and much more. The company also produces modular kits that enable new-car dealers to perform some van conversions themselves at prices ranging from $10,000 to $60,000.
Follow us at @AmericanNewsService on Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment