Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes speaks during a press conference to announce the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association as Gov. Steve Beshear and members of the association look on.
Lexington, KY – Governor Steve Beshear said Kentucky wasn’t satisfied just being the No. 3 automotive state in the country as he announced the creation of the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association to be made up of the commonwealth’s automotive manufacturers, suppliers and those associated with the industry.
Beshear’s Secretary of Economic Development, Larry Hayes, said this group is joins a list of 12 state organizations similar to this, but will aim to be a more “robust” resource for the industry, connecting suppliers with car companies.
Beshear said the group, consisting of 11 members to start, will focus on four main areas.
“One overall goal is branding, creating an identity for our industry, elevating its visibility and publicizing its cutting edge technology and processes being developed,” Beshear said.
“A second goal is advocacy, raising awareness about the industry’s impact on our communities, influence on our economy and need for continued development.
“A third goal is setting up unified leadership that will advance the industry and create an environment for growth…
“A fourth overall goal is workforce development, helping the industry tackle its most stubborn and critical challenge,” the governor said.
As the group launches it will be financed to an unspecified amount from the Cabinet for Economic Development’s market budget, Hayes said. Until the just announced group of 11 gets a chance to have its inaugural meeting, Hayes said there is no way to tell how much of a budget will be needed, but he does not expect it to have a major staff function.
Between Toyota’s functions in Georgetown, Ford’s operations in Louisville and GM’s Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky produced more than 1.2 million vehicles in 2013. The state boasts 460 motor vehicle-related establishments that employ nearly 82,000 people.
In the past five years, nearly 300 motor vehicle-related projects have been announced statewide, representing more than 17,600 new jobs and $4 billion in new investment. Kentucky’s motor vehicle exports reached a record $5.5 billion last year, a release from the Governor’s Office states.
The Board:
• Larry Hayes, secretary, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
• Mike Goss, general manager for external affairs, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
• Gabby Bruno, regional director for state government relations, Ford Motor Company
• Eric Henning, regional director for state government relations, General Motors Company
• Joe Adamcik, director of planning and strategy, AGC Automotive Americas
• Jim Rachlin, president, Metalsa Light Vehicles USA & Australia
• Rich Whitaker, vice president, Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Inc.
• Mike Hirsch, vice president of operations for passenger car steering systems, ZF Steering Systems LLC
• Doug Cain, CEO, Mubea North America
• Brandon Kessinger, vice president and general counsel, Akebono Brake Corporation
• Toru (Richard) Kamioke, president & CEO, Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas Inc.
• Kurt Krug, vice president of North American human resources, INOAC