ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket is proud to recognize that Dr. Donald James, marketing director for Continental’s Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket business unit in the NAFTA Region, has received a doctorate degree for successfully completing his dissertation on "The Perceived Influence of the Government, Consumers, Manufacturers and Sustainability on Automotive Aftermarket Sustainable Product Development."

James has been with Continental Corp. since 2005, and began his doctorate studies in 2006, while continuing his management responsibilities at Continental. His doctorate was approved on March 4 by Lawrence Technological University, College of Management. Lawrence Institute of Technology was founded in 1932 and is located in Southfield, Mich. The university has been consistently rated among the top tier for "Universities – Master’s (Midwest)" by US News & World Report.

In receiving the acknowledgment, James noted, "I would like to thank Continental Corp., AASA, AAIA, automotive industry colleagues and associates for assisting and supporting my research. Sustainability is so much more than improving fuel economy or recycling waste. Sustainability, at the very least, must be embedded in the culture of the industry with a focus on planet, people and profits. My hope is to contribute to this understanding of sustainability through my study of the automotive industry and particularly automotive aftermarket sustainable product development."

James has been the marketing director at Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket NAFTA Region since January 2008 and is currently responsible for the marketing communications strategy, advertising and brand strategy, promotional activities and brake product management strategy for North America.

In addition to his doctorate, he also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Lawrence Technological University (2006) and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan (1994).