The Northwood University Michigan International Auto Show (NUIAS) VIP Panel which includes executives representing a wide variety of automotive sectors, will be held preceding the event’s opening ribbon cutting on Friday, October 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the Griswold Lecture Hall. There is no admission charge or ticket necessary for the panel, and members of the community are encouraged to attend. The top industry leaders will consist of Celeste Briggs, Doug Evans, John Felice, Scott LaRiche, Andrea Riley.Held the weekend of October 10-12, the NUIAS opening ceremony will be held following the VIP Panel at the Griswold Lecture Hall on Friday, October 10, at 12:00 noon. Many exhibits will line the Mall Walk and offer a variety of food, information and entertainment. The Auto Show is free of charge, offers free parking and is open to the public. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit:
www.northwood.edu/autoshow/,
Like the Northwood University International Auto Show on Facebook or call 989.837.4823.
About the Panelists
Celeste Briggs: As one of the founding members of the GM Women’s Retail Network (WRN) 13 years ago, Celeste D. Briggs has been at the forefront of increasing the female presence in the automotive industry by attracting women into the GM retail organization and making the dealership environment attractive to female customers and employees. Briggs was named director of the WRN, the first and only network of its kind, in January 2011. She is responsible for the profitability, growth and retention of the network and leveraging its resources to increase GM’s market share among women consumers. Looking ahead, Briggs is executing several programs to more closely align and leverage women dealers in the GM product design process and attract more women into automotive retail through initiative such as Women’s Retail Network “Drive to Succeed” scholarship.
Doug Evans: Doug Evans serves as Executive Vice President, Group Publisher of TEN: The Enthusiast Network, encompassing 20 plus brands of TEN’s automotive and truck groups and their related assets. Evans began his professional career at Young and Rubicam in the media department in 1981 and moved to Petersen Publishing as a National Account Manager in 1983. Evans has served in various capacities for the company including VP of Sales of a related event company, Publisher, Group Publisher, Senior VP Group Publisher and currently Executive VP Group Publisher. With the exception of a brief departure from the company in the mid-1990s to Conde Nast on Details and Hachette on Swing as Advertising Director, Evans has spent his entire career with the company in various positions. In 2011, Evans was awarded the Lee Iacocca Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions and dedication to the automotive industry. Evans is also the recipient of the SEMA Business Women’s Network Mentor of the Year award. Evans is widowed and lives in Tampa, Florida.
John Felice: John Felice is Vice President, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, effective November 1, 2013. In this capacity, he is responsible for all marketing, sales, service, customer care and dealer relations for the Ford and Lincoln brands. He reports to Joe Hinrichs, Executive Vice President and President of The Americas, and Jim Farley, Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Marketing and Service and Lincoln. Prior to this role, Felice served as General Manager, Ford Lincoln Sales, a position to which he was appointed in November 2011. In this role, Felice was responsible for all field sales and distribution-related matters for Ford and Lincoln, working to strengthen the distribution channel and improve dealer profitability while also improving employee and dealer satisfaction.
Scott LaRiche: Scott LaRiche is chairman of the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). LaRiche has served as a DADA board member for six years, beginning with his position as Dealer Line Group chairman for Chevrolet. He served as DADA treasurer / secretary and vice president prior to his election as president in December, 2012. LaRiche is also executive manager / vice president of Lou LaRiche Chevrolet in Plymouth, Mich., which was established in 1970 by his father, Lou. A third-generation dealer, LaRiche has been part of the family business with his father and brothers, John and Robert, for more than 30 years (all of whom are active in day-to-day operations at various locations).
Andrea Riley: Andrea Riley is the Chief Marketing Officer for Ally’s Dealer Financial Services leading the Auto Finance, Dealer Products and Services and Remarketing marketing function. Riley joined Ally in 2008 and was charged with the rebrand development and deployment for the company as well as the award winning launch of Ally Bank. Reporting to Jeff Brown, President and CEO of Ally’s Dealer Financial Services, she has been instrumental in the transformation of the auto business from a captive model to an independent category leader. In her current role, Riley oversees the development and deployment of integrated marketing programs targeted primarily to dealers. She has been responsible for developing an aggressive marketing approach, acquiring some of the industry’s biggest sponsorships, developing category best dealer campaigns and events, and leading coordinated regional marketing campaigns that have helped advantage Ally’s field force.
