SMDI Taps GM’s Dr. Hall as Head of Automotive Programs

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a businessunit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), announced today that Dr.Jody N. Hall, former Technical Integration Engineer at General Motors CompanyGlobal Body Manufacturing Engineering Center in Warren, Michigan, will succeedRonald P. Krupitzer as Vice President Automotive Market for the Institute.Krupitzer, who has held the position for 13 years, will retire at the end ofthe year.

Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of AISI, said,”Our auto market division is aggressive and fast-paced, and we arepioneering technological advances in auto steel.  Dr. Hall will be an outstanding leader as wemeet the challenges of competing materials head on.  We look forward to her breadth of knowledgeand expertise in driving this critical market division.”

Lawrence W. Kavanagh, president of SMDI, said, “Weare very excited to have Dr. Hall join us after a distinguished thirty-yearcareer at General Motors. Jody brings the experience, innovation and enthusiasmto our team that will carry on the successes established during Ron’sdistinguished tenure.”

Dr. Hall received her doctorate in Materials Science andEngineering from the University of Michigan, under a General Motors Fellowshipin 1994 and has spent a large part of her career in applying new steels andmanufacturing techniques in automotive applications. Dr. Hall has led the wayin manufacturing engineering innovations in her roles on the GM Global SheetMetal Specialists Team, Auto/Steel Partnership, Galvanizing AutoBodyPartnership, and the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center(ASPPRC) at Colorado School of Mines. Among other accomplishments, she hasevaluated new auto technologies for implementation including new sheet steelgrades and manufacturing processes, developed business cases and action plansfor deployment of key new technologies, and led global project implementations. 

“I’m looking forward to leading SMDI’s AutomotiveTeam and to the many opportunities and challenges the industry presents,”said Dr. Hall.  “It’s an excitingtime to work in automotive materials and help define the path for automakers toachieve their fuel economy targets with steel.”

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steelindustry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in themarketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role inthe development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISIis comprised of 22 member companies, including integrated and electric furnacesteelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to orcustomers of the steel industry.

SMDI grows and maintains the use of steel throughstrategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive,construction and container markets, as well as for new growth opportunities inemerging steel markets. For more news or information, visit www.autosteel.org or follow us on Twitterat @DriveUsingSteel. SMDI automotive investors include: AK Steel Corporation,ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corporation, Severstal NorthAmerica and United States Steel Corporation.