Organizers for the 53rd annual Northwood University International Auto Show (NUIAS) have announced the keynote speakers for the 2016 Executive Panel held on Sept. 30 at the Midland, Michigan-based university’s Hach Student Life Center.

The panel, an annual show highlight, is just one of the special events held during the show, which runs Friday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 2 on the university’s campus at 4000 Whiting Drive in Midland.

The 2016 show has been branded as “Fueled,” a theme selected to demonstrate the students’ passion and excitement for the automotive industry. Northwood University students from all degree programs and disciplines work hard to make this annual flagship event a successful one. They contact dealers, manufacturers and industry leaders to produce an auto show like no other on the university’s scenic mid-Michigan campus.

The NUIAS Executive Panel is made up of a group of individuals who are automotive industry leaders. They will discuss current and future automotive trends and share insights with Northwood students. The annual panel gives students a unique opportunity to learn from individuals within the business and gain a better understanding of what to expect when entering the workforce.

Panelists for 2016 are as follows:

Jennifer Cole – Vice President, Digital Agency, CDK Global

Cole currently runs a 220-person full-service digital marketing agency team responsible for execution and value realization of CDK’s consumer-focused technologies. This includes leadership for CDK’s advertising business across dealer and manufacturer customers, as well as strategic client partnerships focused toward evolving the automotive car shopping experience.

Cole has spent the last 16 years within the Cobalt-ADP-CDK organization and has held leadership roles within the human resources, client management, product and operations functions. Across Cole’s various roles, she has specialized in building, leading and scaling great teams. Cole is the executive sponsor for CDK’s Lean In organization and a supporter of Seattle’s youth-focused arts community.

She holds a bachelor of science in psychology from Colgate University and Master of Science in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley.

Adam Fitzpatrick, Chief Operating Officer, Ballweg Automotive Family

Fitzpatrick has extensive automotive experience: He started his career in 1992 at his family’s Chevrolet-Buick-GMC dealership in Storm Lake, Iowa. Upon his 2003 graduation from Northwood University with an automotive marketing-management degree, Fitzpatrick accepted the role of new car sales manager at Ballweg Chevrolet in Black Earth, Wisconsin.

Before becoming chief operating officer, Fitzpatrick served in such roles as new and used car sales manager, general sales manager, general manager and managing partner. He also is a member of the executive business management team. Fitzpatrick is a 2016 recipient of the Automotive News “40 Under 40” award.

Don Gottwald, Chief Operating Officer, KAR Auction Services Inc.

As chief operating officer, Gottwald is responsible for all KAR business units and related subsidiaries, including ADESA, Insurance Auto Auctions and Automotive Finance Corp. (AFC). He also oversees all support functions, such as human resources, corporate development, enterprise optimization and client services. Gottwald directs the strategic and operational leadership of these businesses, as well as long-term alignment and integration enterprise-wide.

Prior to his role as chief operating officer of KAR, Gottwald served as CEO of AFC. In this role, Gottwald was responsible for the strategic leadership of the company’s objectives and growth. Gottwald joined AFC in January 2009.

Gottwald has more than 25 years of experience in the automotive industry. His background ranges from senior management roles at multi-billion dollar companies such as GMAC Financial Services and HSBC Auto Finance, to working on the retail side at a local dealership.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University. He was previously active in the American Financial Services Association, where he was chair of the Vehicle Finance Division and served on the association’s board of directors. He also sits on the Automotive Marketing Curriculum Advisory Board at Northwood University and the board of The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana.

John Pappanastos, President and CEO, EFG Companies

Pappanastos joined Enterprise Financial Group’s (EFG) board of directors in February 2006, and was named president and CEO in February 2007. As CEO, Pappanastos has more than tripled the company’s revenues and diversified the operation with four new market channels: lenders, retail automotive agents, independent call centers and property and casualty insurance agents.

Under his leadership, EFG rolled out one of the most successful and nationally recognized programs in the retail automotive industry, Hyundai Assurance. The program, launched across more than 700 dealerships in 37 days, is a private label of EFG’s exclusive WALKAWAY vehicle return product. It enabled Hyundai to grow unit sales by 8 percent while the industry declined overall by 21 percent.

Prior to joining the EFG Companies, Pappanastos served in multiple senior capacities for BellSouth Corp., including strategy, finance, product development and operations. He has an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Alabama, a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University, and holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst.

Craig Richardson, Regional Sales Director, Cox Automotive Media Solutions

Richardson is the regional sales director for Cox Automotive Media Solutions, including Autotrader and Kelly Blue Book. He has been with the company for 20 years, serving a variety of roles that interface with dealers.

In his current position, his team works with dealers Michigan and Ohio, helping them capitalize on digital marketing opportunities that connect the right consumer with the right dealer.

Mark Seng, Global Aftermarket Practice Leader, IHS Automotive

Seng is the global aftermarket practice leader for IHS Automotive. He is responsible for leading the company’s global aftermarket product development strategy.

Seng began his automotive career in 1984 and has more than 30 years of experience in both the North American and global aftermarket businesses. Prior to IHS Automotive, he held various positions in distribution, sales, international marketing and product management for Federal-Mogul.

He resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where he is active in automotive industry causes as well as with his church and the Boy Scouts of America.

For more information about the Northwood University International Auto Show call the Auto Show office at 989-837-4823 or visit the website at northwood.edu/autoshow.