SAE Foundation presents awards

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Foundation Banquet hosted more than 700 attendees who gathered at Renaissance Center Wintergarden in Detroit, May 24, to pay tribute to Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, honorary chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation, the recipient of the 2005 Manufacturing Leadership Award.

The Manufacturing Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the development of the automobile, truck, or automotive industry. Dr. Toyoda traveled from Japan to accept the award. Also in attendance were Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Former Senator and Ambassador to Japan Howard H. Baker, and many corporate chairmen, presidents and CEOs including Chairman and CEO of General Motors Corp. G. Richard Wagoner, Jr.; Chairman, CEO, and President of Delphi Corp. J. T. Battenberg, III; CEO of ArvinMeritor Chip McClure; and President of Toyota North America Harry Otako.

In addition to the Manufacturing Leadership Award, five other awards were presented:

• Lifetime Achievement Award–John F. (Jack) Smith, retired chairman and CEO, General Motors Corp.
• Industry Achievement Award–Ford Motor Co., accepted by Roman Krygier, vice president, manufacturing and quality, Ford Motor Co.
• SAE Foundation/NABAS Achievement Award–George H. Hill, president, Diversified Chemical Technologies
• Donald W. Ableson Award for Visionary Leadership–Fred Nader, president, Autotech Technology Development
• Heinz C. Prechter Award for Automotive Excellence–Eric Ceresnie, a graduate student at the University of Michigan

The SAE Foundation Banquet benefits SAE educational programs for students in elementary, middle and high school, as well as college and beyond.