Southern Automotive Women's Forum Pioneer, Elect New Co-Presidents to Board of Directors

    NASHVILLE, TN, April 29, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Southern Automotive Women's Forum (SAWF) is pleased to announce the election of Karen Lewis and Kim Williams as co-presidents to its board of directors for a two-year term.

Co-presidents is a new and trend setting practice created by SAWF to alleviate the pressures of finding and keeping capable senior officers in a volunteer organization. SAWF needed to develop some creative ways to make sure not to overburden any one member of the board, otherwise the organization will not achieve its goals. The Automotive industry requires 12 hour+ work days with frequent night and weekend shifts. In addition, most SAWF board members have significant family obligations, are members of other boards and/or civic organizations, etc. All of these challenges required creativity in identifying potential successors for the President's role.

Co-President Karen E. Lewis leads Future Program and Strategic Planning for General Motors at the Spring Hill Manufacturing Complex in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Originally from Centerville, Tennessee, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1994, a Master's degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 1998, and a Law degree from the Nashville School of Law in 2009. Ms. Lewis has more than 20 years experience in the automotive industry and is currently responsible for coordinating planning activities for General Motor's engine manufacturing, stamping, paint, polymer injection molding, and vehicle assembly operations at the Spring Hill Manufacturing Complex.

Co-President Kimberly S. Williams is the Director of Manufacturing for Calsonic Kansei's Manufacturing Sites in Shelbyville, TN. Originally from Woodbury, TN, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Tennessee Technological University in 1994 and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University in 2004. Kimberly has more than 18 years experience in the automotive industry and is currently responsible for multiple plants that manufacture exhaust, heat exchange, stamping and service components for major OEM's.

The Southern Automotive Women's Forum praises the contributions of outgoing president and founding member Susan Brennan, Vice President of Manufacturing at Nissan. Ms. Brennan had the vision of creating an organization whose primary mission is to promote education and scholarships in addition to personal and professional advancement of women in the automotive industry who are located in the Southern Region of the United States. SAWF members serve as strong role models, helping to encourage young women from grade school to college to enter in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

More information on SAWF please visit: http://sawf.memberclicks.net/

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