Bio

Harald Wilhelm joined AIAG in May 2022. Harald is a voting member of the IATF, representing the North American Automotive Suppliers.

Most recently Harald was Head of Quality Rules, Business Solutions and Controlling, North America with Continental.

Harald started his career in embedded software development for powertrain applications with VDO in Germany. He came to the US with ITT Automotive, developing embedded software for brake systems. Before transitioning into a corporate / automotive central function role in 2008, Harald was leading the brake software development team for North America during the time Continental acquired this business from ITT Automotive.

The central function role was then in Quality with responsibilities in process development, QMS, IATF16949 auditing and certification, ASPICE, FSM and Quality Data Analytics.

Harald served as a member of the AIAG Quality Steering Committee since 2016 and as a chair / co-chair of the QSC from 2018 to 2022.

Harald holds a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. He is a dual citizen US/Germany

Bio

With 25 years of experience creating Workforce Solutions for the Vehicle Services Group, Laura Kelly is dedicated to delivering exceptional support to OEMs and their suppliers. At Advantage Technical, she leads the teams’ efforts in direct placement, contingent staffing, managed services, and outsourced solutions. Laura specializes in collaborating with Service Engineering Departments which include Techlines, Warranty, and Garage Services. Earlier this year, her team received the Supplier of the Year Award for Value from Toyota.  She believes their success is built upon creating a network of technicians enabling them to recruit top talent, streamline daily operations, and develop effective retention strategies alongside their clients.

Bio

Jun is one of the founding team members and currently the Chief of Staff at Amber, with a vision to transform the post-purchase vehicle ownership experience in the evolving electric vehicle era. Prior to this, he served as an Innovation Manager at Hyundai’s Automotive Venture Capital arm, focusing on vehicle charging infrastructure and V2X monetization.

Outside of work, Jun enjoys a round of golf and spending time with his wife and dog

Bio

Brian Engle is the Director of Business Development, Electrification for Amphenol’s Advanced Sensors Business. Within Amphenol, Brian is responsible for a complete portfolio of battery and electrification sensor technologies, including Robust Early Detection of battery Thermal Runaway, coolant breach detection, non-contact HV connection monitoring, and a variety of thermal sensing solutions, as well as development of new and emerging sensor technologies in the field.  As Vice Chair of SAE’s Battery Standards Steering Committee, Brian supports the work of 23 SAE Standards Committees supporting ~50 separate published and draft battery-related standards and publications and serves as chair of the SAE First & Second Responders Task Force responsible for Emergency Response Guides.  As Vice President of NAATBatt International, he serves as part of the US Department of Energy’s “LiBridge” Initiative to accelerate the adoption and deployment of EV’s and battery technologies within the US, including Workforce Development, partnering with international NGO’s and governmental entities to prepare today’s workforce for this technology transition. 

Bio

Ryan Maher is a third-generation car dealer who began his career in the automotive industry by washing cars at the age of 12. Born and raised in the Midwest, he pursued higher education in New England. Driven by a strong desire to serve his country post-9/11, Ryan joined the Marine Corps, where he served as an infantry officer with deployments to Haiti, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. After completing his service and earning his MBA, Ryan was working in Out of Home Media when his wife received a recall notification for a vehicle she had not owned in five years. The difficulty of scheduling and getting the recall repaired, despite his expertise as a dealer led Ryan to seek a better solution for handling vehicle recalls, culminating in the creation of BizzyCar.

Bio

Michael Murray brings over a decade of automotive industry expertise, specializing in recalls, warranties, and service operations. His deep knowledge and strategic insights have helped dealerships significantly increase service revenue, improve customer retention, and enhance the overall customer experience. Before joining BizzyCar, Michael held multiple executive roles at companies including GoMoto, which was later acquired by Reynolds & Reynolds, and Multi-Media Research Group. His proven track record of driving innovation and delivering results makes him a trusted leader in the automotive space.

Bio

Mat Kostrzewa is the Service Manager for Bowman Auto Group having transitioned from service technician 18 months ago.  Mat is a  Master ASE certified technician with vast knowledge of vehicle systems and repairs having worked for 28 years in the automotive industry.

Bio

Jeremy Stephens has cultivated a diverse and dynamic career in the automotive industry, starting at a local service station before advancing to a technician role at a Chevrolet dealership. His leadership skills were quickly recognized, propelling him to roles such as Service Manager and later Service & Parts Director at a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Dealership, eventually leading to another position as Fixed Operations Director of the automotive group, overseeing four dealerships, a wholesale parts distribution center, custom accessory shop, and a reconditioning center. After twenty years of Hiester Automotive he decided it was his time to move on and create a new opportunity. Currently he works at Bozard Ford Lincoln to change the way we do automotive service at dealerships. Jeremy works there as the Remote Operations Director. They are building a service team to go outside the dealership to service vehicles at customers homes or businesses. Now Bozard Ford Lincoln is the number one dealership in the country for mobile service. In 2021, Jeremy further enhanced his credentials by becoming a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and Speaker, dedicating himself to developing the leadership skills of managers through focused coaching and speaking.

Bio

James Kiriazes is responsible for warranty and aftermarket customer support activities for Bridgestone’s operations in North and South America. This includes the operation of a customer-facing call center, inspections of products in the field and returned under warranty, the creation and application of warranty policy, and the analysis of data for early warning and other relevant field signals.

Prior to Bridgestone, James developed and installed large projects within the renewable and sustainable energy sector, energy conservation and efficiency sector, and within nuclear power generation. James is a licensed professional engineer and is located at Bridgestone’s headquarters in Nashville, TN.

Bio

Moheeb Murray is a Member at Bush Seyferth PLLC (BSP Law) in Troy, Michigan. He represents clients in complex commercial disputes, tort defense cases, insurance coverage matters, and construction litigation. He leads BSP Law’s insurance coverage and construction litigation practice groups.  In commercial litigation matters, his extensive experience includes complex breach of contract and breach of warranty claims, shareholder actions, and cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets and covenants not to compete.  In his insurance coverage practice, Moheeb represents leading insurers in life, health, disability, ERISA, long-term care, annuity, P&C, commercial general liability, and auto-insurance no-fault matters.

Moheeb advises and represents clients from pre-litigation strategy through final verdict and on appeal. Moheeb has helped clients obtain favorable awards and outcomes at trial and in arbitrations involving claims of breach of contract, breach of warranty, construction, and design-professional malpractice.  Moheeb is also a trained civil litigation mediator.

Bio

Tony Smith is a career Automotive Service Readiness Professional that has worked in the past for Fortune 500 companies that focused on warranty/service for OEM’s such as GM, Toyota, Ford, and many others to execute and launch service efforts with a focus on repairability, serviceability, recalls and warranty cost reduction. He believes that a properly executed launch plan with a customer focus is the cornerstone of customer satisfaction. Tony was Canoo’s first service employee and led the initiative of working with warranty groups to develop predictive and proactive plan towards warranty at Canoo.

Bio

Ashok Kartham has extensive work experience in various leadership roles. Ashok is the Founder and CEO of Circuitry.ai, where they focus on providing Enterprise AI as Service applications to enhance decision-making and productivity. Prior to this, they were the Chief Product Officer at Syncron, leading the innovation and development of cloud SaaS products. Ashok also founded Mize, a start-up that created a platform for connected and mobile consumers to manage their products. Additionally, Ashok has held positions as the President of TiE Tampa and as an Investor & Board member at Feathr. Ashok has experience in solutions management, service lifecycle management, and was the President of 4CS for a significant period. Ashok’searly experience includes R&D work at CMC. 

Ashok Kartham earned a BS degree in Computer Science from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, graduating in 1988. Prior to that, they attended Loyola College in Vijayawada, India from 1982 to 1984. Ashok also completed their secondary education at St. Joseph’s High School in Nagarjuna Sagar, India, where they obtained their SSC degree. 

Bio

Donald L. Thomas is an experienced life safety/code official with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration and emergency services. Skilled in Action Plan Development, Communication, Strategic Planning, Fire Protection, and Organizational Development. Strong public safety professional with a Master’s Degree focused in Leadership – Higher Education from Siena Heights University. 

Bio

Bryce Cornet is the Senior Manager for Supply Chain Logistics at EV Battery Solutions by Cox Automotive, where he leads innovation in EV battery lifecycle management, prioritizing recycling and sustainability. Originally from Norman, Oklahoma, and now based in Oklahoma City, Bryce holds a strong allegiance to Oklahoma University and is an avid Sooner fan. With a lifelong passion for motorsports stemming from go-kart racing at age six, Bryce has excelled in the Mazda MX5 Cup Series, earning a scholarship in 2021. Outside of his professional and racing pursuits, Bryce is dedicated to philanthropy, particularly in supporting heart health organizations like the American Heart Association and the Joe Abate Foundation, drawing from his experience overcoming heart health challenges.

Bio

Brian Denney is the Product Reliability Supervisor at Detroit Diesel, part of Daimler Truck North America. With over 15 years in automotive warranty and product reliability, Brian has been instrumental in refining quality control for returned materials and spearheading vendor recovery efforts. His extensive experience includes detailed analysis and inspection of engine components, coupled with frontline technical support in his previous role as a Senior Service Engineer. Known for his deep expertise in product reliability and commitment to vendor accountability, Brian is a key figure in enhancing field service and warranty operations.

Bio

Elena Ciccotelli is an award-winning automotive executive and the host and producer of the “EVs for Everyone Podcast.” Elena has made significant contributions in the automotive industry, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Her podcast is renowned for its engaging content, offering a mix of entertainment and insightful perspectives on EV technologies. Elena’s career highlights include a pioneering role at Lyft, where she developed innovative mobility solutions for dealers and fleets, and her tenure as Automotive Partnerships Director, where she fostered cooperative relationships between new mobility solutions and traditional automotive retail. In 2022, Elena served as the Vice President of Automotive Practice at Teleperformance, leading partnerships with major automotive brands and implementing customer care and digital transformation programs. Elena is also the recipient of the Auto Remarketing 40 under 40 award, the Women in Retail award and the AutoSuccess Women at the Wheel award. As the host of the EVs for Everyone Podcast, Elena focuses on the EV ecosystem, providing high-quality interviews and discussions with industry leaders, blending in-depth knowledge with a touch of fun.

Bio

Eco Auto is a pioneering company dedicated to advancing sustainable transportation solutions for both residential and commercial markets. Specializing in the sales and service of new and used eco-friendly vehicles, Eco Auto is at the forefront of the green automotive revolution. The company’s comprehensive range includes electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid models, and other environmentally conscious transportation options. 
 
In addition to its extensive vehicle offerings, Eco Auto is a trusted provider of public and private EV charging stations. Committed to supporting the infrastructure necessary for widespread EV adoption, the company sells, installs, and maintains cutting-edge charging solutions, ensuring seamless and convenient access to power for all EV owners. 
 
Eco Auto’s mission is to promote sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of transportation by providing top-quality, reliable, and eco-friendly vehicle and charging options. With a customer-centric approach, the company caters to individuals, families, businesses, and public entities’ unique needs, making sustainable transportation accessible to all. Through its innovative services and products, Eco Auto is driving the future of green mobility. 

Bio

Kirsten Von Busch has over 20 years of experience in the auto industry. As Product Marketing Director for the Experian Automotive team, she supports solutions in the commercial automotive space, including the AutoCheck® vehicle history report and the Experian Marketing Engine. Prior to joining Experian in 2014, she held various operations, product management, product marketing and sales operations roles in automotive retail technology. Von Busch holds a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in marketing, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Bio

Ayana James-Logan (AJ) is an Owner Success Senior Manager in the Model e (Electric Vehicle) organization at Ford Motor Company. In her current role, Ayana leads the strategic design and implementation of future Electric Vehicle ownership strategies. Ayana also co-leads Electric Vehicle OwnerMarketing and supports the Model e strategy for the Ford Motor Company loyalty program, Ford Pass Rewards.

Ayana began her career with Ford in 1996 as Marketing & Sales Ford College Graduate consulting dealers in the Denver, New York and Select Regions. She has worked in several Customer Service roles in addition to Marketing Communications, Lincoln and several CX teams. Ayana has also worked within global organizations such as Quality, and International Marketing Group (IMG) at Ford Motor Company. Ayana’s greatest achievements at Ford was developing and launching the Mobile Service program and delivering the Electric Vehicle ownership strategy that will come tomarket in 2025.

Ayana’s commitment to creating & fostering an inclusive culture within her team and the wider organization is an important part of her personal and professional life. Ayana serves on the board for the CXMSS Women of Ford employee resource group leading the Community pillar. She is also an active member of the FAAN employee resource group and serves as a mentor for both Women of Ford and FAAN.

Ayana graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Advertising and an MBA from Lawrence Technological University. Ayana is a 6-Sigma Black Belt and a CX Champion for Ford Motor Company.

Outside of Ford Motor Company, Ayana dedicates her time to her family, friends, husband of 20 years and 2 children. Her oldest daughter is attending her first year at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Ayana enjoys traveling and watching her son play football. She also enjoys cheering on her Michigan State University and University of Michigan teams.

Bio

Samantha Hoyt retired from Ford in late 2022 and for her last five years she was Ford’s EV Marketing Launch Manager. She was responsible for the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and F-150 Marketing launches working cross-functionally with a team of passionate employees. She co-launched Ford’s first NA plug-in hybrids, the Ford Fusion and C-Max in 2012. With over 12 years of EV vehicle experience, she combines her love of performance vehicles with a passion for technology to bring all-electric vehicles to the forefront. Samantha started a consulting business in 2023, S. Hoyt Consulting, LLC., and is now a Customer Experience and EV trainer with Alteris, one of Ford’s longest-serving marketing and training partners.

Samantha is passionate about horses and horsepower.  She participates in equestrian sports with her horse and in performance vehicle drives around Michigan with her cars.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wake Forest University.

Bio

Kerwyn (Dan) Dobbs served as the Global Warranty Strategy Manager at Ford Company prior to retiring. In that role, he was charged with leading a global team to reimagine dealer warranty measurement and launch a web enabled solution. At the successful completion of the warrant measurement redesign, he was tasked with launching a new automated prior approval process for major powertrain assemblies. Both processes are still in use globally and generating solid annual savings for Ford while reducing dealer warranty management workload.

Over an extensive corporate and dealership retail career, Dan gained experience in a many customer centered service experience. Known as a “go to” analytics person and 6-Sigma Master Black Belt problem solver, he gained experience in customer and technical contact center operations, technical instruction, recall, IT management, auditing, warranty cost control, quality, and operational process improvement.

While at Ford, Dan completed his MBA at the University of Michigan – Dearborn with an emphasis in data modeling and optimization simulation.

After retiring Dan returned to his roots and took a part-time position as Assistant Professor for Auto Service Technology at his local community college. Dan is a certified ASE Master Technician. Outside of work, Dan is active in community outreach for auto service careers, and as a Master Black Belt in Martial Arts and enjoys teaching young people self-defense and anti-bullying techniques.

He enjoys teaching, consulting and assisting global clients with business process optimization and leading complex analytical process improvement initiatives.

Bio

Scott Trantham is the current Global Supplier Quality Manager of Supplier Quality Operations, IT Systems, Data Analytics and Training for General Motors has 40 years of experience in the industry, he started in 1983 as a co-op student at the General Motors Buick City Complex in Flint, MI.  

After graduating from the University of Michigan – Flint in 1985 he has held many positions in component manufacturing & assembly, purchasing and supplier quality & development for propulsion and vehicle assembly. He was also a key member in the creation of General Motors Quality Performance Requirements. 

Scott is a member of the AIAG Quality Steering Committee, IAOB Steering Committee & IAOB Board. 

Bio

A 30-year veteran of automotive and aerospace, Angela Johnson recently completed a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at Wayne State University, writing her dissertation on relationships within supply chains. Her research reveals how trade-offs in corporate decisions and strategy execution influence OEM-Supplier relations and demonstrates the moderating power of cultural alignment, strategic need, and peer connections to drive performance by amplifying or offsetting these effects. In the last 15 years at General Motors, she built and led data analytics teams to deliver cutting-edge strategies for operational efficiency and supply chain resiliency amongst unprecedented global disruption.  With a passion for building bridges that connect people, data, and insights, Angela has led her team to build a cohesive, integrated approach to deliver organizational efficiency and business intelligence through data governance, operational insight, and cutting-edge AI/ML solutions. Prior to her PhD, Angela earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics & Astronautics from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Project Manager Professional certification from Project Management Institute. 

Bio

Grew up in Naperville Il and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Automotive Technology.  Worked as a fleet technician prior to joining GM in 2005 as District Service Manager in the Naperville regional office.  Then spent 7 years as a District Service/Part Manager in the field and 3 years as a Field Warranty Manager for the state of Michigan.   Joined Warranty Operations in 2020 as Assistant Manager Warranty Administration.

Bio

Jose Clemente is Warranty Performance Manager at General Motors, responsible for Ordinary Warranty Billing process as well as the Parts Review process. He’s main goal and passion is to identify opportunities to reduce net warranty spend. Putting the customer at the center of every discussion, Jose is a firm believer that a win-win result is achievable between General Motors and its Supply Base when it comes to Warranty Cost Sharing and Field Performance Improvement. He is an experienced professional in Automotive Warranty. Before joining General Motors in 2020, Jose was responsible for the Warranty Management Process at a Tier 1 company, overseeing technical and commercial aspects and working closely with Engineering, Design and Manufacturing teams to improve field performance. He also has extensive technical experience across multiple industries (Automotive, Steel, Oil & Gas).

Jose holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Process Administration from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (Monterrey, MX) and is a certified 6-Sigma Greenbelt.

Bio

Jeff Ellis began his professional automotive career in early 1980’s as technician working for both OE dealerships & independent repair shops eventually specializing in diagnostics.

Jeff has been with Hyundai since early 2014 leading technical support teams including techline, diagnostic tools, service information, field service engineering and prior approval. He is currently senior group manager/dealer technical support department head since 2021, currently responsible for techline and related systems including our technical knowledgebase system provided to dealers.

Bio

Stephen Olejniczak serves as the Associate Warranty Director at Navistar, Inc.  Having 30 years of experience in the industry, the past 20 years in various Service Roles within Navistar.  In his current role, he manages warranty operations, and is responsible for product warranty development, policy, process, and application.  In 2016, Steve’s contributions resulted in being awarded Navistar’s Quality Award for developing an innovative warranty validation solution.  He also serves as the Business Owner of the newly developed/released Warranty System and was the business lead on that multi-year system development team.   

Bio

Bryan Tracy is goal-oriented leader with 20+ years of experience in various roles of increasing responsibility, seeking to reduce waste and increase efficiencies through proven leadership and strategies. While leading a cross-functional team at Navistar warranty recovery increased to the best-in-class 15% as a percent of gross spend while also reducing overall warranty spend, part returns, and overhead. I am able to leverage my 13+ years of hands-on experience in the automotive and trucking industries to perform in-depth failure mode analysis with suppliers. My experience in the service dealership environment as a technician, parts manager, and service manager; coupled with the experience gained with an OE manufacturer; provides me with the tools and knowledge needed to recover funds and suggest quality improvements from suppliers based on my analysis. I am committed to incrementally reducing warranty expense by increasing supplier recovery and product quality. This is achieved by strengthening existing relationships and creating new relationships with my suppliers and internal engineering teams. I am a action oriented individual with a focus on exceeding goals and expectations.

Bio

Xin Liang is the Warranty Manager at Kubota Canada Ltd. With more than 10 years of warranty experience within the Automotive, heavy machinery and farming equipment industries. At Kubota Canada, Xin was the business lead for the implementation of the warranty system known as ‘K-warranty’, a platform developed by Tavant. In Xin’s current role, his objectives are to focus on improving claim submission efficiency for the dealership, fair judgement and improved vendor recovery

Bio

Bio

Lynn Wooley, benefits from 23 years of dealership experience in diverse roles in Sales, Service, and General Management.  He has been working with MarketSource since 2016 and leading a dealership improvement program on behalf of a leading OEM.  Starting in 2018, he assisted the start of MarketSource’s canvassing programs after providing over 500 canvassers for Takata on behalf of Honda.  This modeled program has since been extended to 6 other manufacturers while securing 4000,000 repairs, completing over 200,000 of those in the customer’s driveway.  Most recently he has assumed the current role of Client Services Director working with the entire client base.

Bio

Kreg Kukor is the owner of Mentor Systems which is a global quality and operations management consulting company. His career spans Asia, Mexico, Europe, Canada, India, and USA working across diverse, multi-national corporations and has been responsible for the implementation and certification of ISO 9001:2000 / TS16949, ISO14001, Q12002 in over 15 manufacturing locations.

His most recent automotive industry role, before Mentor Systems, was serving for four (4) years as the Vice President of Quality for Faurecia Automotive Seating.

He has held positions within the local ASQ chapter as education and certification chairman and written articles for Tracks magazine Quality Progress, Quality Magazine, and have been featured by Managing Automation for supplier quality systems and recognized as a contributor to the latest ASQ published certified quality engineer handbook regarding web-based quality information systems.

Core Product Expertise includes Automotive Plastics, Interior Systems, Electronics,  Automotive Seating Systems, Lighting Systems.

Core Competency: Shop floor Execution Management, Auditing, Restructuring, Executive Strategic Planning, Customer Focus

Bio

John Philbrook is a Senior Manager at Midtronics, Inc., a leading provider of battery service equipment for the global automotive industry.

For most of his career, John has assisted major OEMs and Aftermarket accounts in the development and deployment of 12V battery management and test solutions to enhance vehicle uptime, customer satisfaction and management of battery warranty. He also holds multiple patents related to his work in the industry.

As OEMs started to transition to HV battery vehicle systems they turned to Midtronics as a trusted and successful partner. Midtronics has emerged as a leader in the development and manufacture of high voltage battery servicing equipment tailored to meet each customer’s service needs. Midtronics’ innovative user interface, combined with cloud-based analytics captures pack and component-level data as well as recording successful repair or replacement of the pack during service.

Over the last decade John has helped major OEMs transition from early flying doctor equipment programs to dealer level service & repair of HV battery packs reducing service repair costs and downtime of the vehicle for battery related service issues. Today thousands of Midtronics xEV solutions are in use globally supporting vehicle electrification goals for sustainability, decarbonization, and cleaner environment.

Bio

Joshua Linton is an accomplished product leader who brings diverse experience and insatiable curiosity to all he does.  With a steadfast commitment to innovation, Joshua is dedicated to fostering advancements in electric vehicle service and inspection. To his current role, he brings experience accumulated over a career spanning 15 years in product strategy across multiple industries.  Throughout his career, Joshua has cultivated his expertise in leading projects and launching products developed from emerging technologies. 

At Midtronics, Joshua drives the development of electric vehicle safety solutions for high voltage and low voltage batteries in automotive, HD/commercial fleets, and safety inspection/PTI segments. He is steadfastly committed to transforming market insight into high-demand solutions that empower OEMs’ EV service and warranty management, enable aftermarket strategies, and equip regulators with the most accurate tools for critical EV safety inspection. 

Joshua is also deeply committed to knowledge sharing and mentorship. He actively engages his professional network to foster continuous learning and mutual growth. Joshua’s collaborative approach is a testament to his belief in the collective power of innovation and problem-solving. 

Bio

Troy Kelsey is currently the Senior Manager, Warranty Financial Operations having worked within Nissan Motor Corporation since September 2017 in various Warranty Analytics and Cost Optimization Manager roles.  Before Nissan, Troy also worked for Stellantis and VW/Audi in Warranty managerial roles.

Troy is a proven high-performing manager and engineer with domestic and international experience graduating 2000 from Michigan Technical University with a BS Mechanical Engineering degree and was awarded Audi of America’s High Octane Leadership Program January 2013.

Bio

Rick Willhite has extensive knowledge of the warranty and service domain and a wealth of experience in product management. He has been at PTC for over twenty years. As a Senior Sales Director, he works closely with customers to help ensure the successful implementation of PTC’s Warranty product portfolio.

Bio

Brian Martensen is an experienced Senior Program Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the automotive industry. Skilled in DMAIC, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Root Cause Analysis, Continuous Improvement, and Manufacturing Engineering. Strong professional with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) focused in Manufacturing Engineering from GMI Engineering and Management Institute.

Bio

Austin Conroy brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the automotive industry. With a solid foundation in leading teams in financial reporting and nonprofit fundraising, Austin transitioned into the automotive sector, where he has thrived in roles across sales, sales management, and finance. His career is marked by a remarkable shift from finance manager to service manager overnight, a testament to his versatility and expertise. Currently, Austin serves as the Regional Fixed Operations Director for the Rohrman Automotive Group, where he oversees six rooftops, including Toyota, Honda, KIA, and Hyundai franchises, along with a collision center. In his spare time, Austin is a beekeeper, competitive golfer, proud husband, and father to three young kids.

Bio

David Froning is the Portfolio Manager for Quality & Service Solutions at SAS. Mr. Froning works in partnership with manufacturers, suppliers, and industry organizations to develop analytic solutions for manufacturing industry issues such as fraud detection, early warning, accelerated problem solving, and service contract pricing. Through participation in industry groups and independent research, Mr. Froning works with manufacturing companies to develop best practices for technology applications.

Before coming to SAS, Mr. Froning worked for General Motors. He managed the development, operation, and continual improvement of quality and warranty information systems utilized across GM’s North American operations and supplier community. His experience also includes work with leading automotive market research firms. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin.

Bio

Wayne Mitchell is the Global Director of Automotive Solutions for Sedgwick, where he leverages more than 25 years of automotive industry experience by developing the highest quality solutions and services to automotive industry.

Prior to joining Sedgwick, Wayne held a variety of roles for a global automotive diagnostic software and services company, accelerating through the ranks to become head of sales and operations. During this time, he delivered solutions to OEM’s, dealerships, automotive aftermarket companies, and the collision industry.

Wayne is licensed airframe and power plant technician, ASE certified automotive technician, a member of the Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA,) Society of Consumer Affair Professionals (SOCAP) and Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado and Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bio

Carlos Hernandez serves as the Quality Manager at the Rochester Hills Technical Center for Sogefi Group. His primary responsibilities include Quality and Warranty Management for the US, Canada, and Mexico locations.

With over 20 years of experience as a Tier 1 supplier in the automotive industry, Carlos is driven and motivated to both serve and learn from his peers, his company, and our customers.

Carlos began his career in manufacturing in Mexico, progressing from PPAP submission to Senior Quality, overseeing Plant Production Quality. He then moved to the US to take on advanced business projects, starting as Project Quality and advancing to Site Quality Manager. His experiences have positioned him well to serve as Quality Warranty Business Manager, overseeing technical and commercial aspects and working closely with Program Management, Product Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing teams to improve overall business performance.

Carlos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering, as well as IATF and several OEM certifications.

Bio

Daniel Pullo serves as Director, Global Performance & Strategy for Customer Care at Stellantis. With previous experience at Sutherland Global Services, he has amassed 17 years of expertise in managing customer care and contact center operations. His career is highlighted by successful new program implementations in multiple geographies, supplier transitions and lines of business consolidations, and major technology transformations. A graduate of the University of Windsor, Daniel has recently focused on emerging Generative AI technologies and their potential transformative applications in the contact center. He is committed to empowering teams and driving significant business results through innovative strategies and technologies.

Outside of his professional life, Daniel is an active volunteer in children’s sports, demonstrating his commitment to community and leadership development.

Bio

Raymond A. Roth, III is a Director in the Disputes, Compliance, & Investigations group as well as the Automotive Recalls Practice Lead. Mr. Roth has extensive experience in working with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), government regulators, and other industry stakeholders in regard to recall administration, risk analysis, compliance, outreach and data analysis.

Mr. Roth has testified in both bench and jury trials. He has been asked to present various topics to law firms, bar associations, state CPA societies and universities. In addition, he has assisted parties in settlement negotiations, mediation and facilitation.

Professional Memberships
•American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
•The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (Including aPast Chariman of its Fraud Task Force)
•The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Bio

Umur Selek is a seasoned engineering leader with 10 years of experience in the automotive industry, currently serving as Quality Engineering Manager at Subaru of America. He has played a central role in launching major projects, including Subaru’s electric vehicle program, while overseeing remanufacturing supplier quality and production efficiency.
Umur holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University and a certificate in Business Analytics from Harvard Business School. In his spare time, Umur enjoys club racing with NASA Northeast, metal fabrication, hiking and snowboarding.

Bio

Jonathan Kent is a seasoned technology thought leader and enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in the automotive, field service, and global OEM technology sectors. His extensive career has led him to Tavant, a global technology organization headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. At Tavant, Jon is part of the TMAP Product Group, which specializes in extracting value from a company’s data across various systems, including IoT/Telematics, CRM, ERP, Warranty, Parts, Service Case Management, Contract Management, and Field Service.

Bio

Sam is an appreciative and continual student of the manufacturing and warranty industry. She continually dives into a vast array of projects, each of which requires her to understand complex business processes, identifying business, user concerns, and resolving them. To do this, she is often researching manufacturing industry techniques and completing Salesforce related training to realize all possible solutions with high customer satisfaction. Samantha has an innate capability to relate and communicate with both technical and business-related professions.

Before joining Tavant, she worked with a manufacturing company to develop a more seamless warranty process that would help ease user effort and save on warranty reserves. In her free time, she enjoys voluntarily leading yoga classes in her community and walking her dogs. At Tavant, she continues to provide forward-thinking warranty solutions for the manufacturing industry.

Bio

Jacky Lam formerly served as the Manager of Service Campaigns & Compliance at Tesla, overseeing all customer service campaigns, technical service bulletins, recalls, regulatory reporting, and the warranty program. He joined Tesla in 2017 in advance of its pivotal Model 3 launch and played an integral role in scaling service operations as vehicle production and deliveries underwent exponential growth. Before his departure in 2024, he spearheaded development of the Tesla Cybertruck warranty. Prior to Tesla, Jacky was a management consultant at Deloitte, helping finance executives improve their operations by streamlining processes and implementing enabling technologies.

Jacky is a San Francisco Bay Area native, Santa Clara University alum, and a diehard (Oakland, now Las Vegas) Raiders fan.

Bio

Steve’s 30+ year career spans the automotive industry sector from Retail to Supplier and OEM perspectives. After graduating from Northwood University, Steve worked in the automotive retail dealership business where he supported all major dealership profit centers before moving on to a career with Electronic Data Systems (EDS), later CDK Global. Prior to joining TruVideo, Steve was the VP of Dealer Engagement at FordDirect. During his career, Steve has had the opportunity to consult with dealerships and OEMs nationwide on everything from lead management and digital marketing to sales, training, and DMS best practices. His unique experience helps him assist dealers and clients in meeting the needs of consumers in the digital age.

Bio

As a former technician turned technical consultant, Nick Horan’s focus is on improving the lives of technicians. For over a decade, Nick has worked in the technical information space, both for customers and in aiding the development of Guided Diagnostics, a platform designed to make complex root cause diagnosis faster, easier and more accurate.

Bio

With over 23 years of experience in the automotive industry, Michelle Melecio Taylor brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Starting her career at a dealership and holding every key position, she has sat in all chairs within the industry, from vendor to OEM, gaining a comprehensive understanding of dealership operations and the importance of customer success. Currently, as the Senior Director of Customer Success at UVeye, Michelle leverages this expertise to drive performance across both variable and fixed operations, optimizing service, warranty processes, and overall dealer success.

Bio

Brian Belloli is the Chief Commercial Officer at Viaduct.ai, where he leads the company’s commercial strategy and growth. He is passionate about leveraging technology to create value and is committed to driving the company’s mission of reducing connected asset quality costs and improving uptime. With a strong background in business development and strategic partnerships, Brian has a rich background having worked with several prominent companies including Ford Motor Company, JD Power and Microsoft. Brian’s leadership is contributing towards Viaduct’s remarkable expansion solidifying its position as an AI-powered solution leader.

Bio

Eric Arnum is the editor of Warranty Week, an online publication written for the warranty industry professional. Based in New York and launched in late 2002 as both a free weekly email broadcast and a website at www.warrantyweek.com, the newsletter has quickly gained a following among manufacturers, retailers, servicers, and insurance professionals. Subscriptions to the free weekly email edition have now surpassed 7,000 people, while Web traffic is typically around 12,000 to 15,000 page views per week. 

Before launching Warranty Week, Arnum edited two different newsletters about the data communications industry — Messaging Online, and Electronic Mail & Micro Systems (EMMS) — while also engaging in custom research projects tracking the growth of the World Wide Web in Europe and the market for Internet services in South America. He also has worked as a reporter and freelance photographer for various online music publications. Eric Arnum is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in economics. 

Bio

Rajib Bora is currently working for Freudenberg-EPS as Field Service Vice President.  Rajib has 30+ years of service experience in renewable energy and oil & gas service management. He is experienced in delivering global business development strategies that drive revenue and growth. Over the years, he has been tasked to identify opportunities to optimize processes and performance, ensuring operations remain cost-effective and efficient while strengthening customer partnerships. 

His expertise spans across industries including high-energy, high-power battery fiend service, oilfield service equipment, and technologies across all aspects of operations. His background includes account management, P&L, contract negotiation, the global supply chain, and team leadership.