MIDLAND, Mich. – The Northwood University International Auto Show (NUIAS) will feature VIP panelists and a keynote speaker representing many aspects of the automotive industry. The Auto Show will be held the weekend of Oct. 5-7 on the Midland, Mich., campus of Northwood University.
The VIP Panel begins at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5 in Griswold Lecture Hall, with the panel speaking on current market topics and how these influence their aspect of the automotive business. The public is welcome to attend this panel discussion.
This year’s VIP Panelists include executives from a wide variety of automotive sectors, featuring Ron Lamb as the keynote speaker:
Lamb has been president of Reynolds and Reynolds since October 2010. Prior to being named president, Lamb was senior vice president of sales.
Throughout his career at Reynolds, Lamb has held a variety of leadership positions in sales and marketing. He joined Reynolds of Tampa, Fla., in 1991 and was promoted to regional sales director in Atlanta until moving to Dayton, Ohio, to join the marketing department as director of customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. In 2002, Lamb was named general manager of the web services business. In 2005, he was named vice president of enterprise solutions, responsible for managing the company’s top 100 automotive retailing customers. In October 2005, Lamb was named vice president of sales and in 2008, named senior vice president of sales. He holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University and an MBA from Loyola College in Baltimore, Md.
Tamara Darvish is a vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group, a family owned franchise group throughout the greater Washington, D.C., area. Each year, DARCARS selects and commits to several community and philanthropic events that raise more than $2 million annually, many of which she personally devotes time to lead the efforts. She regularly consults for companies and media outlets on issues regarding the automotive industry and has received numerous industry awards, most notably being named one of the “100 Leading Women in North American Auto Industry” by Automotive News. Darvish keynotes several corporate and philanthropic events throughout the greater Washington, D.C., area including the WJLA Working Women of the Year Award and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Having worked in the automotive industry for more than 28 years, she has served in the industry for decades.
Darvish has served as a member of the executive board of directors for Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association since 1995 and was its first female chairman. Currently, she serves as the Washington, D.C., director on the board of directors at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). She graduated from Northwood University with a B.B.A in automotive marketing and management and was awarded a Ph.D. in 2009. Darvish released her first book, "Outraged," in October 2011, detailing her efforts to regain economic rights of entrepreneurs across America, from the courtroom to Congress to the steps of the White House.
Angus MacKenzie is an internationally recognized automotive journalist with broad experience in print, digital, video, television, radio and events. In November 2011, MacKenzie was appointed chief content officer for Source Interlink Media with the responsibility for overseeing the company’s ongoing transformation from a print media business to one that creates editorial, entertainment and advertising content across a variety of platforms.
MacKenzie began his career writing and reporting on motorsports for newspapers, magazines, radio and wire services. In 1985, he joined the staff of Melbourne-based monthly magazine Motor Manual as assistant editor and, in the following year, helped re-launch the publication as Car Australia. In 1988, he joined Australian Consolidated Press (ACP).
With more than a decade-long career with ACP, he ran the special projects group for Wheels magazine, of which he later became editor. During that time he also edited Street Machine magazine and reported on the automotive industry for The Bulletin and Australian Business magazines. MacKenzie also presented automotive segments for "The Today Show," the national morning program broadcast by the ACP-owned Nine Network. In 1999, he relocated to the United Kingdom to join Ford of Europe’s public affairs team as manager of design and technology public affairs.
After becoming a freelancer in 2000, MacKenzie worked as executive editor for an industry-focused satellite television start-up and wrote for automotive publications in Australia and the United States. In 2001, he joined Emap as editor of automotive retail trade journal Automotive Management and instigated a redesign of the publication. In 2002, Emap appointed MacKenzie editor-in-chief of Car magazine, one of the world’s most influential English-language automotive enthusiast publications. In August 2004, MacKenzie joined Motor Trend in Los Angeles and became editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, Motor Trend has evolved into an automotive media brand that includes a highly profitable website, one of the most viewed automotive YouTube channels, popular mobile applications, an innovative iMag edition and a critically acclaimed classic car magazine.
Dave Kobuszewski has spent 20 years in sports marketing with the past 12 years at NASCAR, where he is currently director of marketing for NASCAR Automotive Group. He is the brand manager for NASCAR’s first and longest-running premium intellectual property brand platform – NASCAR Performance – which focuses solely on the automotive aftermarket industry.
NASCAR Performance helps build brand awareness and preference for partner companies as well as educates consumers on broader car care topics. To accomplish this, NASCAR Performance has a family of media and marketing assets that includes television, radio, print and social/digital programs. Kobuszewski was also co-creator of the "NASCAR Angels" syndicated television show. He is vice president of the AAIA Marketing and Member Relations Committee and immediate past president of the Automotive Communications Council.
The opening ceremony for the Auto Show will be held at 12 p.m. in Griswold Lecture Hall on Friday, Oct. 5. New to this year’s Auto Show is the Car Care Council Vehicle Check-Up event, which is free and open to the public. The Car Care event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, in the parking lot of H. H. Dow High School at the corner of North Saginaw Road and West Main Street, adjacent the Northwood campus. Throughout the show, being held Oct. 5-7, the Car Care Council will have a booth. Council staff will be on-hand to discuss “Be Car Care Aware,” distribute free car care guides to consumers and provide information about the Sunday vehicle check-up event.
Many exhibits will line the Mall Walk and offer a variety of food, information and entertainment. The Auto Show is free, offers free parking and is open to the public. For more information and the schedule of events, visit www.northwood.edu/autoshow.
