Event
Meet Frank Angileri
Symposium Agenda
7:30 am – Registration, Breakfast & Networking
8:00 am – Opening of Symposium
Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College
Keynote – The Impact of Industry 4.0 on Quality – Todd Latouf, Group General Manager, Magna International
8:30 am – Session 1– Maintaining Quality Standards When Supply is Low & Demand is High
Kush Shah, CEO, Global Organizational Excellence Solutions, LLC
9:00 am – Break
9:15 am – Session 2– Quality from an Employer Standpoint
Moderator: Dan West, President & CEO, Livonia Chamber of Commerce
Panel Discussion (Employer Standpoint representing Automotive, Tier I, Smaller Manufacturing Companies)
Tracy DiSanto, GM
Todd Latouf, Magna International
Chuck Dardas, Alpha USA
Steve Balder, SB Precision
9:45 am – Session 3– Connecting Students w/the Real World & Importance of Quality
Moderator: Rob Leadley, Schoolcraft College, Dean of Occupational Programs & Economic Development
Panel Discussion: How Quality is incorporated in the curriculum for technical degrees, non-credit certificate offerings, training, career pathways
Dennis Fohey, Schoolcraft faculty member (FT faculty)
Barb Stevens, Schoolcraft faculty member (PT faculty)
Career Pathways & Transfer Partners
Schoolcraft College – Laurie Kattuah-Snyder
Wayne State University – Michael Quattro
Internships and apprenticeships – Karen Maxton
10:30 am – Break
10:45 am – Session 4– Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)- Moderated Student Panel
Moderator: David Lalain, VP Outreach and Engagement, AIAG, Industry Standard training professionals
Schoolcraft Student Panelists:
Sara Bales
Staneisha Chambers
Liam Fahey
Bella Metcalf
Colton Schaefer
Mimi Tran
Allison VanHouten
11:10 am – Tabletop Discussions:
Moderator: Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer
11:30 am – Report-out & Conclusion of Symposium
11:45 pm – 12:15 pm – Manufacturing & Engineering Center Tour
Speaker Bios
Dr. Glenn Cerny
President
Schoolcraft College
- BBA Accounting and Finance, University of Michigan
- MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from Eastern Michigan University
- Ed.D in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University
Frank Hlavaty
Global Director, Program Management & Launch
Magna International Inc.
Frank Hlavaty has led the quality and program management globally with Magna’s body and chassis operating unit for the past ten years. He joined Magna in 2000 as Manager of Research and Development of Magna Closures. Frank brings over 30 years of experience in global responsibilities in product development, quality, operations, and program management. Mr. Hlavaty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology. Mr. Hlavaty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology.
Kush Shah
CEO
Global Organizational Excellence Solutions, LLC
Kush Shah is CEO of Global Organizational Excellence Solutions (GOES), LLC. Kush retired from General Motors after 37 years of employment and his last position was Senior Manager, Operational Excellence with responsibilities of coaching and training top leadership to front line employees in continuous improvement methodologies globally. Completed Operational Excellence projects have impact of over $1 Billion globally. He has held leadership positions in manufacturing, ME, R&D and quality functions. Kush has received the Chairman’s Honor Award, People Make Quality Happen Award, Quality Driver Award and GM Trade Secret Award.
Dan West
President / CEO
Livonia Chamber of Commerce
Dan West has been the president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce since November 2006. He is the chief executive of the nonpartisan, nonprofit trade organization that represents more than 950 members in and around Livonia. In his tenure at the chamber, he has led initiatives that promoted the Livonia community, regional collaboration, programs to build the future workforce, regional collaboration, and grow a culture of inclusion.
Steve Balder
Owner
SB Precision LLC
Steve Balder is owner, of SB Precision, a company that specializes in the restoration and refit of CNC machinery and industrial automation equipment.
Steven Balder began his skilled trades career as an automotive technician working in independent and new car dealerships for General Motors, Mercedes, and Ford. During this period he achieved ASE Master Technician certification (A1-A8) along with multiple manufacturer and independent training credentials. Steven split his time evenly between work and school and completed a B.S. of Management at George Mason University in 1995 and an MBA in Production and Operations Management at the University of Tennessee in 1997. In 1998 Steven joined Ford Motor Company as a Ford College Graduate Program candidate in Marketing Sales & Service. Steven spent several years working with dealers in Fixed and Variable operations supporting all aspects of dealer management in Sales, Parts, and Service. In 2000 Steven Balder was selected for a new role as 6-Sigma Black Belt and earned Green Belt, Black Belt and Ford Level 1 Master Black Belt certifications. Project work across more than 50 documented efforts has yielded in excess of 300 million dollars in operational improvements and hard cost savings. Steven has trained over 500 Ford and non-Ford employees at the GB, BB, and MBB levels and was the Ford Corporate Subject Matter Expert for Attribute Gage R&R. In the years following full-time 6-Sigma roles, Mr. Balder has applied DMAIC and DCOV discipline leading Ford’s International Warranty and Extended Service Plan programs in more than 100 countries. Steven is currently the Ford Protect Business Development Manager overseeing the reinvention of Ford’s aftermarket service contract sales business in the connected vehicle space.
In 2008 Steven Balder formed SB Precision LLC, a Michigan small manufacturer specializing in automation and mechatronics. The core of SB Precision’s business is the acquisition, rebuilding, retrofit, customization and return to service of computerized manufacturing and CNC equipment SB Precision is an OEM Dealer-Partner for BobCAD-CAM, Artsoft, and CNC Drive Kft. CAD, CAM, & CNC hardware and software products. Co-Owned with Tracy Balder, SB Precision collaborates with other companies and has most recently begun to offer a MFG-291 paid internship class and program in Mechatronics and Machine Tool Rebuilding through Schoolcraft College Manufacturing and Engineering Center.
Chuck Dardas
President and CEO
AlphaUSA
Chuck Dardas is President and Chief Operating Officer of AlphaUSA in Livonia, Michigan. Chuck is a long term auto industry executive on the supplier side. Michigan CPA, Chuck is a graduate of Michigan State University. Chuck is married to his wife of 47 years Renee, is a proud Michigan native and lives in Rochester, MI.
Alpha first began as a high-volume commodity manufacturer and grew into an engineering and product development based manufacturer. We not only meet today’s demands but we are creating products that will fit into tomorrow’s engineering. Alpha products – value added assemblies and stampings, engineered fasteners, u-nut clips, cam bolts, and washers – are intertwined through many broad industries serving clients across the globe. We are an industry leading innovative company that designs and manufactures products that meet your needs. We are very committed to our customers and community. Exceptional quality is a habit at Alpha. We provide affordable solutions to every challenge and create relationships that last generations.
Tracy DiSanto
Assistant Director DEI Workforce Design
General Motors
Tracy DiSanto brings 20+ years of industry background and a wealth of experience in workforce development.
She joined General Motors in December 2021. As GM aspires to become the most inclusive company in the world, Tracy will craft the strategy behind Workforce Design and drive the creation of new pathways for diverse talent into GM and aligning priorities with community partners.
Todd Latouf
Group General Manager
Cosma International
Todd Latouf earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor (Windsor Ontario Canada) and a Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology from St. Clair College in Windsor Ontario Canada. Todd began his career in the automotive industry as a Safety Engineer in the early 1990s, at Integram Windsor Seating (Division of Magna). He moved on to become Production Manager and then Plant Manager with Gecamex Corporation in Leamington Ontario Canada. In 1995, Todd went back to Magna and began a career taking him from Canada, Michigan, USA and Expat assignments within Europe (Pisa, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; England, and Germany). Within Magna, he worked his way up the ranks as a Chief Program Manager, General Manager, Global Director of Process Improvement (responsible for supporting new divisions in China, Europe, and North America) and eventually becoming a Group General Manager within Cosma Canada/USA in 2021 (a group within Magna International) overseeing multiple locations within Canada and USA.
Rob Leadley
Executive Director, Business Relations & Talent Development
Schoolcraft College
Executive leadership experience in industry, academia, and research.
College Academic Administrator providing faculty support, curriculum development, and resource management for occupational programs, economic development, and natural sciences.
Executive in the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to independent consulting experience for academia and biotechnology, medical device, and contract service industries.
Over 30 years of biomedical research experience with particular emphasis on cardiovascular disease. Leader of international collaborative research projects involving academic and pharmaceutical scientists. Key contributor to major regulatory filings for novel compounds or approaches, co-inventor on two patents, and author of over 150 publications, invited reviews, and abstracts in cardiovascular research, specializing in anti-thrombotic pharmacology.
Dennis Fohey
Faculty
Schoolcraft College
Dennis Fohey is the full-time Materials Science Instructor (overseeing both Metallurgy and Plastics Technology) in the Metallurgy and Materials Science department at Schoolcraft College. He has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) from Lawrence Technological University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business. He also has a Post Associate Certificate in Material Science from Schoolcraft College. He began teaching at the College in 2014.
Barbara Stevens
Faculty
Schoolcraft College
Barbara Stevens attended Kettering University for an engineering degree and Eastern Michigan University for a Master’s Degree in Quality Management. She has worked 35 years in the automotive and construction industries at Ford and General Motors and Jacobs Engineering. During her career she moved from a plastic manufacturing environment into a plastic design position and then into Materials Engineering for plastics. Her final move into Quality in the construction industry leveraged all these experiences. Barb is currently an adjunct faculty member at Schoolcraft College.
Karen Maxton
Employment & Internship Coordinator
Schoolcraft College
Karen Maxton is the Employment and Internship Coordinator for Occupational Programs at Schoolcraft College. Based at the Manufacturing & Engineering Center (MEC), she works with multiple industry partners to create opportunities for students/graduates, while assisting employers with their talent pipeline. In addition to a broad array of employer partners, Karen also collaborates with K-12 schools, state and federal workforce development personnel, area chambers of commerce and many non-profit agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Nebraska – Omaha. She is a Certified Business Solutions Professional (CBSP), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Laurie Kattuah-Snyder
Chief Student Services Officer
Schoolcraft College
Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder has worked in higher education for over 25 years in both private and public sectors. She began her tenure at a private university and then transferred her student advocacy skills to AT & T (formerly Ameritech) and Ford Motor Company as an education and career consultant. She started at Schoolcraft College in 2006 as an Academic Advisor and has remained focused on helping students achieve academic and career success. She is currently the Chief Student Services Officer at Schoolcraft College.
Michael Quattro
Director of Educational Outreach and Transfer Initiatives
Wayne State University
Michael Quattro is the Director of Educational Outreach and Transfer initiatives at Wayne State University (WSU), leading extension centers and strategic transfer initiatives. Prior to joining WSU, Michael served as the Director of Admissions at Madonna University, an independent, liberal arts institution located in Michigan. Michael has been active in post-secondary education for over 25 years. Currently, he provides direct leadership for the Transfer Student Success Center, Office of Transfer Credit, Educational Outreach, and other special projects. His work has supported student success throughout their college experiences while focusing on developing receptive and supportive policies and practices to support their goals and journey.
David Lalain
VP Outreach & Engagement
AIAG
David Lalain is the VP of Outreach and Engagement at AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group). I owe my 50 successful years in Quality to a long line of outstanding teachers beginning with Juran, Deming, and Crosby. As a retired Global Quality Director from PPG Industries, Inc., Quality leadership is my passion. Creating a common culture based on solid principles and aligning the organization to focus on our Customer’s success was my greatest honor.
Student Panelists
Sara Bales
Staneisha Chambers
Liam Fahey
Bella Metcalf
Colton Schaefer
Mimi Tran
Allison VanHouten