Chrysler Group Engineer Receives 2014 Black Engineer of the Year "Visionary Award"

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

• Chrysler Group Head of Fastener Engineering honored during 28th annual event
• Award recognizes leaders "whose lifetime performance marks a career that affects the careers of many others"
• Chrysler Group Information Technology and Product engineers also receive recognition as "Modern Day Technology Leaders"

U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine awarded its 2014 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Visionary Award to Kevin Ward, Head of Fastener Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. Ward was honored at the 28th BEYA Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Global Competitiveness Conference and Awards Gala on February 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

The BEYA Conference honors outstanding leaders in the STEM fields and provides excellent opportunities for professional development, networking and recruiting. 

Ward is the latest in a long line of Chrysler Group employees who have received important professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to attracting and developing a diverse, talented workforce.

"Kevin is an accomplished engineer and outstanding leader dedicated to the creation of exceptional products and to the development of young, talented engineers in our Company," said Mark M. Chernoby, Senior Vice President, Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. "Kevin's vision, drive and technical expertise have made him a valuable member of the Chrysler Engineering Team and a respected leader across the Company."

Ward was appointed Head of Fastener Engineering at Chrysler Group in 2011. In this position, he is responsible for leading and managing all design, development, testing and release of torque/fastening components for Chrysler Group vehicles. He joined the Company as a project lead in Supply Chain Management in 1999. 

Ward is active in the community serving as a youth minister in his church.  He also serves as mentor to youth in his community and to young engineers at Chrysler Group.

"I owe much of who I am to the strong African-American leaders who met adversity and paved the way for my success," Ward said. "Inspired by these outstanding people and role models, I know that it is both my responsibility and privilege to lead and inspire the next generation. I am very appreciative of this recognition of my career accomplishments."

U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine also honored Modern Day Technology Leaders (MDTL) at the conference, "bright, high performance, women and men shaping the future of engineering, science, and technology who demonstrate superior technical skills and leadership capability, generally at professional through senior manager levels."

The following Chrysler Group employees earned MDTL recognition for 2014: 

• Jaison Busby, IT Manager Network Control Center                     
• Marcus Washington, KBE Product Engineer

Both employees demonstrated consistent technical competency and commitment to shaping the careers of younger technical professionals.

About U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine
U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology provides black technology news and information about black engineering, black technology, black entrepreneurs, black engineers, black education, black minorities, Black Engineer of the Year Awards and historically black colleges and universities from black communities in U.S., UK, Caribbean, and Africa.   

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC