TROY – Robert C. Stempel, former chairman and CEO of General Motors as well as Energy Conversion Devices, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Automation Alley Awards Gala on Sept. 12. Stempel was just one of eight winners named at this annual event.

Other winners include: Kenneth Matzick, president and CEO of Beaumont Hospitals, named CEO of the Year.

Emerging Leader: Dilip Dubey, CEO, Netlink (Madison Heights)

Automation Alley Member of the Year: Stephen Cassin, executive

director, Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic

Development (Mt. Clemens)

Technology Company of the Year: Adaptive Materials, Inc. (Ann Arbor)

Emerging Technology Company of the Year: MIST Innovations, Inc.

(Detroit)

Educational Program of the Year: Southeast Michigan Community College

Consortium Centers of Expertise

Non-Profit of the Year: Inforum (Detroit)

Winners were chosen based on submitted nomination packages that are

reviewed and evaluated by a pre-selected committee.

“The winners reflect what Southeast Michigan is all about —

entrepreneurship, collaboration and greatness,” said Ken Rogers, executive

director. “Each is a positive force that is leading the way for Southeast

Michigan’s new technological economy. Automation Alley is proud to support

and recognize these individuals and companies for their continuous efforts

in ensuring that the region thrives and is a great place to conduct

business.”

The two biggest awards went to Stempel and Matzik.

Stempel was selected as Legend CEO for his

tireless dedication to the automotive and alternative energy industries. At

General Motors for 34 years, Stempel is credited with being a member of the

team that first invented the catalytic converter and developments in fuel

economy and safety engineering. He became General Manager of Opel in 1978,

and moved to the board of directors in 1986. In 1987, Stempel became the

youngest president in General Motors’ history, and was named Chairman and

CEO three years later. After retiring from General Motors, Stempel became

the Chairman and CEO of Energy Conversion Devices, a leader in the

development of alternative energy generation and storage. He then retired

from that position in 2005.

Matzick, named CEO of the Year, is responsible for Beaumont Hospitals,

a $1.8 billion regional, not-for-profit health care provider that consists

of three hospitals, a research institute, more than a dozen community-based

medical centers, five nursing centers, home care and hospice services.

Matzick has worked at Beaumont for the past 39 years, beginning as an

assistant director at the Royal Oak hospital. Under his leadership,

Beaumont Hospitals and Oakland University have joined to open the first

medical school in Oakland County. He also was a key driver in Beaumont’s

success in achieving state approval to establish Michigan’s first proton

therapy center.

Automation Alley is a technology business association driving the

growth and image of Southeast Michigan’s economy through a collaborative

culture that focuses on workforce and business development initiatives.

Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to include

more than 950 businesses, educational institutions and government entities,

covering an eight county area and the City of Detroit. Automation Alley

promotes regional prosperity through business attraction services,

exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.

For more information, click on AutomationAlley.Com

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