TRAVERSE CITY ? Auto expert David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, is packing them in again this year at his annual Management Briefing Seminars drawing upwards of 1,200 attendees ? rivaling the crowds this event drew in the 1990s.
MBS Conference Coordinator Wendy Barhydt said the 2006 attendance is not a record, but close to it.
?It?s a good sign the auto industry is getting healthier,?? she said.
Other reasons why this annual confab of auto executives ? primarily suppliers trying to rub elbows with the big auto makers ? is attracting a larger audience is a golf outing on Tuesday afternoon, and shifting the annual dinner to Wednesday night, from Tuesday, which features the likes of actor Jeff Daniels and his band, Barhydt said.
It also could be some big names packing them in at the Grand Traverse Resort and Casino north of Traverse City. On Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is due to make a couple of economic announcements. On Thursday, General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner is reportedly making some big GM economic news as well, including the official announcement that the Chevrolet Camaro concept car shown at this year?s North American International Auto Show in Detroit will go into production.
On a side note, the 2006 MBS will be the last for Barhydt as conference coordinator. She will continue to work at CAR as a part-time consultant working with conferences, but Kathleen Warson will become the CAR conference director.
This column was written by Editor Mike Brennan. If you have a story idea, email it to [email protected]
