DURA Automotive Recognizes Top Women Across Global Enterprise

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DURA Automotive Systems, LLC announced today the honorees of the company's 2011 Leading Women program.  The recognition program was initiated in 2011 to identify and honor top women contributors from DURA and Global Automotive Systems (G.A.S.) locations around the world and heighten awareness of their impact on the success of the enterprise.  

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"We are pleased to introduce our latest employee recognition program celebrating the accomplishments and leadership of women across our organizations," said Jeff Stafeil, Chief Executive Officer of DURA Automotive and G.A.S. "Collectively, women at DURA represent a small percentage of total employees; however their influence on both company culture and leadership is significant and until now, largely unrecognized."

Through a company-wide nomination process across all locations, candidate applications were submitted to the company's executive team.  Each honoree demonstrated leadership in areas such as manufacturing, customer service, innovation, environmental stewardship, process improvements, community involvement and education. Fifty-eight Leading Women were selected to be recognized in the annual program.  In addition, eighteen of these honorees were chosen to be recipients of the prestigious Diamond Award, presented by Lynn Tilton, CEO and principal of DURA's parent company, Patriarch Partners.  Diamond Award winners were flown to the Detroit area from around the world to attend an awards ceremony and tour the company headquarters.

"The Diamond Award recognizes exemplary performance and truly impressive contributions of the top honorees," said Lynn Tilton.  "It was a great honor for our executive team to interact with these outstanding women and recognize their efforts and accomplishments. Their leadership has been a driving force in the impressive performance of our automotive portfolio. It is my honor to lead a company that has created a culture where women are inspired to strive for excellence and are recognized for their accomplishments."

The following fifty-eight employees received recognition for their contributions as Leading Women across forty-five locations in seventeen countries:

• Suzanne Adams - Moberly, Missouri, USA
• Sylvia Ansley - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Cheryl Bester - Milan, Michigan, USA
• Kathy Birney - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Shirley Brashaw - Stockton, Illinois, USA
• Lynn Bryant - Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA
• Cassie Burd - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Nancy Campolong - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Marie-Anne Cara - Bievres, France
• Lacrimioara Cazacu - Timisoara, Romania
• Louise Clock - Dundalk, Ontario, Canada
• Elodie Darrieutort - Bievres, France
• Martina Dohnalova - Koprivnice,Czech Republic
• Kimberly Fietz - Milan, Michigan, USA
• Laura Flanagan - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Pat Grenoble - Stockton, Illinois, USA
• Prissma Guerrero - Monterrey, Mexico
• Gaby Hansknecht - Plettenberg, Germany
• Marie Harbackova  - Blatna, Czech Republic
• Vanessa Herrera - Matamoros, Mexico
• Simone Hertzer - Gehren, Germany
• Linda Hodges - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Lavonne Hysell - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Jessica Leon - Matamoros, Mexico
• Linda Lesnau - Roseville, Michigan, USA
• Karina Martins - Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Darlene McMann-Stringer - Dundalk, Ontario, Canada
• Raluca Mihu - Timisoara, Romania
• Jeanette Perkins - Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA
• Angela Pinkard - Milan, Michigan, USA
• Annette Pohl - Plettenberg, Germany
• Sonia Reis - Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Angeles Reyna - Monterrey, Mexico
• Jennifer Ringler - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Jennifer Robbins - Stockton, Illinois, USA
• Enriqueta Rodriguez - Monterrey, Mexico
• Dinorah Rubio - Queretaro, Mexico
• Eliece Ruth - Milan, Tennessee, USA
• Cynthia Saenz - Matamoros, Mexico
• Belinda Santana - Matamoros, Mexico
• Susane Schinzel - Gehren, Germany
• Beate Schroeder - Plettenberg, Germany
• Jamie Stratford - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Rhonda Theus - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Sible Thomas-Chacko - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Tammy Turk - Milan, Michigan, USA
• Verena Umbach - Daun, Germany
• Sabine Urselmann - Dusseldorf, Germany
• Nancy VanSolkema - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Chandarom Vetsmany - Bievres, France
• Gabriele von Wysocki - Dusseldorf, Germany
• Ann Marie Walsh - Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
• Anja Wiegmann - Einbeck, Germany
• Yolonda Wilson - Milan, Michigan, USA
• Mira Wilson - Roseville, Michigan, USA
• Lorie Wright - Stockton, Illinois, USA
• Chris Zoet - Fremont, Michigan, USA
• Cindy Zou - Shanghai, China

DURA and G.A.S. are accredited with the Women's Business Association and have received national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise Council – Great Lakes Certification Committee, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

About DURA Automotive Systems:

DURA Automotive Systems, a Patriarch Partners company, is a leading independent designer and manufacturer of driver control systems, seating control systems, glass systems, engineered assemblies, structural door modules and exterior trim systems for the global automotive industry.  DURA markets its automotive products to every North American, Asian and European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and many leading Tier One automotive suppliers. DURA is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan with more than 10,000 employees in 32 manufacturing operations in 16 countries. Information about DURA and its products is available on the internet at www.duraauto.com.

About Global Automotive Systems LLC:

Global Automotive Systems LLC, a Patriarch Partners company, is a leading manufacturer of metal-formed components with operations in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Company serves Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) and Tier One automotive suppliers. The Company's core capabilities include stamping, roll forming and stretch bending as well as the fabrication of tubular products and welded assemblies. G.A.S. is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The Company operates six manufacturing facilities with more than 900 employees. www.globalautosys.com.  

SOURCE DURA Automotive Systems, LLC