Sister CEO: The Only Black Female Co-Founder Of A Tier One Auto Supplier Talks To 'Auto Trends'

Lisa Lunsford, the CEO and co-founder of the Detroit-based auto manufacturer, Global Strategic Supply Solutions, talks to Auto Trends with JeffCars.com.

Lunsford is one of two Black women in the manufacturing industry who heads a Tier One company, suppling parts to build cars directly to a major automaker.

 

However, what distinguishes this proud trailblazing HBCU graduate, is that she is the co-founder of a company that supplies parts directly to a key automaker, helping them build their cars. The HBCU graduate has been widening the road on a lane that normally hasn’t been traveled by women, more specifically Black woman. Over the years because of the success of her company, she’s been cited as one of the top women-owned businesses in Michigan, as well as being noted in Black Enterprise magazine top 100 businesses.

 

Chicago's NBC 5 Highlights During 6PM News How Kia and JeffCars.com 'Drives' Black History Month to the Classroom

One of the high school students from Chicago's Proviso West, who was the recipient of Kia's car designer Brian Peterson rendering, during a classroom activity.

Raymond Taylor of Kia University speaks to Chicago's Proviso West about electric and hybrid technology and its relationship to STEM and the Kia Niro, the brand's only dedicated hybrid.  

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Check out the video footage from the news coverage featuring Niro interior car designer Brian Peterson and event organizer and editor Jeff Fortson.

GM Executives Show Teens How STEM Applies At 100 Black Men Conference

Rewind Interview: The Brother That Put Chrysler Back in the Black (Part One of Two)

Photo Credit: JeffCars.com

Our one-on-one interview with Ralph Gilles, the brother behind Chrysler's 300, first ran on Tom Joyner’s website, BlackAmericaweb.com, on June 25, 2006. In case you missed it, here's an opportunity to see what was on the mind of Chrysler's current Group vice president of design.

When every auto critic questioned whether American consumers would buy the bold, in-your-face, rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300, especially in snowy climates such as the Midwest and the Northeast, Chrysler executives ignored the critics and continued on their path to build such a vehicle.

Fortunately for Ralph Gilles, the 36-year-old, one-time college dropout and lead designer of the ultra-popular 300 for the Chrysler Group, the American buying public stood in line to snatch-up all of the vehicles that were available and ignored the critics too. Prior to the launch of this vehicle, Chrysler was bleeding red, with a $637 million loss in 2003. Gilles’ design influence helped put the company back in the black. The company posted a $1.9 billion profit in 2004 while many of their domestic competitors have been struggling since to improve their designs and profitability.